Review: iCarly Returns in a Reboot for the Digital Age

The wait is over for the highly-anticipated iCarly reboot as Miranda Cosgrove reprises her breakout role of Carly Shay, the original influencer of the digital age.

It’s been almost ten years since the original iCarly series ended. But when Netflix started streaming the comedy webcasts and youthful pranks of Carly and her friends earlier this year, fans unapologetically flocked to their screens. The reboot is far from being a Nickelodeon show, though. 

Despite this, the reboot still captures the same goofy humor and comical situations. Now, the characters we’ve grown up watching are drinking, cursing, discussing sex, and caring for children. For maturing audiences of the original series, the reboot is all so relevant. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the premiere episode of iCarly, “iStart Over,” and the start of a new era of webcasts, so be prepared for spoilers below. 

At the start of the episode, we learn that Carly and her (quickly ex-boyfriend) had a widely publicized relationship across the internet. Her influencer lifestyle begs the attention of audiences, but Carly is passionate about it. While on a date in a restaurant that comically only serves variations of whey milk, Carly explains that she studied theater and then media in college, but dropped out because it wasn’t as fulfilling as her web show.

She live-streams from anywhere; art exhibits, her living room, and even the classic apartment from the original series. It’s almost a nostalgic feeling to see these characters walk up the winding staircase or emerge from the metal elevators inside.

Only the vibrant furniture is replaced with brick walls and industrial furniture. But this is Spencer after all, and his wacky sculptures and art pieces can be found throughout the home. After accidentally creating a ‘melting marshmallow’ sculpture of the White House, Spencer came into enough wealth to buy the apartment and live comfortably. 

“The way that it was half melted to reflect our disintegrating democracy, such a brave statement,” Freddie says to Spencer at his dinner party, cocktails in tow.

“It was an accident,” Spencer replies. Now, he hires caterers for dinner parties rather than cooking his famous spaghetti tacos. With his rising success, however, Spencer struggles to create true meaning within his art that others will approve of.

One person Spencer tries to impress in particular is a newcomer to the series, Harper (Laci Mosley). Harper comes from a wealthy family who lost their money and is now Carly’s roommate. She has dreams of becoming a stylist (evident by her killer wardrobe) but works as a barista for now while enjoying clubbing on her downtime.

“For you, parties are a never-ending buffet of people who want to sleep with you,” Carly tells her roommate (who happily agrees). Harper is openly bisexual, though this doesn’t seem to define her character entirely. After all, young adulthood is about the exploration of one’s identity and relationships.

Speaking of relationships, it is comforting to watch how Carly and Freddie Benson’s (Nathan Kress) bond strengthened over time. Freddie’s pursuit of love in life left him with two divorces by the age of 26. But without Sam there to ridicule his every move (she is off somewhere with a biker gang, according to Carly) Freddie is left with another menace of sorts.

No, not Ms. Benson (Mary Scheer), though she does make an appearance in the premiere. Freddie’s stepdaughter, Millicent (Jaidyn Triplett) is young, digitally savvy, and hilariously critical of her millennial counterparts. “You haven’t posted for a month, in internet years, that’s a decade,” Millicent tells Carly.  

Between dinner parties and brunches, disappointing dates, and the coming-and-goings of friends, the reboot of iCarly is ready to take on new territory. Not only does the first episode explore real dilemmas facing young adults, but it also highlights the modern age of digital interactions. After all, Carly is no longer just the face of the iCarly webcast that began after a middle school talent show audition. She is the face of her brand, having to put forward constant content and fight off internet trolls with the help of – as the theme song puts it  – the members of her nation. 

The fun is only getting started, especially since Carly has chosen to return to her web show with the help of Freddie as her producer. With memorable props, recurring sketches, and a pear phone in two, iCarly is back in full swing.

iCarly will be streaming weekly episodes on Paramount Plus, with three episodes out now.