Stories that Shouldn't Keep Getting Retold

[cherrystark]

What are some stories or classic tales that you are tired of seeing retold over and over again.

For me, it's Beauty and the Beast. Like a lot of kids, I grew up watching Disney's version of the classic fairytale. I loved it because Belle was a geniunely nice person who felt out of place in her community who found love and friendship with the Beast. My love of the fairytale grew when I read "Beauty" by Robin McKinley. It hit on the same themes as the cartoon but the Belle character, also had to learn how to love herself. All around great messages.

As I got older, I started to see more retellings pop up. These retellings aren't as good as the accepted "original" version. The Beast character is often super abusive and the Belle character often reads as a Mary Sue imo. The fairytale is supposed to be a love story, but more often than not, I would love for the two leads to be apart.

What are some of your stories that you are tired of seeing retold?

[sorible]

Probably Romeo and Juliet. I just haven't seen any good retold versions.

[cherrystark]

I agree! The only "good" retelling I've seen in Gnomeo and Juliet because there were tons of Shakespeare references for me to look for.

[VibrantFox]

not sure how much sense i'm makin (it's hot n i'm drowsy) BUT-

greek and norse mythology, it's been done to death and there's other more interesting mythos to explore from other countries and regions

dystopias and apocalypse stories, some are interesting but it feels like it's getting kinda old and there's this nuance that's missing from the former. like ppl talked about surveillance states or controlling of the media in orwell and bradbury's books but somehow didn't see that it wasn't pointing out some far off future but pointing out things currently at their time going on which still are now

I'm also bored of cyberpunk. As much as a tech filled world is capable of being interesting I really wanna see stories whose worlds follow or exist with like solar punk settings, more inclusion of nature, a blending of tech and wildlife or more reliance on nature than machines. like a metal plated future seems not only kind of uninteresting but unlivable when really put to thought (even if it is only fiction)

also colonizer stories are just bland

[crowstories]

No more Alice In Wonderland!!! Luckily I think the era when EVERYTHING was a reinterpretation of Alice is largely over, but it was a childhood favorite which has unfortunately been kind of tainted by all of the awful retellings of it.

[Kura]

greek and norse mythology, it's been done to death and there's other more interesting mythos to explore from other countries and regions

This one for sure, but also I don't mind when it's lesser known gods instead of just the big names that get thrown all over the place. In general though, would def like to be seeing a hell of a lot of other mythologies.

I mean, I'm sure I wouldn't mind them if other mythology retellings were also really common, but as someone who enjoys mythology stories I'm really sick of my content being 99% greek or norse.

[cherrystark]

You make total sense!

greek and norse mythology, it's been done to death and there's other more interesting mythos to explore from other countries and regions

I think also with this is which myths from this region you pick. Most of the time, it's either Zeus and his plethora of children or Hades and Persephone. I love the Hades and Persephone story but it's super overdone.

dystopias and apocalypse stories, some are interesting but it feels like it's getting kinda old and there's this nuance that's missing from the former. like ppl talked about surveillance states or controlling of the media in orwell and bradbury's books but somehow didn't see that it wasn't pointing out some far off future but pointing out things currently at their time going on which still are now

The dystopian subgenre started to loose its appeal for me after the Hunger Games heyday. And like you mentioned, writers often miss the many layers that can be explored in the subgenre. Most of them, the female characters are often just reduced to breeding stock and that bugs me.

[NickRowler]

No more Alice In Wonderland!!! Luckily I think the era when EVERYTHING was a reinterpretation of Alice is largely over, but it was a childhood favorite which has unfortunately been kind of tainted by all of the awful retellings of it.

I second this. I think some people like the aesthetics of the book illustrations and Mary Blair/Disney art. But I never found any retallings to capture the surreal and nonsensical aspect of the book. I think the story has also been tainted by people thinking that it's about drugs, sexual stuff, or other edgy themes.

[FafasMcMelt]

Honeslty, any of them...

[LunarScyphozoa]

Everything about vampires where they’re not even vampires. If you want to make an erotic romance novel, fine, but don’t make the love interest a “vampire” as an afterthought.

[Kura]

Back in the day that was the most popular pitch I would get from 'aspiring manga writers looking for artists' every time one of those manga contests popped up like for Shonen Jump.

"It's a dark retelling of Alice in Wonderland"

Look man... I've already turned down 12 other writers with this 'unique' pitch. Please stop.

[Kelheor]

Marvel and DC stories they keep rebooting and retelling since 1939. Make new stuff guys, come on.

[cherrystark]

"It's a dark retelling of Alice in Wonderland"

The "dark" retelling angle kills me. There are too many "dark" retellings of fairtales out there.

[Kura]

The "dark" retelling angle kills me. There are too many "dark" retellings of fairtales out there.

Oh hey, that's another one, the dark and edgy retelling of things. Like Archie, Sabrina, Winx.

Fairytails is def another, though it it's defence, usually the actual the source the material is a lot more darker than the modern versions.

[LunarScyphozoa]

Yeah, but they’re usually dark retellings of the wholesome versions instead of retellings of the originals

[cherrystark]

The thing for me with the "dark" fairytales is that they seem to throw worldbuilding out the window. They were written/translated hundreds of years ago so we don't know the standards or the cultural attachments. I have a problem when writers write about their characters being abused and stuff like that but it's "okay" since they are going to get together in the end. (This is an entirely different rant.)

Oh hey, that's another one, the dark and edgy retelling of things. Like Archie, Sabrina, Winx.

I actually hate the dark retellings of things like Archie or Sabrina. Depending on the story, they are often family friendly. But unless you are doing something like the Hemsworths "dark" retelling of the famous "Charlie bit Me" video, they aren't that well written.

[Crusoe]

I'm kinda tired of red riding hood adaptations honestly.

There's a ton of fairy tales (even by the brothers Grimm still) that haven't been adapted into anything major, so I don't get why people insist upon covering the same ones over and over again.

[Kura]

Yeah, but they’re usually dark retellings of the wholesome versions instead of retellings of the originals

This is true and I wanted to add this point, but my English wasn't working so I didn't know how to say it xD

[Kura]

I actually hate the dark retellings of things like Archie or Sabrina. Depending on the story, they are often family friendly. But unless you are doing something like the Hemsworths "dark" retelling of the famous "Charlie bit Me" video, they aren't that well written.

Yeah that's why I hate them too, they're not very well written at all and lot of the edgy and dark themes aren't woven into the story very well at all, and I kinda of just thrown in for the sake of being dark and edgy.

Also, not every story needs to have a dark retelling x.x or even works for a dark retelling, and the stories that are usually targeted are series that are the furthest away from benefiting from having a darker version.

[therosesword]

greek and norse mythology, it's been done to death and there's other more interesting mythos to explore from other countries and regions

totally agree with this and, as a Greek friend of mine once said: "Who says it's a myth? Those are Gods and Goddesses that some people still worship. Maybe we should retell Jesus?" I stopped calling them "myths" after that.

The "dark" retelling angle kills me. There are too many "dark" retellings of fairtales out there.

Ditto, ditto and double ditto. "Dark" retelling of anything gets me.

A lot of "fairy tales" actually are dark, extremely so. A friend of mine refused to read the Brothers Grimm stories to her children. In Cinderella one of the step sisters cuts off a big toe and the other her heel to try and fit in the slippers. (and yes, I see other's have chimed in on this)

I don't mind stories being "inspired" by another story, but I have to admit, when I see someone describing their story as "a retelling of......." I'm outta there.