This article contains brief mentions of sexual assault and abuse.

The concept of spinoffs has been around for decades, but some TV spinoffs have fared better than the original show they were based on. Creating a show based on existing material can be risky, but TV spinoffs like Frasier, Better Call Saul, and The Good Fight have succeeded in creating their own legacy. Of course, not every spinoff can live up to the success or popularity of its parent show. However, spinoffs are a great way to create a refreshing perspective that might need further exploration.

There is a lot of potential in original shows that can be cultivated by creating a spinoff. Spinoffs have the advantage of building upon the success of their parent shows. They provide an opportunity to develop the characters by putting them in a new setting and giving them their own storylines. They are also a great way to answer any lingering questions that were not answered in the anchor show. A TV spinoff has the ability to develop into a classic series in its own right, even better than the show it spawned from.

10 Law & Order: SVU

Law & Order has been a staple in American households since it aired on NBC in 1990. The popular show has inspired eight spin-offs, one of which is Law & Order: SVU. While the original Law & Order focuses on homicides and legal procedure, Law & Order: SVU explores sexual crimes and domestic violence. With 24 seasons and 538 episodes under its belt, Law & Order: SVU is one of the longest-running scripted primetime series in American TV history.

Law & Order: SVU has been more successful than the original show for several reasons. It does not shy away from complex subject matters such as rape, child abuse, and domestic abuse. The show is renowned for discussing difficult social issues with honesty and sensitivity. Law & Order: SVU has memorable characters and a strong female lead in Olivia Benson. Olivia is a fan favorite who has been integral in the show's meteoric success. As much as Law & Order: SVU relies on real-life incidents to inform its plots, it's worth noting that the show's depiction of criminal law is not always accurate.

9 The Flash

Arrow's debut in 2012 proved to be an important milestone in the DC universe's rise to the superhero TV scene. The TV show's popularity and success paved the way for spinoffs in the Arrowverse, like The Flash, to become a better show than the original. The Flash leveraged Arrow's success and learned from the show's mistakes, giving it a more polished look.

While the visual effects in Arrow left a lot to be desired, the visual effects and action sequences in The Flash were impressive. The lead actor, Grant Gustin, did an incredible job of bringing the speedster to life. His charm, sense of humor, and charisma perfectly embody a superhero. Regarding the ensemble, The Flash was way ahead of Arrow. The ing characters nailed their roles to a tee. The Flash stayed true to its comic book roots, creating exciting season arcs that added to the show's range.

8 Angel

Joss Whedon's horror TV show, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, is a cult classic that, to this day, remains a fan favorite. While several spinoff projects of Buffy The Vampire Slayer were in the works, most of them did not see the light of day except for the beloved TV show, Angel. Angel was first introduced to audiences as Buffy's love interest, but after the third season of the series, he broke out to star in his own show. Granted, both shows have their strengths and weaknesses, but Angel ended up being a better show than Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Compared to Buffy, Angel was the more interesting main character. His story as a vampire seeking atonement for his sins is more compelling than the original show's premise. Buffy The Vampire Slayer was popular because of its use of the teenager in high school trope, but Angel was better because it had none of the high school drama. ing actors in Angel were portrayed as being able to change and experience growth instead of being one-dimensional. Additionally, Angel was better at portraying moral ambiguity. It showed that the world isn't always between good and bad guys. Sometimes, bad guys can turn into good guys and vice versa.

7 The Originals

The Originals is a spinoff show from CW's supernatural drama, The Vampire Diaries. The Mikaelsons who were the original vampire family first appeared in season 2 of TVD as the main antagonists in the show. Having a spinoff show about the first vampire family was a genius move. The Mikaelsons had a compelling story that deserved its own spotlight away from The Vampire Diaries. Despite The Vampire Diaries being successful in its own right, there were quite a few things the show could have done better. To its credit, The Originals learned from its parent show and avoided the pitfalls that could have contributed to its undoing.

The Vampire Diaries was shrouded in teen romance and unnecessary drama, but The Originals took a more mature route. It is darker, more violent, and has better villains. Instead of just focusing on vampire lore, The Originals was better at incorporating other supernatural creatures like werewolves and witches. The show also smartly used New Orleans's supernatural history to further its storyline. The Originals was successful because it stuck to its central premise, familial love. Most importantly, though, the show knew when to call it quits before its storylines became repetitive.

6 The Jeffersons

All in the Family left a lasting influence on television. The four-time Emmy Award-winning show tackled controversial issues like race, gender, social inequity, and bigotry in an honest and nuanced way. All in The Family had seven spinoff shows, including The Jeffersons. Like its predecessor, The Jeffersons tactfully handled complex social issues without coming off as preachy. The chemistry between the characters added to the show's comedic relief. The importance of The Jeffersons and its influence on Black television cannot be overstated. Its cultural influence has cemented The Jeffersons place as one of the best sitcoms of the '80s.

5 The Good Fight

There is no shortage of legal dramas on TV, but shows like The Good Fight stand out. The Good Fight is a spinoff show from the legal drama, The Good Wife. It focuses on Diane Lockhart after she suffers a financial blow due to a scam. She and her goddaughter Maia, set out to have a fresh start at another prestigious law firm, Reddick, Boseman, & Kolstad. Unlike The Good Wife, The Good Fight's storyline was based on real-life political stories such as the Trump presidency, COVID-19, and the MeToo movement.

The Good Fight has been praised for capturing the experiences the world was going through. The show explored relevant themes that needed to be discussed, like race, sexism, and political instability. The cast gave award-worthy performances that rang true to the tumultuous world people were living in. The Good Fight is a brave show that did not shy away from approaching controversial issues head-on. Its timeliness, excellent writing, and incredible performances from its talented cast made the show one of TV's most relevant political dramas.

4 Frasier

Cheers is one of the most iconic and successful sitcoms in TV history. The critically acclaimed sitcom, which amassed 28 Emmys during its runtime, is undoubtedly a tough act to follow for any spinoff of the show. Frasier, however, exceeded expectations. It had much to live up to as a spinoff from one of the most popular sitcoms. Although determining which show was better isn't clear-cut, certain aspects of Frasier make it the more favorable choice.

One of the things that make Frasier better is its smaller cast. Throughout its 11 seasons, the show retained its five core cast , making it easier for them to contribute to the show's storyline. Frasier Crane is also funnier in his show than he was in Cheers, with the fact that he was frequently the butt of the joke adding to the show's comedy. Additionally, Frasier's three generations of father-son relationships made it more relatable. However, Frasier definitely is a product of its time, which is part of the reason it lacks diversity. Hopefully, the 2023 Frasier reboot which is set to air on Paramount+ on October 12 will remedy this issue.

3 Better Call Saul

Breaking Bad left an indelible mark on TV history. The critically acclaimed show featured one of the best writing on TV, incredible characters, and a staggering attention to detail that accurately depicted the world of drugs and the science behind it. However, it could be argued that Better Call Saul features elements that make it better than the show from which it was spun. Creating a spinoff show from such a beloved series was a gamble, but it's safe to say that Better Call Saul delivered.

Better Call Saul is written in a subtle way, but it still delivers its point and furthers the storyline without adding unnecessary fluff. The talented Bob Odenkirk is a force to be reckoned with in his iconic portrayal of Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill, and Better Call Saul has some perfect scenes that make it better than the show it was based on. The series does a fantastic job of exploring themes like relationships, ambition, and morality. Better Call Saul might have built upon the legacy of Breaking Bad, but that doesn't take away the place it has earned in TV history.

2 Star Trek: The Next Generation

It's impossible to talk about science fiction without mentioning how Star Trek contributed to the genre. Star Trek has 11 spinoff shows, with Star Trek: The Next Generation being one of its best. Star Trek: TNG was integral to reviving the franchise. As the first live-action spinoff TV series, TNG had a lot to prove. The show's characters, complex relationships, storylines, and concepts helped it have blockbuster success. The innovative series maintained its consistency throughout its seven seasons. Even though it was set out for an eighth season, which did not happen, the show's season finale was its crowning glory.

1 The Simpsons

The Simpsons has created a cultural phenomenon like no other TV show. The wildly popular show got its start from an animated series called The Tracy Ullman Show. Despite The Tracy Ullman Show only running for four seasons, its spinoff show, The Simpsons, has been around for over thirty years. The Tracy Ullman show was more of a sketch comedy, but The Simpsons incorporated several characters and storylines that add to the show's appeal. The award-winning show has remained relevant for several reasons. Its use of pop culture has informed its comedy thereby keeping the jokes in the show up-to-date with what's happening in the world.

Despite The Simpsons having 34 seasons and 750 episodes, the show has maintained the innovative plot lines and dark humor that have been responsible for its success. It has served as inspiration for other popular cartoons like Futurama, Rick and Morty, and Family Guy. Fox took a risk when it decided to put a cartoon in a prime-time spot, but that decision clearly paid off. The Simpsons has been renewed for season 36 which is set to air in 2024.