Come Back and Stay for Good This Time: 7 Television Reunions We Need Right Now

By Cindy Davis | Lists | February 10, 2014 |

By Cindy Davis | Lists | February 10, 2014 |

Watching reruns of old favorites like Seinfeld or Friends can be a comforting transition before bed; we know the lines and laugh at all the same moments, letting our brains wind down over warm familiarity. Hard as it was to let go, we knew in our hearts when series’ time was past, but sometimes we wanted the characters to stay together forever. Like lovers who’ve overstayed, there’s that struggle to let go the companionship, even as every last mannerism grates on touchy nerves. So it’s a wonderful thing when the actors we love find new shows and partners; Courteney Cox leaves Monica for Jules…Matthew Perry swaps out Chandler for Matt and we wait (don’t we?) for someone to dream up a way to bring old favorites together again. Usually it’s just a guest star thing, like Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow, who’ve all showed up on Cougartown. But, wouldn’t it be cool to see more permanent reunions—or at least, multiple episode arcs? I mean, what if Jordan Catalano grew up to be a crack CIA agent? That warm, nostalgic feeling that washes over when I see an actor from an old series I loved on a new series sends my brain running off in wonder of what could be…

1. Brian Austin Greene and Lena Headey:

Originally Paired on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; Should Reunite for Game of Thrones

Greene surprised more than a few of us with his excellent turn as Derek Reese on Fox’s (foolishly canceled) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; at the same time, Headey trotted out her one-note (and seemingly one-expressioned) version of John Connor’s strong-willed mother. Now that Headey’s finally worked out her kinks playing another fierce mother—Game of Thrones’ Cersei Lannister—I’d love to see these two together onscreen again. I’m thinking Greene in the role of the as yet un-cast Osney Kettleblack. Without getting too spoilerish for those who haven’t read A Feast for Crows, Cersei and Osney make a couple interesting down and dirty service trades.

2. Andre Braugher and Kyle Secor:

Originally Paired on Homicide: Life on the Street; Should Reunite for Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Truth be told, I’d never have watched double Golden Globe winner Brooklyn Nine-Nine if not for Andre Braugher—he and Terry Crews are the show’s best assets, despite what the Hollywood Foreign Press says. Now what they need is for Kyle Secor to pop in as a persnickety Internal Affairs officer who rides Captain Holt over the course of several episodes, until he breaks…then hands Secor his ass in front of the entire precinct.

3. Peter Krause and Rachel Griffiths:

Originally Paired on Six Feet Under, Should Reunite for Parenthood

Nate and Brenda may have been wrong for each other from the get-go, but the chemistry between Krause and Griffiths could never be denied. Of course, no one wants to see another Parenthood couple break up, but what if Zeke struck Griffith’s fancy for a while? I don’t know about you, but Camilla’s little midlife crisis is wearing on my last nerve. Maybe a younger woman with a bit of a crush on her husband would wake up Camilla, and give Krause the opportunity to interact with Griffiths—who I see as a professional meeting Zeke after a little fender bender or happenstance run-in at the diner. You know if Adam caught wind, he’d spy on the two and then secretly pay Griffiths a visit to ask her to back up off his dad. And…cue Griffiths as a bunny-boiling nutcase.

4. James Spader and William Shatner:

Originally Paired on The Practice and Boston Legal; Should Reunite for The Blacklist

This is a no-brainer. Shatner’s on the list, but he needs at least four episodes and nineteen Priceline commercials to be caught (mostly because Megan Boone’s Liz is the world’s dumbest FBI agent).

5. Idris Elba and Dominic West:

Originally Paired on The Wire; Should Reunite for Luther

Dominic West has already begun filming his new Showtime series, The Affair with Luther’s Ruth Wilson; why not go all the way? (And since Luther only shoots a few episodes a year, the necessary time commitment wouldn’t prove prohibitive.) I wouldn’t mind seeing West either as friend or foe; but it’d be really interesting to see them as *Series 3 Spoiler, swipe to see: new partners. Aside: Did you know West turned down playing GoT’s Mance Rayder because of the time he’d be away from his family?

6. Woody Harrelson and Ted Danson:

Originally Paired on Cheers; Should Reunite for True Detective

It’s all new with this show; we’re only four episodes in, so it’d be easy to bring in a new character. But part of True Detective’s appeal is its feeling of intimacy, and keeping the majority of the action focused on its brilliant co-stars, McConaughey and Harrelson. That said, there’s always room for an asshole politician, and Ted Danson does asshole so damned well. I’d like to see him as an elected official circa 1995, irked by the impact of Cohle and Hart’s investigation and attempting to threaten or blackmail Hart.

7. Jared Leto and Claire Danes:

Originally Paired on My So-Called Life; Should Reunite for Homeland

Just what would Angela Chase Carrie Mathison do if Jared Leto showed up next season, assigned to work under her supervision? And how would Carrie react if Jordan Catalano turned out to be smarter, more intuitive and better at the job than she? Man, I just don’t know, but I’d love to see it play out…

Also, a big thanks to Katie!

Cindy Davis, (Twitter) may have missed her casting director calling.