Here’s How ‘Roswell, New Mexico’ Stacks Up Against the Original ‘Roswell’

Whenever a TV reboot pops up, you have to ask: how will this smug new kid stack up against the original champion? And at least in the case of Roswell, New Mexico, the new take on Melinda Metz’s Roswell High book series more than delivers.

Roswell, New Mexico focuses on Liz Ortecho (Jeanine Mason), a young woman who begrudgingly returns to her small town home, where she reunites with her high school crush Max (Nathan Parsons). After a drive by shooting, Max risks everything to bring her back to life. Slowly Liz starts to learn the truth: her reignited flame is actually an alien, and things only get weirder from there.

Roswell, New Mexico stands as one of The CW’s best new premieres in a while. Not since The Vampire Diaries‘ first season has an episode managed to straddle the line between believable romance and terrifying, otherworldly mystery so well. But how exactly does the first episode of this new take on sexy alien drama stack up against the original WB series Roswell?

How Hot Are Our Hotties?

C’mon this is a CW show about a woman falling for the alien dude who saves her. Looks are important, and in this early category Roswell, New Mexico has its predecessor beat.

The WB’s Roswell premiered in 1999, a.k.a. a time dominated by statement chokers, stringy hair, and weirdly cropped sweaters. All of that organically appears in the original Roswell, but this series falls prey to a less forgivable pre-2000s sin — meh guys. Shiri Appleby is bringing her wide-eyed A-game, but Jason Behr’s Max Evans clearly comes from a time when less was expected from TV’s romantic leads. Every shot he’s in he either looks crumpled, or greasy. And don’t get me started on his unflattering non-haircut.

Compared to these teenage slackers, Roswell, New Mexico is a sexy delight. Jeanine Mason looks stunning as Liz Ortecho; the only weird outfit she dons is the ’50s era waitress uniform in her dad’s diner. And speaking of uniforms, Nathan Parsons is drool-worthy as Max Evans-the-cop. Great facial hair, team. The original Roswell was about a bunch of seemingly normal teens, and it kind of looked like it. But the aged up New Mexico gives us the sexy leads we want to see get together.

Point: Roswell, New Mexico

Where’s the Chemistry?

Again, since this series is at its core a romantic drama, these things matter.

We need to believe that our two star-crossed lovers want to bone, and boy yeah, do present day Liz and Max want to get in each other’s pants. There’s so much intense sexuality sparking between them, I’m calling BS on the claim they never dated. At the very least, they had a one night hookup after some high school party that always haunted them. That’s my theory, and I’m sticking with it.

Back in the past, the original Liz and Max really can’t keep up. They have a cute will-they, won’t-they high school thing happening, but it feels more like YA fantasy fulfillment than an aspirational relationship. What do you want more, Twilight with aliens; or a love story that spans space itself? Yeah, that’s what we thought.

Point: Roswell, New Mexico

Which Aliens Do We Believe In?

Both Roswells are taking a huge gamble and asking us to believe in outer space lifeforms, so those aliens better be worthy of our belief.

Each incarnation of the series tells the same backstory: three alien children were dumped on Earth, and have spent years hiding their secret. When their brother Max risks it all to save his high school crush, their world collapses. New Mexico does a much better job of establishing firm rules for alien life. No, the trio doesn’t know their family, and yes, they have powers; but they’re specialized.

That’s much clearer than, say, having the power to casually bring someone back to life AND melt cheese on a taco. Those are two things that genuinely happen in OG Roswell. But there’s one detail that gives the ridiculous original an advantage: Max’s job.

New Mexico wants us to believe that not only did these kids keep their cover for decades, but Max went on to join forces with the agency most likely to kill them. I know there’s a somber immigrant allegory hidden in there, but… No. At least after the first episode and its hurried explanation, this seems like a dumb move in a world filled with risks. Max knows how much testing (both of your stamina, and actual bodily fluids) being a cop requires, and he knows he’s not a human. Don’t be dumb, Max.

Point: Roswell

How Are Our Side Characters?

As much as we would love for every romantic drama to just be about our favorite couple falling in love, that can’t happen. You need other characters to move the plot forward, provide some comic relief, and prove these two aren’t weird loners.

This is another hard call. On one hand Roswell, New Mexico‘s secondary characters feel pointedly more authentic. In particular, the dynamic between Max and his alien siblings Isobel (Lily Cowles) and Michael (Michael Vlamis) is believable. The frustrations and panic that bubbles up between these three is recognizable to anyone who has a sibling. And Michael, with his mysterious past and romance with Alex, seems poised to be a breakout character this season.

But that’s largely the problem with this first episode. Anyone apart from its romantic leads offers a lot of promise, but not much depth. As excited as I am to learn more about Isobel and Michael, as well as Liz’s ex, sister, and best friend… I don’t know who these people are. Scenes give these characters a single moment to demonstrate a key personality trait, before shifting the focus back on Liz and Max.

Conversely, Roswell made it clear exactly who its ensemble was from Episode 1. Maria (Majandra Delfino) was the quirky best friend. Kyle (Nick Wechsler) was Liz’s clueless boyfriend who clearly wasn’t right for her. The first episode even went as far as to establish Alex (Colin Hanks) as this school’s nerd who knows more than he should. Sure, the original Roswell relied more on archetypes than the reboot, but it knew what those archetypes were.

Point: Roswell

Which One Is More Mysterious?

This is a show about aliens, after all. And as another famous sci-fi series once said, the truth is out there.

The original Roswell‘s first episode ended with two humans learning the identities of a family of aliens, and a cop suspecting his son may be out of this world. That’s cool and all, but 2019 has 1999 beat. The new and improved Roswell ends with one person learning the identity reveal, a big question mark over Max and his family’s origins, an ICE crackdown silently threatening Liz’s father, a glimpse into the tragic death of Liz’s sister, and Michael implying that his sister erased Liz’s memory so she’d leave Roswell and Max 10 years ago. That’s more than enough questions to power the season, and we’re only on episode one!

Point: Roswell, New Mexico for sure.

Winner: Roswell, New Mexico. Both shows have their merits, but if you’re only going to watch one pilot, make it the reboot.

Where to stream Roswell, New Mexico

Where to stream Roswell