Every Doctor Who Spinoff, Ranked

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Doctor Who is a show that’s always reinventing itself. Beyond the main series, which has featured fifteen different Doctors, it’s also created many spin-off shows. Since 1981, these shows have explored new characters and storylines, with some becoming fan favorites and others unfortunately failing to resonate with audiences.

Whether or not the Doctor appears, the various spin-off shows have tried out many different styles, types of stories, formats, characters, and ideas. Here’s a list of all of Doctor Who’s major spin-off attempts, ranked from the worst failures to the most successful and officially recognized stories.

10) K-9 and Company

The series K-9 and Co. started as a direct continuation of the popular character Sarah Jane Smith from the Fourth Doctor’s adventures. It began in 1981 with the episode “A Girl’s Best Friend,” and featured Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane, now working as an independent investigator on Earth with the help of K-9 Mark III, a gift from the Doctor. It was an early effort to create a show focused on the companion experience, separate from Doctor Who. Unfortunately, the show had trouble finding its footing and never clearly defined whether it was meant for adults or children. While it may have paved the way for future spinoffs, K-9 and Co. doesn’t quite succeed as a standalone series and feels more like an unfinished idea.

9) K-9

Unlike previous versions, the 2009 series K-9 wasn’t tied to a specific Doctor’s adventures, which ultimately caused issues. Produced separately from Doctor Who and released during the change from David Tennant to Matt Smith, it presented K-9 as an alien object left on Earth with limited independence. The Doctor was only mentioned in passing, lacking a strong connection to the wider Doctor Who universe. The show relied too heavily on familiar, and somewhat cheesy, storylines about teenagers in a sci-fi setting. While the idea had potential, K-9 felt forced and lacked substance, resembling a typical children’s program rather than a true part of the Doctor Who family.

8) Daleks!

Daleks! offers a fresh take on the classic villains, completely removing the Doctor and humanity from the story. This animated series, created for BBC iPlayer, explores internal conflicts within the Dalek ranks, building on existing Doctor Who storylines about Dalek civil wars. It effectively shows fans a different side of the Daleks and explains what makes them such compelling antagonists by highlighting their strict social structure and obsession with genetic perfection. However, the series’ short animation style and some weak writing prevent it from being truly emotionally engaging. While an interesting exploration of Dalek history for devoted fans, it doesn’t deliver a strong character-focused story or a satisfying emotional conclusion.

7) Class

Inspired by the Twelfth Doctor’s era and showrunner Steven Moffat’s love of established locations, Class was set at Coal Hill Academy – a school famously featured in the very first Doctor Who episode. The show reimagines this iconic location as the center of an alien invasion. The Twelfth Doctor makes an appearance in the first episode, clearly entrusting the students with handling the crisis. This made Class feel more directly connected to Doctor Who than previous spin-offs. It also took a much darker and more realistic approach, with consequences that felt lasting. However, Class ultimately struggled to find its identity. Its frequent shifts in tone were jarring, and it moved so far away from the hopeful spirit of the original series that it felt like a completely separate world. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled after just one season, never getting the opportunity to improve.

6) Dreamland

Released after the Tenth Doctor’s time, Dreamland uniquely featured David Tennant reprising his role, making it feel like an extended adventure rather than a separate series. The story, set near Area 51, playfully explores UFOs and government conspiracies, ultimately building to a sense of intense paranoia. While the premise aligns well with the exciting sci-fi feel of Tennant’s episodes, the animation quality unfortunately detracts from the interesting plot. The characters move awkwardly, and the animated format limits the story’s potential. However, its direct link to the Doctor gives it more substance than some other related projects.

5) The Infinite Quest

Released during the height of David Tennant’s run as the Doctor, The Infinite Quest is an animated adventure that originally aired alongside the Doctor Who Confidential show. Starring the Doctor and Martha Jones, it was a real treat for dedicated fans who wanted more Doctor Who content. The story centers on the search for the Infinite, a living sun with the power to grant incredible abilities. What makes The Infinite Quest stand out is its epic scope and storytelling, placing it among the best Doctor Who adventures. It features a unique animation style, strong science fiction ideas that fit the Doctor Who universe, and allows for a deeper exploration of the Doctor and Martha’s dynamic. While it doesn’t quite have the same impact as the live-action episodes, it’s a successful addition to the Whoniverse.

4) Tales of the TARDIS

Unlike other Doctor Who spin-offs that move the story forward, Tales of the TARDIS revisits classic episodes. Created for the show’s 60th anniversary, the series adds new scenes where former companions reminisce about their adventures with the Doctor. Remarkably, it does this without changing established storylines or overexplaining things. Many shows trying to capitalize on nostalgia fall flat, but Tales of the TARDIS genuinely connected with fans. It doesn’t offer brand new stories, but instead deepens our appreciation for the old ones, making it enjoyable for both longtime viewers and newcomers interested in exploring the classic series.

3) The War Between the Land and the Sea

Released in 2025, The War Between the Land and the Sea is a new Doctor Who spinoff connected to Russell T Davies’ return to the show. It expands on the existing mythology, focusing on the conflict between humanity and the Sea Devils and Silurians. This storyline aligns well with Doctor Who‘s long-standing themes of colonialism, and the show’s more realistic tone is a welcome change. Despite receiving an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the five-episode series was better received by critics than by fans. This spinoff demonstrates how a Doctor Who story can succeed even without the Doctor being a central character.

2) The Sarah Jane Adventures

As a critic, I have to say The Sarah Jane Adventures is something truly special. It blossomed from the love fans had for the classic series and Elisabeth Sladen’s fantastic return in a Tenth Doctor episode, “School Reunion.” The show smartly puts Sarah Jane Smith front and center, letting her be a fully realized hero protecting Earth, but also wonderfully mentoring a new generation. What really sets it apart, and why I consider it one of the strongest Doctor Who spinoffs, is that it captures the heart of the original show – that sense of wonder, kindness, and bravery – while still forging its own identity. It’s intelligent and respectful of its young audience, doesn’t shy away from tackling real-world issues, and allows Sarah Jane to become so much more than just a nostalgic character. In fact, for a lot of fans, this series was their very first step into the incredible world of Doctor Who.

1) Torchwood

Often linked to the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, Torchwood began with the introduction of Captain Jack Harkness in 2005. Created by Russell T Davies as a more mature and gritty take on Doctor Who, the series examines the consequences when humanity faces alien threats without the Doctor to solve the difficult problems. At its peak, Torchwood tackles complex moral questions, particularly around the price of survival, and Children of Earth is a standout example for its challenging dilemmas. Though it had its ups and downs, Torchwood remains the standard for Doctor Who spin-offs and is a must-watch for any fan.

Do you love Torchwood, or is there another show you’re enjoying more? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-29 00:12