Spanar Jaya X

FOURTEEN years after going off air, Spanar Jaya is restarting its engine and returning to the small screen with a 13-episode reboot.

The premise Spanar Jaya X is pretty much the same as its predecessor – following the everyday life and happenings at the eponymous motor repair workshop – but it features almost an entirely new cast of characters.

Mat Rock (Opie Zami), the only original cast playing a main role in the reboot, has been recently given full rein of the workshop.

As business has been slow, accountant Syasya (Uqasha Senrose) and chief mechanic Zaki (Ben Amir) have been hired to assist Mat Rock.

Other characters include mechanic Teh Yang (Jian Wen), Uncle Henley (Douglas Lim) who provides motor spare parts to Mat Rock’s workshop, and English teacher Vicky (Sangeeta Krishnasamy) who owns a tuition centre across the street.

Spanar Jaya X still works. Its new lineup of actors manage to bring their own charm and personality to their roles. Of course, Opie is still a scene stealer as Mat Rock.

The show also makes an effort to appear relevant to the new generation, without compromising on its identity and legacy. There’s an episode where the workshop tries to establish a social media presence, leading the characters to discover the good and bad that comes with it.

Ultimately, Spanar Jaya X doesn’t rely on nostalgia to pull viewers in, although it is certainly a powerful draw. The reboot thrives on the chemistry between its new cast members and on a humourous script that speaks to all Malaysians. Spanar Jaya X airs every Saturday at 9pm on tV3.