These 10 TV Shows Feel Like Spiritual Successors To Other Great Series
TV shows sometimes get spin-offs, prequels, and sequels, but sometimes, one show may have no literal connection to another despite feeling like some sort of continuation of the same ideas and tones. We all have our favorite shows. That can make us laugh, cry, giddy with excitement, or overwhelmed and upset.
However, when a beloved show comes to an end, it can be hard to find something else that fills the same gap. Yes, more shows exist in the same genre, but it’s rare to find a show that actually delivers the same feelings and vibes as anything else. Despite being rare, it does happen, and there are several series that feel as though they picked up the baton from a previous show to satisfy fans of the earlier show and fill the gap that was left behind.
10
Parks and Recreation to The Office
First up, The Office was a rare sitcom that completely owned a seemingly boring premise and turned it into something absolutely inspired. The show was actually an adaptation of a British series by Ricky Gervais, but despite remaking a show with nearly the same premise, the energy of both shows were completely different.
Related
10 Great Moments In The Office That Were Totally Improvised
Throughout all nine seasons of The Office, the actors were given the freedom to improvise, which helped provide many of the show’s best moments.
However, when Parks and Recreation came out in 2009, it felt like the same goofy humor and elevating of a dull idea was back. Swapping out a paper company for a local government, both shows feature a cast of eclectic characters whose lives become the central focus while their workspace proves to be the most mundane part of their lives. Both shows are wonderful and well worth watching.
9
How I Met Your Mother to Friends
In the 1990s, everyone fell in love with Friends. A series about six friends in New York City who are all struggling through the usual challenges of being young adults. From careers, to relationships, and so much more, the show was a spectacular sitcom that was immediately endearing, and continues to stand out as an all-time favorite for many people.
Then, in 2005, a new group of friends found themselves in the spotlight in How I Met Your Mother. HIMYM revolves around five good friends navigating life, love, and relationships in New York City. There are love connections inside the group, and these young adults struggle to make life work as they encounter day-to-day challenges. Both shows have so much in common, which sometimes leads to divisions between the competing fanbases, but honestly, both are great.
8
The X Files to Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is one of the most notorious shows ever to appear on TV. In no small part, this was down to the direction and vision of David Lynch, who usually worked on feature films or music videos previous to making the show. However, despite the format change, Lynch took over his signature style, and the story takes increasingly unusual and wild turns as things progress.
Related
If You Love Twin Peaks, These 10 Movies Have The Same Strange Vibe
David Lynch’s unique style is ever-present in Twin Peaks, but there are a few movies that give off a similar atmosphere albeit for different reasons.
Then, in 1994, just four years after Twin Peaks debuted, The X Files began. The show follows two detectives exploring the supernatural and the unexplainable. While nothing can really compare to Lynch’s style and innovative storytelling, the premise and the prominent featuring of aliens, sci-fi, and more make them comparable.
7
Supernatural to Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Shifting from the sci-fi to the truly supernatural and mythological, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of the most popular shows to come out of the 1990s for young adults. Revolving around a young hero who is tasked with protecting the world from vampires, demons, and all kinds of monsters. The show had a great run, and as Buffy developed as a hero, the series continued to gain traction.
Then, in 2005, Supernatural broke onto the scene two years after Buffy wrapped for good. The Winchester brothers are highly skilled hunters, who have learned how to track down and kill vampires, demons, and monsters. Supernatural did get more ambitious than Buffy, as the series explored all varieties of paranormal and mythos over 15 seasons. However, both shows undeniably have the same core, and would absolutely work together in a Supernatural–Buffy the Vampire Slayer crossover.
6
Hannibal to Dexter
Dexter follows a charming serial killer who lives by a strict code. Michael C. Hall did a fantastic job leading the series and making the character both threatening, and heroic, monstrous, and endearing. And throughout the show, Dexter struggles to make sense of the world around him as he struggles against his dark passenger.
Related
The Dexter franchise has grown to include four different shows – with a fifth on the way – in 20 years, but only one of them can be called the best.
Then, when Hannibal came out, the show delivered an adaptation of a much older story, but the tone was strikingly different from other iterations. Hannibal, played by Mads Mikkelson, was evidently dangerous, but he also had a charm and allure that was undeniable. Over the course of the show, this monstrous murderer with an appetite for red meat is seen to help law enforcement, though in the dark, his actions are less heroic.
5
Rick and Morty to The Simpsons
The Simpsons is one of the most popular animated shows on TV. Since the characters initially appeared on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987, they have become some of the most recognizable and entertaining animated families of all time. However, while the show is about a family, it’s not always so family-friendly, with humor that is best suited for young adults and mature audiences.
Taking that concept even further, Rick and Morty features a dysfunctional family in an animated series that is specifically aimed at adults. The show pushes the boundaries a lot further, but it’s easy to see connections and influences between the two. And it’s likely that fans of one would enjoy the other.
4
The Umbrella Academy to Misfits
Misfits is a British superhero comedy series from 2009. The show featured a group of misfit young people who acquire extraordinary powers through a random incident. Following this, they learn how to live with their powers, and occasionally step up to use them in heroic ways. However, more often than not, it leads to disaster and even a messed-up timeline.
Related
5 Things Umbrella Academy & Misfits Have In Common (& 5 Ways They Are Different)
The superhero shows The Umbrella Academy and Misfits have as many similarities as they do important differences. Here are 5 of each.
Jump ahead to 2019, and The Umbrella Academy follows a group of misfit heroes who gain powers through mysterious circumstances. And while these characters are actually trained to be superheroes, they end up causing problems that may cause the apocalypse. Beyond that, both shows feature Robert Sheehan in similar roles, and a time-traveling hero who takes the lead as the show develops.
3
The Boys to Heroes
In 2006, Heroes delivered a more grounded, tense superhero story than what had been appearing in films up to that point. While several people possess powers that put them in a position to help others, many choose to use these powers to further their own selfish pursuits. Meanwhile, a secret organization sets out to control and contain the heroes.
Then, in 2019, The Boys delivered a grounded superhero story that sees flawed people acquire powers and use them in ways that are evidently unheroic. After chaos and tragedies caused by unaccountable heroes, a secret team of non-powered people form a task force to put the heroes back in their place, and ensure they don’t become too big for their boots.
2
Black Mirror to American Horror Story
Now, American Horror Story and Black Mirror actually released within a month of each other in 2011. AHS came out in November, and since that time, the show has had 12 seasons. Meanwhile, Black Mirror came out in December and over the nearly 15 years since then, the show has only had six seasons. And yet, AHS had a spectacular early run with compelling anthology seasons that explored terrifying tales of monsters and alternate realities.
Related
American Horror Story Still Needs To Adapt These 7 Horror Subgenres Before The Series Ends
There are still many horror themes and subgenres American Horror Story can cover, and I would love to see some of these seven subgenres.
Black Mirror is also an anthology series, though each episode focuses on a new story. And while the show is not explicitly a horror, the dark sci-fi and terrifying technology make the show into something that is dark and eerie. Despite all their differences, Black Mirror feels like a connected experience that sets out to do something similar to AHS.
Community is one of the funniest and most experimental shows on TV. As a group of mature students attend a local community college, they find themselves dissatisfied with their lives. Despite this, they form a close friendship group, and they make the best of a situation that may not necessarily be ideal.
Then, in Superstore, a similar group of characters finds themselves settling into a point in their lives that possibly came out of the blue. Their circumstances may not be ideal, but together, they have fun, form friendships, and create genuine connections. While Community is certainly more experimental in its format, both shows deliver a similar vibe.
