While mostTV spin-offsare doomed to live in the shadows of their original series, some have proven themselves worthy successors that evenmanage to outdo the program they were based on. Making a truly great spin-off will always be a daunting task, as creators are required to maintain the legacy of the original while carving out something new that can stand on its own. For a spin-off series to capture viewers' imaginations, it needs to be more than simply returning to familiar worlds with known characters; it must find a way to tell new stories in a fresh and interesting way.
While there have been some trulyawful TV spin-offsover the years, some acclaimed examples have proven it’s possible for lightning to strike twice and for a follow-up show to become equally beloved. This can be done in the form of a prequel series that answers questions about what characters were doing before the original show or follow-up stories focusing on side characters that deserved more time in the spotlight. This can work across genres, as there have been some amazing animated, drama, and sitcomspin-offs that have truly stood the test of time.
The Jeffersons
Cast
The Jeffersons is a comedy family series that follows George and Louise Jefferson, a couple who move to a luxury apartment in Manhattan after George’s dry-cleaning business becomes a big success. The Jeffersons wrestle with maintaining their traditional values while trying to adapt to their new financial status and way of life.
The Jeffersonswas the second of two spin-offs from the popular sitcomAll in the Family, with the other beingMaude, and focused on the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker, who moved from Queens to Manhattan. As a well-to-do Black couple, George and Louise Jefferson were a prime example of positive representation on television at the time, although the show did not shy away from addressing issues of alcoholism, race, gun control, the KKK, and being transgender. These were trailblazing topics for their time, as series developer Norman Lear spearheaded addressing important social issues through comedy.
As a nuanced portrayal of a successful Black family,The Jeffersonsnormalized this depiction in a way few programs before it had, as it broke down stereotypes and paved the way for future sitcoms with predominantly Black casts. The Jeffersons even had another show,Checking In, spun off from it that focused on the Jeffersons’ maid, although this was not successful and only ran for four episodes. With 253 episodes,The Jeffersonswas one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time.
The Legend of Korra
The Legend of Korra is an animated series set in the Avatar universe, following Avatar Korra’s journey as she strives to master the elements and fulfill her role as a fully realized Avatar. Released in 2012, the series explores her challenges against traditional norms and her internal quest for balance.
The richly imagined and complex world ofAvatar: The Last Airbenderwas expanded upon in the stand-alone sequel series,The Legend of Korra. This fascinating follow-up told the story of Korra, the successor and reincarnation of Aang from the previous show, as she faced new challenges in a rapidly modernized world. While both shows had themes of personal growth and societal conflict,The Legend of Korrawas more outrightly political thanAvatar, as issues of gender, ideology, and sexuality came to the forefront.
By delving into themes of social unrest and terrorism,The Legend of Korraopted to dig deeper into the ethical questions and political complexity of a world where people are separated in their different nations. As those from the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads struggle to live in harmony, Korra faces the daunting challenge of representing all four while also coming to terms with her own coming-of-age story. While it was hard to live up to theanimated masterpiecethat wasAvatar,The Legend of Korrawas a worthy follow-up.
Daria
Daria is an animated television series that follows Daria Morgendorffer, a smart, sarcastic, and socially awkward teenager, as she navigates high school life in the fictional suburb of Lawndale. The show explores themes of societal expectations, intellectualism, and adolescence, all while highlighting Daria’s unique perspective and dry humor.
While bothDariaandBeavis and Butt-Headsatirized American pop culture during the 1990s, they each did so in vastly different ways.Daria Morgendorffer started off as a recurring character inBeavis and Butt-Head,who acted as an intelligent female foil to the two main characters and whose sardonic and quick-witted responses made her a fan favorite. WhileBeavis and Butt-Headwas categorized by its crude and lowbrow humor as the boys were unaware of their own sheer stupidity, inDaria, things were more deadpan and intellectual as she scoffed at the absurdities of suburban life.
Dariawas a celebration of misfits and those who stood against the status quo of modern life and was the perfect encapsulation of the low-energy, anti-corporate stance of Generation X teenagers. WhileDariastarted life as a spin-off, it was not overseen byBeavis and Butt-Headcreator Mike Judge and instead carved out its legacy and identity through Daria’s unapologetic intelligence and independence, making her a feminist icon. As one of the best female cartoon characters of all time,Dariadeserves its spot among the greatest spin-offs ever.
Torchwood
This Doctor Who spinoff follows the adventures of beloved character Captain Jack Harkness as he works for the Torchwood Institute, a small team in Cardiff dedicated to investigating extraterrestrial phenomena.
As the longest-running sci-fi show of all time, it’s no surprise thatDoctor Whohas had plenty of spin-offs, withTorchwoodbeing the very best. Although series likeThe Sarah Jane AdventuresandTales of the TARDIShave expanded the Whoniverse, the way thatTorchwoodtook the kid-friendly aesthetic ofDoctor Whoand tackled darker, more mature themes of existentialism, corruption, and LGBTQ+ issues was admirable.Torchwoodfollowed a team of alien hunters and was led by Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), an immortal man who first appeared in season 1 of the 2005Doctor Whorevival.
WhileTorchwoodtook some time to find its feet, the mixed reception to its first season was due to its growing pains, as a higher budget and more consistent tone led to it receiving widespread acclaim in later seasons.Torchwoodhelped expand the mythos ofDoctor Whoaway from the Doctor’s legacy, as its more dramatic elements and exploitation of adolescent themes were a welcome development.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a television series that premiered in 1999. Set in the criminal justice system of New York City, it follows an elite team of detectives who investigate sexually-based offenses, focusing on their efforts to solve complex cases and seek justice for victims.
TheLaw & Orderfranchise consists of various spin-offs, films, and crossovers, all dealing with some aspect of the criminal justice system and amounting to over 1,000 hours of programming. While this all began with the originalLaw & Orderseries, the spin-off seriesLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitis arguably even better and has now run for more seasons than the show it was based on. WhileLaw & Orderwas often more grounded in the everyday complexities of the legal system,SVUtook things a step further as it tackled darker themesof sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.
By focusing on the psychological impact of crimes on victims,Law & Order: SVUoften had higher stakes as the elite Special Victims Unit of the NYPD handled the cases. With an ensemble cast of detectives and lawyers,SVUwas led by Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) for its first 12 seasons. In line with the ever-expanding world ofLaw & Order,SVUeven had its own spin-off show titledLaw & Order: Organized Crime, which saw Meloni return to his role as Detective Stabler.
Angel
A spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel is a drama series with supernatural elements that stars David Boreanaz, reprising his role as the titular vampire. An immortal cursed with his human soul returning to his body, which makes him susceptible to human emotions such as remorse. Angel lives in Los Angeles as a private detective, seeking redemption for his murderous past as a vicious warlord. Angel will face threats such as humans and demons that rival his own cruel potential as he ventures to help those in need.
The supernatural world of vampires and demons seen in Joss Whedon’sBuffy the Vampire Slayerwas anessential show for understanding the 1990s. With Sarah Michelle Gellar as the feminist icon vampire-slaying teenager Buffy Summers, it was ironic that she first found love with someone who represented the exact thing she was chosen to destroy, the vampire with a soul named Angel (David Boreanaz.) As one of Buffy’s breakout characters, it made sense that after leaving Sunnydale for Los Angeles, Angel’s story was continued in the spin-off series that bore his name.
While the stories inBuffyoften acted as allegories for growing up and trials of adolescence,Angelhad a grittier, noir tone and explored his attempts at redemption and making up for the evil deeds of his ruthless past. While both shows complemented one another and featured plenty of crossover episodes,Angel’s work as a private detective saving lost souls along the way made for a more complex and brooding antihero story, as opposed tothe Chosen One narrativeof Buffy’s role as the Slayer.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
Star Trek: The Original Serieswas a trailblazing series born out of the social upheaval and progressive aspirations of the 1960s, which, although not a massive hit at the time, grew in popularity due to syndication in the following years. This delayed appreciation led to the development ofStar Trekmovies with the original cast and eventually a new reboot titledStar Trek: The Next Generationin the 1980s.The Next Generationonce again was informed by the political circumstances of its timeas the end of the Cold War led to an optimistic outlook on the potential for diplomacy.
Led by Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), the new crew ofThe Next Generationrepresented a true ensemble as characters such as Data addressed technology and artificial intelligence while the cultural diversity of the original series was maintained. Through clever explorations of philosophical quandaries,The Next Generationdelved into moral dilemmas and ethical debates with a thoughtful, introspective approach. As the firstStar Trekspin-off with a new cast,The Next Generationshowcased this franchise’s potential to flourish away from the adventures of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.
Frasier
Fraiser is a comedy-drama sitcom that stars Kelsey Grammer as a psychiatrist who takes up the role of a radio show host in Seattle after his life in Boston is upheaved. A spin-off of the series Cheers, Fraiser follows the titular character adjusting to the single life while caring for his father (a retired police officer,) his brother, and other eccentric co-workers.
The character ofFrasier Crane was created for the third season ofCheersand was intended to only appear in a handful of episodes, although Kelsey Grammer’s performance was impactful that he’s still playing him to this day. The intellectualism of Frasier represented Sam Malone’s (Ted Danson) total opposite, although this one-note character was imbued with complexity and a rich backstory as he was further expanded upon. Frasier’s story continued well pastCheersas his spin-off show followed his life in Seattle when he returned to his hometown to host a psychology radio show.
The astounding success ofFrasierrepresented the definitive example of a spin-off done right, as an underdeveloped but engaging character gets their time in the spotlight. Grammer won four Emmy Awards out of eleven nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, which was a testament to his impeccable talent for playing the character. The popularity ofFrasiermeant the show was even revived in 2022 by Paramount+, which focuses on Frasier moving back to Boston.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
Not everyone will be aware that The Simpsons was actually a spin-off and began life asa series of short sketches onThe Tracey Ullman Show.The Simpsonswere just a minor part of this variety show, which makes it all the more astounding that it went on to become the longest-running American scripted primetime television series of all time, animated or otherwise. While the legacy of Springfield’s most famous family has certainly outpacedThe Tracey Ullman Show, it’s interesting to note where it all started.
The haphazard history of howThe Simpsonscame to be makes it all the more impressive that it became such a worldwide phenomenon.The Simpsonscreator Matt Groening only pitched the show toThe Tracey Ullman Showproducer James L. Brooks because Brooks wanted to adapt hisLife in Hellcomic series. However, Groening reportedly feared losing the rights and hastily sketched out an idea forThe Simpsons(viaSlash Film.) With the characters named after his own family members, the only reasonThe Simpsonsexisted in the first place was because Groening panicked in Brooks’ lobby before their meeting.
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul follows small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill as he navigates the legal world to make ends meet. The series, set six years before his encounter with Walter White, chronicles Jimmy’s evolution into Saul Goodman, with notable interactions alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut.
WhenBreaking Badconcluded with one of the best finales ever, the idea of a spin-off focusing on the shady lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) was intriguing but also worrying. There was a fear that a badly executed spin-off could tarnish the legacy of one of the best shows of all time, yetBetter Call Saulmanaged to live up to these lofty expectations. There’s an argument to be made thatBetter Call Saulwas even better thanBreaking Bad,as itsexploration of how Jimmy McGill turned into the corrupt accomplice of Walter Whitemade for truly compelling viewing.
Better Call Saulwas a complex character study that carried forward the strong writing and deep symbolism ofBreaking Badwith an equally impressive style. Although audiences knew where Saul’s story would end up, the journey of how he got there made for compelling viewing, and the introduction of new characters like Kim Wexler and Lalo Salamanca gave the show its unique identity. While making aspin-offto one of the all-time great television shows was never going to be easy,Better Call Saulshowed it was possible to do this in a creatively fulfilling and crowd-pleasing manner.
