Some characters just deserve A LOT more time to shine!
Some of the best characters in movies and on television are LGBTQ+, and although their screen time is increasing, some characters deserved a lot time to have their stories told.
Whether their stories were already well-established and we just want more, or whether they were a small side character that deserved a little more attention, here are 14 LGBTQ+ characters who deserved (or still deserve, in some cases) their own spinoffs. (Minor spoilers may appear, proceed with caution!)
Jack McFarland (and Karen Walker), Will & Grace
I’ll just come right out and say it: Jack and Karen made Will & Grace. The reboot should have been Jack & Karen, but I digress (sorry, Debra). Regardless, a sitcom with these two as the main characters getting even more screen time than we’ve already had with them would just be a comedic dream come true.
Carol Willick and Susan Bunch, Friends
It would have been really fun to see Friends from Carol and Susan’s perspective, especially as they raised Ben and also considering they were among the first lesbian couples on network television.
Stanford Blatch, Sex and the City
Who wouldn’t love a prequel movie or series centered around Standford Blatch, Carrie Bradshaw’s gay bestie from the iconic Sex and the City? The storyline could focus on the characters in their youth during the New York City club and bar scene they bonded over in the ’80s, and it would be awesome to watch that relationship unfold with a little more depth.
Willow Rosenberg, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Especially following the series finale, tell me that Willow Rosenberg wouldn’t have made for an incredible main character on her own show as she explored what it meant to be a literal goddess. She’s already one of the greatest TV witches all time, and she deserves a little extra shine. That, or a series following the life of what Vamp Willow was like would have also been incredible.
Titus Andromedon, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Titus was a fan favorite on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Kimmy’s roommate, and it would have been great to have explored a little more of his time on Broadway. We get a little flash forward of his life at the end, but a further exploration of his journey with him as the actual star he deserved to be would have (and still would be) amazing.
Yorkie and Kelly, Black Mirror
These one-hit wonder characters really stole the show in their San Junipero episode of Black Mirror. There’s just so much more to explore in their relationship that literally transcends time and space, and they deserve at least a miniseries to give us some more time together.
Oscar Martinez, The Office
Oscar brought a lot to the mockumentary series The Office, but especially with all of the drama with Angela at the end, it would have been great to have his own exploration on his journey toward becoming a state senator, especially if it were still filmed in the same mockumentary style.
Lafayette Reynolds, True Blood
Lafayette Reynolds is bold, beautiful, and eerily amazing. It would be incredible to have a series set around him and all of the demonic adventures he gets himself into with his abilities as a medium. Like many of the other characters on this list, a prequel series of his life prior to the start of True Blood would be emotional and moving.
Damian Leigh (and Janis Ian), Mean Girls
I would watch hours and hours of endless entertainment between Damien Leigh and Janis Ian. These two should have had a spinoff long before the Broadway musical, which, admittedly, was pretty freaking awesome. Still, especially if the original actors had been able to revive their parts, it would have been great to see what their lives were like, possibly before Cady entered in and switched things up.
Cynthia Rose, Pitch Perfect
Where was Cynthia Rose’s screen time during the Pitch Perfect films? Miss Ester Dean can belt it out and simply did not get the proper shine she deserved in any of the three films. I could see her returning as a coach in a Glee-like setting, which would be aca-awesome.
Omar Little, The Wire
A movie about Omar’s upbringing prior to his character joining The Wire would have been emotional, heart wrenching, and a deeper look into the trials and tribulations he went through as a character. Even though we had so much exploration of him throughout the series, he still deserved to have a moment to have the focus be only on him.
Emily Malek, The Handmaid's Tale
Emily Malek, or “Ofglen” as she was forced to be renamed in Gilead, had a heartbreaking story of loss when she was ripped away from her wife, Sylvia, and forced to be a handmaid. Although the series was based on a book, if it were rewritten in this day and age, Emily’s character would have been an equally, if not more, compelling character than the current main character, Offred.
Oliver Hampton and Connor Walsh, How to Get Away With Murder
Oliver Hampton and Connor Walsh had us glued to their on-again off-again relationship throughout their time on How to Get Away With Murder. Seeing more of their ongoing drama (and occasional murder coverups) would be fun to see in a continuation of the series, especially since the two ultimately ended up together in the end.
Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter
Hear me out for just a moment here. We really don’t need to be putting any more money into JK Rowling’s pocket, but I’m also not really here for them to make a TV show out of a movie series that just ended not that long ago, especially when there are so many others storylines they can explore (Moody, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, anybody?). Plus, it just didn’t work out with the Fantastic Beasts films. Dumbledore should get his own show, where he’s allowed to be exactly who he is, and perhaps even set some things right in the canon. It will likely never happen, but here’s to hoping someone in the Wizarding World goes back to getting things right.