Watching spin offs

With successful shows comes the spin offs that cash in on the popularity or do they?

Shows like NCIS, CSI , Law & Order and Star Trek all have numerous ones, but personally I stick to the originals. I give them a chance, but there are too many CSI and Law & Order versions I get confused when they show repeats as to which it is. I do like Law & Order SVU but recently too many characters have left and I think they have lost viewers. I doubt it can last much longer to be honest.

Do you stay faithful to the show and watch them all or stick to the original?

 

Well, history dictates that I do not stick with spin offs of popular shows. Like Breaking Bad for instance. I loved that show. It had action, mystery, and drama. When it ended, many people were not happy. But then they brought out a spin off show - which I believe is still currently airing - called Better Call Saul? Saul, when he was in Breaking Bad, was not an interesting enough character, at least for me, to carry a show all by himself?

Still, I gave episode one of Better Call Saul a chance, but I just wasn't getting anything from it. I haven't watched any of it since. This pattern seems to repeat itself with all spin off shows, for me.

 

I can't stand any spin off or re-make of successful movies or shows. Fast and Furious was fantastic when they first came out, and then came long tail afterward. I like to leave well things alone, and allow the audiences to use their imagination a little. Re-do, re-make, spin-off took the magic out of it.

 

My experience has been that the spin-off is never as well produced, written and cast as the "original". It's like they see a show doing so well, that they rush to make another one just like it, without really figuring out what made it successful in the first place. Most often, it's the characters and the chemistry between the actors. It's the intelligent, witty writing. But they don't put a lot of time and attention into finding the right mix. So they lack the emotion, depth and interest of the original.

 

Well, I did enjoy Law & Order: Criminal Intent. It was one of my favorite shows because it really delves into the mind and motivations of the perpetrators. I loved how Detective Goren analyzed the minds of each criminal. I was sad that the show came to an end, back in 2011. However, I also enjoy Law & Order, SVU. Indeed, the show has lost too many characters except for ICE-T and Mariska Hargitay, but the show is still exciting and I love the authentic NYC touch to this series. I don't know how much longer it will last, but I'll be sad to see it go.

 

I don't know if you've ever heard of Breaking Bad, but there was a character in there which I would've wholeheartedly appreciate to have a spinoff series. His name was Gustavo Fring, and he used to be Walter White's "employer". Giancarlo Esposito, the guy who played Gus, was absolutely fantastic in his role and really showed that he was capable of transposing himself into another personality, that of the aforementioned character.
But producers thought that it would be better to make a spinoff of another character, which I personally like, but not as much: Saul Goodman.
Nevertheless, the current spinoff is great and promising, but I would've however loved to see something else being produced.

 

I will watch one episode of the spin off. I've been known to ditch the original all together for a better spin off. Here's an example... I have the choice of streaming All in the Family or the Jeffersons. I have never set out to intentionally watch All in the Family, but recently I have watched The Jeffersons on several occasions. Another example is Star Trek, as you mentioned. I love the original! No captain has ever outdone Kirk. However, I still watch Next Generation when I have a choice between the two. Those are just a couple of examples of many.