MST3K revival

Since I am a Kickstarter backer, I was able to watch the pilot of the revival of "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" ahead of the series premiere on Netflix this Friday.

Lemme tell you... as a lifelong devotee of the series, it is WONDERFUL!

We get a brief prologue introducing the new cast of characters before we hear the new theme song and are brought right into the story in the same charming, fourth wall-breaking way familiar to the series.

Jonah Ray is a charming enough lead, although at this early stage he's more of a blank slate than a distinctive character. Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt are both very funny as the Mads, but aren't given a whole lot of screen time in the first episode. We also get the nre incarnations of Crow, Tom Servo, and Gypsy, who are consistent with the characters we know and love but with just enough changes to make them distinctive to the new series. It will take a bit for me to get used to Servo's new voice, though.

The  riffing is natural, well-timed, and just as funny as many of the classic episodes. Overall, it looks, feels, and sounds like the original series, but with enough different touches to make it distinctive and new.

I can't wait until the rest of the season arrives.