As a lover of the original series, I was/am excited about this remake and couldn't wait to watch it. Episodes 1-4 were a bit too slow but the show starts picking up some speed around episode 5. If I'm honest the show does seem a little lackluster and missing some of the magic from the original. The secret pact, the pen necklaces and secret notebooks, all made it feel more like an exclusive club in the original. This one lacks that feel and fails to knock on the nostalgia heartstrings so far. ( It's modernized, I get It but I wish it had some of that feel)
I do enjoy this remake though and although I'm not a huge fan of the books characters coming to life, I like that it might get a kid to pick up a book they might not have. All in all, if you can watch this and not compare it to the original you'll enjoy it more in my opinion.
37 Reviews
The people bashing this are old, cynical, and biased.
jeaniusfive25 November 2019
It's a pretty clever reimagining. They've taken the core elements from the original show and given the damn ghost and the characters something new and different to do. It's nice to see some beloved stories come to the forefront and play a role in the plot of each episode and how their themes tie into the situations the kids are dealing with in the present.
Some issues to point out; the acting from some of the adults is pretty meh. Namely the grandfather (book store owner) and a nurse in episode 3.....And I don't know why, but in a lot of the closeup shots the cinematographer decided to leave a lot of negative space, to the point it seems like the actors faces are about to leave the side of the screen. Why did anyone think this was a good look? It's pretty amateurish and jarring.
Other than that, the show itself is find and a wonderful 20 something minutes for kids. KIDS. That's right, the bad reviews for this seem to think this was made for them and are judging it as adult programming. The original show, had it came out the same way today, would have been panned. I guess the onslaught of adult cynicism never ends its cycle, huh?
Some issues to point out; the acting from some of the adults is pretty meh. Namely the grandfather (book store owner) and a nurse in episode 3.....And I don't know why, but in a lot of the closeup shots the cinematographer decided to leave a lot of negative space, to the point it seems like the actors faces are about to leave the side of the screen. Why did anyone think this was a good look? It's pretty amateurish and jarring.
Other than that, the show itself is find and a wonderful 20 something minutes for kids. KIDS. That's right, the bad reviews for this seem to think this was made for them and are judging it as adult programming. The original show, had it came out the same way today, would have been panned. I guess the onslaught of adult cynicism never ends its cycle, huh?
My 7 year old likes it
big_marcelo7 May 2020
Great Show, Especially for Kids
zhouburnr28 December 2019
I'm not really sure why this show has gotten such terrible reviews. Maybe it's because I actually watched the original series, but I think this remake is highly enjoyable. I find the acting to be super believable, the writing is charming and heartfelt, and I even think the special fx are decent. Now, I do think that this show is more intended for young children, since they often present each episode's narrative as if you won't know pretty famous book characters, like Alice in Wonderland. If you're looking for something yo watch with your kids, or you're just in the mood for something different, I think Ghostwriter is a great show to enjoy.
Really boring, bad acting, no mystery
walkman-303-74402613 November 2019
The first episode started like it was a normal thing that ghosts exists. The acting is not really great and there is nothing magical about anything in it. Maybe very little kids could enjoy it, but I would rather show them higher quality stuff than this.
Something is off
Cilica17 March 2020
I've watched many children's shows with my girls as they grew up and thought this series would be fun. Watching the 1st episode I thought something was off. By the end of the 2nd episode I believe it is the acting. Stiff, awkward. The flow between actors is missing.
I find the children actors are not connected, hesitant acting, missing the flow where they work off each other. Instead GW feels amateurish. The principle is flat, like a stick character re-sighting lines (cannot act). As other's state in their reviews, no magic, no energy. The role of the queen is also flat like she just woke up from a nap.
The only two character who have energy are the Rabbit - excitement in his voice and this is a voice over. The 2nd is the little sister. The actors don't work well together. A puzzle with the wrong pieces.
I find the children actors are not connected, hesitant acting, missing the flow where they work off each other. Instead GW feels amateurish. The principle is flat, like a stick character re-sighting lines (cannot act). As other's state in their reviews, no magic, no energy. The role of the queen is also flat like she just woke up from a nap.
The only two character who have energy are the Rabbit - excitement in his voice and this is a voice over. The 2nd is the little sister. The actors don't work well together. A puzzle with the wrong pieces.
Pass.
SeaRHill17 June 2021
This is a highlly predictable, poorly written, poorly interpreted show.
The kids talk like adults, but at a child's understanding level. No kid would speak like they do. The actors do not help to make those lines believable either. To be short, this just doesn't do it. And since no adult would bear such poor intrigues and lines, I really don't know who can benefit from this show. Besides Apple, I mean.
The kids talk like adults, but at a child's understanding level. No kid would speak like they do. The actors do not help to make those lines believable either. To be short, this just doesn't do it. And since no adult would bear such poor intrigues and lines, I really don't know who can benefit from this show. Besides Apple, I mean.
Adventure for kids
caitlinsoprano4 November 2019
Was good but...
creationquebec18 August 2022
Lacking n magic
javawocky-271352 November 2019
Watched the first episode and did find any spark. The camera work put me off from the start with characters facing the edge of frame show pointless negative space in frames. The kings speech did it with purpose this failed. The other technician issue is the lack of colour or contrast. Every shot is flat with no focal point which compounds the framing issues. The story didn't have enough pull me through the average production value. Go watch Just Add Magic on Prime instead.
The kids love it!
dawn1037928 November 2019
There was nothing exciting about the first episode.
G-Joshua-Benjamin3 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I liked this show.
I was getting into it.
But, a character appeared and threw my mind way off. I don't want to say what it was but, I don't know, it made it a different kind of show.
I think they should make the characters seem more human. They kind of acted like mindless, emotionless bots.
This is going to sound awful, but, when I saw the kid and his mom, the first thing that came to my mind, is all the stuff that the news has been airing. It is a shame.
Nothing against the actors. It has nothing to do with them. It's just the way it was.
After I got that out of my head, I was interested in what was going to happen.
I will watch the season.
I think they need to work on some things, to make it more interesting.
Kids may enjoy this.
I was getting into it.
But, a character appeared and threw my mind way off. I don't want to say what it was but, I don't know, it made it a different kind of show.
I think they should make the characters seem more human. They kind of acted like mindless, emotionless bots.
This is going to sound awful, but, when I saw the kid and his mom, the first thing that came to my mind, is all the stuff that the news has been airing. It is a shame.
Nothing against the actors. It has nothing to do with them. It's just the way it was.
After I got that out of my head, I was interested in what was going to happen.
I will watch the season.
I think they need to work on some things, to make it more interesting.
Kids may enjoy this.
Trash
bkgseoul7 March 2024
As a HUGE fan of the original, this was complete garbage. Acting, storyline, are both highly disrespectful to the original. I watched a whole season and I am truly disappointed. The creators had a GREAT opportunity to create something beautiful and amazing. They should've had at least one of the old characters in this new series. The kids in this series were extremely annoying to watch. (Deeply exhales) this was a waste. A waste of time. A waste of footage. A waste of funds for even doing this pile of junk. Saddest part is though my kids have NEVER seen the awesomeness of the original they hated this series as well. It's heartbreaking to watch your children throw the remote and leave the room.
Missed Opportunity
bjjvsg31 December 2023
I had high hopes for a new show to watch with my family. I thought it would be like a British teen show. If you've ever watched The Sparticle Mystery or The Sarah Jane Adventures (among others) you'll know what I was thinking. The first episode was so riddled with unnecessary race references and politics that I had to turn it off. British shows are diverse without politics. Oh the black kid and the white kid are siblings? Cool. The Indian Mom has a white daughter? Cool. No explanation for any of this? Very cool. What does this teach the audience? It teaches acceptance! It teaches kids (and adults!) to look past superficial differences to what truly connects human beings. Friendship, love, kinship, and shared experiences bind us and help us see each other for our true selves. The character of "the character" shows through and those lessons help people be more accepting of others in their own lives. My take away from the Wizard of Oz was not judging a book by its cover as well. A good witch? All the characters realize things about themselves and others along the way. AMAZING positive lessons. Acting like we still live under Jim Crow when we don't is not teaching anyone anything positive. What a missed opportunity!
Love it so far!
jayboynbama4 November 2019
Sloppy and full of agenda
benwiskin14 January 2024
The writing is sloppy, basic and average, even for a kids TV series. It's like they got the interns to throw it together in the afternoons.
It's difficult to judge the acting because they're kids, but acoss the board it's all very generic and average.
My 9 year old didn't sit and watch it fully like other shows or cartoons, and I wouldn't say any of the stories stayed with him, in fact if I asked him if he wanted the next one on he wasn't bothered at all so the show just became background noise.
The worse thing about it though, is the anti-white rhetoric in the show. I know this is a default setting for American writers these days to appear "inclusive" by basing white people and history, but I'm a kids show I think it's disgusting and only realised because my 9 year old asked me a question about something that was said.
It's difficult to judge the acting because they're kids, but acoss the board it's all very generic and average.
My 9 year old didn't sit and watch it fully like other shows or cartoons, and I wouldn't say any of the stories stayed with him, in fact if I asked him if he wanted the next one on he wasn't bothered at all so the show just became background noise.
The worse thing about it though, is the anti-white rhetoric in the show. I know this is a default setting for American writers these days to appear "inclusive" by basing white people and history, but I'm a kids show I think it's disgusting and only realised because my 9 year old asked me a question about something that was said.
Some Of The Best Storylines, Creative Incorporation Of Literary Elements And Beyond Impressive Acting
rannynm16 June 2021
Have you ever wanted to have tea with the Mad Hatter, battle the Frankenstein monster or solve a mystery with Sherlock Holmes? Welcome to the lives of Ruben Reyna (Isaac Arellanes), Chevon Redmond (Amadi Chapata), Donna Palmer-Moreno (Hannah Levinson) and Curtis Palmer-Moreno (Justin Sanchez). With some of the best storylines, creative incorporation of literary elements and beyond impressive acting, Ghostwriter is an absolute must-see for all kids and teens!
Ghostwriter follows four kids on a fantastical mission to solve a mystery and figure out what unfinished business the ghost wants them to complete. Along with mysteriously dropping random clues left and right, the 'ghostwriter' releases characters from different books. Although these fictional people can only be seen by the four kids, they do cause disruption while helping solve the mystery. After the characters have served their purpose, the middle-schoolers work to return them to their appropriate book and take the next step in figuring out the ghost puzzle. In the last few episodes, the kids actually dive into the world of a book rather than having the characters from the book come to them, which adds excitement to the already fabulous TV series.
Ghostwriter is one of the most creative shows that I've ever seen. The prospect of fictional characters coming to life and interacting with young teens and kids is a wonderful one and I can't imagine it being done any much better than it is in Ghostwriter. The show is very written well. The inclusion the literary characters is woven naturally into a normal teenage drama, creating a fun environment that doesn't seem forced in any way. Realistic dialogue is peppered with the fantastical elements. To go with this incredible dialogue, the actors portraying the kids all deliver relatable and funny performances that grabbed my attention. The delivery of their lines, together with their physical motions and facial expressions are seamless. The actors that portray the book characters are also above and beyond. Each one uses accents, slang and behavior that are a little out of the ordinary. Cameron Brodeur, as the Camarillo Kid, displays a range of emotions for his complex character. His accent and cowboy-style actions add to this interesting and entertaining character. Another actor whose performance shines is Jeff Joseph, who plays Frank. Frank shows up in multiple episodes as an older man from a poem. His old country accent is superb and really enhances his character. Frank makes a return appearance in the most recently released episodes. These characters from different time periods and worlds need costumes that show us where they are from and who they are. The costume designers deserve a big tip of the hat for their superb work. Sets and props are well-executed. Although many of the episodes are based around real people coming to life, there are a couple of scenes where imaginary animals are the focal point. The animators make the transitions between animation and live action seamless, without it being obvious that a fantastical creature is alive.
The message of Ghostwriter is to value your friends and know that unlikely friendships will occur, but that doesn't mean they won't be good ones. There are a couple of minor intense scenes, such as battling monsters and a crime mystery, and several suspenseful episodes. For example, the "Frankenstein" and "Jungle Book" episodes and the last few in the second season are more intense.
I give Ghostwriter 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 16. Ghostwriter is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Reviewed by Kyla C., KIDS FIRST!
Ghostwriter follows four kids on a fantastical mission to solve a mystery and figure out what unfinished business the ghost wants them to complete. Along with mysteriously dropping random clues left and right, the 'ghostwriter' releases characters from different books. Although these fictional people can only be seen by the four kids, they do cause disruption while helping solve the mystery. After the characters have served their purpose, the middle-schoolers work to return them to their appropriate book and take the next step in figuring out the ghost puzzle. In the last few episodes, the kids actually dive into the world of a book rather than having the characters from the book come to them, which adds excitement to the already fabulous TV series.
Ghostwriter is one of the most creative shows that I've ever seen. The prospect of fictional characters coming to life and interacting with young teens and kids is a wonderful one and I can't imagine it being done any much better than it is in Ghostwriter. The show is very written well. The inclusion the literary characters is woven naturally into a normal teenage drama, creating a fun environment that doesn't seem forced in any way. Realistic dialogue is peppered with the fantastical elements. To go with this incredible dialogue, the actors portraying the kids all deliver relatable and funny performances that grabbed my attention. The delivery of their lines, together with their physical motions and facial expressions are seamless. The actors that portray the book characters are also above and beyond. Each one uses accents, slang and behavior that are a little out of the ordinary. Cameron Brodeur, as the Camarillo Kid, displays a range of emotions for his complex character. His accent and cowboy-style actions add to this interesting and entertaining character. Another actor whose performance shines is Jeff Joseph, who plays Frank. Frank shows up in multiple episodes as an older man from a poem. His old country accent is superb and really enhances his character. Frank makes a return appearance in the most recently released episodes. These characters from different time periods and worlds need costumes that show us where they are from and who they are. The costume designers deserve a big tip of the hat for their superb work. Sets and props are well-executed. Although many of the episodes are based around real people coming to life, there are a couple of scenes where imaginary animals are the focal point. The animators make the transitions between animation and live action seamless, without it being obvious that a fantastical creature is alive.
The message of Ghostwriter is to value your friends and know that unlikely friendships will occur, but that doesn't mean they won't be good ones. There are a couple of minor intense scenes, such as battling monsters and a crime mystery, and several suspenseful episodes. For example, the "Frankenstein" and "Jungle Book" episodes and the last few in the second season are more intense.
I give Ghostwriter 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 16. Ghostwriter is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Reviewed by Kyla C., KIDS FIRST!
Fun literary mystery series for all ages
artqua5 September 2020
For of all, I just reached "official" senior adult age. As many of the shows aimed for adults on Apple TV have a lot of profanity, I have tried out some of the shows for kids. This one was really a joy...I can't wait for more.
Love this show
mary-sapia24 November 2019
I remember as a kid in the late 80's early 90's watching the original on PBS. When I saw they started a new series it was everything I remember as a kid. I can't wait to see the rest of the episodes. My 3 1/2 year old is showing an interest in this series also. He has also watched a couple episodes of the original.
My kids loves it
danielfeir3 April 2020
Cute series
rosiemataro24 October 2020
Ghostwriter
d3afb0y9 May 2020
I love these actors and new stories than the old show in 1990s. It has 24 episodes I believe but it probably take 6 months to least for few new episodes to add. This show is mixed of fairytale from books with mysterious and adventures. But it's more about friendships story and innocently. That's what I love about them. I wish I had friends like them but I'm Deaf Tv/Movie freak. I feel like they are my fantasy friend in my world and thanks Actors for being good characters. Rubens is my favorite.
Deaf guy
Deaf guy
Amazing show
sparkleroxx-9261016 December 2019
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