8 TV Spin-Offs That Really Didn't Live Up To The Original Series, And 8 That Actually Did

    I want to know if you think we needed Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life...

    Kailey Hansen
    by Kailey Hansen

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    It can be tragically bittersweet when you reach a series finale. Mysteries are solved, loose ends are tied, and you're left wondering what you could possibly watch next to fill the void. Enter the universe of prequels, sequels, and spin-offs. TV is full of them, and they range from total flops to acclaimed award winners.

    HBO / Via giphy.com

    Much of the television we watch today is inspired by preexisting shows or movies. Sometimes, it's worthwhile to revive these characters and stories, while other times it's better to let a good thing rest in peace.

    Netflix / Via giphy.com

    In my opinion, these 8 TV spin-offs don't quite do their parent series justice...

    1. How I Met Your Father (How I Met Your Mother)

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    As a former Lizzie McGuire fan, I will always support all things Hilary Duff. Thus, I trucked through How I Met Your Father, a show with a similar premise to its predecessor, but with slightly less heart. In true sitcom fashion, there's a cast of kooky, one-dimensional characters who learn a lot of life lessons, but they just aren't as endearing as the ensemble from the first installment.

    2. The Winchesters (Supernatural)

    The CW

    Throughout its 15 seasons, Supernatural has a considerable amount of alternate-universe episodes. For example, what if Sam and Dean were just regular guys working desk jobs instead of hunting monsters? For this reason, The Winchesters should work. It's a prequel set in a universe where the brothers' parents, John and Mary, are both hunters in their youth. The concept has a ton of potential behind it, but the series just feels lackluster and blah.

    3. Fuller House (Full House)

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    I love a nostalgic reunion as much as the next person, but Fuller House was fun until it wasn't. Season 1 felt exciting because we got to witness the Tanners' return after 20 years, but the show slowly burned into outlandishness that spanned five seasons. The characters begin to feel a little too cartoonish and, in my humble opinion, a special (or a limited series) might've sufficed.

    4. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (Gilmore Girls)

    Netflix / Via tenor.com

    When I first learned of Lorelai and Rory's monumental return to TV, I couldn't contain my excitement. I've watched Gilmore Girls in its entirety too many times to count (it's my favorite thing to pair with my morning coffee, coffee, coffee) and I'm always catching new tidbits of quippy dialogue. The sequel, which chronicles one year in Stars Hollow, did have some great moments but simply doesn't touch the magic of the first series.

    5. Joey (Friends)

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    If you were to ask Joey Tribbiani how he was doin' in regard to his spin-off series, he would probably cry into a pizza. Undoubtedly, this character is a true TV treasure, but his short-lived Joey sitcom didn't do so hot back in the early 2000s. Perhaps it was the writing, or perhaps it's because you really need the full Friends ensemble for these characters to thrive. 

    6. The Rings of Power (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy)

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    While The Rings of Power is not associated with Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movies, I'm counting this series as a prequel to the iconic trilogy, based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson wasn't involved in Amazon Prime's venture into Middle Earth, but there is an overlap in characters as we watch events unfold one thousand years before LOTR. The Prime series is well done, with gorgeous cinematography, but doesn't quite capture the heart and soul of the original franchise.

    7. Girl Meets World (Boy Meets World)

    Disney / Via tenor.com

    In the defense of Girl Meets World, it's pretty hard to live up to one of the best coming-of-age series of the '90s. Boy Meets World first aired in 1993 and followed Cory, Shawn, and Topanga through their teen years until the finale in 2000. Viewers watched these characters grow up and tackle a number of issues throughout seven seasons, so it's no surprise that the short-lived sequel wasn't able to replicate this success.

    8. That '90s Show (That '70s Show)

    Netflix

    While it doesn't hold a candle to its forerunner, That '90s Show does a couple of things right. Firstly, it brings back Red and Kitty Forman who are total scene-stealers (along with other That '70s Show favorites), and secondly, it embraces a different nostalgia-inducing decade. Sadly, the new kids on the block don't have the same easy chemistry as their original counterparts, but we may see this change in Season 2.

    Spin-offs can be hit or miss, but once in a while, we stumble upon a series that's almost as good as the original — or better! Here are 8 TV spin-offs that exceeded expectations...

    9. House of the Dragon (Game of Thrones)

    HBO / Via giphy.com

    Like so many whose hearts were scorched by Drogon himself during that final season of Game of Thrones, I didn't expect much from House of the Dragon. Despite its rocky ending, GOT changed the course of fantasy television, making it hard to believe this new prequel series, focusing on House Targaryen, could be any good. What we got was stellar acting, epic storytelling, and a season finale that sets up a successful second season. House of the Dragon differs from GOT enough that it's hard to compare the two, but pays homage to the world of Westeros already created, with a similar music score and nods to the original.

    10. Better Call Saul (Breaking Bad)

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    Breaking Bad is considered one of the best TV shows of all time, so when its spin-off series premiered in 2015, it had a lot to live up to. Better Call Saul dives into the origin story of the lawyer Saul Goodman, acting as a prequel, sequel, and plain-old spin-off series all in one. It takes place before, during, and after the events of Breaking Bad, and in its prime, accumulated 46 Emmy nominations.

    11. The Originals (The Vampire Diaries)

    The CW / Via tenor.com

    While The Vampire Diaries dominated The CW Network during the mid-2000s, its popularity lived on like those eternal teen vamps. Its spin-off, The Originals, follows ancient siblings Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah to New Orleans for a series that feels a little more adult without the antics of high school. It's got plenty of CW-fueled campiness, but is, in my opinion, better than TVD. The Originals then got its own spin-off, Legacies, which followed Klaus's daughter, Hope, back to high school antics.

    12. The Legend of Korra (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

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    If you're a fan of Aang's adventures in Avatar: The Last Airbender, it's essential you give the sequel series a try. The Legend of Korra stays true to The Last Airbender's style, storytelling, and smart writing, but has a completely different feel as it chronicles the journey of Korra, the avatar living 70 years after Aang. Korra's chapters don't lose steam and refrain from being repetitive of their predecessor.

    13. Young Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory)

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    Given the rocky nature of prequels, it's a pleasant surprise that Young Sheldon found its stride. It centers around the younger years of Sheldon Cooper and isn't your standard sitcom. It doesn't replicate the humor of The Big Bang Theory and carves its own path as a dramedy about family and fitting in. Plus, the casting of Mini Sheldon is exquisite.

    14. Wandavision (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

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    WandaVision was the very first MCU series to arrive on DisneyPlus, and it catapulted the streaming platform into its era of well-done Marvel shows. The series is a spin-off of MCU movies featuring the Scarlett Witch and feels like a one-off standalone story, rather than something intermixed with Avengers and superheroes. With each episode mirroring an era of television, WandaVision is a unique and creative story that explores grief and mental health.

    15. The Mandalorian (Star Wars)

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    The Star Wars saga has entered a new era of epic storytelling, with successful DisneyPlus shows like The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan, and Andor. Each of these series is wildly different from the other but manages to stay true to the canon of the films. For this list, I'm focusing on The Mandalorian, which changed the landscape for Star Wars TV. It hints at events from the movies and feels familiar to fans of the George Lucas universe, but is a strong story all on its own.

    16. Frasier (Cheers)

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    It's easy to forget that this quintessential '90s sitcom derived first from Cheers, the popular comedy that monopolized '80s television. Both shows ran for 11 seasons, but Frasier truly made a name for itself outside of its parent series. It follows psychiatrist Frasier Crane as he returns to his hometown and reconnects with his family. During its run, Frasier garnered a whopping 37 Emmys...and 107 nominations total!