“Heroes” is coming back. Yatta?
For some fans, NBC’s announcement of “Heroes Reborn” is going to be the best news of the week. Others won’t even bat an eyelash. But there’s no denying that for certain shows, the legacy lives on long past the series finale — and there’s always a fan or two million ready to reopen a closed book.
Indeed, “Heroes Reborn” is just the latest show to make an unexpected comeback. Netflix revived “Arrested Development” for a fourth season last year, and Fox has a new round of “24” premiering later this spring. The surprise revivals of all three of those shows make you stop and wonder: Which other fan-favorite TV series are worthy of a revisit?
Here are nine shows we feel could be worth resurrecting at some point down the line, if properly executed.
“Alias”
There was buzz a few years ago that the Jennifer Garner spy series could see a return from the dead. Here’s hoping that buzz heats up again thanks to the “Heroes” news, because there’s always more stories where Rambaldi boxes are concerned.
An “Alias” revival doesn’t necessarily need many or any of the players from the original series (the triple-agent concept would work well enough with a new cast), but there are a lot of juicy, unresolved characters and stories still in play — like the return of Julian Sark, or even the newly-immortal, buried-alive Arvin Sloane.
“Deadwood”
When HBO ended “Deadwood,” there was talk of a series of TV movies that would tie up the critically-acclaimed Western’s loose ends. Alas, that never happened. The Gem remains closed for business, with no signs of Swearengen on the horizon whatsoever.
It’s a shame, too, as “Deadwood” was just about to dig into some of the best material from the town’s brutal and tragic history. Perhaps it’s not too late for HBO to make good on the wrap-up movies they promised once upon a time — but Ian McShane and the others aren’t getting any younger.
“Firefly”
It needs to happen, some how, some way, if only so everybody stops asking Joss Whedon about it every time he makes a public appearance.
Pulling off a “Firefly” reboot is no easy feat, of course. There’s a little show called “Castle” to consider, where Nathan Fillion is concerned. Other stars from the show are busy with commitments of their own, too. And it’s hard to imagine going back to the “Firefly” well without Wash. But an animated “Firefly” series? Maybe that’s something somebody can look into.
“Friday Night Lights”
Clear eyes, full hearts, can totally reboot — as long as the team’s in place.
But which team? Would a return to “Friday Night Lights” follow the Taylors to Philadelphia? Or would it focus on a new era of Panthers back home in Dillon, Texas? Home is where the heart is, but “FNL” had so much heart that it’s hard to know where a revival would take place. Maybe Kyle Chandler’s right; perhaps it’s best to leave this ball on the field.
“Fringe”
The ratings were never in its favor, but “Fringe” was always a critical darling, even among the famously cancel-happy higher-ups at Fox. Though the science fiction series ended with a fair share of closure, the door was left open for another adventure, focusing on the missing Walter Bishop’s whereabouts. A final event series focused on finding Walter could be pretty amazing.
“Lost”
Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse were adamant all along the way that they had a vision for how to end “Lost,” and that they viewed their ending as a permanent resolution. But many viewers would argue that there’s still more story left to be told.
What’s the deal with Walt? What’s the true nature of Jacob and the Man in Black and their ancient rivalry? Why are the numbers so bad? What’s with all the Egyptian stuff? A new batch of “Lost” could answer those lingering questions and more.
But “Lost” isn’t worth revisiting if there isn’t a story to tell, and if certain actors aren’t willing to come back for the party. Hurley and Ben are the co-leaders of the Island now, for example; a “Lost” revisit doesn’t work without them. It feels like a “Lost” reboot is inevitable, but unless ABC can get many of the key players back on board, it’s not worth doing.
“Oz”
I don’t know that anyone is asking for this one except for me, but I would love to see a return trip to the Oswald State Correctional Facility, if only because the show’s legacy can’t end on Keller’s anthrax play. It really, really can’t.
“Terriers”
If Netflix can revive “The Killing” for a fourth season, surely it can bring back “Terriers,” the criminally underwatched FX drama starring Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James as low-level and unlucky private eyes Hank and Britt.
“Terriers” is perfect as it stands, a relic of an unappreciated single-season era. But I can’t imagine that there’s a single “Terriers” fan in the world that would argue against seeing those opening credits roll one more time, with “Gunfight Epiphany” blaring all season long.
“Twin Peaks”
It is not happening again. But it would be wonderful and weird if it did.
Which shows would you like to see get the “Heroes Reborn” treatment?
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