The Baby-Sitters Club (Spoiler-free) Review

Like many women who grew up in the late 80s/early 90s, Ann M. Martin’s “The Baby-Sitters Club” book series holds a special place in my heart. I remember taking the books out of the local library as a kid (starting with the “Baby-Sitters Little Sister” series that followed Kristy’s step-sister Karen and then “graduating” to the real series when I was finally deemed to be old enough at ten) and absolutely devouring them. The charm of the books continues to this day: A series about tween and teen girls that deals with real issues they encounter (bullying, divorce, crushes, school, parental expectations) while never talking down to their audience. Everyone had a particular character they related to more than the rest (personally, I was a Kristy with a touch of Mallory’s nerdiness). But, at the end of the day, what made the books so lasting and beloved were the friendships modeled within. While the characters didn’t always get along – sometimes for books at a time – the friendships were sacred.

So, needless to say, I was pretty intrigued when I heard that Netflix was taking a swing at a new television series based on the books. The first attempt to bring the books to the small screen was all the way back in 1990, and while I certainly remember enjoying the show (when we had our free HBO weekends and I could watch the reruns), I also remember it didn’t feel quite right. The girls were a bit too old and it all seemed so . . . dramatic. There was the beloved 1995 film, which told an original story and had an age-appropriate cast, but still wasn’t a true adaptation of the books. Well, I’m thrilled to report that this version, from showrunner Rachel Shukert, is everything fans of the books dreamed it could be and more. Every facet of the production has been crafted with the goal of telling these stories. The series is impeccably cast (how the show found unknown child actors who are this good is a mystery, but wow), the story beats hew close to the books that inspired them, and everything feels right – right for the characters, for the setting, for the audience. This isn’t an instance of a showrunner taking a beloved childhood tale and turning it into something only older teens and adults can watch (looking at you Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Riverdale). This is a show that works for kids and adults (seriously, I was fully engaged throughout the whole season and there are plenty of little jokes for us adults that will go over kids’ heads).

The stories resonate just as strongly as they did when they first arrived into our lives. 25 years after I first picked up a Baby-Sitters Club book, my life has certainly changed, but watching the show threw me back to my own adolescence. Seeing the characters I knew and loved brought to life so well was a joy. The series manages to avoid a lot of the pitfalls similar shows tend to fall into. There’s no saccharine moments of reconciliation, problems aren’t necessarily solved in 30 minutes or less, and sometimes bad things happen to good people just because that’s how life can be (the episode that deals with Claudia’s beloved grandmother Mimi is one such instance). There are a number of teaching moments throughout the first season, but again, they feel as organic as they did when we first discovered Stacey’s secret or read about Kristy struggle with accepting Watson and his kids becoming part of her family. It never feels forced, which is a testament to the careful adaptation from Shukert and her talented writing staff.

None of this would work, however, without the exception cast. From the young actors (Sophie Grace as Kristy, Momona Tamada as Claudia, Shay Rudolph as Stacey, Malia Baker as Mary Anne, and Xochitl Gomez as Dawn who are all poised and capable despite their young ages) to the girls’ parents (Alicia Silverstone as Kristy’s mom Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer, Mark Feuerstein as Kristy’s step-father Watson, Mark Evan Jackson as Mary Anne’s father, and Jessica Elaina Eason as Dawn’s mom, who are all sensational), each moment lands because the cast is fully attuned to their characters. The kids don’t know everything, the parents aren’t clueless – each is struggling to figure out their place in the world but they never lose sight of their love for each other.

But what really makes The Baby-Sitters Club work is how it treats the female friendships at its core. It doesn’t pit the girls against one another. It doesn’t make them fight over boys (while some of them have crushes, it’s never on the same boy, and you get the feeling that if the show ever went there – and perhaps it will when they get a bit older – the girls would absolutely be able to talk things out rather than turn things into a catfight). Each girls’ feelings are seen as valid, whether they are struggling with something internally and nervous about sharing it with the group or if they are coming to the club for help. They support each other, they care about each other, and when they have problems with one another they are able to (eventually) put those into words and talk them through. It’s pretty great to see a series about middle school girls that emphasizes the importance of continuing to communicate with each other rather than talk about others behind their backs. I know I could have used a show with that message when I was that age (instead I got things like Dawson’s Creek).

If it isn’t clear yet, I absolutely loved The Baby-Sitters Club and cannot recommend this one highly enough. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the brilliant work by little Sophia Reid-Gantzert as Karen Brewer (seriously, she absolutely slays and steals every scene she’s in). And if you have young girls in your life, recommend this to them. It has plenty to keep them invested from a story perspective while also sneaking in some important life lessons along the way.