Punky Brewster on Peacock: 5 reasons to watch

The latest edition of Reboot Mania comes straight to you from Punky Brewster, which is now streaming on Peacock. Soleil Moon Frye is back. But this time, she’s playing the parent.

Anyone who grew up watching the original probably feels a little bit old just thinking about a grown-up Punky Brewster, much less one who’s raising kids. Want to feel even older? Freddie Prinze Jr., who used to grace the cover of all those teen magazines, plays her ex-husband.

There’s no need to worry, though. The adult Punky embodies the idea that being an adult doesn’t mean you can’t still be young at heart.

The real question about Peacock’s Punky Brewster reboot is whether or not it’s worth watching. The answer? This update on an old favorite is everything you could possibly hope for and more.

Here are 5 reasons to watch Punky Brewster on Peacock

It’s like Soleil Moon Frye never left Punky Brewster

It’s been over 30 years since she hung up her mismatched Chuck Taylors, but Soleil Moon Frye still has that…something. The mannerisms are all there, and there’s no question that this is just an older, not necessarily “grown-up,” version of the little girl we knew, loved, and may or may not have wanted to be.

She’s the same Punky who taught us to be a little weird and to have a big heart. Watching this reboot, it feels like we never left her.

That’s no small feat after so many years. The only explanation we’ve got is that Soleil Moon Frye and Punky Brewster were one and the same all along.

This reboot is full of Punky Power

This series is a heaping helping of nostalgia-flavored comfort food. So, if you’re in the mood for something that feels like home, Peacock’s got you covered.

The trailer gives away many, but not all, of the nods to the ‘80s sitcom: Punky’s style, the dog, “holy macanoli,” and others. Even Punky’s profession should put a smile on your face. In a nice nod to her foster dad, Henry Warnimont, and the late George Gaynes who played him, Ms. Brewster is a photographer.

Cherie Johnson returns as Punky’s best friend. Like her costar, Johnson is easy to believe as just the adult version of her original character.

Remember Margaux? Ami Foster (now Ami Foster Defries) is back, too.

There are some more subtle throwbacks, too. We just don’t want to spoil them all.

Quinn Copeland is the perfect Punky 2.0

If you could bottle Soleil Moon Frye’s Punky Power and use it to create a totally new little person, you’d get Quinn Copeland’s Izzy. The Punky Brewster reboot synopsis from Peacock describes Izzy as:

"…a young girl in the foster system who reminds Punky a lot of her younger self."

Consider that the understatement of the century. Had Peacock decided to go with a full reboot, with casting someone new in the title role, Copeland would have been great as the Punky. As a character all her own, she’s even better.

She’s got that something special that Soleil Moon Frye originally introduced to the world. Sometimes, lightning really can strike twice.

It reminds us that families aren’t always what we expect

When Punky Brewster first aired, the concept of having someone like Henry raise someone like Punky was pretty foreign. Throw in Cherie being raised by her grandmother, and it really broke the “perfect, happy family” model.

And yet, anyone who knows these characters knows that Punky and Henry were the perfect family, especially when you added Cherie and Mrs. Johnson into the mix. Family isn’t always what you expect it to be, and the Punky Brewster reboot nails that idea, both through Punky fostering Izzy and in refreshing new ways.

TV isn’t exactly known for putting a positive spin on foster families. Admittedly, there are horror stories about the real-life system. It’s not always negative, though, so it’s nice to see Peacock’s revival of Punky’s story put the happier version of that experience back out there.

Punky becoming Izzy’s foster mom isn’t the only thing that works well here, though. Punky and ex-husband Travis actually make much better parents now that they’re “just friends.” That’s something more kids whose parents are about to split, or have recently split, desperately need to see.

Peacock’s Punky Brewster reboot just feels good to watch

This falls a little under the “nostalgia-flavored comfort food” comment above. But there’s more to feel good about than just seeing a bunch of nods to the past.

Punky always had a certain optimism, which is desperately needed right now. Seeing her thriving and just having fun with her kids is the perfect escapism. Life may not be all sunshine and roses, but she’s got her own sunshine in spades to warm everyone right up.

There’s also a moment between Punky and Izzy that feels like the character has finally made peace with her past. It’s one of the many moments where you’ll need tissues. Some of us really need that “good” cry right now, and watching this reboot is a lesson in what it truly means to smile through your tears.

There are many more reasons to give this series a chance. Whatever they are, may you never be afraid of your unique, authentic self. Punky certainly wouldn’t.

The Punky Brewster reboot is now streaming on Peacock.