For fans of the ‘80s and ‘90s book series, The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix is a true trip down memory lane. With remakes all the rage as of late, it’s hard sometimes to get it just right. The Baby-Sitters Club does just that. The new series is both a fresh take for Gen Z youth and nostalgic homage to the cult classic books, television show, and movie.
The latest iteration of the series is more reflective of the United States’ diverse population, with Sophie Grace as Kristy, Momona Tamada as Claudia, Malia Baker as Mary Anne, Shay Rudolph as Stacey, and Xochitl Gomez as Dawn.
The premise of The Baby-Sitters Club is simple: a group of middle school girls realize that parents in their small East Coast town are desperately in need of babysitters and create “The Baby-Sitters Club,” where parents can reach a group of sitters all at once during twice-weekly meetings.
The creators get past the modern cell phone problem when Claudia buys a 25-year-old landline phone off of Etsy. The girls are charmed by the antiquated technology and the prop is a humorous nod to the books.
Each actress pays homage to the original characters with maturity and poise, offering a well-rounded portrayal of girls with varying personalities. Sophie Grace captures club president Kristy’s determination and strong will. She’s a fierce leader and a loyal friend. Momona Tamada’s Claudia is artistic, dressing in colorful, gorgeous outfits—she makes earrings out of everything!
Malia Baker plays Mary Anne with ease and instant likeability. She is still shy and somewhat quiet like in the books, but there’s a particular episode where she truly comes into her own. Mary Anne discovers a child she is babysitting is transgender. When the little girl ends up sick and has to go to the hospital, she is misgendered. Mary Anne promptly confronts hospital staff about their mistake. It is a refreshingly modern scene that would not have occurred in the books, movies, or television shows from years past.
Dawn is still a California girl, but instead of being blonde, she’s an outspoken activist and Latinx teen with a gay dad. In the books, Dawn’s parents were divorced (and still are in the series) but in the present day, divorce is more normalized than it was in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Dawn’s situation is more reflective of today’s norms. Her advocacy for affordable, all-inclusive access to art classes at her summer camp, and the successful protest she stages, is inspiring and teaches young audiences the importance of activism.
Shay Rudolph plays Stacey with the breezy sophistication of an ex-New Yorker. Her diabetes is the subject of a bullying situation we see in flashbacks. Children have dealt with bullying for decades, but the new version of the BSC modernizes the issue as Stacy is the subject of a humiliating cell phone video.
Junior officers (who come in later in the book series) are also introduced. Vivian Watson has Mallory’s signature red locks and love of horses and reading. Anais Lee’s Jessi is best friends with Mallory and obsessed with all things dancing, just like in the books.
Parents will love catching Alicia Silverstone, star of 1995's Clueless, as Kristy's mother. Yes, she is now old enough to play a parent to a 13-year-old!
If you’re a parent and loved the series but want to show your child something more current, The Baby-Sitters Club is an excellent choice that offers progressive lessons, modern humor, and varying images of girlhood for young women to embrace.