Something you loved years ago, but looking back, it's shit

[RaraRachael]

I loved a kids' series in 1984 called The Box of Delights. I remember it being a magical Christmassy adventure. I got the DVD and tried to watch it at the weekend. Considering it was aimed at kids, it was unintelligible and unwatchable.

I also felt the same about The Goodies. Laughed myself silly at them when I was a kid. Watched a rare repeat and didn't laugh once - utter, utter rubbish.

What are yours?

Bagpuss! So boring.

And, not TV, but Sliding Doors. It was one of the first films I saw with DH, but I can't watch it now. Gwyneth Paltrow's 'British' accent, her boyfriend is so irritating (as well as being a cheating nob), and John Hannah just doesn't stop talking!!

Rentaghost. I watched it when it was on every single week. Watched it on YouTube recently and though wtf did I used to like about this.

The Breakfast Club - I loved this as a teen but now I think it is a movie where nothing really happens

I found it a film that doesn't stand up well to repeated viewings. When I watched it again I found the characters annoying and not likable.

@3luckystars

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I hate to say this but also Gilmore Girls, I used to love it but now find it a bit loud and shouty.

What?! I am just constantly re-watching Buffy and have done ever since I was 12 😂 I am so passionate about it, it is the greatest!!!

@PermanentTemporary

Seinfeld. There's a whole thread about it, and I thought they must be wrong, settled down with glass of wine to enjoy it, man. It's about as cutting edge as Everyone Loves Raymond.

Again, are you kidding? Another one my partner and I just re-watch religiously 🙈

Game On. In all fairness I was a tween/teenager when it was first on, but it's very much a sitcom aimed at young adults of the time. Ben Chaplin was hot though!

Bottom. Again was a tween and found it hilarious. I still love the idea of liking it, but it isn't really that funny now.

Peep Show. It is still funny in places, but it is far too cringey and over the top, and the humour is dating a bit already.

I think the more outrageous a comedy is and the more it relays on stereotypes, the easier it is for it to become dated.

Thinking about this, I think Detectorists will stand the test of time as a gentle comedy.

The best thing about Minder is London in the 70s. It fascinates me. They do things like drive up to the Albert Hall and just park right outside. Imagine!

Saw them park outside Sotheby’s in one of the Only Fools episodes. Me and DH were incredulous! “Omg that must be red route, what are they DOING?! Look at that, it’s a single yellow!!! Let me Google Earth it now…”

In case you care, it’s now no stopping and pedestrianised like exhibition road

Bagpuss - some of the songs are really good, IMO, much better than current efforts. As with many 1970s and 80s' general TV show theme tunes. Melody and story telly amazing in the circumstances. Don't see the quality of song writing now being demonstrated though not sure if the problem is the commissioning rather than the talent.

@PermanentTemporary you are out of your mind if you don’t think Seinfeld is cutting edge, it has aged sooo well! The stuff about white people being uncomfortable talking about race was so ahead of its time. First sitcom with genuinely funny female lead who isn’t just someone’s girlfriend. The humour is so subtle and with so many callbacks to previous jokes. And the running jokes about Jerry mot being able to act - very meta. Friends ripped off so many jokes from SF. Seinfeld rules 4eva!!

Yes yes to box of delights
Also Heidi from similar era
My lovely dh got me the dvd
Christ what a load of rubbish

@PlantyPotts

Sex and the City. I know it's de rigeur again now thanks to the reboot but it's hasn't aged well. I bloody adored it when it was out originally but when trying to rewatch it's just so shallow and cringey.

Agree with this too Fml Carrie so whiny

I loved Sex in the City, and was deeply insulted when people said I was most like ( to me then) boring, unattractive Miranda. Now I watch it and she's the only one I would go for a coffee with, the rest are insufferable.

Knots Landing aged about ten

Seinfeld probably looks quite predictable and dated now if you’re watching it for the first time, but that’s only because it has inspired so many similar shows over the years. It really was quite groundbreaking at the time.

Anyway, another show for the ‘wouldn’t get away with that now’ pile is Queer as Folk. Loved it at the time, and great that a show like that got commissioned when there were so few gay characters on TV. But I found it hard to get over the fact that one of the characters has sex with a 15 year old and nobody seems even a little grossed out by that. They also treat the lesbian characters like shit and make nasty misogynistic jokes about them.

Family Ness and Penny Crayon. Loved them but a rewatch on YouTube left me disappointed!

The Goodies! I used to die laughing, same with the Two Ronnie's and Hi-De-Hi etc. as a teenager/young adult but now, aged 56, they leave me completely cold!

I was wondering recently if I'd be able to track down any episodes of Rowan and Martin's Laugh In, but I can see I might be really disappointed if I did! Better to remember it being one of the highlights of my week!

I bloody loved Knots Landing. I wish it was on dvd. You can only get the really early rubbish ones.
Remember Val's twins being kidnapped by Gary's evil girlfriend. Sooo good.

thatsallineed
Was the theme tune you've been on board with the Double Deckers, take a ticket for a journey on a London double Decker bus

Desperate Houswives - loved it when it is on but looking back now, what a pile of crap!

As Time Goes By...had it all on DVD and everything, and now when I rewatch I just think a lot of the acting of the supporting cast is so wooden and cringe, I struggle to watch it.

Not Judi or Geoffrey obvs.

@Zilla1

Bagpuss - some of the songs are really good, IMO, much better than current efforts. As with many 1970s and 80s' general TV show theme tunes. Melody and story telly amazing in the circumstances. Don't see the quality of song writing now being demonstrated though not sure if the problem is the commissioning rather than the talent.

Completely off topic but the Bagpuss theme always puts a lump in my throat and I've no idea why, it has done since I used to watch it back in the 80s.

I watched a couple of Keeping Up Appearances on iplayer the other day, I used to think it was hilarious, laughing at silly old Hyacinth, but watching it now, I just feel a bit sorry for her, I mean she was a snob and a bit uppity but her heart was in the right place and everyone was awful to or about her.
And like many old shows, it was never intended to be binged - I never realised how much they used to rely on there being a week between each programme - they're basically all the same episode

Bagpuss is NOT SHIT dammit.

There should be a law against that.

Sabrina The Teenage Witch, The Simpsons, Legally Blonde, Dumb & Dumber

Also The Catherine Tate Show.. used to find that hilarious