Can we talk about people saying "gritty reboot" when they mean "gritty re-imagining"?

Been seeing this mixup everywhere lately on forums and even in YouTube reviews. A reboot is just starting over with the same basic premise and characters. A re-imagining changes major elements like setting or tone. I noticed this after my friend kept calling the new Trigun a reboot but it completely changes Vash's personality and the whole tone. Thats a re-imagining people. Got into a 30 minute argument about it at a con last month and nobody agreed. Anyone else notice this or am I the only one whos bothered about getting the terms right?

3 comments

3 Comments

james_kim1mo ago

Read an article the other day that made the same point about the new Trigun, pretty much word for word. It's definitely a re-imagining since they changed Vash's whole vibe and the setting. People just like saying "gritty reboot" cause it sounds cool I guess lol.

xena37327d agoMost Upvoted

Read a blog post last week that broke it down perfectly. Called the new Trigun a "spiritual reboot" which I guess is another way to say re-imagining without sounding like a film nerd. That show changed the whole mood from goofy western to serious sci-fi drama. Vash isn't even goofy anymore. They stripped all the humor out. That's not a reboot, that's practically a different show wearing Trigun's skin. My buddy still refuses to call it a re-imagining though. Says I'm gatekeeping terms. Whatever man, words mean things.

the_xena1mo ago

Honestly, james_kim you hit it right with "people just like saying gritty reboot cause it sounds cool." Ngl I think half the time people just want to sound like they know film terms but they butcher it. Like my buddy calls everything a "gritty reboot" now, even freaking Bluey. "Oh yeah Bluey got a gritty reboot where Bandit has a drinking problem." I had to sit him down and explain no that's just your weird fan fiction buddy.