When aTV showbecomes popular, it’s no surprise that viewers want more. Whether it’s a prequel, spinoff, sequel, or even a show that runs at the same time, there are so many world-building possibilities when it comes to franchises.These tie-in shows offer the opportunities to explore characters in even more depth, answer questions that have been posed and unanswered, and even right some wrongs.
The procedural is a popular genre that often gets the spinoff treatment. Utilizing the format and placing it in different cities allows for applying a winning formula to new and exciting places. Each can have its own tone, new and diverse characters, and great crossover potential. Fantasy has also seen its fair share of multiverses, with prequels establishing a familiar world, or following some of its beloved characters to pastures new. And, sometimes, it’s a character who is at the center of the story and gets revisited at multiple stages of their lives.
10The Vampire Diaries Universe
Includes: The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, & Legacies
WhenThe Vampire Diariespremiered in 2009, it came at just the right time. The world was obsessed with vampires and werewolves, thanks toTwilightandTrue Blood,andthis teen iteration based on a popular series of novels had a lot of stories to explore. The charismatic cast and mysterious goings-on of Mystic Falls saw viewers tune in week after week and created a phenomenon of sorts. As the world expanded, new characters were introduced, including the enigmatic Mikaelsons.
The Best TV Shows Of All Time, Ranked
The best TV shows of all time will be debated forever, but there are clear contenders. These are the very best TV shows of all time, ranked.
The Original family gained a lot of popularity, which resulted in a show focused on them. At first,The Originalsfollows Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah, and proceeds to explore even more of their past and offers up some satisfying crossover cameos.Legaciesfollowed, with the first ever “tribryd” and a whole new generation of supernatural beings.Each show has a dedicated group of fansand still gets some decent streaming numbers. They all have an entertaining mix of action, romance, and the occult, making it a franchise worth exploring.
9The Frasier Universe
Includes: Cheers, Wings, Frasier, & Frasier Reboot
Kelsey Grammer is part of a very elite crew of people who have playedthe same character for four decades in multiple shows. After making his debut inCheersas Diane’s preppy boyfriend, he quickly became a fan favorite and stayed on until the finale of the beloved Boston-based sitcom.Wingsis set in the same universe and is a great comedy show in and of itself. Going back to the 1980s and 1990s serves up a lot of nostalgia and provides a glimpse of what life was like back then.
Perhaps one of the most famous and successful comedy spinoffs,Frasierhas countless awards and provided some of the best writing and biggest laughs during its record-breaking run.
Perhaps one of the most famous and successful comedy spinoffs,Frasierhas countless awardsand provided some of the best writing and biggest laughs during its record-breaking run. The most recent reboot might not have lasted quite as long, perhaps due to the lack of fan-favorite characters, but it had a lot of potential that’s still worth exploring. Especially for those who always enjoyed the witty shenanigans of this quirky psychiatrist.
8The Shondaland Universe
Includes: Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, & Station 19
Medical dramas have proved extremely popular over the years.ERandHousesaw immense success, but the phenomenon that isGrey’s Anatomyis a hard one to surpass. With over 20 seasons and counting, one could argue it’s built up multiple spinoffs and reboots just within its own hospital walls. A revolving roster of cast members, many different story arcs, and even a revamp of what was originally known as Seattle Grace mean that the show now looks and feels a lot different from when it first premiered.
While it still remains on the air, there have been two interconnected shows that were good in their own right.Private Practicefollows the classy and accomplished Addison Montgomery and focuses on her OB-GYN practice in California.There are some high-stakes crossover events that make for must-see viewing. Shonda Rhimes did a similar thing withStation 19, which often saw some of the action from the fire station move to Grey Sloan Memorial and vice versa.
7The Buffy Universe
Includes: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, & Upcoming Reboot
Ever since Sarah Michelle Gellar burst onto the TV screens in 1997, the supernatural genre hasn’t been quite the same. She was able to save the world multiple times with her signature mix of wit and humor, and created a legacy that has lasted nearly 30 years. Viewers still watch and re-watch what happened on the Hellmouth and beyond.After three extremely successful seasons,Angelbecame its first and so far only spinoff, up until an exciting recent announcement.
Angelran alongsideBuffy the Vampire Slayerfor a while, with some great interconnected cameos. The heartbreaking love story between Angel and Buffy closes a chapter for both of them, and once the action in Sunnydale comes to an end, Spike is able to join the gang over in LA. Ever since both shows ended, interest has not waned much, hence the announcement of a reboot. It’s hard to say what direction this continuation will take, with some fans beyond excited and others worried that the memory of a classic might be tarnished.
6The Dexter Universe
Includes: Dexter, Dexter: New Blood, & Dexter: Original Sin
Michael C. Hall is able to combine intensity, vulnerability, and a strength of conviction that makes him one of the most captivating actors of the last few decades. As Dexter Morgan,he managed to make a serial killer sympathetic, and had the audience on his sidemost of the time. The show hit upon some very popular themes of the era, including murder, mystery, and complex, layered characters. Its initial run finished in a bittersweet way, mostly wrapping up his dark story.
But, audiences weren’t done with Dexter.The reboot revisits the former murderer years afterhe faked his own death, and introduces another mystery to solve. It came out long enough after the original show ended to satisfy a thirst for more blood. A prequel was also commissioned that follows a young Dexter as he learns the Code from his adoptive father. Each of the three installments of the franchise covers various stages of the antihero’s life, giving viewers a 360-degree view of his character.
Zombies have been a part of the cultural zeitgeist for a long time. There was a bit of a lull in the mainstream for a while in the 1990s, but ever sinceThe Walking Deadfranchise kicked off, there was no looking back. Not only did it reinvigorate the dying genre, it made it bigger than ever. With many successful films and TV shows influenced by this dystopian saga, it’s always good to revisit the universe that brought us so many beloved characters.
If The Walking Dead’s Creator Knew How Big It Would Be, He Would Have “Expanded” a Key Storyline
The Walking Dead’s creator, Robert Kirkman, admitted that if he knew how long the comic series would run for, he’d expand the story of one character.
While the original show is a must-see staple of the 2010s,the many, many spinoffs allow for an in-depth exploration of the world. There is a version that follows the beginning of the outbreak, one that focuses on Daryl, one that revisits Rick and Michonne, and even more that explore many different characters who fans know and love. With many of them still ongoing, it’s a ripe universe for anyone who loves stories of the undead.
4A Song Of Ice And Fire Universe
Includes: Game Of Thrones, House Of The Dragon, & A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
George R. R. Martin’s literary juggernaut was taken to the next level by HBO.When the original show premiered, it quickly became a smash hitthat was even able to convert many non-fantasy fans to the genre. The eight seasons spent in Westeros are filled with ups and downs, horrific weddings, epic battles, and a lot of strategic planning. With memorable characters like Tyrion, Sansa, and Missandei to name but a few, the show drew in viewers and awards, season after season.
While the finale might not have satisfied everyone, the show managed to leave its mark on TV history, thus creating a huge market for more stories from this brutal universe. A prequel focusing on the Targaryen in-fighting has given viewers two intriguing seasons, with excellent performances from Paddy Considine and Emma D’Arcy. Another prequel is also on the way in 2025, which will give audiences a glimpse into another part of the Seven Kingdoms. With at least two more shows in production, it will be fascinating to see even more from Westeros.
3The Crime Scene Investigation Universe
Includes: CSI, CSI; Miami, CSI: New York, & CSI: Cyber
The 2000s were rife with shows dealing with solving murder mysteries. Instead of following police officers or lawyers,the originalCSIfocuses on forensic specialists, who inspect the most minute details to get the perpetrators. With innovative technology and a microscopic lense cast on crime, Gil Grissom et al. changed the landscape of procedural dramas for years to come. With more gore and violence than ever before on primetime TV, and a tried-and-true formula, the show inevitably cast its net on a wider scale.
Miamiwas the first spinoff, with iconic sunglasses-wearer Horatio Caine taking the lead of the lab. While the Vegas show is much darker in tone, with a focus on the night lights of Sin City, the Floridian version fully embraces the vivid colors and sunshine. New York is a bit more gray and serious, and each show sees the CSIs cross paths while investigating jurisdiction-crossing cases.These shows dominated the airwaves for a long time, and the three originals still hold up.
2The Good Universe
Includes: The Good Wife, The Good Fight, & Elsbeth
Legal dramas see no signs of slowing down, and mixing them with current affairs is a great way of providing some much-needed social commentary on the times they take place in.The Good Wifefollows the story of a woman trying to rebuild her lifeafter her disgraced State’s Attorney husband is threatened with a lengthy jail sentence. Since its premiere in 2009, the franchise has featured on the air in some way or another. After its initial run finished, Christine Baranski took over the lead, along with some other popular in-universe characters.
What the shows do extremely well is referencing current scandals and political unrest, and providing thrilling case-of-the-week stories that keep audiences engaged and alert.The Good Fighthad a very successful run of its own, and was a satisfying continuation of the original, while being able to focus on more relevant topics of the time. The most recent foray into the universe focuses on the quirky yet brilliant Elsbeth Tascioni, played wonderfully by Carrie Preston. With a deep bench of characters to explore and many real-world issues to tackle, one can only hope there is more to come.
1The Law & Order Universe
Includes: Law & Order, SVU, Criminal Intent, Trial By Jury, LA, & Organized Crime
One of the most successful and prolific crime television franchises, the world ofLaw & Orderhas spawned many spinoffs, reboots, and revivals.Its original run lasted an impressive 20 years, with a recent version revisiting the popular franchise’s roots. TheSpecial Victims Unititeration has seen steady success, making Olivia Benson one of the most iconic detectives in TV history. It’s still on the air, with no signs of slowing down.
There is something comforting about the familiar format of this procedural show, which usually follows a similar plot, seeing bad people brought to justice.
The franchise has seen many iconic actors in guest roles across the many settings. Colman Domingo, Timothée Chalamet, and Robin Williams are only some of the big names to have appeared as victims and criminals alike. There is something comforting about the familiar format of this procedural show, which usually follows a similar plot, seeing bad people brought to justice.It also touches upon many important subjectsin a way that is universal. While the amount of output that the franchise has produced might seem daunting, it is definitely worth delving into.
