‘The Powerpuff Girls’: Who thought a live-action version was needed?

The City of Townsville . . . is coming back to the small screen! In a live-action remake that no one asked for, The Powerpuff Girls will officially be joining The CW as part of the network’s announced 2021-2022 lineup.

A childhood staple for millennials & Gen Z, The Powerpuff Girls should draw an audience to a channel known for shows about female superheroes like Batwoman & Supergirl. However, is a gritty, live-action deconstruction of our favorite childhood crimefighters really what the doctor ordered? Let’s fly right into it!

Nostalgia recap

Created by Craig McCracken in the late 1990s, The Powerpuff Girls was a soft, lighthearted action cartoon about three kindergarteners, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, who “fight crime and the forces of evil” in each episode, even if “the forces of evil” are bedtime, self-esteem, or feeling down.

The Powerpuff Girls’ origin story is “sugar spice, and everything nice. These are the ingredients to create the perfect little girl.” But as the intro says, when Professor Utonuim accidentally spills Chemical X into his concoction, he creates three unstoppable girls with their own distinct personalities. Blossom is the fearless leader, Bubbles is the softie with her stuffy Octie, and Buttercup is the tough fighter.

I swear to god if they make out the professor to be an abusive father in the CW powerpuff girls I’ll loose my shit. He was such a great dad!!! He loved and doted on his daughters!!!!! Why is this making me so heated

— Cailyn Murray (@CailynMurray) February 9, 2021

All grown up

Gone are the days of Pokey Oaks Kindergarten for these crimefighters! However, it looks like the day might not be saved thanks to these little heroes. All grown up, Variety described The CW’s premise as following the “pint-sized superheroes as disillusioned twentysomethings who resent having lost their childhood to crime-fighting. Will they agree to reunite now that the world needs them more than ever?”

We’re sorry . . . what?! Lost their childhoods? Has The CW ever watched an episode of The Powerpuff Girls? Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are hardly deprived of their childhoods. They answer calls on a smiley-face telephone. They go to school and play with other kids! The Professor is a great dad and provides his little creations with toys, food, and a roof over their heads!

Granted, the downside of being childhood superheroes is addressed in one episode where Ms. Keane makes The Professor implement a curfew thanks to their lack of sleep, but other than that? Come on!

Who’s at the helm?

Juno & Young Adults creator Diablo Cody is set to helm the new Powerpuff Girls series on The CW. So, at least it will be quirky? We might forgive them for ruining our childhoods if Cody arranges for another decent indy soundtrack for the series though. Just sayin’ 🤷

Greg Berlanti is posed to executive-produce, which is probably why the cast of Riverdale dressed as The Powerpuff Girls characters for Halloween. He was the mastermind behind Dawson’s Creek, Riverdale, and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina to name a few of the many, many shows he’s juggled for the last twenty years.

The Powerpuff Girls reboot is part of a package The CW just announced, including the revival of USA’s The 4400, DC’s Naomi, and an untitled religious dramedy per Variety.

Mad and FOX ADHD (yes I'm going there) did this older Powerpuff Girls better than this Live-action will do. pic.twitter.com/IcFjMsyYRf

— ◈ Simply Sunky ◈ (@Simply_sunky) February 9, 2021