As a long-time fan of the Archie Comics universe and its various adaptations, I must say that the spin-offs from Riverdale have been a rollercoaster ride for me. While Riverdale itself was a wild and wacky ride that I thoroughly enjoyed, its offshoot Katy Keene seems to have missed the mark in many ways.
It can be wiser not to attempt replicating something that’s already proven successful, as it often leads to criticism and comparisons with the original. If a reboot or spin-off doesn’t bring something fresh and distinct in terms of characters and plotlines, people will constantly wonder if it measures up to the original.
Sometimes, when popular TV series achieve great viewership numbers, producers and broadcasters attempt to keep the audience engaged by either creating spin-offs or reboots. These offshoots often feature the same characters as the original show but set in a fresh environment, or they revive the concept while providing a distinct new atmosphere or perspective.
Although many TV series have managed to expand their storylines past the initial main show, like how Grey’s Anatomy spawned Private Practice and Station 19, The Vampire Diaries led to The Originals and Legacies, or The Big Bang Theory gave rise to Young Sheldon, it’s important to note that not all successful shows have been able to establish a thriving franchise universe.
Occasionally, while a spinoff or reboot might have great promise, an inconsistent tone or failure to develop a strong and engaging cast of characters, plots, or connections can hinder it from standing independently or attracting viewers’ attention.
What shows, highly acclaimed and successful in their time, didn’t manage to replicate their success with the series that came after them?
Pretty Little Liars Had 3 Failed Spinoff And Reboot Attempts
Back in 2010, I was totally hooked when ABC Family unveiled “Pretty Little Liars”. To this very day, it stands as their longest-running original series, spanning an impressive seven seasons! Given its immense popularity at the time, it seemed only natural for Freeform to leverage the show’s success by spinning off a new series. That’s how “Ravenswood” came about and transformed a secondary character named Caleb Rivers into the starring role.
Despite offering its own intriguing enigma, the show Ravenswood couldn’t sustain itself due to lack of appeal. The fact that Ravenswood’s short-lived storyline within Pretty Little Liars wasn’t well received by fans didn’t help matters. As Ravenswood lacked the key elements that made Pretty Little Liars thrive, it quickly unraveled and was terminated after a single season. The decision to bring Caleb back to Rosewood with a fleeting allusion to his time away and then ignoring subsequent events was reminiscent of Ravenswood never existing at all. It seems that this move might have been for the best, as it felt like the storyline was erased from memory.
A few years down the line, Freeform made another attempt with “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists.” This time, the series moved Alison and Mona from Rosewood and placed them in a college town in Oregon. This shift allowed two of the most cunning and devious characters to take center stage. Given their intricate backstories, one might expect this series to be a guaranteed hit.
Regrettably, I found myself quite disappointed with “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists.” Despite delivering some engaging moments between Mona and Alison that deepened their complex relationship, it seemed to falter in every other department for me. The new characters just didn’t spark the same level of excitement as Spencer, Emily, Aria, and Hanna did, and the mystery fell short when compared to the enigmatic “A” from the original series. It was an attempt at a fresh take, but unfortunately, it lacked the intrigue that kept us all hooked on the original show.
At last, I couldn’t help but give it another go with my own reboot – “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” – and now, season two is here, dubbed “Pretty Little Livers: Summer School.” This spinoff has proven to be the most captivating yet, as it brings a fresh quartet of Liars into the mix: Imogen, Tabby, Faran, Mouse, and Noa.
In this novel situation, a freshly formed alliance established camaraderie over digital platforms for the very first time. They were on a quest to expose the identity of their mysterious “A” adversary – a chilling slasher villain with links to the transgressions committed by their mothers during their teenage years.
The combined ensemble occasionally provided humorous instances of squabbling, which were often regarded as standout scenes, showcasing their ability to display the tumultuous camaraderie on-screen. They had the talent and potential to become the next big sensation. However, venturing into the horror genre was a strategic move to deviate from the narrative and avoid resembling the original Pretty Little Liars, but it eventually turned out to be a repetitive theme that ultimately harmed the series.
In contrast to the original series, Pretty Little Liars, which captivated audiences with its enigmatic plotlines, perils of stalking, and the intrigue surrounding “A”‘s powers and knowledge, MAX’s adaptation fell short in generating comparable suspense.
In a chilling twist, character “A” was frightening due to their uncanny ability not just to possess vast knowledge, but also to execute peculiar strategies. For instance, they once filled an alphabet cereal box with only the letter ‘A’, and it seemed as if they knew which box Emily would choose. Similarly, they performed dental work on Hannah to leave a hidden message within her mouth.
The TV shows “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” and “Pretty Little Liars: Summer School” frequently use slasher-style villains who wear masks and wield knives, often appearing in almost every episode. Over time, this pattern becomes monotonous, particularly because it seldom feels as though the main characters are truly in peril of meeting a fatal end.
Despite the numerous terrifying predicaments that “A” (Bloody Rose) often imposed on the Liars, the intensity or tension never seemed to escalate significantly. Repeatedly using the same type of antagonist in consecutive seasons failed to amplify the horror as intended by the series, and instead appeared to dampen its impact.
Gossip Girl’s Reboot Lost The Original Fun And Sass
In this scenario, the new version of “Gossip Girl” by MAX was developed by the very same writing team responsible for the original show on The CW Network. Consequently, it wasn’t too far-fetched to imagine them wanting to modify the series enough to avoid a carbon copy feel. To their advantage, they did introduce numerous changes that could potentially be intriguing.
MAX’s modern adaptation of ‘Gossip Girl’ attempted to explore discussions on protesting and social justice movements, catering to the generation of teenagers and young adults who are actively involved in activism. However, these profound topics were rarely delved into beyond superficial conversations. Instead, the show predominantly focused on the influence of social media personalities.
To be honest, despite its best efforts to modernize things, this new edition simply failed to capture the same magic that kept me hooked on the original game.
In the original “Gossip Girl,” there was much talk about the disparity in wealth between the Upper East Side aristocracy and the main characters residing in Brooklyn. Yet, what truly set this series apart was its ability to portray New York City as a character in its own right, using vibrant hues and engaging elements that made “Gossip Girl” feel like a delightful escape from reality.
The main change, and one of the flaws, in MAX’s adaptation lies in its portrayal of Gossip Girl. In both series, Kristen Bell provides the voiceover for Gossip Girl’s posts. Yet, the mystery behind the character and the reason for the posts are significantly distinct between the two shows.
In the original show, it isn’t until the final episode that we learn who was writing as Gossip Girl. It turns out to be Dan, who had been secretly behind the popular blog all along. He confessed that his feelings for Serena were what fueled the website, and the public’s curiosity and excitement are what helped the Gossip Girl blog grow into the powerful force it eventually became.
As a devoted fan, I must admit that the unmasking of Dan Humphrey as Gossip Girl didn’t always feel logical, and there were moments throughout the series that seemed to contradict this twist. However, upon reflection, he remained the most plausible choice among the main characters, and the final episodes subtly dropped hints aimed at preparing us for the eventual unveiling.
During Dan Humphrey’s tenure, Gossip Girl exuded wit, intelligence, charm, and a keen appetite for secrets and gossip. Kristen Bell’s narration echoed the enthusiasm of someone eager to stir things up. Gossip Girl would often tantalize with juicy stories, occasionally overstepping boundaries by disclosing information that caused turbulence in their lives. Yet, all this was delivered under a lively and cheerful vocal narration.
In MAX’s adaptation, it becomes clear from the start that Gossip Girl is unveiled as a character, allowing viewers to follow along as the teachers band together to uncover Dan’s secret pseudonym. They delve into his past posts, aiming to understand how Gossip Girl shaped and influenced these individuals. However, due to the cruel behavior of the students at school, the adults grow tired of their bullying and choose to take matters into their own hands.
As a gamer diving into the world of Gossip Girl, the teacher figure feels less like an excited buddy and more like a critical and intimidating presence. Instead of keeping a lively, amusing tone, Kristen Bell’s narration takes on a more serious, potentially menacing vibe. The witty, engaging writing that once defined the narration seems to be missing, replaced with a more grounded, almost divine approach. It feels as though the teachers are no longer just reporting events but trying to control them, as if they’re playing God.
Ultimately, Gossip Girl should have just been left in the past.
Friends: Joey Was Not Strong Enough To Stand On His Own
One effective rephrasing could be: “Friends,” an iconic sitcom, achieved unprecedented success due to the exceptional chemistry among its six principal actors. The show’s success relied on this ensemble cast working together harmoniously. However, this very aspect might have contributed to the underperformance of its spinoff, Joey.
For a span of just two seasons, Joey pursued the title character’s transition from New York to Los Angeles, aiming to elevate his acting career. Despite having some individual storylines on Friends, Joey stood out for being largely independent in comparison to the rest of the group. However, this independence was more pronounced in Joey, as he was compelled to shoulder the show’s weight even with fresh supporting characters joining the cast.
The idea of Joey pursuing a more prosperous acting career could have been intriguing, but none of the Friends characters had the depth to sustain a series on their own. While Joey’s less-than-smart antics provided amusing relief amidst characters who were more academically inclined, they fell flat as the main character.
Friends found that Joey’s character hadn’t been fully fleshed out beyond his passions for women and eating, making it challenging for them to sustain an entire show centered around him. Consequently, when it was time for him to take the lead, there wasn’t much material available for further development.
If Joey wasn’t adequately served by the finale of Friends, it wasn’t satisfactory, and his character truly deserved a more conclusive ending from the original series rather than the ambiguous one that was left to set up an unsuccessful spin-off.
How I Met Your Father Couldn’t Replicate How I Met Your Mother’s Success
“How I Met Your Mother” is a sitcom that, upon reflection, might have more flaws than virtues. Characters like Barney and Ted, particularly, have issues that make them problematic as leads. Additionally, the series finale’s decision to reveal the mother’s identity and then kill her off so Ted could be with Robin is widely considered one of the most disappointing conclusions in TV history.
In a departure from its predecessor, How I Met Your Father opted for new approaches, generally speaking. However, one significant alteration from the initial series that raised eyebrows was deciding not to depict Sophie’s son on screen. But what caused this show to stumble?
Despite the fact that humor can vary greatly from person to person, the series “How I Met Your Father” experienced difficulties with its jokes and the chemistry within the friend group. The relationship between Sophie and Jesse seemed overly reminiscent of a bygone sitcom style, frequently resorting to a predictable will-they-won’t-they on-again-off-again dynamic that eventually becomes monotonous to watch.
In a somewhat more casual and relatable way: Although the dynamics among Sophie, Valentina, Sid, Jesse, and Ellen seem more authentic as a friend group, Charlie’s exaggerated confusion and disdain towards New Yorkers doesn’t quite hit the mark and feels like an attempt to force humor.
Looking back, the intriguing hints at the possible relationship between Sophie and Sid had me hooked, but in the end, it felt like I was playing a game where the developers couldn’t quite figure out their own storyline or deliver consistent laugh-out-loud moments.
Katy Keene Focused On The Wrong Character
The show Riverdale, known for its intriguing storylines, even those bordering on the absurd, was a unique blend of teen drama, music, horror, and a 1950s coming-of-age narrative. It fearlessly delved into various genres, presenting them with an unusual blend of humor and conviction that no other series could replicate. However, while Riverdale thrived on the eccentric and peculiar, its spinoff, Katy Keene, fell short in expanding its universe.
One major problem was that the spinoff initially generated excitement due to Josie McCoy, a beloved character from Riverdale, receiving an opportunity for a leading role. However, when the series debuted, it turned out to be Katy Keene’s world, and once more, Josie found herself as a secondary plotline.
Katy Keene’s attempts to intertwine stories with Riverdale, both during its broadcast and post-cancellation, often felt uneasy, as Katy Keene is set five years into the future compared to where Riverdale stood at the time.
In simpler terms, appearances by characters like Kevin Keller or Hiram Lodge, who were shown as ill and potentially dying, didn’t carry the weight they should have. Instead, these cameos seemed to undermine the importance of their lives or raise questions about their futures.
Katy Keene aspired to tell a more fanciful story set in New York City, but unfortunately, it struggled to make a lasting impression, often fading into obscurity amidst Riverdale’s more outrageous plot twists.
Perhaps the series could have had more success if it flipped the priority by giving Josie the title character role while Katy is just her roommate. Still, even Riverdale made a priority choice by bringing back Josie later on to confirm the reunion of Josie and the Pussycats without making Katy Keene a relevant character.
In the end, the series ‘Katy Keene’ ran for just a single season, and the plot twist involving Hiram Lodge in its finale turned out to be inconsequential once ‘Riverdale’ fast-forwarded seven years ahead.
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2024-10-09 19:15