TV Series Spin-offs: 8 Characters Who Deserve Their Own Show

The entertainment industry loves a spin-off, a derivative work born from a successful predecessor. The model has proven its worth: Better Call Saul arguably surpassed the original, and House of the Dragon expanded a rich universe by diving into its history. However, for every spin-off that makes sense, there is a long line of characters waiting for a chance that never comes. Meanwhile, franchises insist on retreading familiar ground instead of exploring untouched territory.

This list is not just an exercise in nostalgia. It is an analysis of genuine narrative potential, whether currently wasted or simply ignored. Each character here has enough substance to carry a show. Some were underutilized by their original creators, while others were so well-crafted that anything less than their own dedicated universe feels like a missed opportunity.

Arya Stark (Game of Thrones)

Game of Thrones ended on a controversial note. That is a widely accepted fact. Yet, amidst the chaos of the series finale, there was a perfect hook: Arya Stark boarding a ship to head west of Westeros, into territory completely unmapped in the show's mythology.

A series focusing on this voyage would be a total departure from the original. This is Arya without the weight of her family, without a fixed identity, and finally free from her mission of vengeance. It would just be her and civilizations that no one in George R. R. Martin’s universe has ever seen. After seasons defined by loss and violence, a spin-off could explore what is left of a person when they finally stop running.

Kim Wexler (Better Call Saul)

Better Call Saul crafted one of the most compelling female arcs in modern television history and then unceremoniously moved Kim Wexler off the board. The series finale left her alive but burdened by guilt and starting from zero, which is the perfect setup for a new story.

A Kim Wexler spin-off would be the tonal opposite of its predecessor. Rather than a high-stakes crime thriller, it could be an intimate legal drama about penance and reconstruction. It would follow a brilliant lawyer who helped create a criminal as she tries to rediscover her moral compass. The tension wouldn't come from cartel schemes but from a character facing herself in the mirror every morning and deciding who she wants to be.

Negan (The Walking Dead)

The Walking Dead gave Negan a redemption arc that exceeded all expectations. However, the show never fully committed to showing his true beginning: how exactly does a high school teacher become the most charismatic and brutal dictator of the apocalypse?

Negan’s origin is the untapped gold of The Walking Dead universe. We could see the founding of the Saviors, the construction of a power structure built on fear, and the specific moment he chose violence as his primary language. Jeffrey Dean Morgan has already proven he can handle any complexity a script throws at him. It remains a mystery why this story hasn't been fully told yet. An origin series would be brutal, morally gray, and likely better than most of what the franchise produced in its later years.

Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)

Naruto used Itachi Uchiha as a plot device for years. He was the villain, then the martyr, and eventually a symbol. The series told his story in fragments, usually through the eyes of those who judged him. While there are light novels and special episodes, a comprehensive series about his double life within the Akatsuki is still missing.

The appeal of this spin-off lies in its psychological depth. It is the story of a man who became a monster to protect what he loved, maintaining a facade while carrying secrets that would break an ordinary person. Every mission with the Akatsuki would be a high-stakes game of espionage. Every interaction with Sasuke would be emotional torture masked by coldness. Itachi is one of the most beloved characters in the series, and his popularity alone justifies a standalone project.

Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine was an excellent sitcom that treated its characters with genuine care. However, Rosa Diaz always felt like she was operating at the edge of what the sitcom format would allow. Her humor worked because of the dry, intense persona underneath, and a spin-off could explore that more deeply.

A show following Rosa as a private investigator or bounty hunter would allow for a different tone. Without the ensemble to soften her edges, it could be a procedural with a darker aesthetic and sharp, biting wit. Stephanie Beatriz inhabited this character for eight seasons, and there is clearly enough material for Rosa to lead her own gritty, independent investigation series.

Ruby and Dorothy (Once Upon a Time)

Once Upon a Time had a vast world but a frustrating habit of introducing fascinating characters only to drop them. Ruby and Dorothy are the perfect example of this wasted potential.

The couple established an immediate connection that fans loved, yet they were written out before the show could do anything substantial with them. A spin-off set in Oz would be the natural solution. It could follow the pair as they navigate a fairy tale kingdom with all the adventure and identity-driven storytelling the original show often promised but rarely delivered for its supporting cast.

Jules Vaughn (Euphoria)

Euphoria provided an accidental proof of concept with the Jules special episode released between seasons. It showed exactly what happens when the camera focuses on Jules outside of Rue’s gravity, and the result was some of the best television in the entire series.

Unfortunately, the second season pulled Jules back into being a supporting player in someone else’s drama. A spin-off could follow Jules on an emotional journey of self-discovery, exploring her identity and relationships with more freedom. The show’s first season already gave us a glimpse of this during the episode where she visits a friend in another city, which felt very much like a successful pilot.

Edna Mode (The Incredibles)

Edna Mode steals every single scene she is in within The Incredibles, yet we know very little about how she became the definitive stylist for the superhero elite.

An Edna spin-off would be irresistible in two possible formats. The first is an origin story showing her rise to fame, her encounters with the legendary heroes of the Golden Age, and the most absurd design requests she ever fulfilled. The second is an episodic procedural where each week a different hero visits her studio with a costume crisis and leaves either transformed, insulted, or a bit of both.

The industry tends to expand what sells, not necessarily what should exist. We get countless reboots and shared universes that grow horizontally without ever adding depth. This leaves us with a massive catalog of content but a dwindling number of truly memorable characters.

These eight characters prove that a supporting player can sometimes carry the soul of a show without getting the credit. When a series ends and the person you remember most is someone from the sidelines, the question arises: why isn't there more to their story? The reality is that studios often prefer the safe and familiar over the new and necessary. For now, Arya Stark remains sailing toward the west with no one there to film it.

Which of these spin-offs would you watch immediately? Are there any characters you think should have made the list?

Until next time!