The Greatest American Hero is getting a reboot and while I can understand why some people think the concept won't do well in modern times, I think it can work if the reboot sticks to the basic concepts of the original series.
A suit they don't know how to use
The twist in original show was that Ralph lost the instruction book to the suit, so he figured out how to use it by trial and error and, well, accidents. That idea can still work in an updated version—it's not much different from a superhero gaining powers and having to learn how to use them. In the original series, not knowing how to use the suit led to many comedic moments (including the running gag that Ralph couldn't land after flying). The updated series can use that, but not knowing how to use the suit can also lead to dramatic moments where the hero fails.
A government handler and a civilian with the suit
Bill and Ralph were a great team in the original series because they approached problems differently. Bill worked for the FBI and so he wanted procedures and scenarios for every situation. Ralph, a civilian teacher, wanted to help people without it being a big deal. He was even reluctant to get involved in some cases because he wasn't sure he was up to the task. That tension worked really well, both for stories and for character development.
Helping out with everyday problems
One of my favorite parts of the original series was that the crime stopping stayed local (to Los Angeles). The characters didn't face threats against the entire world, and that helped the series stay light. Every day wasn't a doomsday event, and that left opportunities to see who the characters were outside of solving crimes and figuring out the suit.
The reboot could also explore ideas that weren't explored much in the original series, including:
A suit they don't know how to use
The twist in original show was that Ralph lost the instruction book to the suit, so he figured out how to use it by trial and error and, well, accidents. That idea can still work in an updated version—it's not much different from a superhero gaining powers and having to learn how to use them. In the original series, not knowing how to use the suit led to many comedic moments (including the running gag that Ralph couldn't land after flying). The updated series can use that, but not knowing how to use the suit can also lead to dramatic moments where the hero fails.
A government handler and a civilian with the suit
Bill and Ralph were a great team in the original series because they approached problems differently. Bill worked for the FBI and so he wanted procedures and scenarios for every situation. Ralph, a civilian teacher, wanted to help people without it being a big deal. He was even reluctant to get involved in some cases because he wasn't sure he was up to the task. That tension worked really well, both for stories and for character development.
Helping out with everyday problems
One of my favorite parts of the original series was that the crime stopping stayed local (to Los Angeles). The characters didn't face threats against the entire world, and that helped the series stay light. Every day wasn't a doomsday event, and that left opportunities to see who the characters were outside of solving crimes and figuring out the suit.
The reboot could also explore ideas that weren't explored much in the original series, including:
- Should the hero have an alter ego/secret identity?
- Are the hero and the FBI agent tempted to use the suit for themselves?
- Do these characters live in a world with superhero comics (and movies, TV shows), and does that influence what they do with the suit?
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