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Give These Characters Their Own Spin-offs, Please

By Sarah Carlson | Lists | February 22, 2013 |

By Sarah Carlson | Lists | February 22, 2013 |


This week’s episode of HBO’s “Girls,” appropriately titled “Boys,” paired together Adam (Adam Driver) and Ray (Alex Karpovsky) in their own mini-adventure. It was perfect. The duo has excellent chemistry, and I didn’t want the men’s scenes — in which they traveled from Brooklyn to Staten Island, feisty dog in tow, and ruminated on their lives and their girlfriends — to end. Sometimes, a particular coupling of actors can truly inspire, usually because the characters routinely find themselves at odds with each other, and fans are left wishing their favorite pairings would get their own spin-offs. I would gladly watch Adam and Ray dissect their lives and the lives of their friends in greater length, and they aren’t the only characters I’d tune in to see in a new setting. True, a full-blown series for certain characters could grow tiresome; sometimes, fun pairings only work in small doses. For example, Jean-Ralphio Saperstein (Ben Swchartz) of “Parks and Recreation” fame is a hilarious scene-stealing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he, along with pal Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), can carry a series. But who would turn down a nice collection of webisodes that expand upon the goings-on of those two?

Here are other duos from some of my favorite shows I wouldn’t mind seeing get their extra dues:

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Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), “Game of Thrones”

They travel around killing people, him taunting her and trying to prove her sexuality, and her secretly trying to impress him with her swordsmanship. I’d call it the new “Moonlighting.”

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The Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) and Martha Levinson (Shirley MacLaine), “Downton Abbey”

Oh, the horror of less-refined sensibilities! In this sitcom, the Dowager Countess never tires of aiming snide remarks toward of her Yankee relation, and the mother of Lady Grantham is just, well, American. Even better: the Dowager is forced to visit the States. A sort of “Odd Couple,” with fabulous hats.

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Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) and The Ghost of Alaric Saltzman (Matt Davis), “The Vampire Diaries”

These former drinking buddies solve crimes, naturally. Damon isn’t be aware of Alaric actually contributing to his cases, but oh — Alaric is full of keen observations, not to mention a desire for a corporeal existence that would enable him to down some tasty bourbon.

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Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) and Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), “Justified”

Outlaws, living with new identities. You know it’ll come to it eventually.

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Joanie Stubbs (Kim Dickens) and Calamity Jane (Robin Weigart), “Deadwood”

These two gals form an act and take it on the road throughout the West, teaching women survival techniques, such as how to stop just short of being an alcoholic and where in one’s corset is it best to stash a gun. Al Swearengen and his American Indian head in a box would be crowd-pleasing staples in their show, and the “will they or won’t they?” will keep viewers tuning in.

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April (Aubrey Plaza) and Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) (in character), “Parks and Recreation”

Janet Snakehole is on the run, and it’s up to Bert Macklin to bring her to justice. That is, if he can resist her charms …

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Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) and Ainsley Hayes (Emily Procter), “The West Wing”

A Democrat loving a Republican! It can happen outside of James Carville and Mary Matalin, it’s true. They start out as friends running their own consulting firm, but all those late nights at the office and debates about the Equal Rights Amendments lead to romance,

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Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) and Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), “Community”

“Troy and Abed in the Morning” already exists fictionally. Now, let’s make it a reality.

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Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) and Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce), “The Wire”

They’re detectives, and they have entire conversations using only the word f**k. If it’s not broke …

Who would you like to see get their own spin-off?

Sarah Carlson is a TV Critic for Pajiba. She lives in San Antonio. You can find her on Twitter.