Has the reboot actually exceeded your expectations?

[u/Mundane-Temporary426]

When the BBC announced Gladiators was coming back, I was excited but also a bit sceptical. Reboots don't always work, especially when people have strong memories of the original. Looking back now, do you think the revival has lived up to expectations, exceeded them or fallen short?

[u/Sammuthegreat]

By absolutely miles, yes. Nostalgia aside, it's on a par with the show I loved as a kid. I feared the worst after the mediocre Sky revival but yeah, the new one has been great.

I just hope they learn their lesson from the latest season, and stop making the glads pull their punches.

[u/No_Atmosphere8146]

They got the scale right, they got the budget right, they got the Glad casting absolutely right, bringing Clattenberg in was so left field but turned out to be a masterstroke. It's just the presenters they swung and missed on. 

[u/tobz619 → u/No_Atmosphere8146]

I disagree on the presenters, I think Barney and Brad have done a decent job and they do decent crowd work and the Glads have no problem giving (Bradley at least) some heat for comedy relief.

I struggle to think of anyone else who I would have presenting if they were to leave. I think having non-sports people makes more sense as presenters as even though Gladiators is a "sporty" show, it's really not sport, it's a show which features some sport.

[u/RubberDuckyRacing → u/tobz619]

One sports person and one professional presenter worked for the original. But tbh I don't mind the two Mr. B. Walshes at all.

[u/No_Atmosphere8146 → u/tobz619]

Barnes is an absolute charisma vacuum. He just states a fact and shoves a mic in your face. 

[u/Healthy-Section-9934 → u/No_Atmosphere8146]

Absolutely true, but he’s a mere bairn. Go watch those early Linekar MotD episodes - I’ve seen trees that were less wooden 😂 He’s much more natural and personable now with 20+ years experience.

I expect (hope?) Barney gets there too, but it’ll take practice.

[u/miumiusc]

I’d say it has, yes. We’re 3 series in and still going strong, sure it’s not perfect but this reboot has been successful. Unfortunately it seems to get the only good reboot at the moment, the Australian reboot was cancelled after 1 season and the American one… just no. The UK reboot is doing all the heavy lifting. 💪💪

[u/eelam_garek]

It's captured the nostalgia and feel of the original well while at the same time bringing it up to date. Viper was someone who didn't really work for me at first but he's grown on me a lot and is a perfect example of this. He's the Wolf of today's show while going in his own direction with it. I'm a bit worried about Giant not being around going forward as he's always one me and my son look forward to watching.

[u/tobz619 → u/eelam_garek]

I couldn't stand Series 1 Viper but it was mainly because he always lost and always cheated, so he was predictable free points.

Series 3 Viper works IMO because he's actually somewhat formidable now which makes his skits have a lot more of a dimension to them.

I also agree about missing Giant, I think he'll be a hard one to replace like-for-like.

[u/writerfreckles]

It has surpassed my expectations! It is so much better than I thought it would be. They have nailed every casting, every event brought back, every new event! It's the perfect combo of nostalgia and new.

A part of me wouldn't mind seeing more average contestants who don't go to the gym every week, but that is a really minor thing.

[u/tobz619]

Yes. It's even gotten better by the seasons because the Glads have shaken off their Season 1 nerves. Legend, I think, really did spearhead that and provide enough of a safe space for the other Glads to grow into as personalities. They have entrances moves, massive titantrons, archetypes, theme colours and music, it's prime pantomime in the best ways. Beeb, get the money out and give them pyro, smoke ... the whole shebang!

I love that not all the Glads either focus on being great on the mic or even super obnoxious but seem to have fun competing and be formidable nonetheless: it provides a more organic feel to the competition that will age well with the show and stops the Glads from being tiring - something I've really struggled with in the American series.

Another thing I love is how much focus there is on the action once it gets going: it does feel like a contest. I do wish some of the camera cuts were toned down a bit. I LOVE that there is no slow-mo shenanigans DURING the action (a serious pet peeve I had with the Robot Wars reboot) and instead it's reserved for the post-action replay or final actions.

Some of the new games, like Everest, though have serious balancing problems that need to be addressed. Same with Powerball with its 3 Glads vs 2 Contenders? Also, the lootbox slop Glad reveal wheel before Everest needs to die a thousand deaths, get that shit FAR away from here.

All in all, I was cautiously optimistic when it came out but when S1 E1 hit, I saw the vision, and my status elevated to pure hype because it could be golden if they get it right - and they are heading in the right direction for the most part imo.

If there's anything I would love from this, it would be an animated/comic series based on Gladiators past and present. I think that would really cement and immortalise this!

[u/Tomiwa11]

100% loving it

[u/shadowchaser222]

I think what the reboot got really right is before events , costumes , hosts etc they really understood the core of what Gladiators was and let that lead everything else. I think that’s perhaps where other attempts had failed. 

[u/frootloop2k]

1000% and not just for the nostalgia

[u/MyNameIsNotGump]

I’m American and compared to our reboot, this one gets it right though I wish both shows had Danger Zone/Assault

[u/MeVsMeYahtzee]

Other than the presenters, yes.

I wish sometimes they made the gladiators seem more respected. When cyclone did the double on duel, she went backstage and just had Legend say ‘whatever’ why show that? Why not have them in the back in awe?

I’d love the old pro wrestling style of, the characters fully believe in what they are portraying, instead of even the tough ones giving constant props to the contestants. Be cross that you lost. Show some fighting spirit.

Cyclone has her character down, people say legend does, but it’s easy to be gobby. Anyone can talk down to everyone it doesn’t mean there’s a charachter.

[u/ProfessorDecent5586]

Definitely. It's ace.