Not Just Neagley in Reacher: 3 Spin-Offs With Supporting Characters You Must See

Once the hoped-for success is achieved, one wonders what could happen by crossing boundaries and exploring that universe even further, especially when it comes to TV series. There are countless examples we could cite of mother series that later made possible spin-offs that are equally successful and that, over the years, have captured more and more attention. The most recent is precisely Neagley, born as a spin-off of Reacher, a flagship TV series streaming on Prime Video that launched Alan Ritchson‘s international career. Neagley is Reacher’s right-hand, and after several seasons, it earned a spin-off of its own with Maria Sten in the lead, turning a charismatic supporting character into an autonomous and functional story. And when this happens, the spin-off is not simply linked to another successful series but comes to life on its own. Below we suggest three spin-off examples that have equaled the mother TV series.

From Supporting Character to Solo Success: Must-See TV Spin-Offs

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul

Everything began with , a TV series starring Walter White who, from a humble chemistry teacher, becomes a drug lord. Spanning five seasons, Breaking Bad subsequently paved the way for a spin-off titled Better Call Saul dedicated to the flamboyantly eccentric omonymous lawyer played by Bob Odenkirk. In this case the spin-off should be understood as a prequel–sequel and follows the origins of Saul, when he went by Jimmy McGill, a fledgling lawyer torn between the desire for redemption and moral shortcuts. Just like Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul has been described as a masterpiece of writing and directing, building an emotionally strong standalone identity. And that’s not all: from 2017 to 2022 there was a run of a four-season series of shorts titled Better Call Saul Employee Training and an animated prequel series Slippin’ Jimmy.

The Boys and Gen V

On Prime Video Eric Kripke introduced the dysfunctional universe of The Boys, navigating a reality where the superheroes are not the benevolent protagonists but rather must be stopped, with The Boys fighting them on behalf of humankind. Running for five seasons, The Boys has entertained streaming audiences for years and has also spawned a spin-off titled Gen V, the story of which unfolds parallel to the main narrative, enabling some crossover moments. Gen V is set at the Godolkin University and focuses on young students endowed with extraordinary abilities who soon uncover dark secrets about the school they attend and about Vought in general. While it has enjoyed success with both audiences and critics, Gen V was halted after its second season.

The Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon

The latest example of a successful spin-off is House of the Dragon, set in Westeros as it was already introduced in Game of Thrones. Drawing its strength from the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones lasted eight seasons on HBO Max, telling the power struggle to occupy the Iron Throne while following the various houses such as the Stark, the Lannister, and the surviving Targaryen. House of the Dragon was conceived as a prequel to delve into the downfall of the Targaryen family, once the most powerful in Westeros and owner of numerous dragons. House of the Dragon comprises three seasons with a fourth upcoming, announced as the final one, and it delves into the civil war among the Targaryens known in history as the Dance of the Dragons. That event forever marked the dynasty, whose fallout was later depicted in Game of Thrones, when Daenerys is compelled to bear that legacy, moving across Westeros with the aim of sitting on the Iron Throne and ruling the Seven Kingdoms.