This summer, Netflix has released their limited 10-episode series of the newest adaptation of “The Baby-Sitter’s Club“.
As per usual, this Sphinx just watched it. (Can’t imagine what was the hold-up? Busy? Who me?)
Anyway, I loved it!
Which was not an absolute certainty.
One of the first binary-for-no-reason choices I can recall was the divide between the readers of The Baby-Sitter’s Club versus the readers of Sweet Valley Kids/Twins/High/University (were there more?). Pivoting from Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown (one of my first literary crushes), as a young, bookish Sphinx, I stumbled into this divide and ultimately emerged, pledging solemn allegiance to The Baby-Sitter’s Club. (I’m not going to go into what attributes were prescribed to which readership but it was nearly as divisive as the political parties. And much like the political stances, they were almost so far apart as to be coming around to being similar.)
I devoured the books, making the 4 book pack a standard part of my Scholastic order and thus turning it into a bargaining chip that my parents could use to get me to behave. This was before the days of the Internet or Amazon, so unless the local bookstore had the early copies (and they usually didn’t), I could only get the first books from the library, instead of owning them.
Which ultimately worked out because…
All of my books, including my BSC (that’s Baby-Sitter’s Club for the uninitiated) were destroyed in a fire. So that ended that.
We also didn’t have cable at the time (and definitely didn’t have HBO) or else I would have just pivoted directly into the television series. I did end up stumbling onto the series later and, while it wasn’t really true to the books, it was an okay adaptation.
So imagine my surprise when I hated (hay.ted.) the movie. Couldn’t stand it. The less said about it, the better. Moving on.
And that was it for the BSC for years.
Netflix’s current adaptation is somehow both true to the books and true to the spirit of the books while also making some really timely and welcome changes. (I know, it’s crazy. But it works, okay?)
Each character is so perfectly cast that even characters I didn’t really like in the books (I’m looking at you, Stacey) are endearingly brought to life. From the young Rachel Bloom-esque Sophie Grace playing the tomboy Kristy Thomas to the mini Elizabeth Holmes Vivian Watson as Mallory Pike, every casting choice is perfect. The adults are also wonderfully cast and acted, showcasing that adults have lives but not letting their drama overtake the heart of the show, which is the friendship of the Baby-Sitter’s Club.
My only lingering frustration is that there aren’t more episodes to watch. I tried to parcel these sweet treats out, but ended up bingeing the last 5 episodes. Don’t do what I did. Enjoy each episode and give yourself time. The 10 episodes cover the first day of middle school and go all the way into summer camp, so pace yourself. Or do what I intend to do, which is start all over again and rewatch it.
Related
- Claudia Kishi Fan Club: While the fictional world of Stoneybrooke was mostly white, the attempts at diversity had a real resonance with people. The character of Claudia Kishi was very important for young Asian-American girls to see and this club (and documentary) highlight just how impactful she was.
- Roxanne Gay: I Once Was Miss America. Roxanne Gay has made no secret of her love for Sweet Valley High. (Even still, I think we might have been friends. 😀 )
