The Baby-Sitters Club premieres July 3rd on Netflix.
By Ariba Bhuvad
If you’re a 90s kid like me, then you may have an emotional connection with The Baby-Sitters Club. For me personally, I grew up reading the Ann M. Martin books as a kid, and they were amongst my favorites, along with Boxcar Children (who remembers that?!).
Thanks to Netflix, we are getting a modern-day version of this beloved collection of stories about a group of friends that decide to open their own babysitters club. In the two episodes I watched, I was smitten with the nostalgia factor but loved how much they added to it. The best part about this is that they respect the original fans’ memories of it, but they add the Gen-Z twist to it so everyone can relate to it. It’s done so intelligently and effortlessly, and leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. And while we’re talking about the 90s, the series stars Alicia Silverstone, an 90s icon herself (Clueless!), which also helps bring that nostalgia to the forefront.
The Baby-Sitters Club does a wonderful job balancing the original stories and intertwining it with something the kids of today can absolutely connect with. When I first read the books, we didn’t have cell phones or social media, or the like. Thanks to the Netflix version of these stories, fans of the original books can see what the stories of Kristy Thomas, Mary-Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, Stacey McGill, and Dawn Schafer would look like with all the modern-day technology.
What makes this version of the story even better is the adorable cast that are playing these characters. They remind me so much of the characters I remember from the book, which is a difficult feat to accomplish. But they do it incredibly well, and are hilarious, fun, and sweet.
Whether you’re a fan of the old books or just excited to see a feel-good series during these dark times, The Baby-Sitters Club will surely be a fun watch for you.
I give The Baby-Sitters Club a B.
TV and City 