15 Best Prequel Shows In TV History
Maggie Dela Paz is a News and TV writer at ScreenRant. She has nearly a decade of professional experience in writing entertainment articles about a wide range of topics, including movies, television, music, anime, streaming, and more.
Greenlighting prequels has always been a risky decision for television networks and streamers, since it doesn’t always guarantee the same success as the original. Prequels are made to expand a successful franchise’s story and deliver something both familiar and new to fans. Sometimes, they outshine their parent series, because they benefit from several creative advantages in storytelling.
Besides enjoying a bigger budget and production value, prequels also have the luxury of setting up a story within the original’s already established world. This factor allows the creative team to prioritize character development over world-building. While some TV prequels also double up as sequels, most prequel spinoffs benefit from their original show’s completed ending, because creatives aren’t burdened with the pressures of wrapping up the story with a satisfying conclusion. The audience already knowing how a character’s story ends adds more emotional depth to prequels.
Over the years, audiences have been given countless prequel shows that were either a hit or a miss. Like the best prequel movies, the following 15 TV shows manage to live up to their parent series, and are able to provide necessary pieces of information about franchise lore or a character’s background. What's more, they stand on their own terms by actually exceeding expectations, and making fans rethink everything they thought they knew about their favorite characters.
15 Young Sheldon
Young Sheldon is CBS’ seven-season prequel to its number one ratings hit The Big Bang Theory, which follows Sheldon Cooper’s early years as a highly gifted young boy in East Texas. The show instantly charmed fans with its funny, warm, and relatable family story. Leading the show was Ian Armitage, who was able to deliver a spectacular performance on par with Jim Parsons’ Emmy-winning portrayal.
Besides Armitage, the rest of the Cooper family ultimately became fan-favorites, including Lance Barber’s George and Annie Potts’ Meemaw. Barber’s portrayal of Sheldon’s father completely changed fans’ initial perception of the character, who was originally made out to be a lazy drunk in the original series.
14 Fear the Walking Dead
Following the success of The Walking Dead, AMC greenlit Fear the Walking Dead as a prequel spinoff to the Andrew Lincoln-led horror drama. The show begins at the start of the zombie outbreak, following a blended family from Los Angeles as they navigate the dangers of their quickly changing world. Fans are introduced to characters who have no survival training, as they make devastating and morally gray sacrifices to survive.
Throughout its 8-season run, it featured flawed but very compelling characters, portrayed by a stellar cast, including Kim Dickens, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Lennie James, and Oscar nominee Colman Domingo. Its slow-burning pace effectively reflected their world's societal collapse, setting it apart from the main series.
13 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
Prequel series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles hails from George Lucas, who served as its creator and executive producer. The prequel series is the direct prequel to the blockbuster adventure franchise, following the early life of Indiana Jones and how he became the legendary action hero he’s known to be.
It is considered a groundbreaking show because of its ambitious global scale and educational format. Instead of following the original franchise’s high-octane action, the prequel was developed as a character-driven historical series that intends to educate young people about the real world through Indy’s journey.
12 Bates Motel
Bates Motel was produced by A&E as a modern reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic horror movie Psycho. The show takes place before the events of the 1960 movie. The story explores the complicated lives of a teenage Norman Bates and his mother, Norma, before his madness consumes him.
Although fans of the original film were initially skeptical about the prequel, the adaptation ultimately won their favor thanks to the brilliant performances of Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga. They were able to impressively depict the mother-son duo's dysfunctional bond and intensity, while making the audience feel uncomfortable but empathetic at the same time about their heartbreaking situation.
11 Ted
Seth MacFarlane's Ted series serves as the prequel to Mark Wahlberg’s comedy film franchise, following the high school years of John Bennett and his titular foul-mouthed teddy bear best friend. The show’s two-season run has been widely praised by critics and fans, who acknowledged the prequel’s comedic structure, amazing cast, and exceptional character development.
Unlike the movies, the prequel was able to better highlight Ted's role in John's life, while also giving the rest of the cast story arcs that added more emotional depth to the comedy series. While the prequel isn't coming back for a new season, the franchise will continue with the upcoming Ted: The Animated Series, which premieres on December 17, 2026, on Peacock.
10 Smallville
Smallville chronicles the teenage and young adult life of Clark Kent before he becomes the iconic superhero he’s meant to be. Tom Welling’s memorable performance captivated the audience for ten seasons, becoming the only actor to portray Clark Kent for a decade in live-action history, after Christopher Reeve.
Apart from Welling, the show also became popular thanks to its coming-of-age story, complex bonds, warm vibe, and iconic theme song that established its place in pop culture. The prequel's success also paved the way for more live-action adaptations of superhero comic books, which were originally deemed risky before Smallville's debut.
9 Queen Charlotte
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a six-part limited drama that chronicles the romance between a young Charlotte and a young King George III. The prequel delivered a beautifully haunting look at the bond between two individuals who found love and comfort in each other despite the pressures of the crown and a devastating battle with mental illness. It is a deeply moving prequel that isn't only built around a love story, but also depicts thought-provoking themes.
The commanding performances of India Amarteifio and Golda Rosheuvel highlighted Queen Charlotte's strength and vulnerability. Meanwhile, the audience can't help but fall in love with the amazing chemistry between Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest, who make Charlotte and George Bridgerton's best romance, a story as compelling as it is heartbreaking.
8 1923
1923 is Taylor Sheridan’s best Yellowstone prequel, featuring Hollywood veterans Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as they fiercely lead the Dutton family during one of the most tumultuous periods in history. In addition to its massive star power, the show stands out because of its narrative depth and global scope.
Unlike the rest of the franchise, 1923 is the only Yellowstone show that covers a multi-continental story arc filled with heavy themes, which leveled up the prequel's stakes and scale. At the time of writing, it remains the highest-rated entry of the franchise, holding a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
7 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is set during the decade before the events of the franchise’s original series. It explores the exciting voyages of the USS Enterprise led by Captain Pike, Science Officer Spock, and Number One. Unlike Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: Discovery, Strange New Worlds has a brighter tone that allows the creative team to take risks with different genres.
The prequel is loved by critics and fans, who celebrate the show’s classic episodic format and nostalgic visuals. The ensemble cast also received praise, particularly Anson Mount and Ethan Peck, whose respective performances as Pike and Spock have left a mark on fans. The show will return to Paramount+ in 2027 for its fifth and final season.
6 Hannibal
NBC’s Hannibal serves as a prequel to Thomas Harris’ popular novel trilogy about the cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. It centers around the complex and intense relationship between FBI agent Will Graham and Lecter, who was a forensic psychiatrist before he was caught for his crimes. Despite its short-lived run, the psychological thriller was widely praised by critics and fans, who were captivated by the electrifying chemistry between Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy.
With his masterclass delivery and haunting portrayal, Mikkelsen flawlessly overcame the daunting task of succeeding Anthony Hopkins' iconic performance in The Silence of the Lambs. He made the character completely his own, which solidified his place as the new face of the franchise.
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