Parents looking for someone to care for their children don’t want to make a million calls to lock up a babysitter. And because that feeling is as true now as it was in mid-80s – when The Nanny Club books hit the scene: Netflix adaptation of young adult novels feels fresh, fun and relevant.
The updated version of Ann M. Martin’s beloved series debuted Friday on streaming service. In a moment, we want to hear what you think of the first episode. But first, a quick summary:
The show quickly establishes its main characters. Kristy (Sophie Grace, Terror in the forest) is the narrator; is a tomboy whose best friend, the quiet Mary-Anne (Malia Baker, The flash) lives near. They used to be good friends with the artistic Claudia (Momona Tamada, Boys), but lately there has been a distance. “I miss her,” Kristy tells us. “We both do it.”
Kristy’s father is not in the photo. When her mother, Elizabeth (Alicia Silverstone, Clueless), he needs someone to take care of his little brother (and his two older brothers quickly leave), he spends one night on the phone and finally falls short. “Why is so difficult?” she cries … giving Kristy the idea of a new business.
Finally, Kristy and Mary-Anne meet at Claudia’s house for Kristy to present her great idea. At first it bothers her that Claudia has also invited her new friend, Stacey (Shay Rudolph, Lethal weapon), too. But Kristy keeps going: she wants to start a club that meets several times a week and serves as a central booking machine for local parents looking for babysitters. Mary-Anne and Claudia are inside. And when Stacey instantly has some good marketing ideas and such, Kristy reluctantly considers her important enough to be a part of the new venture.
Book fans will recognize several direct nods to the source material, including the way Claudia hides junk food in her room. But the show also addresses the likelihood of such a club in the digital age by showing how irritated Elizabeth is at having to pay an annual fee to use an online childcare referral service.
Anyway, the club goes live, complete with a transparent “iconic” landline from the old days. The first call is from Watson (Mark Feuerstein, real pain), The fiancé of Kristy’s mother (whom Kristy hates). So she acts pretty bestially with him … and then she has to calm her anger when she realizes that he’s the club’s biggest cheerleader and the main reason she gets her next jobs.
Along the way, Kristy’s need to be in charge, along with her seething anger at upcoming changes in her family, causes her to alienate her friends. When she sees Stacey with her parents, despite having said that she was going to be in New York City at the time, Kristy is enraged at what she believes to be treason. “You’re not perfect, darling, and neither are any of the people who love you,” Elizabeth gently reminds him later during a heartfelt. So Kristy brings a peace offering to the next meeting and apologizes for the way she acted, admitting that the clubs “are not just mine, although it was my idea.”
Of course, the other girls accept his apology, but not his offer to resign as president. Then they enjoy the meal, with Stacey silently giving “thanks” to Kristy for saying nothing about meeting her when she was supposed to be in the Big Apple.
Now is your turn. What did you think of the premiere? Rate Episode 1 via the poll below, then click the comments with your thoughts!
