1. The Paternoster Gang (AKA Jenny, Vastra and Strax)
I think everyone wants this show (myself included). These characters are the first set of characters in all of Nu Who who desperately warrant their own show. (While I enjoyed
Torchwood, particularly
Children of Earth, I would have actually preferred Captain Jack Harkness as as a second companion alongside Rose). The Crimson Horror from series seven felt so much like a backdoor pilot that I was anticipating the announcement of the spin of show days after it aired. There's at least one online petition for the show to happen. Dan Starkey who plays the brilliantly comic Strax has voiced his interest and even fellow who Writer (and
Sherlock Collaborator) Mark Gatiss has talked about it. The trouble is, as Mark Gatiss mentioned, there's no one who could devote the time to make it happen or possibly the BBC budget to produce it. Though it seems insane in the 50th anniversary year that the BBC wouldn't consider committing to a spin of show. (And perhaps they have). I think Stephen Moffat, as brilliant as he is (I know other opinions differ) probably is too busy to do the show. So why not hand the reigns over to someone else. Mark Gatiss would be the most desirable option - he wrote The Crimson Horror (the only episode to feature the gang outside Moffat) and loves the gothic horror that these characters so evidently suit. And if not him, I'm sure there is a show runner out there eager to step in (Toby Whitehouse post-
Being Human?) My only concern with a spin off is whether the the gang, brilliant as they are in recurring appearances will can maintain that standard. For 10-13 episodes, will the writers be able to keep up the momentum? With Vastra and Jenny I don't think that would be a problem. A multi-species lesbian couple in Victorian London has heaps of story potential. Jenny has proved herself to be pretty kick ass and Vastra's 'Great Detective' role allows for some fantastic gothic murder mysteries to come. I adore Strax but he is the one character that might not be maintained consistently week by week. Like I mentioned right at the start of my article with Joey Tribbiani, give a comic character his own central focus, will he loose his charm? Will his inappropriate humour become silly and irritating? I think that would be the challenge for the writers - keeping Strax fresh. Do that and the show would be a winner. A lizard woman, an alien butler/nurse/warrior and a kick ass woman solving murders in the misty cobbled streets of Victorian London - with its own sci-fi twists. That sounds amazing and a lot of people agree. Let's just hope it sees the light of day, because of all the potential spin offs on this list, this has the best chance of succeeding. Do you agree with my choices? Are any of the remotely viable? And are there other shows (of films) equally deserving of a TV spin off? Please let us know!