By Izzy Becker ‘24, Editor-in-Chief

Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) making a striking entrance, courtesy of tvinsider.com

We all have that one show we just can’t get enough of — the one we defend to our friends and shamelessly rewatch over and over again. But does there come a time to abandon pre-existing hits? Hollywood certainly doesn’t think so. In the ever-changing landscape of TV, spinoffs have somehow become pervasive. These continuations or expansions of previous media explain how a character became the way they are, build off of a previous plot point, or even adapt a show’s concept to a new cast and setting. In theory, they are a great way for film industries to make money, while satisfying their loyal fan bases. However, many have missed the mark and failed to garner the support and success of their originals. 

A reason for their unsuccessful efforts is a lack of interest from viewers, which stems from the fact that many spinoffs are concentrated on a singular character’s story. Shows often shine because of the meticulously crafted connections and relationships the writers develop between characters. By eliminating all but one person, we lose integral aspects of the detailed world that’s been built for us. 

Take Aaron Korsh’s “Suits” for example. The legal drama has always been popular, amassing millions of viewers since its 2011 premiere. However, when its spinoff, “Pearson,” aired in 2019, it was a total flop. The show, which focuses on the career of Jessica Pearson, ran for a mere one season before it was canceled. What this can be attributed to is Pearson’s almost negligible role in the original. “Suits” works because of the witty banter between hotshot attorney Harvey Specter and sharp associate Mike Ross. A show featuring neither of the two stars is, put simply, undesirable. Generally, fans seem perfectly content with the show standing alone. When asked if she would want a “Suits” spinoff, Rounika Nuni ‘24 says “I wouldn’t really want one. It would probably ruin the show for me.” 

Also set in New York City, “Gossip Girl” is another well-liked series. The show embodies the glitz and glamor, but also chaos, of the Upper East Side. It follows a group of teens navigating their privileged and drama-filled high school lives. Despite their show being dubbed “the greatest teen drama of all time” by “New York Magazine,” screenwriters Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage agreed to a spinoff. Only, the new series is nothing like the “Gossip Girl” I know and love. Now, it’s the teachers that terrorize the students with jealousy and drama, a concept that is so bizarre and out of touch, it’s no surprise the spinoff was not received well by fans. The remake was ultimately canceled by Max after two seasons. Why? Not only does the plot deviate so extremely, but the spinoff features an entirely new cast, one that tries to replicate the original’s chemistry, but falls short. “I love ‘Gossip Girl,’” Lily Kanter ‘25 says, “but I’m not into the spinoff. It’s just so different from the original and I didn’t like it.”

This is not to say that spinoffs never work. One series seems to defy all odds: “Better Call Saul.” When I watched Vince Gilligan’s “Breaking Bad” last summer, I was captivated by the incredible acting and writing of the show. It tells the story of a chemistry teacher who, after being diagnosed with cancer, reconnects with his former student, Jesse Pinkman. I was skeptical, though, when many of my friends and family recommended I start “Better Call Saul,” the show’s spinoff that concentrates on side characters Saul Goodman and Gus Fring. To my surprise, the spinoff was fantastic, arguably better than “Breaking Bad” itself. And it’s not just me who feels this way: the show became the second most streamed series on AMC Plus and has earned a combined 53 Emmy nominations. Nathan Choi ‘24 thinks Better Call Saul did so well because it stayed true to “Breaking Bad” and let him learn more about the characters he grew to love. Neil Pandey ‘24 says, “The addition to the story that it adds to “Breaking Bad” makes it even more interesting than the original.”  

While some spinoffs aren’t a total goof, directors should be sure to respect the integrity of the shows they are inspired by. After all, there’s a reason why they have become popular enough to inspire a spinoff, and the engrossing elements that have led to the success of the original series should not be abandoned. By and large, the viewers have spoken: spinoffs are out.