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"Joel says he wants to make changes to the past, though so far, his words speak louder than his actions...Why, in episode 3, he doesn't even try to save that kid from living the rest of his life in a fast food joint; heh-heh, it's funnier to just tease him about it. Oh, Joel, you're so cool."

---from the review

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Do Over

A Review by Techtite

(review posted September 28th, 2002)

Why does a sitcom allegedly about "time travel," look more like a reverse-gender rip-off of Clarisa Explains it All? That's the feeling I get when seeing the first episodes of Do Over; a series which is admittedly more in tune with 80's pop culture than That 80's Show ever was, though lacks the heart of ABC's strikingly similar That Was Then. At its core, it's just another sitcom about a mature-on-the-inside 14 year old who talks back to his parents and teachers like they're "beneath" him, or something. Yeah; High School Freshman will eat this series up...but what about the rest of us?

Penn Badgley stars as Joel Larsen; a 34 year old from 2002 who by a twist of fate is now a 14 year old again, in good ol' 1981. Okay, so somebody slept their way through math class (34 minus 21 years equals...14?!?), though here's the intended gag: as a 14 year old, nobody listens to him. He knows what stocks win and which lose, though who'll invest thousands just because a kid tells him to? It's a cute premise, though if this is the only "running gag" this series has to offer, it will last only as long as the joke lasts itself. Oops; time's up!

Not that I have unfair bias against this show...or at least, not really. On the one hand, I love time travel stories. On the other hand, I hate sitcoms about teen brats who act "brilliant" next to their "dumb" parents and teachers. How could a genius be born to idiotic parents? If a child is a genius, then his parents should be smart as well (think Kim Possible; a Disney cartoon which even at 2-dimentions has a lot more depth). Consider Lisa Simpson from The Simpsons; the question isn't how could a girl so smart be born in such a dimwitted family, though rather how a girl so boring could be born to a family so vibrant otherwise. As for Joel; if he's so smart, why was he a mere paper salesman in 2002?

Let's be frank; the only reasons to go back in time are to 1) learn from it, 2) experience it, or 3) change it. Let's pursue the last reason, first: Joel says he wants to make changes to the past, though so far, his words speak louder than his actions. If you're looking for him to save lives or correct people's destinies for the better, pack a big lunch. Joel shows no sign of lost loves; no desire to save a life. Why, in episode 3, he doesn't even try to save that kid from living the rest of his life in a fast food joint; heh-heh, it's funnier to just tease him about it. Oh, Joel, you're so cool.

Then there's the other reasons for time travel: learning about (or feeling like you're a part of) the past. I remember an episode of Freaks & Geeks where a department store setting had a whole aisle of Atari 2600 video games; a scene so authentic, it's as though someone yanked the entire stage set through time, right down to every box of Yar's Revenge and Demon Attack. Comparatively, Do Over's "1981" is very hodge-podge. Songs that weren't released until 1985 are in the background. His mother "invents" post-it-notes in 1981; that would be news to the 3M company, which released the first post-it notepad in 1980. While they hit the mark once or twice (Rubik's Cubes, Laverne & Shirley on the TV), most shots are WAY off. Come on; if you're going to make a sitcom about a know-it-all, couldn't the writers get their facts straight?

In conclusion, allow me to give my final ruling with the same blunt obnoxiousness Joel often offers to his teachers and parents; your series stinks, kid. Sure, it is bound to have 14 year old fans who think otherwise, though come on; even they must admit, this series could be far better. Its only saving grace is that it's on the WB; the place where Unhappily Ever After --a sitcom about a man who talks to a stuffed bunny-- lasted 4 seasons. So, if you like this series, rest easy; it'll last a while. Just don't expect it to topple Survivor anytime soon...and don't expect me to keep watching.

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