More often than not, TV spin-offs have a daunting uphill battle ahead of them. Perhaps most obviously, these shows have to meet the expectations of fans across the globe, delighting viewers the same way their preceding series had in the years prior. At the same time, these spin-off series have to present their own distinct narrative storyline, differentiating itself from its sister series in order to draw in a mixed audience of pre-existing fans and newer viewers alike.
In spite of the vast number of problems that come with making a decent spin-off, some series have managed to craft a spin-off series every bit as good – if not better – than the original show they’re following in the footsteps of. From adult-oriented fantasy dramas to iconic animated sitcoms, here are some of the greatest TV spin-offs we’ve seen yet, ranked in order from worst to best.
7. House of the Dragon
Even the most dedicated Game of Thrones advocates can probably admit the series’ highly-anticipated finale was … a bit of a letdown. Three years after the polarizing final episode to George R.R. Martin’s hit fantasy series, HBO conjured up the ultimate follow-up with their atmospheric prequel, House of the Dragon. Set 200 years before the war between the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryens, House of the Dragon meticulously recaptures all elements that made Game of Thrones so magical in the first place, including the ongoing political rivalries threatening to tear the Seven Kingdoms apart.
6. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
In an interesting twist, in 2019, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit became the longest-running live-action series on American TV, surpassing the original Law & Order in the process. Fascinating trivia tidbits surrounding its production history aside, SVU doubled down on all the humanistic qualities that characterized Law & Order before it. Advocating for truth and justice in their quest to protect victims from violent crimes, SVU’s main cast truly personified the inherent selflessness of law enforcement agents in New York City.
5. The Jeffersons
Debuting on American airwaves in the early 1970s, All in the Family provided viewers a more hard-hitting look at the social problems affecting the average suburban household. With that in mind, it shouldn’t be too surprising that The Jeffersons opted for a similarly poignant approach, presenting a series every bit as thought-provoking as its CBS predecessor. Exploring the issues people of color faced in the latter 1970s, The Jeffersons tackled numerous weighty subjects in the course of its 11 seasons, including racism, substance abuse, mental health, and the struggles of owning an independent business.
4. Frasier
How does one go about succeeding one of the most popular sitcoms of all time? Simple – you create an entire spin-off series centered around the show’s most likable supporting character. Such is the case for Cheers’ fan-favorite follow-up Frasier, a world-renowned sitcom that achieved similarly avid acclaim from the mid 1990s up to the mid 2000s. Affording far more screen-time to its titular character, Frasier proved a suitably hilarious comedy series focusing on Cheers’ lovesick, intellectually snobbish Seattle psychiatrist.
3. Star Trek: The Next Generation
While the Star Trek universe has seen many different sequels, prequels, and spin-off series over the years, most fans continue to tote The Next Generation as the best of the bunch. Boldly embarking to the farthest corners of the known galaxy, Star Trek: The Next Generation drew on the same luminous sense of adventure as The Original Series, all the while introducing numerous characters that quickly won over viewers’ hearts and minds (like Patrick Stewart’s stoic Picard or Michael Dorn’s kind-hearted Klingon, Worf).
2. Better Call Saul
Like Frasier or Star Trek: The Next Generation, Better Call Saul was faced with an insurmountable challenge when it came to following in Breaking Bad’s wake. Against all odds, however, creator Vince Gilligan somehow managed to create another sensational TV drama with this award-winning prequel series. Providing an in-depth prologue around everyone’s favorite ambulance-chasing attorney, Better Call Saul also further enriched our understanding and enjoyment of Breaking Bad – a feat very spin-off shows are capable of achieving.
1. The Simpsons
As hard as it is to believe, there was a time when The Simpsons wasn’t the longest-running sitcom on American television. In their earliest inception, Matt Groening’s dysfunctional suburban family debuted on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987, instantly catching the attention of mainstream viewers. From there, the Simpsons’ popularity merited their full-fledged expansion into primetime television, paving the way for a revolutionary animated series still going strong to this day.
