If you haven’t been watching the Paramount+ iCarly revival, you’re missing out. The series premiered on June 17 with the first three episodes. New episodes drop weekly, every Thursday. iCarly picks up ten years after the original Nickelodeon series ended and offers a really fresh take while staying true to the show we love. As someone who grew up watching the original, I can truly say this has been my favorite revival/reboot of a series that I’ve seen so far. So let’s talk about why exactly the new show works so well and why it is a must-watch for any fans of the original series.
First of all, it’s for the original fans. In my opinion, this is crucial in making a successful revival. The fans who grew up watching and loving the show want to be able to enjoy the revival. Part of doing this the right way is having original cast members involved, so to be able to bring three of the main stars back was a huge win. Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, and Nathan Kress still make such an incredible and hilarious trio all these years later. Allowing viewers to see the characters they grew up watching now dealing with the same things that they are makes the show so much more enjoyable. Giving these characters grown-up storyline works and this is the first revival I’ve seen do that.
The new characters blend in perfectly with the characters we know and love, easily making them fan favorites. Laci Mosley and Jaidyn Triplett add new and important voices to the group as Millicent and Harper, ensuring the show isn’t the same exact thing as the original, while also fitting in seamlessly. Cosgrove and Mosley provide some great representation for strong female friendships, which is extremely needed in today’s entertainment. Triplett does a fantastic job working off everyone else in the cast, holding her own, and bringing a fun element to the show as Kress’ on-screen daughter. Plus, we absolutely LOVE the LGBTQ+ rep that Harper provides!
The guest stars: Let’s be honest, seeing so many surprise familiar faces in the trailer only added to the excitement around the revival’s premiere. So actually seeing Mary Scheer pop up as Marissa Benson and Danielle Morrow return as Nora was a huge treat that will definitely put a smile on any OG fan’s face. And there are so many more of the original cast set to return that we haven’t gotten to see yet! Seeing these characters again in a new way is just fun, simple as that.
Adding more depth to the characters we love: I honestly have never loved the characters of Carly and Freddie more than I do now. The revival just gives them more depth and makes it easy to relate to them. The characters haven’t actually changed, which is so important as well, just grew up and are handling a new chapter of life. And no, I didn’t forget to mention Spencer, I just don’t need to because he is still the same lovable character that we all remember from the original, which is exactly what the show needs. Spencer not changing was probably one of the best decisions they made and props to Trainor for somehow making Spencer even funnier!
The small tributes to the original show: There are many small or highlighted details and objects that fans will recognize throughout, especially when it comes to Spencer’s apartment. From the iconic Bottle Bot to Carly’s dress, they offer so much nostalgia and familiarity to the new show. These easter eggs are so perfectly done. Plus, there are always those small throwbacks like Spencer constantly setting things on fire or Freddie’s iconic “In 5, 4, 3, 2….”
The friendship between Spencer and Freddie: I’m not gonna lie, I absolutely adore the friendship that has formed between Spencer and Freddie. The scenes with Trainor and Kress are just SO enjoyable. I don’t know why I wasn’t expecting it at first, but all I know is every episode I want more and more from this duo. Huge shoutout and thank you to whoever is responsible for this!
And lastly, let’s talk about the new spin on the iconic iCarly web show. Of course, after all these years comes new technology. The Pear phones haven’t gone away, but they’ve definitely been updated. With all of the new social media and influencer status coming into play, there’s so much more to play with when it comes to iCarly as a whole.
The first four episodes of iCarly are now streaming on Paramount+ and trust me, it’s worth the watch. And be sure to check out my interview with Cosgrove, Trainor, and Kress, here.
