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The psychological reasons we’re hyped about the 'Full House' and 'Twin Peaks' reboots

Full House
"Full House"

The next two years will bless us with a bunch of TV reboots. "Full House's" DJ Tanner will move back into her San Francisco townhouse. Special Agent Dale Cooper will return to Twin Peaks. Dana Scully will investigate more aliens. "Gilmore Girls'" Lorelai and Rory will likely find their way back to Stars Hollow.

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Fans can't hide their excitement. The most recent "Fuller House" teaser garnered more than 13 million views in three weeks, and the new Twin Peaks trailer has more than 2 million views. Warner Bros. hasn't even officially announced Gilmore Girls' reboot, but when photos of its freshly painted set leaked, the Internet went nuts:

We're hyped about these reboots because the originals are masterpieces and we're obviously still salty about their cancellations. But we can also look to psychology to understand why we're excited about the shows' comebacks.

It has a lot to do with nostalgia, or an intense longing for the past, says Krystine Batcho, a social scientist who has studied nostalgia for 20 years.  Just the mere thought of a show revamp is exciting, because it represents a new beginning.

"The possibility of second chances, in itself, is an attractive optimistic belief," Batcho tells Tech Insider.

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Research has shown that nostalgia brings us together, and re-watching these beloved shows lets us relive positive memories. But the reboot amps up those feelings, Batcho says.

The degree of excitement depends on two things: how disappointing it was when the show ended and how much time has passed. Fans were livid when ABC cancelled "Twin Peaks" after only two seasons. Likewise, fans were bummed when "The X-Files" and"Gilmore Girls" ended, even when they neared 10 seasons.

When people feel emotionally invested in a show, its cancellation can invoke a feeling of mourning, Batcho says. Basically, something you love died.

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