Discussion: What spinoff would you create?

[liviapenn.livejournal.com]

Ever since Xena and Buffy broke out and became hits, we have a lot more tv shows with female leads-- and even shows where the main relationships are between women. But there's still a ways to go before there's as many shows starring women as there are men.

So here's my question(s) for discussion:

1) If you could take one female character, who's not the lead of her own show, and *make* a spinoff show where now she actually *is* the lead character, who would it be? And what would the show be about? (For comics, insert "spinoff comic" and for books insert "spinoff book series" here.)

I have a few that I can't choose between:

From Stargate: Atlantis, I would be interested in a spinoff show about Sora, the Genii soldier, being a spy and sneaking around the galaxy blowing up Wraith and collecting intelligence. It would sort of be like Alias in that she could never really trust her superiors, and probably at some point she would go rogue. Teyla would be in the show as her mysterious antagonist that shows up once or twice a season to dispense information, and she can't really be trusted, but they have mad UST together.

From Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I'd watch a show about Tara being a helpful spirit and having adventures on different metaphysical planes of existence, possibly in the past or the future, and helping people and then moving on-- maybe a little like Quantum Leap where she can't control where she goes or what her mission is, and just has to do the best she can.

From Firefly, I would love to watch a "prequel" type tv-movie about Zoe, showing us her childhood, her life in the military, meeting Mal and Wash, and more about how Zoe and Wash fell in love. (Or maybe I just want someone to write that story. *G*)

What about you guys?

Comments

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

Tyra from Friday Night Lights. Mostly I want to see her at college, but I'd watch a show about her doing anything, really.

-J

[smonsterbite.livejournal.com]

Wow. Seconded.

[nicole-anell.livejournal.com]

Ooh, cool question. I'd totally watch the Tara spinoff you described!

Even though I had mixed feelings about her on the show, I think there could've been a great Heroes spinoff that centered on Niki, trying to come to terms with her family's powers and her "evil" alter ego. And kicking ass, of course. :)

[liviapenn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, poor Niki. She should have gotten to kick a lot more ass than she got to. ^_^

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

I want The Adventures of Chloe Sullivan as the ground-breaking, muckraking journalist of the Age of Superheroes.

[copracat]

Would she wear a hat at a rakish angle? Would she dress like Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday (but have punched Cary Grant in the face like he deserved?)

[anenko.livejournal.com]

I'm totally with you on wanting more about Zoe. I loved Mal, but I'd even watch a Firefly where Zoe was leader, or was forced to take that position for a story arc where Mal was absent.

I'd take any pre-series spinoff starring the women of Farscape. Aeryn is an obvious choice, but the politics and tension between Zhaan's peaceful and ruthless halves might be interesting as well.

Star Wars--more Leia! She was my favourite character, and I'd love seeing her pre-series (it felt like there was a lot of history in that confrontation with Vader in the first movie, for instance). I haven't read the series of books (and don't particularly care for what I have heard, truthfully), so I'd jump on the chance for a movie spinoff focused on Leia, as well. M

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

Second on the more Leia request! I would have liked more about what the temptations and struggles would be for a politician who discovered she was a Jedi.

I haven't read the series of books (and don't particularly care for what I have heard, truthfully)

Two books that I thought were done well and featured a strong, in-character Leia were written by Barbara Hambly - Childern of the Jedi and Planet of Darkness. While both books are focused on Luke/OFC (whom I also love), Leia is a vital part of both stories.

- hg

[pellucid.livejournal.com]

From SG-1: Sam and Vala, Space Pirates!

[liviapenn.livejournal.com]

Yay! Oh, I'd watch that. :D

[acaciaonnastik.livejournal.com]

I want some Heroes prequels about the likable bastard that must have been Eden McCain before her recruitment, traveling the country having little adventures and stealing shit.

[liviapenn.livejournal.com]

Oh, that would be awesome.

[doyle_sb4.livejournal.com]

A She-Hulk type supernatural legal dramedy starring Lilah from Angel.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Anywhere Lilah goes, I would follow.

[copracat]

For Star Trek:TNG, the adventures of Tasha Yar's daughter Sela. I would like it to be a bit of a dark story, lots more DS9 than TNG and with no major Federation/earth human presence.

I'd love a The Bill spinoff where Viv Martella's death was faked to get her undercover for MI6 or is that MI5? Whichever one has her grumpy earthiness dealing with bombs and terrorists and crusty old George Cowley-like bosses. Guest stars would include thinly disguised but subtle send-ups of the anti/heroes of this kind of show, like The Professionals and Spooks with Viv always excoriating them with her sarcasm and saving the day from their testosterone-fuelled machismo.

I very much second the Zoe prequel.

[se-parsons.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see the Romulan Commander show from Star Trek:OS. All about Romulans kicking ass and being Romulans and battling those dirty Klingons and Federation types.

[strangerian.livejournal.com]

OH, yeah, the Romulan Commander... *sigh*

Diane Duane's series of ST Romulan books with Ael is pretty good on that kind of thing, though Ael is described as short (the better to get the drop on you, usually) and the Romulan Commander in ST was a tall goddess type. Or so I remember her -- it's been years and *years* since I've seen those eps. In general ST was so busy talking about humans in alien guise that it didn't get around to real aliens very often. But the foundation is there.

[cofax7]

I want a show about Aeryn Sun between Farscape seasons 3 and 4, when she was a spy and an assassin.

Or I want a Chiana show, set after the miniseries, when she's just kicking around the universe having fun.

[serrico.livejournal.com]

Martha Jones, Martha Jones, Martha Jones. Not necessarily in a Torchwood way--and not in a Sarah Jane Smith Adventures way--but in a way that would let us see her as a doctor, with her family, *and* investigating/fighting Weird Shit From Time And Space.

I second your Zoe idea, and harriet_spy's Chloe idea. *Wholeheartedly* second!

And now for something completely different: in the world of soaps, I would *love* to see General Hospital's Alexis Davis, Diane Miller, Kate Howard, and Lucy Coe have their own show, only without all the annoying trappings of the Cashmere Mafias/Lipstick Jungles of the world.

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

I'd watch The Martha Jones Show immediately. & :-)

[bofoddity.livejournal.com]

That Tara-idea is so wonderful that I have to second it.

From Star Wars, it would be great to see something about Mira of the Knights of the Old Republic-games. I'd think she'd make a great main character for a comic book series, detailing her youth and her years as a bounty hunter.

From Heroes, I'd love to see something (mini-series, maybe?) about early days of Angela Petrelli. Hell, an Angela-centric episode in the show itself could be quite wonderful. Also, since the show never gave me an ass-kicking Yaeko, I'd like to see a mini-series (or comic series) about her life after Hiro, where she becomes hero of her own right.

From Supernatural, a tv-movie about Jo would be lovely, where she steps out of the shadows of the Winchesters and her own past. Similarly, I'd like to see a "prequel" about Ellen's life, and how it was like to be a mother to Jo.

[taskir.livejournal.com]

From Heroes, I'd love to see something (mini-series, maybe?) about early days of Angela Petrelli. Hell, an Angela-centric episode in the show itself could be quite wonderful. Also, since the show never gave me an ass-kicking Yaeko, I'd like to see a mini-series (or comic series) about her life after Hiro, where she becomes hero of her own right.

Yes, yes, a thousand times YES.

[xenacryst.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see a show about Susan Ivanova and what she did after leaving B5. Especially since she left before the rest of the story we know concluded, there's got to be some interesting things that she's been doing out there somewhere.

Well, we're already getting to see what Sarah Jane Smith is up to, but I'd also like to see some of the backstory from Romana, being another Time Lord and all.

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

Romana spinoff, most definitely. Adventures in e-space!

[greenet.livejournal.com]

Jane Roland from Temeraire. I'd cheerfully read a book series featuring the adventures of Jane and Excidium.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Seconded!

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

I second the Zoe prequel.

*thinks*

For SPN, I'd like to see the story of Ellen and Bill Harvelle - trying to raise a family and keep on hunting. But I think a more interesting show might be made from Sarah Blake, ghost-hunter who specializes in haunted art-work. If you could keep the characters of Sam & Dean, and keep them in the back ground, and throw in Cassie Robinson, as a para-normal investigating reporter with her own Winchester ties, things could be very interesting.

- hg

[gelliaclodiana]

I would totally watch the Sarah and Cassie show. They fight supernatural crime!

[strangerian.livejournal.com]

For West Wing, I'd like to see Abby Bartlett, the woman who had better things to do than being First Lady. The show gives us a character vastly frustrated with being second fiddle in the midst of the pomp and circumstance, even when the perks are awfully good. Even when she's in love with the conductor. What if she were wheeling and dealing at Harvard and curing cancer, maybe before or after the presidency thing, maybe in an AU where she's married to an economics professor who never went into politics.

[taskir.livejournal.com]

I whole-heartedly second the Tara spinoff, harriet_spy's Adventures of Chloe Sullivan, acaciaonnastik's Eden prequel and The Martha Jones show.

For myself, I'd love to see:

Fables - The globe-hopping exploits of Cinderella, Super-Spy.

Pirates of the Caribbean - Anamaria, Anamaria, Anamaria. Captain of her own ship, buckling swashes and taking names. Meeting exotic people and sleeping with them/stealing from them (perhaps first one then the other).

[pandarus.livejournal.com]

God, YES to all 6 of the above! Indeed, make that a Hell Yes!

I'd also like to see the Lilah show, the Tara ahow and the Sora and Zoe shows. And Martha Jones! Yay Martha!

For my own part - hmm...I'd watch a show that really did Inara justice, exploring the full, fascinating Bene Gesserit/Kushiel's Scion potential of the Companion Guild, giving us male Companions as well as female and giving us lots of gorgeous dresses and political intrigue. Actually, I'd gladly watch a show about any of the Firefly women (or men...oh, show, how I miss you!).

A show focussing on Faith. Obviously. But I'd also like to see what happened next for Officer Kate - I seem to be in a tiny minority with liking that character.

Ellen (and Jo) from SPN rock my socks, and I'd love to see a show that centred around the Road House, either past or present.

[executrix.livejournal.com]

I, too, first said "Zoe Alleyne!" but, as an act of penance (when I first started watching Homicide: Life on the Street I didn't like Kay Howard) I would like to carry forward from Sergeant Howard's disappearance from the Homicide Unit (I love HLOTS, but the writing-out of characters is Made of Fail). I like to think that by the time The Wire rolled around, Captain Howard and Detective Greggs would find each other.

On the Literary front, I've always thought that Mary Crawford (from Mansfield Park) would make a great picaresque anti-heroine.

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

Hee! And then Munch could show up in the Kay Howard Show too for total tv domination!!

Along those lines -- after Julianna Cox raced out of town, I sincerely hope that she took a teaching job at a college of forensic examiners and became the kind of prof whose class students fight to get into, because although she's curmudgeonly she also has a passion for encouraging her students to subvert authority and thwart the sloppy conclusions of senior medical examiners.

Plus she grows her hair long and wears it in braids, and the class speculates on her sexuality a lot, and then it turns out she's bi and Bayliss guest-stars to say "so *that's* why you broke up with me!" and she's like, "who are you again?" and he sniffles affrontedly but can't say anything else because he's Buddhist now. SWEET.

[mz-bstone.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see River when she's all growed up, saving the galaxy.

Mal might help her, some days, if she was feeling generous-like.

B

[slippery-fish.livejournal.com]

BtVs - Faith, after the show. Slaying and kicking ass.
BtVs - Dawn as a watcher.
SPN - Jo, as a hunter. Or Bela, stealing stuff, traveling the country (and the world)
Bionic Woman - Sarah. The prequel to the actual show, showing what went on with the first bionic woman.

ETA: Love the "Sora" show idea. :)

[gelliaclodiana]

I would watch pretty much all of these shows.

I think I would have liked an Alias prequel miniseries, focusing on the three Derevko sisters -- Irina, Katya, Elena -- and their training and interactions.

[raptor47.livejournal.com]

Oh, what a fabulous idea! I would definitely tune in for this one.

Being me, this is strange

[cereta.livejournal.com]

If I could undo the ending of Nightmare on Elm Street III, I want Nancy Thompson: Spook-Hunting Shrink. She would treat patients that everyone thought were just nuts, but were really haunted or psychic or something.

Ellen Harvelle as a kind of Oracle with her own BoP team of female hunters goes without saying, right? Right?

Re: Being me, this is strange

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

If I could undo the ending of Nightmare on Elm Street III, I want Nancy Thompson: Spook-Hunting Shrink. She would treat patients that everyone thought were just nuts, but were really haunted or psychic or something.


No, I love this!

[sandrine]

Seconding (thirding? *g*) the Romulan Commander idea. She was extremely awesome!

Other spin-offs I'd totally watch, if they were filmed:

X-Files - Samantha Mulder, trying to unfold her past
Las Vegas - Nessa after she got into witness protection
Justice - Betsy kicking ass as a P.I.
SGA - Ava trying to adapt to her new life in a virtual reality

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

X-Files - Samantha Mulder, trying to unfold her past

Yes, yes, and yes again. I've been writing a lot about Samantha Mulder recently. I'm not sure I've quite grasped her yet, but I'm trying.

[cinaed.livejournal.com]

Can I just say how much I love this discussion? *grins* It's so thought-provoking!

Hmm, off the top of my head, I'd be fascinated by a Burn Notice spin-off for Fiona where we get to see more of her past, before and after she met Michael. :)

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

From SPN, I want a show about Ellen Harvelle, raising a daughter and running a roadhouse. Or Missouri Mosley, psychic. I'd also love to see Kat from Asylum or Emily from Scarecrow take what they learned about the supernatural and run with it. Or Sarah Blake, who, working in an auction house, would certainly come into contact with a lot of occult objects. And her nemesis, super thief Bela Talbot.

I also adore the idea above about an Alias prequel about the Derevko sisters, and the Tyra Collette, the College Years story.

I also want a series that features CJ Cregg doing... something. I don't even know, but it would be CJ so it would be AWESOME.