Maties, do you want to read my review? (fifteen seconds later) GREAT! In order to read it, everyone say the secret password, "Boo hoo hoo!"
If you know the original Disney (or the book) then this show sugarcoats everything that Peter Pan was about. It was basically an adventure with children (mostly boys) who live on an island, Neverland, where nobody grows up and, do just about everything a boy (or at least back then) wanted to do, fly, chase or befriend Indians, fight pirates, fairies and mermaids exist, and always avoid being caught; basically every day was an adventure. How is that compared to the show? Let's see: three kids fly (in emergencies), chase clues, chase Hook (who is a wimpy bully) with a miserable band of three pirates, and they barely fight!
Sure both sound similar, but if you think about it and watch them back to back then you'll see how different they are. For example Hook! I'm going to cry! Hook is the most dangerous pirate in all of Neverland. His hook is not only meant to replace his missing hand (which Peter Pan cut off) but also gut anybody who dares try any mutiny against him. Here in the show, he is just the worst version of a bully you could ever imagine! He'll do the lamest things ever like hold Jake's guitar hostage, take Izzy's beautiful seashell, steal Cubby's healthy snacks, and so on! This isn't the Hook I know or love! How about the fighting? They're not exciting whatsoever. Hook never uses his hook, not even when he's face to face with Peter himself, they have coconut cannon balls (are you kidding me?), Jake's sword is made of wood and he practically never uses it, oh and get this, the crocodile is harmless and just chases Hook, hops like a puppy dog on land, and when Hook lands on him, he bounces like a rodeo horse. I'm honestly thinking that companies just did all this because they were afraid if they stuck with the original then the kids' parents would sue them for having sword fighting and a man eating crocodile chasing after Hook after eating his "tasty" hand! How about when Peter Pan himself shows up (though it's so rare)? He's a moral guide for Jake and his crew. No, just no. Peter is not a moralist, he's a brash, rash, naughty cocky, fun, adventure-loving boy - just about everything a boy back then (and possibly now) wanted to be - even Return to Neverland got that right.
The only thing worse is the Disney Junior formula: 1) Get the fourth wall actively involved 2) Try three times guessing the obvious. Nothing wrong with trying to get the fourth wall active, but it is pointless unless this was a video game; all the kids are doing are sitting on their butts, watching the adventure, and calling out to the non-responding TV screen. How about the other problem? Kids are going to pick up that the third option is the right one, and the first two guesses make themselves so obviously wrong instead of cleverly almost looking like the correct answer, and there also is no point into having the kids guessing because it stops the adventure for thirty seconds. Disney Junior is on par with Dora the Explorer, but in English.
If you love Peter Pan, Disney or the book then you may not really want to watch this show.
If you know the original Disney (or the book) then this show sugarcoats everything that Peter Pan was about. It was basically an adventure with children (mostly boys) who live on an island, Neverland, where nobody grows up and, do just about everything a boy (or at least back then) wanted to do, fly, chase or befriend Indians, fight pirates, fairies and mermaids exist, and always avoid being caught; basically every day was an adventure. How is that compared to the show? Let's see: three kids fly (in emergencies), chase clues, chase Hook (who is a wimpy bully) with a miserable band of three pirates, and they barely fight!
Sure both sound similar, but if you think about it and watch them back to back then you'll see how different they are. For example Hook! I'm going to cry! Hook is the most dangerous pirate in all of Neverland. His hook is not only meant to replace his missing hand (which Peter Pan cut off) but also gut anybody who dares try any mutiny against him. Here in the show, he is just the worst version of a bully you could ever imagine! He'll do the lamest things ever like hold Jake's guitar hostage, take Izzy's beautiful seashell, steal Cubby's healthy snacks, and so on! This isn't the Hook I know or love! How about the fighting? They're not exciting whatsoever. Hook never uses his hook, not even when he's face to face with Peter himself, they have coconut cannon balls (are you kidding me?), Jake's sword is made of wood and he practically never uses it, oh and get this, the crocodile is harmless and just chases Hook, hops like a puppy dog on land, and when Hook lands on him, he bounces like a rodeo horse. I'm honestly thinking that companies just did all this because they were afraid if they stuck with the original then the kids' parents would sue them for having sword fighting and a man eating crocodile chasing after Hook after eating his "tasty" hand! How about when Peter Pan himself shows up (though it's so rare)? He's a moral guide for Jake and his crew. No, just no. Peter is not a moralist, he's a brash, rash, naughty cocky, fun, adventure-loving boy - just about everything a boy back then (and possibly now) wanted to be - even Return to Neverland got that right.
The only thing worse is the Disney Junior formula: 1) Get the fourth wall actively involved 2) Try three times guessing the obvious. Nothing wrong with trying to get the fourth wall active, but it is pointless unless this was a video game; all the kids are doing are sitting on their butts, watching the adventure, and calling out to the non-responding TV screen. How about the other problem? Kids are going to pick up that the third option is the right one, and the first two guesses make themselves so obviously wrong instead of cleverly almost looking like the correct answer, and there also is no point into having the kids guessing because it stops the adventure for thirty seconds. Disney Junior is on par with Dora the Explorer, but in English.
If you love Peter Pan, Disney or the book then you may not really want to watch this show.