When Paramount+ first announced they were bringing back iCarly, I’ll be honest, my expectations were basically in the basement. We’ve all seen the "gritty" reboots that try way too hard to be edgy. They usually suck.
But iCarly reboot season 1 did something kinda brave. It didn't try to pretend the last nine years didn't happen. It leaned into the awkward, messy reality of being a twenty-something in an era where everyone is a "creator" but nobody knows how to pay rent.
Carly Shay is back, but she isn't that same 13-year-old in a sweater vest. She’s a woman in her late 20s dealing with ghosting, MLMs, and the fact that her old internet fame is basically a digital ghost that won't leave her alone.
The Sam-Sized Hole in the Room
The biggest question everyone had was about Sam. How do you do iCarly without Sam Puckett? Honestly, the way they handled Jennette McCurdy’s absence was surprisingly respectful.
They didn't kill her off. They didn't recast her. They just said she was off living her best life with a biker gang called the Obliterators. It fits.
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Instead of trying to find a "New Sam," we got Harper. Laci Mosley is a riot as Harper, Carly’s pansexual, fashion-obsessed roommate. She brings a totally different energy—more of a peer than a sidekick. Then there’s Millicent, Freddie’s stepdaughter, played by Jaidyn Triplett. She’s basically a tiny, social-media-savvy assassin who spends most of her time dragging the millennials for being "cheugy."
Spencer is Still the GOAT
Jerry Trainor is a national treasure. Period.
In the original series, Spencer was the struggling artist living on the edge of a fire hazard. Now? He’s actually rich. He made a fortune off a marshmallow sculpture of the White House that accidentally caught fire (classic Spencer), and now he lives in a redesigned, high-end version of the original loft.
It’s great because it allows him to still be weird, but with a bigger budget for his shenanigans. Seeing him navigate high-society art galleries while still being the guy who gets his head stuck in things is the kind of consistency we needed.
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What Really Happens in Season 1
The season runs for 13 episodes, and it’s a weirdly comfortable mix of the old "random" humor and some actually adult themes.
- The Pilot: Carly realizes her life is a bit of a stalemate after a breakup and decides to restart the web show.
- The "Creddie" Tease: Look, the chemistry between Miranda Cosgrove and Nathan Kress is still there. Freddie is a two-time divorcee now (yikes), living back home with his mom, Mrs. Benson. The "will they, won't they" isn't the main focus, but it’s simmering in the background of every scene they share.
- The Cameos: This season was a fever dream for OG fans. We got Nevel Papperman (still obsessed with revenge), Nora Dershlit (still creepy), and even Principal Franklin. Seeing Nevel try to find love while still being a total villain was a highlight.
One of the best episodes has to be "iMLM," where Griffin—Carly’s old "bad boy" boyfriend who liked Pee-Wee Babies—returns to recruit everyone into a pyramid scheme. It’s a perfect example of how the show mocks the modern internet culture that the original show basically helped create.
The Fyre Festival Finale
The season wraps up with "iReturn to Webicon," and it’s basically a parody of the Fyre Festival disaster.
Carly and the crew head to a "luxury" island retreat for influencers that turns out to be a muddy nightmare with no food and "penis parasites." Yes, that’s a real plot point.
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The cliffhanger is what got everyone talking. Carly finds herself in a love triangle between her new boyfriend Wes and her ex-boyfriend Beau. Both tell her they love her at the same time, and she’s left standing there looking totally overwhelmed. But the real kicker? The camera keeps cutting to Freddie. The show knows exactly what the fans want, and they’ve been playing the long game with the Carly/Freddie dynamic since 2007.
Is It Actually Good?
Critics were surprisingly kind to it. It holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, though that's a bit of a "technical" win since it just means most reviews were "positive" rather than "perfect."
The show isn't trying to be Succession. It’s a multi-cam sitcom with a laugh track. It’s meant to be comfort food. If you go in expecting high drama, you’re in the wrong place. But if you want to see Spencer accidentally tase himself or Carly try to navigate a date with a guy who’s obsessed with his mom, it hits the spot.
It’s weirdly grounded. It deals with the fact that being an "influencer" isn't just about random dancing anymore; it's about metrics, brand deals, and trying not to get canceled for a weird face you made in a meme.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you’re diving back into iCarly reboot season 1, don't just binge it in the background. Keep an eye out for the small details that bridge the gap between the two eras.
- Watch the credits: The new version of the theme song is updated, but it still hits that nostalgia button perfectly.
- Count the Easter eggs: The set is packed with props from the original series, from the gummy bear lamp to Spencer’s various "sculptures" hiding in the corners.
- Check the "mature" shift: Pay attention to how they handle things like alcohol and dating. It’s subtle, but it makes the characters feel like actual adults rather than kids playing dress-up.
- Look for the Freddie/Carly subtext: If you're a "Creddie" shipper, the finale isn't just about the two boyfriends—it's about Freddie’s reaction to the whole mess.
Once you've finished the first 13 episodes, you're ready for the even more chaotic Season 2, which brings back even more familiar faces like Lewbert. The reboot manages to grow up without losing its soul, which is a lot harder than the cast makes it look.