In recent years, there have been quite a few spin-offs cropping up on TV. So many that it has become almost commonplace to send popular characters off on their own to see if they can replicate the moneymaker that was the original series. But like any good trend, there have been winners, and there have been unbelievable losers.

Let’s take a look at some of the contestants.

Ravenswood: LOSER

After just ten episodes, the Pretty Little Liars spin-off died a gentle death, and not many people could be bothered to care. One would think that the monster audience Pretty Little Liars pulls in on the regular would translate well to another teen-mystery-thriller, but sadly, Ravenswood premiered low and sunk further as the weeks went by. Most attribute the show’s failure to the lack of ties with its parent show. Caleb Rivers was the only real character to make the move, and the backdoor pilot was a shaky introduction at best. Others say the slightly supernatural element of the spinoff was widely unappealing to the preexisting audience.

Mostly though, I think creators overestimated Caleb’s appeal. His main selling factor was his relationship with Pretty Little Liars character, Hanna, so separating him from her didn’t really work in their favor. Not to worry though, after Ravenswood”s cancellation, Caleb returned to his rightful place with the liars.

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Private Practice: WINNER

It’s no Grey’s Anatomy, but Private Practice managed to scrape out six whole seasons, making them a winner in my book. Fans of Meredith and Derek were all too happy to see the bothersome Addison Montgomery leave Seattle Grace and settle into a private practice down in California, but I have to say that I think the reason this spinoff succeeded was due to how close together the writers kept the two shows. Crossovers were not just small ratings grabs, they were extended arcs and plot driven episodes. Characters were constantly being sent back and forth between the shows, which kept the audience on their toes and invested in both Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Plus, both shows held to the same structure, weaving the personal lives of the doctors into the ‘patient of the week’ formula that works so well.

Agent Carter: UNDECIDED

This show only premiered recently, so it’s too soon to tell if we can call it a loser or a winner. Moreover, Agent Carter is a limited series, meaning that there will only be eight episodes. There’s always the option for another season if it does well, but as of right now there are no plans to expand. I have to say though, I’m pretty damn pleased with the way the series is starting out, highlighting heavy feminist ideals and mixing in all the crime-fighting goodness we love from Agents of Shield. Just because there’s no hope of a reunion between Peggy and Steve Rogers, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy watching her build the agency that will one day save the world!

The Originals: LOSER

Sorry folks, but I have to call a spade a spade. The Vampire Diaries spin-off garnered a lot of attention when it premiered, grabbing some pretty decent ratings. Unfortunately, while fang fans tuned in to check out Klaus and his siblings’ New Orleans adventures in the beginning, they must not have liked what they saw all that much. The Originals lost nearly 1 million viewers (half their regular audience) in the spring of their first season, and they’ve continued to under-perform in their second.

Most fans attribute the failure to mischaracterization and bad writing, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion it has more to do with a lack of ties to the parent show. Shooting in the same location and sharing showrunners should provide for easy opportunities to link the shows together with crossovers, but the writers have pretty consistently blown every opportunity to connect the two narratives. The characters people most want to see take a trip down to New Orleans (Caroline, Stefan, Elena, Damon) were passed over in favor of minor characters that no one really cared about. The Originals is a flop as far as spin-offs go, unfortunately.

The Flash: WINNER

No one can be surprised that this superhero smash hit makes the winners column. Pulling in the highest ratings for The CW in years, The Flash took everyone by storm, quickly surpassing their parent show in popularity. But Arrow would not be left in the dust. Right off the bat, writers made it clear that these two superheroes were going to be playing in the same sandbox, with crossovers, easter eggs, and a thrilling two-night event.

The Flash even managed to give Arrow a sizable ratings bump when Barry, Caitlin, and Cisco traveled over to lend their help on a case. In its own right, The Flash appeals to a broad audience, providing lighthearted adventure that’s also sort of a coming-of-age tale for the main character, Barry Allen. There are even rumors that this little success story has inspired The CW to spin off another superhero character. Supergirl already went to CBS, but there are still quite a few crime-fighters left in the DC Comic Universe. Any guesses who it might be?

Do you agree with our winners and losers? Got an idea which hero will be spinning off of Arrow next? Drop us a line in the comments below!