10 TV Spin-Offs Better Than The Original

7. Xena: Warrior Princess

Xena Warrior Princess
Syfy

Original Show: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Xena first appeared in Hercules' first season, but the character was initially supposed to be limited to just three episodes, and all set to die in her third. However, the reception was so great that not only did they change those plans, but they launched an entirely new series based around the character too.

While Hercules itself offered up some swords-and-sandals fun and was popular in its own right, it was very much just ok, and Xena: Warrior Princess went to a whole new level.

Warrior Princess did offer up some of the same swordplay action as its predecessor, and for many that would've simply been enough, but the show also offered up a far more complicated journey as it set Xena on the path of redemption. It was unabashedly female-driven, paving the way for heroes like Buffy, but also did a great job of deepening the mythology and lore of the series too. It might not stand up to many fantasy series today, but this was an important step in raising and meeting the ambitions of the genre, while being wholly entertaining at the same time.

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Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.