Sequels

courtesy of Warner Brothers

The thing about sequels is that most of the time, they are a pale version of the original. Yes, occasionally, a sophomore effort can outshine its predecessor. But, it's rare. So much more often, you realize you are watching someones desperate attempt to hang onto the credibility they garnered with their original hit.

Evidence (in no particular order):
Back to the Future vs. Back to the Future II
The Matrix vs. The Matrix Reloaded
The Karate Kid vs. The Next Karate Kid (okay, The Karate Kid II was pretty good)
Teen Wolf vs. Teen Wolf Too
Look Who's Talking vs. Look Who's Talking Too
Ocean's Eleven vs. Ocean's Twelve
Jaws vs. Jaws The Revenge
28 Days Later vs. 28 Weeks Later
Grease vs. Grease II
Psycho vs. Psycho II
The Wizard of Oz vs. Return to Oz
Gremlins vs. Gremlins II
Scream vs. all sequels
Neverending Story vs. Neverending Story II
Mannequin vs. Mannequin: On the Move
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure vs. Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey
City Slickers vs. City Slickers II
Lost Boys vs. Lost Boys: The Tribe
original Star Wars franchise vs. new Phantom Menace franchise
Sex and the City vs. Sex and the City II
Cars vs. Cars II
Dirty Dancing vs. Dirty Dancing Havana Nights


On the other hand, here are some rare sequels that matched or exceeded the quality of the original:
Star Wars vs. Empire Strikes Back
Tim Burton Batman movies vs. Christopher Nolan Batman movies
Ghostbusters vs. Ghostbusters II
National Lampoon's Vacation vs. National Lampoon's European Vacation
Evil Dead vs. Evil Dead II
Terminator vs. Terminator 2
House of 1000 Corpses vs. Devil's Rejects

Why am I bringing this up? I keep thinking of our upcoming IVF cycle. While you might be wondering how it could get any worse than the first attempt, as we know, it is always possible.  I keep having the same recurring thoughts:

Will it be an amazing follow-up that blows the first attempt out of the water, with a successful ending instead of disaster? Or will it somehow be worse?

Perhaps instead of thinking of this as IVF: The Sequel, we should be thinking of it as IVF: Redux.

At first, I thought redux was a synonym of sequel. But, then KG reminded me of when Apocalypse Now was re-released as Apocalypse Now: Redux. That wasn't a sequel! It was an enhanced, improved version. (Okay, it was also way longer.) 

When I googled the meaning of each, I realized how different the meanings are.
Sequel: an event or circumstance following something; subsequent course of affairs.

Redux: remastered, redone, restored.

I'm sticking with redux, because what I really need right now is to have my faith and attitude remastered, redone, and restored.