The Best Sequel TV Series

The Best Sequel TV Series

Key Takeaways

  • Baymax!
    continues the lovable adventures of the titular character in San Fransokyo, appealing to both young and nostalgic audiences.
  • X-Men ’97
    picks up where the original series left off, with a refreshed cast and potential for lasting fan appeal beyond Marvel’s plans.
  • Better Call Saul
    expertly explores the backstory of Saul Goodman, flipping Breaking Bad’s narrative and investing viewers in new characters.

As a television enthusiast with a hearty appreciation for well-crafted narratives, I must say that both “Frasier” and “Better Call Saul” have left indelible marks in the annals of small screen history. Each series, while stemming from their respective predecessors, managed to carve out their unique identities, captivating audiences for years on end.


Over the years, numerous TV shows have been irresistible to audiences. Some creators and studios have cashed in on this demand for more by producing follow-up series called spin-offs, which explore events that occur after, before, or connected to a specific show. In certain instances, these spin-offs even extend the narratives of popular films.

Among some television sequel series that might be better left untouched, others have surpassed their original content. These ten shows not only effectively continued the stories of their predecessors but also created compelling standalone adventures. Ranging from animated productions to high-end dramas, these are the top TV sequels, listed in order.

10 Baymax!

Baymax’s Adventures Continued On TV

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network Disney+
Air Date 2022
Predecessor Big Hero 6: The Series (2017-2021)
Main Cast Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Maya Rudolph, Lilimar, Jaboukie Young-White

In the thrilling world of gaming, I first encountered the remarkable Baymax back in 2014, starring in the animated film “Big Hero 6”. This was followed by a TV series, “Big Hero 6: The Series”, which brought together many of the original film’s cast. Spanning three action-packed seasons, this wasn’t the last we saw of Baymax. Disney+ took the reins and created a new spin-off series for the Big Hero 6 universe, simply known as “Baymax!” – where our beloved inflatable healthcare companion continues his adventures!

Unlike other series that featured all characters from Big Hero 6, Baymax! is centered around the title character assisting with various issues in San Fransokyo. Despite being a brief six-episode run, the charming escapades of Baymax throughout this show will appeal to both young and older viewers who fondly remember the initial film.

9 X-Men ’97

The Iconic Mutant Show Returns On Disney+

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network Disney+
Air Date 2024 – present
Predecessor X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997)
Main Cast Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith, Cal Dodd, Matthew Waterson, Ross Marquand

Back in the gaming world, I was thrilled to learn that Disney’s takeover of 20th Century Fox led to a resurgence of an old favorite from my childhood – the ’90s X-Men animated series, rebranded as X-Men ’97. Jumping right back into the action, the team finds itself dealing with the aftermath of Professor Charles Xavier’s mysterious disappearance at the end of the last season.

As a devoted fan, I must say that what we’re getting isn’t exactly a follow-up to the original series, but more of a fresh start, cleverly disguised as a sequel and labeled as X-Men ’97. While some familiar faces like Cal Dodd are back, there’s a whole new crew joining the team. It might not be directly tied to Marvel’s future schemes for the X-Men, but with the incredible response it’s been getting, I can’t help but feel that this series could have a long run ahead of it.

8 MacGruber

The MacGyver Parody Went From Big Screen To Small Screen

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network Peacock
Air Date 2021
Predecessor MacGruber (2010)
Main Cast Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe, Laurence Fishburne, Sam Elliott, Billy Zane, Maya Rudolph

As a gamer, I can tell you that MacGruber is one of those titles on this list that isn’t a continuation from another TV show, but rather a standalone sequel. This quirky character, a humorous take on MacGyver, was first brought to life by Will Forte during his time on Saturday Night Live. The character was a collaborative effort between Forte, John Solomon, and Jorma Taccone. Fast forward to 2010, and the character starred in his very own action-packed movie, sharing the screen with my fellow SNL comrade, Kristen Wiig.

Originally, a movie sequel for MacGruber seemed improbable due to its financial underperformance. However, Peacock decided to revisit the concept as a TV series sequel, which takes place ten years after the initial film. In this continuation, MacGruber is tasked with rescuing the President’s abducted daughter. For die-hard fans of the original sketch or movie, this new series is an exciting development, while those less familiar might find it less appealing.

7 Lilo & Stitch: The Series

Disney’s Beloved Series Started As A Movie

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network Disney Channel
Air Date 2003–2006
Predecessor Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Main Cast Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Kevin Michael Richardson, Tia Carrere

It’s not often that a television spinoff outshines its original movie, but this is true for Disney’s Lilo & Stitch: The Series. Originally released as a film in 2002, it spawned a popular TV series on Disney Channel, focusing on the everyday escapades of the main characters, Lilo and Stitch.

For the television show that lasted two seasons and had 65 episodes in total, many of the original voice actors from the movie reprised their roles. This series was shown simultaneously with direct-to-video films starting with “Stitch! The Movie“, which functioned as a precursor to the Disney Channel animated series, using a method called a backdoor pilot that proved successful for viewers.

6 Mork And Mindy

A Guest Appearance In Happy Days Paid Off

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network ABC
Air Date 1978-1982
Predecessor Happy Days
Main Cast Robin Williams, Pam Dawber, Conrad Janis, Elizabeth Kerr, Tom Poston, Jonathan Winters

One of television’s most legendary sitcoms, Happy Days, stands out on its own merit. However, it has also served as the blueprint for other classic sitcoms through individual episodes. One such episode was “My Favorite Orkan,” which featured Robin Williams making his debut as Mork, an alien character, in a guest role. In this original episode, Mork tried to abduct Ron Howard’s character.

The episode gained such a huge following that ABC created a separate series, “Mork & Mindy,” featuring Williams. In this show, Mork resides with Mindy and develops feelings for her as she helps him understand human customs. Although it shares little connection with “Happy Days“, it’s worth including on the list due to its independent success and significantly boosting Williams’ comedy career.

5 Star Trek: The Next Generation

A New Crew, But The Same Timeline

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network Paramount
Air Date 1987-1994
Predecessor Star Trek: The Original Series
Main Cast Patrick Stewart, LeVar Burton, Jonathan Frakes, Denise Crosby, Brent Spiner, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden

The initial Star Trek show ran from 1966 until 1969, yet it has developed into a comprehensive media franchise that remains active today. Notably, The Next Generation made its debut in 1987, marking a sort of revival for the franchise following diversifications like an animated series and four movies at that time. However, this series was set a century after the original’s timeline of events.

Although it follows chronologically within the Star Trek universe, The Next Generation maintains connections to The Original Series. Various episodes, such as “The Naked Now,” explicitly refer back to specific events from Star Trek: The Original Series, and DeForest Kelley himself made a guest appearance as Leonard McCoy in the premiere episode of TNG.

4 Cobra Kai

For A New Generation Of Karate Kids

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network YouTube Premium/Netflix
Air Date 2018-present
Predecessor The Karate Kid (1984)
Main Cast Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Tanner Buchanan, Xolo Mariduena, Mary Mouser

1980s classic movie The Karate Kid features Ralph Macchio as a youngster learning karate to tackle schoolyard bullies. The television series Cobra Kai, launched in 2018, serves as a continuation of the original film, bringing back Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, the movie’s antagonist.

Cobra Kai primarily revolves around Lawrence, a man struggling with his luck, who decides to instruct karate to a mistreated teenager. This action sets off the reopening of the Cobra Kai dojo. The series offers an intriguing exploration of where these characters stand thirty years after the movie’s events, and it skillfully tackles themes such as aging, triumph, and mourning in a mature manner.

3 The Legend Of Korra

The World Of Avatar Expanded

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network Nickelodeon
Air Date 2012-2014
Predecessor Avatar: The Last Airbender
Main Cast Janet Varney, Seychelle Gabriel, David Faustino, P.J. Byrne, J.K. Simmons, Kiernan Shipka, Mindy Sterling, Dee Bradley Baker

Avatar: The Last Airbender, undeniably a hard act to surpass, is skillfully continued by The Legend of Korra. This subsequent series revolves around Korra, the reborn embodiment of Aang, on a quest to master airbending and emulate the path of the previous Avatar. Throughout her journey, Korra encounters political turmoil and uncovers enigmatic powers that have been unleashed upon the world.

The show stood out for its portrayal of contemporary issues such as terrorism and LGBTQ+ challenges, offering a fresh take on Avatar: The Last Airbender. Although the four seasons are fantastic, the narrative has been expanded through a comic book series that’s been released since 2017, three years after the sequel series concluded.

2 Frasier

A Regular From Cheers Made It Big

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network NBC
Air Date 1993-2004
Predecessor Cheers
Main Cast Kelsey Grammar, David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves, Peri Gilpin, John Mahoney

Finding a sequel series that surpasses the popularity of its original is unusual. However, this exception holds true for “Frasier,” the spin-off from NBC’s “Cheers.” Unlike the original series centered around the bar named “Cheers” in Boston, “Frasier” revolves around the lives of its characters, including regular patrons. Debuting the same year as “Cheers” ended, “Frasier” focuses on the life of Dr. Frasier Crane, portrayed by Kelsey Grammar.

In the TV series “Frasier”, the main character, Frasier, leaves Boston for Seattle, where he becomes a radio host for psychiatry and has an ongoing rivalry with his brilliant brother Niles. The show initially won multiple Emmys and ran for eleven seasons. It was revived in 2023 for Paramount+, but the revival received less positive reviews compared to its original run.

1 Better Call Saul

The Backstory Of One Slimy Lawyer Changes Breaking Bad

The Best Sequel TV Series
Network AMC
Air Date 2015-2022
Predecessor Breaking Bad
Main Cast Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Michael McKean, Giancarlo Esposito, Tony Dalton

Given the high acclaim of “Breaking Bad,” it was natural to be doubtful if they could create a spin-off focusing on Bob Odenkirk’s shady lawyer character, Saul Goodman. However, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould delivered a prequel that not only lives up to the original series but also turns it upside down.

Better Call Saul primarily follows the evolution of Jimmy McGill into the ruthless Saul Goodman before the occurrences of Breaking Bad, while also delving into the consequences of Saul’s escape from custody as depicted in the final episode of the original series. Yet, this show’s most impressive feat lies in captivating audiences with its fresh characters, notably Kim Wexler and Howard Hamlin.

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2024-08-24 15:34