Once Upon A Time, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Arrow and Grimm are some of the top rated fantasy shows on television this season, and for good reason. With compelling story lines and complimentary casting choices, these shows are likely to remain on the prime time hit list for the foreseeable future. Such success also makes them the perfect breeding ground for a potential spin-off as well. Let’s take a look at some of the underrated characters on each show that would make great leads on a spin-off show.
Dr. Frankenstein
In a show filled with beloved fantastical characters, it’s not easy to stand out among the bunch on Once Upon A Time. Even with yet another re-imagining of his legendary character, Dr. Frankenstein, however, doesn’t need in being set apart from everyone else. Maniacal, mysterious and intelligent, Dr. Frankenstein is one of the stronger male characters on Once Upon A Time, which undoubtedly puts him in a class of his own and makes for good spin-off material.
It also helps that Dr. Frankenstein is rarely seen and underutilized on Once Upon A Time. The lack of visibility affords room for both character development as well as setting the stage for a potentially darker storyline than the magical one upon which Once Upon A Time is based. With a Dr. Frankenstein spin-off, it would be possible to explore classic horror elements within the Once Upon A Time universe, such as werewolves, vampires and demons as well.
Mockingbird
Despite being introduced in the first half of the second season, Barbara “Bobbi” Morse aka Mockingbird is proving to be quite a force to be reckoned with on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She is tough and strong, not to mention being incredibly skilled in the art of hand-to-hand combat, all of which makes her an obvious great choice for an agent. The only problem is, on a show with two other resident badass chicks, it is likely that we won’t ever really see her live up to her full potential without being overshadowed to a degree. That’s why Mockingbird would make a great choice for a spin-off of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
True, there is already a miniseries spin-off of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. currently running on ABC, but that spin-off will only last until Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns from break and Agent Carter is no Mockingbird. They are two different types of agents and luckily for fans of the Marvel Universe, there is room for both. Still, Mockingbird has a unique combination of intrigue and elusiveness as a character that would make for great television.
Arsenal
Since Roy Harper was first introduced in season one of Arrow—as a thief attempting to make off with Thea’s purse—he has shown a considerable amount of potential for growth. Not to mention, the writers have seemingly grown more and more fond of him since the Arrow took him under his wings. As of late, however, we haven’t seen or heard much from the sidekick known as Arsenal.
If Arsenal were to get his own spin-off show, it would be a great opportunity to delve into who Roy Harper is outside of his interactions with Thea Queen and the entire underground Arrow operation. Not that being a sidekick to the Arrow is a bad gig for the former street kid, but ever since we saw him go to the dark side when he was injected with the mirakuru, back in season 2, I can’t help but feel that we have yet to experience the full potential of Roy Harper. Now that he’s fully suited up and properly trained, there is no limit to what the Arsenal can accomplish and a spin-off would be the perfect way for him to showcase his talent. But, just in case that doesn’t happen any time soon—or at all—we will be able to see the Arsenal step up in the coming episodes of Arrow as Starling City’s new lead vigilante after Oliver’s alleged death.
Trubel
When Theresa “Trubel” Rubel was first introduced on Grimm, there was much speculation about how exactly she would fit into the fold of the show. Would she be a sidekick? Is she somehow related to Nick Burkhardt? All of those questions we soon learned the answers to and more, which ended up enhancing the show. Perhaps, it was the fact that Trubel was actually useful and not just a random add on, but her character began to develop nicely over the course of the seven weeks she lived in the wesen infected city of Portland.
After witnessing some growth of character, it makes me curious about spin-off potential for the young Grimm. Not only would it be a great way to send off her character for long periods of time, but it would also be a logical move for someone with Trubel’s abilities. It might also be quite entertaining to watch her grow into her own—aside from Nick’s mentoring—and engage with a whole new set of wesen elsewhere in the country.