So, what makes a good spin-off? Crucially, the essence of the original needs to be maintained in order to satisfy the dedicated fans who hold the key to its success. Though the spin-off also needs to be exciting and relevant enough to be interesting and stand on its own in order to attract new, possibly younger, audiences.
Amandaland, the recent spin-off of the British comedy Motherland, which centres around one of the characters from the original series, Amanda (as the name suggests), is an example of a successful spin-off. It manages to recreate the humour of the original, whilst being relevant both to changes in society and the characters in the show.
Perhaps the most high-profile spin-off is House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones spin-off that began in 2022. It was very well received by fans and critics alike and won several awards including the Golden Globe for Best Television Series, solidifying its place as an entity in its own right.
Though very different, Amandaland and House of the Dragon are likened by their acknowledgement of their status as spin-offs. Though there are some that manage to transcend this. For example, the popular American sitcom Frasier is a spin-off from the previous show Cheers, in which Frasier featured as a minor character. Frasier has since taken on its own life, becoming more popular and even earning its own remake series in 2023, moving it away from a simply being spin-off of Cheers.
It is important to remember that, for the most part, the appeal of a spin-off series is its recreation of the feeling of watching the original. It seems that as long as a spin-off can successfully evoke these feelings, it will be successful. But ultimately, if a show is beloved enough to demand a spin-off, it is unlikely that the sequel will be able to live up to its legacy, though they help to satisfy our longing for more of what we love.