Hot take 1: We don’t need new generation sequels for already established stories

Hello! My name is Mugen. You may have at least saw me once or twice on blogs. I make hot takes from time to time. Hot takes are one’s personal opinions over a topic. My hot takes may be controversial, because that’s how hot takes are in nature. You’re not supposed to agree, but you also aren’t supposed to force yourself to agree. Thank you for understanding!

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Okay, so that’s it. Your favorite show/movie/manga/book just ended. What’s next? You’re curious about the characters’ futures? Well, some authors often do give you the definitive answer! …but sometimes it just… doesn’t work.

You see, new generation sequels are a really controversial topic for me. Some would want to see how the story flows like the fans of that work, but a lot of people would agree that authors tend to drag, milk or capitalize on the story.

“But what about Legend of Korra?”

Legend of Korra is a show I’m not a fan of in retrospective, but it worked because the concept of “Avatars” include different people and identities. Also, it was set really long when most of the cast are old and dead. Korra also didn’t feel like a straight copy of the Last Airbender; it felt like a thing of its own.

Other than Avatar in general, some examples that this “new generation sequel” really worked well is JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. JJBA is a story of an entire bloodline and how they’re all tied in with the actions and consequences of a singular individual (that would be DIO) and its effects in the Joestar family, that’s how “newgen sequels” work in that kind of case.

But sometimes… these newgen sequels… just milk an established brand.

Boruto is an infamous example of this. Boruto is only known as the son of Naruto. That’s it. I haven’t read Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, but the anime and manga of Boruto left me divided. I like Boruto’s design but did we really need this? Naruto already did SO MUCH, why are we really getting some new threats? I don’t like the Otsutuski clan in general and I thought it should’ve been only Kaguya, but hey, I guess those money must be appealing… Boruto doesn’t have passion to me unlike Naruto.

I don’t understand what really should be told more in Naruto’s universe. All of the villages are in peace, they all have teamed up to beat a universal threat. It did felt like the Naruto trademark is milked.

You see, the point is, if the story is done. It should’ve been left at that. Unless if the author or writer could pull it off or execute it really well. Because new generation sequels take some serious dedication. If you feel that a universe has a lot more to be told, just try to do what you did with the original again towards the sequel.

But no, let’s be real here, a lot of authors and writers really want that money to capitalize on an established brand. I’m not saying it’s bad, yeah authors and writers do have to make a living. But I feel like a lot of people who were fans of the original work in the first place was because it had heart and promise. It was written with passion.