7 Spin-offs That Are Better Than the Originals (Anyone Remembers Daria?)
Many of these spinoffs are better known than the shows that spawned them.
Historically, the most common reason spinoffs get produced is the popularity of specific characters, sometimes even supporting ones. The main show ends, but people want to see more of the people they will often have come to see as family.
It goes without saying that many spinoffs fail to live up to the high standards set by the original show, but every once in a while, a spinoff comes along that actually far surpasses the original series. We've put together a list of seven spinoffs that are generally regarded as being far better than the parent show.
7. Xena: Warrior Princess (1995, 6 seasons)
IMDb rating: 6.7/10
In 1995, Sam Raimi, producer of the fantasy series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, developed a spinoff series based on one of the characters, Xena, due to her popularity with audiences. The new show about Xena became even more successful than the parent show because of better writing, more interesting characters, and an emphasis on the female cast.
6. The Flash (2014, 9 seasons)
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IMDb rating: 7.5/10
The Arrowverse franchise, led by Arrow, holds a special place in the hearts of DC Universe fans. However, The Flash, the series about Barry Allen, whose superpower is the ability to move so fast he can even travel back in time, proved even more popular with audiences than the original series.
5. NCIS (2003, 20 seasons)
IMDb rating: 7.8/10
The cult show about agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is a spinoff of the US Navy series JAG. The irony is few people are even aware of that fact now: people love NCIS for being a great procedural with relatable, well-developed characters, and most think of it as a standalone show.
4. Law & Order: SVU (1999, 24 seasons)
IMDb rating: 8.1/10
The original Law & Order is a fantastic legal drama that focuses on the procedural investigation of serious crimes. On the other hand, the spinoff emphasises cases involving harassment and sexual abuse and delves deeper into the emotional background of its characters.
3. Daria (1997, 5 seasons)
IMDb rating: 8.1/10
It's hard to call Daria's predecessor, Beavis and Butt-head, a less popular show. The show achieved cult status as a semi-surreal satire with goofy humour. However, it was Daria that gave us relatable characters with great experiences, as well as an awesome alternative soundtrack.
2. Frasier (1993, 11 seasons)
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IMDb rating: 8.2/10
The original Cheers was an incredibly heartfelt show about the daily lives of the staff and patrons of a Boston bar. Frasier, on the other hand, focuses more on the psychology of its ensemble cast (which figures, seeing how the protagonist is a radio psychotherapist), offering a unique brand of humour that never condescends to the viewers.
1. The Good Fight (2017, 6 seasons)
IMDb rating: 8.4/10
While The Good Wife is an excellent legal drama, it does not compare to its spinoff in terms of the poignancy of the social and political issues in the media and on the internet that it deals with head-on, including social movements and white supremacy.