Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston in Malcolm: Nothing Has Changed

Hulu

“Life is unfair” – “La vie est injuste”. This is probably what Disney+ subscribers will say once they have finished the reboot of Malcolm. Entitled “Malcolm: Nothing has changed”, the series plunges viewers back into the chaotic daily life of Hal, Lois, and their children. We almost would have preferred not to find them again, because we are going to miss them terribly all over again.

Some cult series are, in general opinion, perfect. They become untouchable, meaning that the mere mention of a reboot, spin-off, or prequel triggers a wave of protest from the original fans. The easiest and least risky approach is usually to bring in a new generation (while keeping one or two old ones) to take over the mantle, as seen in “Charmed”, “Gossip Girl”, “Beverly Hills”, or “That 90’s Show.”

That’s why there have been very few cult series that have dared to make a comeback with the original cast. However, the creators of “Malcolm: Nothing has changed” took this somewhat crazy gamble, and they did well. The feat of “Malcolm: Nothing has changed” is to immerse us in the spirit of the 2000s series in the blink of an eye.

Bryan Cranston on Point(s)

Everyone has aged, the house looks different, and yet the viewer is immediately comfortable in this familiar joyful mess. Like finding an old high school sweatshirt at the back of a drawer. Within seconds, we find the parents, now with gray hair, in a video call with Dewey, discussing everything and nothing while Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) shaves every last hair off a fully naked Hal (Bryan Cranston). Every hair.

David Bukach / Disney

The whole family reunited in Malcolm: Nothing has changed

The actors of the series have mostly given up comedy, except for Bryan Cranston who has since won numerous awards with “Breaking Bad” and his roles on Broadway. If they all agreed to make a comeback (except for the actor who played Dewey), it’s not for nothing: their chemistry is obvious. The joy they feel in playing together and returning to their characters is contagious. Bryan Cranston told the Guardian that “getting naked” in the name of comedy was one of the greatest pleasures of his life. You’re in for a treat.

However, there is one criticism that can be made to Linwood Boomer, and it is significant. Four episodes of less than half an hour is far too short. It’s like if Santa Claus gave you a great gift you weren’t expecting, and then took it back the next morning. “Life is Unfair,” we warned you.