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

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.

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.

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.

Now that these shows are being resurrected, they hold the promise of reinstating the original feelings fans had when they watched it. The revamp feels like an upgrade, but only if enough time passes.

If a show returns too soon, it creates the opposite emotional response, Batcho says. The show needs to be off the air for at least a decade for fans to welcome a reboot. Of course, there are exceptions with some shows with especially tragic cancellations, like "Arrested Development."

Who are these devoted TV fans? They're more likely to be people who readily show their emotions and are more sensitive, Batcho says.

They're also more likely to be extroverts. A recent study found that the consumption of nostalgic products, including TV shows, satisfied people's need to socialize. Fangirling around these shows physically gives them more energy.

Part of the excitement of a reboot also revolves around feeling connected around a similar interest, in this case, a TV show. The revamp gives people a sense of community and belonging, even if it's with a bunch of strangers on the Internet.

In hard times, people are especially drawn to nostalgic media. Research from Northern Arizona University shows people may turn to these shows because they yearn for the past. The reboot brings back memories of better times, like the carefree innocence of childhood or the experience of discussing episodes with old friends.

"Enjoying the rebooted show and discussing it on social media can be very emotionally rewarding, especially when it reconnects viewers with people from their past," Batcho says.

Calling Twin Peaks, Gilmore Girls, and The X-Files cult shows is, therefore, completely appropriate. Their eternally devout fans find community in these shows, because they never stopped believing in them.