My Review of "Night Court (2023): Season 1"

Night Court (2023): Season 1 has just finished airing and I have some mixed feelings about this show. I used to love the old show back in the 80s and 90s. There were a number of memorable characters and nostalgic memories of that show. Would this be a retread or reboot of the classic? Well, it's kind of a continuation of the old series but 30 years later.

That's basically how it starts off. We get introduced to Abby who is the daughter of the the original judge, Harry, from the original show. Abby has followed in the footsteps of her father and has become a judge. She's been placed at the same courthouse as her father too. No she doesn't perform magic though.

The first thing that Abby sets out to do is get Dan Fielding back as a defense attorney. Dan is actually an original cast member and character from the original series. He reluctantly joins back but then again his character has always been pessimistic. He's the same old Dan that we remember from the previous show. That's a nice little touch for those that are nostalgic for the show. Basically he's a conduit to bring back old stories from olden times.

Everyone else in the courthouse seems to be the same but kind of like variations of older characters from the previous show. They even have a somewhat similar feel to the old show. That's a blessing and a curse at the same time. The old show was corny and this show has that same corniness. This is kind of a hit and a miss. Those that are looking for that sort of humor will feel right at home with this show.

Though, the world has kind of moved on to more sophisticated comedy and this show can feel out of date at times. The cheese factor doesn't necessarily translate well in today's day in age but somehow I still kept watching. I found it still oddly entertaining. Maybe it was the comfort about the show where you can tell what's going to happen and just shut off your brain and watch. There's nothing offensive or controversial about the show and in some ways I like that because it contrasts the complicated overwhelming world we live in today.

Sure there are a lot better shows out there but those that are fond of the old show will feel at home with this version. It's not dramatically different from what they used to dish to us back in the 80s and 90s. I can't say that people of today's generation will like this show as much. Again the jokes are quite simple and basic. The audience today may groan or roll their eyes while watching this but then again dad jokes are making a big comeback lately.

I like the cast of characters. They all bring some life to this show. None of them really go anywhere as this season was to introduce us to their quirkiness. I can see some potential storylines in this show but even the showrunners aren't sure if it will continue or not. There's a big change at the end that could lead to an interesting story for a second season or nicely caps off this short run.

Overall, this show is enjoyable but not for everyone. I think those that can get into dad jokes and handle a lot of cheesiness in their shows can have fun with this show. That's going to be a big minority of people. I suspect this show will not continue after this first season that's why I have to give this season a 5.5 out of 10. I still had a little fun with it but I had no laugh out loud moments with this one.