Does Every Beloved Character Deserve Their Own Spin-off?
by Lucy Rice
Following the Netflix announcement of the new Bridgerton spinoff, due to focus on the matriarch of the Bridgerton family, some audience members no doubt are wondering about the necessity of yet another spinoff show [1]. At what point do viewers lose out on new, original shows because studios decide to continually pump money into existing franchises? Should shows be left standalone? Or are these ‘spinoffs’ a valuable contribution to the culture?
It seems like some shows get spinoff after spinoff. This new Violet Bridgerton series is the second show borne off of the original work, the two season spinoff Queen Charlotte precedes it. Both these series are prequels focused on the younger versions of popular characters, whose backstories were referenced in minutely small glimpses within the original series. Bridgerton’s rise to global Netflix success led to its respective seasons 1 and 3 being placed 8th and 10th in most-watched Netflix seasons of all time [2]. Netflix has taken this as a sort of guarantee of viewership, for however many shows they wish to produce relating to the world of Bridgerton. Each new instalment to the franchise further expands upon the show’s lore and solidifies the audience’s love for the characters.
Spinoff shows therefore require less marketing effort in order to gain viewers; an already obsessed fanbase will consume any such addition to their favourite television universe. The comment section beneath the announcement on Instagram proves the tenacity of fans who wait eagerly in anticipation of this addition to the franchise. Their familiarity with the world and its characters draws them in. In that sense, therefore, it is more cost-effective to milk popular shows for all they are worth, developing the narrative and characters for however long audiences stay tuned.
When scrolling through the vast selection of streaming services nowadays, audiences are met with a menagerie of spinoffs, reboots, and remakes. At what point does it become too much? Are newer, original shows being sacrificed to make another spinoff for an already tired franchise?
Many spinoffs nonetheless have led to great acclaim. In the best case we have shows like Breaking Bad’s Better Call Saul, The Big Band Theory’s Young Sheldon, and Greys Anatomy’s Private Practice. These were all incredibly successful spinoffs with a multi-season run, retaining a loyal fanbase. A well written spinoff can undoubtedly achieve success, in amusing its audience, developing the characters and world, and having a coherent plot line. This is a ‘win win’ situation for all parties. The ultimate ideal for a spinoff.
Aside from that, many spinoffs are anticipated to be far more successful than they actually turn out to be. Despite the phenomenal global success of Friends, its two-season spinoff, Joey, failed to hit the mark [3]. Fans were disappointed with poor writing which mischaracterised a much-loved character, which led to a decline in viewership until the show’s eventual cancellation. This sadly, is the case for many spinoffs, a lazy effort on the studio’s behalf, which misunderstands both the material they are working with, and the intelligence of their audience.
There’s also the unfortunate case of backdoor pilots that tease fans, with the fact that the introduced concept never materialised. A backdoor pilot is a pilot episode included within the original show that introduces the setting and premise of the planned spinoff. One of the most famous failed backdoor pilots is the Gilmore Girls episode ‘Here Comes the Son,’ which would have centred fan favourite character, Jess Mariano, living a new life in California. The episode serves as a mere taste of what could have been for fans of his character. Ultimately this show never made it to our screens, online discourse talks of a lack of funds for shooting on location [4]. It is ironic how some spinoffs with great potential lack the monetary support whilst other, less promising concepts garner the studios backing.
There is a marginally thin line between creating a strong accompaniment to the original show and absolute unnecessary drivel. Studios do not always get it right, whether they cancel the chance to see more of your favourites or feel the need to produce spinoffs nobody asked for, there are undeniably some true gems out there. A spinoff produced right can be a fantastic development, and a tribute to the original work and its fans.
References
[1] @netflixuk, “Dearest Gentle Reader… A new series chronicling the romance of young Violet and Viscount Edmund Bridgerton is coming!” Instagram, October 9th, 2026. https://www.instagram.com/p/DeOzshdjE0y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&exln=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==&srtk=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
[2] Netflix. “Top 10 Most Popular TV Shows.” Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/top10/most-popular/tv
[3] Screen Rant. “Friends: Why the Joey Spinoff Failed.” Accessed October 15, 2026. https://screenrant.com/friends-joey-spinoff-why-failed/
[4] Gilmore Girls Fandom. “Windward Circle.” Accessed October 15, 2026. https://gilmoregirls.fandom.com/wiki/Windward_Circle
Image
- Netflix.com. “Logos.” Accessed October 15, 2026. https://brand.netflix.com/en/assets/logos/
