It can be absolutely devastating when your favourite show draws to a close, with many final episodes, including watching Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) get off the plane in Friends, becoming a cultural event.
But who says the story needs to end there? Particularly when you’ve invested eight years watching the trials and tribulations of characters in shows like Game of Thrones.
Fortunately, programme makers seem to have twigged on, and are equally keen to expand a show’s universe – even Doctor Who got the spin-off treatment with Torchwood.
But as impossibly popular as some dramas may seem, many of their predecessors have gone to be – dare we say it – even better.
Here are the spin-offs we think are better than the originals.
Better Call Saul (Breaking Bad)
Widely regarded as one of the best series ever made, Breaking Bad, which followed chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin Walter White (Bryan Cranston), is a tough act to follow.
But critics heaped praise on Better Call Saul, with several claiming the crime drama was better than its predecessor, particularly its final episode which aired this week.
The legal series followed the life of ‘criminal lawyer’ Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) before becoming Walter and Jesse’s (Aaron Paul) representative.
It tracks Saul’s (real name Jimmy McGill) downfall from hard-working-but-slightly-crooked lawyer into full-on crook, alongside several characters from the drug war that dominates the events of the parent series.
House of the Dragon (Game of Thrones)
Ok, so, House of the Dragon may not hit our screens just yet – but hear us out.
Early reviews of the George RR Martin adaptation have been glowing, including from Metro.co.uk’s Adam Miller, who attended the premiere on Monday.
On Twitter, he said: ‘ I can honestly say #HOTD is one of the best opening episodes of a TV show I’ve ever seen. Both thrilled and relieved to be able to say that.’
The fantasy drama is set 200 years before the events of the original show and will follow House Targaryen at the height of its power across the Seven Kingdoms, when King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) sat on the Iron Throne.
Fear the Walking Dead (The Walking Dead)
Premiering in 2010, the first season of The Walking Dead, which followed a group of survivors fend off zombies, revolutionised the horror genre.
So much so, the post apocalyptic drama has spawned several spin-offs across TV and games, including Fear the Walking Dead.
The first three seasons of the nail-biting show are in fact a prequel to The Walking Dead, focussing on a blended family whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of zombies.
Last year the seventh season of the spin-off aired to legions of devoted fans, with an eighth already in the works.
Frasier (Cheers)
It was an iconic sitcom that focused on the exploits of a bunch of bar staff and their clientele, starring Woody Harrelson and Kirstie Alley.
But it was Kelsey Grammer’s character Frasier Crane that would live on beyond the finale of the 90s show.
Frasier continued the story of the psychiatrist as he swapped the therapist’s chair for a mic as he returned to his hometown Seattle to become a radio host.
While the comedy ended in 2004 after 11 seasons, it has recently been rebooted by Paramount Plus, with a release date yet to be confirmed. We can’t wait.
Angel (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)
It’s hard to believe that the first episode of Buffy, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar in the titular role, aired more than 25 years ago.
Fans watched as the relatable heroine continuously saved a small town plagued by vampires, demons and even giant preying mantis.
And they were equally gripped by the exploits of Angel, the sassy teenager’s love interest, which continued in the spin-off.
Angel, a vampire with a human soul, was played by David Boreanaz until the series ended in 2004.
Young Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory)
The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, with almost 18 million viewers tuning in to watch the hour-long finale episode in 2019.
It made veritable A-listers out of its cast, including The Flight Attendant’s Kaley Cuoco, with the lead stars eventually bagging a $1million (£833,000) an episode salary.
While the original show initially focussed on five people living in a houseshare in California, the spin-off centres on the life of neurotic genius Sheldon as he makes his way in the world as a young boy.
Older Sheldon was played by Jim Parsons, with Iain Armitage taking over the reigns as the scientist in his younger years.
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