22 TV Characters Who Deserve Their Own Spinoff Series

With no disrespect to Ted Lasso, Meredith Grey and TV’s other title characters, they aren’t always the ones we’re tuning in to see.

Of course, there’s no shortage of compelling protagonists who keep us coming back to our favorite shows week after week. But just as often, we’re watching for the standout side characters — the ones with personalities colorful enough, storylines meaty enough and portrayals memorable enough that we’d happily watch ’em carry their own spinoff series, if given the chance.

In the list below, we’ve identified 22 such TV characters, all hailing from currently airing or, at least, currently existing TV shows — in other words, nothing that’s been cancelled or recently ended, though we suppose time is running out for The CW to greenlight a certain Flash offshoot.

And though most of our picks are individual scene stealers — Barry‘s Noho Hank, Stranger Things’ Erica Sinclair and Yellowstone‘s Beth Dutton among them — we’ve also made room for a few duos. Because c’mon, there’s no way we’re separating a pair of characters named Boom Boom and Bam Bam, right?

Keep scrolling to see all the TV characters we think are spinoff-worthy, then drop a comment with the small-screen favorites you’d watch in their own show.

Nathaniel Hardin, All American: Homecoming

Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW

Rhoyle Ivy King’s fashionable, fabulous Bringston University student has been a Homecoming standout since its backdoor pilot — largely because she isn’t defined by her gender fluidity (though the presence of a non-binary BIPOC character has certainly added refreshing inclusivity to the teen drama landscape). But Nate has also proven to be a fiercely loyal friend, a talented stylist and a passionate advocate for the wellbeing of Bringston students; should Homecoming get the ax at The CW, we’d love to see a Nathaniel-centric offshoot that’s set after the Bringston years, where Nate is no doubt thriving in her post-grad career.
Noho Hank, Barry

Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO

As Barry Berkman’s own journey becomes darker and more twisted on HBO’s hitman comedy, we can’t help but be drawn to the cheerfully goofy Chechen gangster played by Anthony Carrigan, who manages to make the criminal underworld fun. Maybe in his own offshoot, Hank could pursue his original dream of being a luxury hotel concierge while bodies continue to pile up around him. (Or did we just come up with the next season of The White Lotus?!)
Kemi and Chukwuemeka, Bob Hearts Abishola

Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS

With a robust cast of 13 series regulars, the underrated CBS sitcom could stand to lose a couple characters. And we can think of no better companion series than one centered on Abishola’s best friend and her boy-toy pharmacist. Marry them off, have Kemi go to live with Chuey and his overbearing mother Ogechi, and you have the basis for a modern-day Everybody Loves Raymond, this time beaming with Nigerian spirit.
Nadia Morales, The Cleaning Lady

Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox

As much as we enjoy watching Thony and Arman dance — quite literally, in some cases — around their sexual tension, Nadia deserves better than to play third wheel while her husband falls in love with another woman. Plus, now that The Cleaning Lady has hinted at Nadia’s checkered past and showcased her considerable skill as a businesswoman, we’d love to see her ditch Las Vegas and lead a frothy crime drama of her own.
Tory Nichols, Cobra Kai

Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Tory is a wild child who maybe, possibly might start trying to do good. But what would her life look like outside of being caught in the middle of two dueling dojos? Would she leave her villainous ways behind and try to be a hero, or would her rough edges get the best of her? We’d love to find out.
Mindy Chen, Emily in Paris

Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

She can sing, she can dance, she can make us laugh, and she pulls off the craziest of outfits! Emily’s scene-stealing BFF — who is frequently the most compelling character on the Netflix comedy — not only deserves her own series; she deserves the world.
Sue Dearbon, The Flash

Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW

Maybe we just still miss Diana Rigg’s Emma Peel, but sassy, inscrutable Sue (played by Natalie Dreyfuss) and her particular set of non-socialite-like skills sadly got short shrift in the wake of the Hartley Sawyer kerfuffle. Alas, it’s an (e)long(ated) shot at this point, with the Arrowverse fading into nothingness and DC’s TV slate now extra-correlated to the grand movie plan.
Taryn Helm, Grey's Anatomy

Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC

Since Jaicy Elliot’s “Hellmouth” was introduced back in Season 14 of the long-running ABC drama, we’ve seen just enough of the scene-stealing former surgical resident to know that we want to see more. Now that she’s given up her medical career to pour drinks at Joe’s Bar, the time isn’t just right, it’s perfect to set her up in an offshoot that would utilize her better than her crush on Meredith and friendship with Levi did.
Mr. Ajayi, Heartstopper

Image Credit: Netflix screenshot

We’d be loath to see Fisayo Akinade leave Netflix’s swoon-worthy YA smash as Truham’s out-and-proud art teacher. Who else could so reliably dispense pearls of wisdom that are alternately hilarious (“Being a teenager is terrible”) and life-changing (“Don’t let anyone make you disappear, Charlie”)? But if he did wind up at another school — and at the center of his own show — we’d be first in line to leave an apple on his desk.
Boom Boom and Bam Bam, NCIS: Hawai'i

Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS

You had us at Boom Boom, when White Collar vet Sharif Atkins made his first appearance as the nicknamed Norman Gates early in Season 1. But when Cher Álvarez’s Bam Bam eventually got a turn to show off her own bomb-snuffing skills (as well as her distinct personality), and with a Boom-Bam team-up on tap for the March 13 episode, we see the potential for an explosive NCIS: CES offshoot.
Paxton Hall-Yoshida, Never Have I Ever

Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

There was a time, we’ll admit, that we really thought Darren Barnet’s character was nothing but a great set of abs and a come-hither grin. But as Mindy Kaling’s Netflix comedy heads into its fourth and final season, that time has long passed. Now, we’re curious to see how the slightly older and much wiser Sherman Oaks High grad fares at ASU.
Lord John, Outlander

Image Credit: Everett Collection

No offense to Jamie Fraser’s parents, whom we’re sure are deserving of their own series, but when the Starz time-travel drama announced an offshoot, we were hoping it would focus on Lord John Grey. After all, the charismatic, conflicted Brit comes ready-made with his own compelling issues (being a gay man in 1700s Europe, family drama, an unrequited adoration of a certain redheaded Scot) and an ample amount of episode fodder (Diana Gabaldon’s series of novels and novellas focused on Lord John’s exploits could provide the roadmap for several seasons of a spinoff).
Julia Lemigova, The Real Housewives of Miami

Image Credit: Courtesy of Peacock

A glamorous farmer who isn’t afraid to milk her goats in evening gowns? Tell us more! As a member of an ensemble cast on Real Housewives of Miami, we simply don’t get enough of Julia’s quirky antics. We need to see a spinoff following her life on the farm with wife and world-class tennis star Martina Navratilova.
Uncle Brownie, Reservation Dogs

Image Credit: Courtesy of Hulu

This pot-smoking uncle/cousin/brother is a kook in the best possible way. Not only do we want to ride shotgun with him as he picks fights on the res and attempts to sell decades-old grass, but we’d bet we’ve only scratched the surface of Brownie’s bats—t stories and antics. (Plus, who would say no to more Gary Farmer on our screens?)
Monica Stevens, The Rookie

Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC

Wesley himself wondered aloud if his legal eagle ex had a shred of decency left in her, now defending as she does the likes of Elijah Stone. But we don’t want insta-redemption via a Monica-centric, Bridget Regan-led offshoot. No, instead take us into the world of high-priced defense attorneys who develop a rep for attracting shady clients.
Erica Sinclair, Stranger Things

Image Credit: Netflix screenshot

Since she began kicking sass in Season 2 of Netflix’s monster smash, Priah Ferguson’s zinger flinger has become a fan favorite among, let’s be real, a lineup that’s chock-full of ’em. Assuming that Lucas’ kid sister survives the series’ final season — and how could she not, considering that she could probably reduce Vecna to tears with nothing more than a withering diss? — the network should transition her to a new show that would find her tackling something every bit as scary as the Upside Down: middle school!
Roy and Keeley, Ted Lasso

Image Credit: Courtesy of Apple TV+

If Ted Lasso does, in fact, end with Season 3, then we demand a new show that makes us feel like we’ve been struck by f—king lightning. Stick Roy and Keeley in the suburbs, give Roy’s adorable niece Phoebe a reason to come live with them, and voila! You’ve got yourself another perfect, feel-good show. (Fingers crossed for an annual Sexy Christmas episode!)
Colin Robinson, What We Do in the Shadows

Image Credit: Courtesy of FX

Just about everyone on FX’s vampire comedy gives us the giggles, but we have a special place in our hearts for “energy vampire” Colin, who drains his victims’ life force simply by boring the bejeezus out of them. A Season 1 episode where Colin fed off his coworkers in a dreary office environment flashed serious spinoff potential, and Mark Proksch brings such rich texture to the role that we can’t imagine ever getting bored with it.
Beth Dutton, Yellowstone

Image Credit: Paramount Network screenshot

Ever since it was reported that the Paramount Network drama was allegedly dealing with difficulties scheduling Kevin Costner, we’ve thought to ourselves, “So what?” His movie-star marquee value may have initially brought in the audience, but now it’s Kelly Reilly’s mercurial Beth who’s the series’ main attraction. She could definitely hold her own on a spinoff that released the corporate shark into the waters of Manhattan. We’d certainly swim toward it like a Great White might to chum.