Legends of the Hidden Temple (2021–2022) User Reviews

Adult reboot that suffers from poor editing and a small temple

[ruskryger · 4/10 · 11 October 2021]

I've watched all three seasons of the original show on Nickelodeon and was psyched to hear about this reboot for adults on the CW. It's got some of the elements of the original show and I'll still watch it for the sake of nostalgia, but the editing for the program is absolutely cringe.

Positives:

• They got the same voice actor to voice Olmec
• It has the familiar progression of going across the moat, the steps of knowledge, the temple games, and then the temple run
• They added comic book-style graphics to explain the story
• $25,000 cash prize is sweet
• I liked the first-person camera bits; I think they could have made it easier to view the entire temple from the side though
• I didn't mind that they cut the number of teams from six to four; I also didn't mind that they turned the third temple game into a steps of knowledge tiebreaker to save time, although having a more physical, head-to-head tiebreaker would have been more exciting

Negatives:

• The lethargic music sucks a lot of energy out of the reboot. The whole point of this show is to the ride on our nostalgia, so it would have been far better if they could have remixed the classic tunes -- especially the temple run music -- and added them in.

• Because of COVID restrictions, there's no live audience. Not really their fault, but it just contributes to the lack of energy.

• There are far too many edit inserts of commentary from the host and the contestants. I want to watch the challenges from start to finish. If you want to splice in what the contestants are thinking, do it after they're over. The constant edits just make it feel like it's not live, which is one of the strengths of the original show.

• Worst of all, they cut the temple run IN HALF with a commercial break, destroying the momentum and intensity of the most important part of the show. I would rather watch longer commercials before the temple run than break it up like that. Just WHY?!

• The temple is actually sort of small. Since it only has about ten rooms or so, it's clear that there's really just one path through the temple where the contestants have to hit every room to get to the treasure. (Which means they will likely hit all three temple guards.) At least on the original show there was the illusion that you could go in multiple directions and there were times were shortcut doors did exist.

• By default, the final contestants are given two pendants of life, so the temple guards are not really that much of a threat, just more of a nuisance. One of the dangers of the temple games in the original was that if you only had 1 or 1.5 pendants of life at the end, you could be unlucky with the temple guard placement (tho you could the find the missing half pendant in the temple itself). I suppose that they wanted to make sure that the contestants always had a shot at the prize money, but it defeats the point of the guards.

Havent the Fogg-iest of What to Say...Maybe

[ouatwdw-08917 · 4/10 · 11 October 2021]

Olmecs back, but leaves questions/thoughts Fogging my mind.

Good to see the show come back.

The first challenege (the moat) the pace was lagging.

The host needs a bigger hat and to stop hitting her mark on set with a 3/4 profile pose for most of the time.

The temple should have been built in a soundstage with live audience for taping which adds to the energy.

Temple needs better interior room lighting.

On screen in wide shots it looks very dark.

The temple rooms classic and new are cool...except.

More wide shots are needed doing the temple run, not just first pov shots.

During the temple run on the first episode they cut to commercial.

Are your kidding me? Cutting to commercial during a temple run????...impacts the energy of the temple run.

The spiders lair looked like palette shrinkwrapped rollled around a few hundred times to make the lair.

Some props were clearly noticeable as like cheap card board boxes painted used for stone blocks.

In closing I will quote Olmec (crying out)... "Kiiiiiiiirrrrrrk!!!!!!"

The Revival Review

[johngambon · 4/10 · 4 February 2022]

Ok, so after watching some of the first few episodes, I have decided to give a review on my thoughts on the show, with trying to stay in order of the shows production

First some general information. I do love how the show is outside although it does have the con of bad weather delaying production. Being outside though gives it a jungle theme they claim to have and while they may not be necessarily in the jungle, it is better than always being inside.

Next there is the host, Cristela Alonzo. Now, she is a good host and does a good job at what she does but the only problem I have though is that I wish they would've brought back Kirk fogg. It is the equivalence of replacing bob barker on the price is right with Drew Carrey. Drew is a fantastic host, as is Cristela on Legends, and I have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AGAINST THEM, but Bob and Kirk are the og's here, so I do wish they would bring Kirk back for more than just cameos.

Last thing I'll say before the set up portion. I find the interviews and personal info to be unnecessary. Reason being is because some of these teams don't make it far. In the original show, Kirk would interview those who made it to the temple games. That is where we got to know them and see if they're talents could pay off. But we hardly get to know someone if they don't cross the moat. Also when they put a commercial in the middle of the temple run, that was sad. I don't find it necessary to do so. Sure it builds up the suspense but so does player number 2 going in with only 90 seconds to go. Commercials then at that moment are not ok.

Now onto the set up. The main issue here is that there is so much to do in one challenge. The most crossing has multiple parts to it which while it does not make it difficult for people to follow, gives away the original concept of simply getting across a moat with a raft or going across on a slide or something like that.

The steps of knowledge stay the same and that makes me very happy! However it should be noted that the story of the legend is told throughout the episode, not just at the steps of knowledge and during the explanation of the temple games.

Speaking of the games, there are only two games and don't expect half pendants. The rules state that after two games, if there is a tie, they go to a tie breaker question, and that determines who goes to the temple. The set up for the games are long and sophisticated unlike the set up in the 90's. Understandable that being adults they can accomplish more, but with all the rules and procedures throughout the games, almost made it not worth watching.

Lastly, there is the temple. New layout with some similar rooms. Btw happy to see the monkey has returned. The new layout and challenges are great and exciting to see what it will take to get through the temple. But then there are the guards. Now the guards in the 90's scared me a little bit, but these guards scare me even more. The company, in my opinion, overproduced their entrance, which was unnecessary. Just have them come out, startle the contestant, have them take their pendant (or escort them out the temple) and move on. And also the original temple run music is gone, and I love that music

So overall, the show is ok to watch but I wouldn't recommend for little kids or people wanting to see the og cast. They did bring back Dee Bradley Baker for the voice of Olmec, and as stated Kirk does make some cameos, but I just wasn't impressed. I wish they'd just bring the show back for kids and set it up the same way it was done in the 90's. I hope the production team understands these factors that mad me give this review and wish them all the best.

Modern Family, The Game Show

[bucataru · 1/10 · 12 October 2021]

It is directed like a mediocre episode of that show with non-stop narration. And so much bokeh effect that only the absolute middle of the screen is in focus.

The contestants themselves were selected by a nefarious algorithm who's sole intention was to encourage social media trolls and to cancel this reboot after a single season.

I miss the days of focus groups and of producers who actually tried to find who their audience is.

Okay, But Some Of Its Changes Make It Pale In Comparison To The Original

[jeremycrimsonfox · 5/10 · 13 November 2021]

Legends Of The Hidden Temple is a classic kids game show from my childhood, and I was shocked when I heard they brought it back on The CW. And while it's okay, it does some changes that make it a shadow its former self.

Hosted by Cristela Alonzo (although I have heard Kirk Fogg may be taking over later on), the teams are now made up of two adults (be it siblings or best friends), and the starting roster is trimmed down to four (meaning two of the six teams are unused in an episode), and the set is outdoors with no crowd (no doubt due to COVID restrictions), which makes the reboot feel like it has an element of long-running realty competition Survivor mixed in. You can tell this reboot is aimed more at adults as the legends do get dark (the first episode's treasure, the lucky losing ball of the hero twins, is a story of twin Mayan brothers seeking revenge on two underworld demons who murdered their father), but it keeps the core gameplay, only changed to accommodate the adult contestants and reduced teams (as only three go to the Steps of Knowledge, and the grand prize is $25,000 instead of a trip to Space Camp).

However, the way it's done is a major problem. During the competition, the show sometimes adds in interviews with the team in the middle of them, which gets in the way of the action and adds to the Survivor feel this reboot seems to be aiming for. Also, the Temple Games offers full pendants of life, with the first team getting two moving on to the Temple Run, which can make the run boring as it eliminates instant losses (that, and the Temple Run are interrupted by a commercial break). However, it has some pluses. Dee Bradley Baker returns as the voice of Olmec, Cristela does a good job hosting (as she does not rely on sass and being stereotypical to do her job), and the set is greater and grander given its outdoor setting. Basically, this show is meant to be nothing more than to appeal to nostalgia, and hopefully, when the pandemic ends, the show can fix and improve its problems.

Questionable decisions?

[Classic90sNickFan · 7/10 · 12 October 2021]

First off, let me be clear.... I loved Legends of the Hidden Temple in the 90s and was/am extremely excited they brought it back for adults (I even applied to be on it)! However, after watching the first episode I am questioning whether the producers have any idea what excites true fans of the show.

Specifically, WHY did they choose the episode they did for the premier? They gave us former Survivor and Ninja Warrior contestants who looked like they would rather be anywhere else but competing on Legends and another team that was extremely cringy to watch and took attention away from the game. I've seen articles about how many people applied, and THIS is the best you could do? Where are the super fans? Also, the winning team's temple run was pathetic. The original series' premier episode had one of the most exciting temple runs ever. Does this mean the rest of the temple runs this season are worse? Besides that, cutting to a commercial in the middle of a temple run is offensive.

In addition, the host Cristela tries her best, but sounds more like a mom rooting on her kids rather than the exciting sports commentator style of Kirk Fogg. I'm not saying Kirk needs to host it, but I do think having someone who can bring energy to the competitions (especially when there's no audience) would make a huge difference. Speaking of Kirk, I think they missed an opportunity to put more Easter eggs from the original series in the show. Maybe Kirk handing over the pendants of life to Cristela in the first episode, having original contestants compete again as adults, using the original (or slightly updated version) of the original temple run music, etc. The entire audience for the show are 90s kids who loved the original and I feel like they were pandering to some completely different audience.

Finally, the good: The format of the show mostly stayed the same and Dee Baker returned as the voice of Olmec! I don't mind the four team format either, it makes it easier to follow. The steps of knowledge use to be my least favorite part, but is now my favorite due to it being so close to the original and not tainted

I do plan on continuing to watch on Sundays. My 11 year old son actually loved it and I enjoyed bonding with him over a show I also watched at his age. I just hope that maybe the producers are holding back some much better episodes that we will get to see eventually. However, I also feel bad for them if that's the case because I think they should have come out swinging with the best they had for the premier to get everyone on board.

Can the reboot improve?

[alecb1014 · 9/10 · 1 February 2022]

I know I'm happy that the online petition I had to get Legends rebooted actually made change, but here are some ways the reboot can improve:

1. Rather than thirteen episodes per season, maybe there can be 26 or 39 per season.

2. We need to see the Orange Iguanas and Silver Snakes go to the temple in LOTHT 2.0.

3. Instead of having every team bringing two full pendants to the temple, half pendants need to return. If a team brings only one full pendant to the temple, there should be two half pendants in two different rooms.

4. Here would be good prizes for taking steps towards making it to Olmec's temple: a. Crossing the moat: A fancy new addition to their homes.

B. Descending the Steps of Knowledge: A set of smart technology products.

C. Winning the Temple Games or breaking the tie: Products for outdoor recreation.

5. All six teams need to be present in each episode, with four teams at the Steps of Knowledge.

6. There also needs to be a "Legends of the Hidden Temple at Super Bowl" special as there already was a Super Bowl special for the Double Dare reboot.

Please let me know what your thoughts are on my review.

The CHIIIIIMMME of the silver monkey

[owen-watts · 6/10 · 7 June 2022]

I think I'm in the rare minority of the (already sadly quite small) viewership of this show that had no knowledge or affection for the original 90s show - so this hilariously cheap and baffling mythology-themed game show flew completely over my head. I rather warmed to it though, with the clonevoice of Bradley Baker having a whale of a time and the likeable Cristela Alonzo holding court over the cheapest thing I've ever seen. The weird overdubs. The strange photoshopping of the swag prizes. The clunky wobbly sets. The earnest retellings of world mythologies. It was wonderful. In context, I can see why it got cancelled and why it offended viewers of the original but honestly, I loved watching it.