# Are there any good prequels that actually stand alone and don't need the original to make sense? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [October 3, 2022, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657 "2022-10-03T22:26:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/41 "2022-10-04T14:45:59Z")
Final Destination 5 may fit the bill. It is a stand alone and despite many subtle hints in the movie, it is only at the end that you realize it is a prequel to the original Final Destination. Of course to the OP, your definition of “good” may exclude this entry. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/42 "2022-10-04T14:50:16Z")
I choose to categorize Temple of Doom as “not terrible”. ---
**Author:** ![SlipperyPete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@SlipperyPete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlipperyPete)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/43 "2022-10-04T15:24:05Z")
House of the Dragon seems to fit the bill. It’s a TV series, not a movie though. Rings of Power on the other hand, doesn’t stand alone since many of the characters and events are referenced in LotR. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/44 "2022-10-04T15:24:59Z")
Shakespeare first wrote _The First part of the Contention betwixt the two famous Houses of Yorke and Lancaster, with the death of the good Duke Humphrey: And the banishment and death of the Duke of Suffolke, and the Tragicall end of the proud Cardinal of Winchester, with the notable Rebellion of Jack Cade: and the Duke of Yorke’s first claim unto the Crowne_ (today known as _Henry VI, part 2_) Then he wrote _The Whole Contention betweene the two Famous Houses, Lancaster and Yorke. With the Tragicall ends of the good Duke Humfrey, Richard Duke of Yorke, and King Henrie the sixt_ (today known as _Henry VI, part 3_) Then he wrote _The first Part of Henry the Sixt_ The chronology of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan novels is rather fuzzy. At the end of the fourth novel, _Son of Tarzan_, Paul d’Arnot is a retired admiral. But he shows up in later books as a young lieutenant. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/45 "2022-10-04T15:43:23Z")
It’s been a while since I read it, but the novella The Churn is a pretty good stand-alone prequel for the book series The Expanse. Only one major character and one minor one in common with the main series, and it tells the story of how the major character ended up working in space. No real need to read any of the other books to appreciate what is essentially a sci-fi crime story. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/46 "2022-10-04T16:02:27Z")
_The Chronicles of Riddick_ is a sequel to _Pitch Black_. Both films are good (in my opinion) and neither relies on seeing the other film to be able to follow all the plot points. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/47 "2022-10-04T16:35:56Z")
_Fate/Zero_ is a Japanese light novel (also adapted to anime TV series) that is a prequel to the visual novel _Fate/stay night_ which had already been released. It involves many of the same characters and takes place in the same location. It was well-received. One can watch it without any prior exposure to other related works. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/48 "2022-10-04T17:18:51Z")
I think _The Wide Sagasso Sea_ is a pretty good prequel to _Jane Eyre._ ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/49 "2022-10-04T18:38:58Z")
Yeah, but it’s a sequel, not a prequel. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/50 "2022-10-04T20:38:03Z")
Drat. Sargasso. I even proofread! ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/51 "2022-10-05T00:28:06Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > Better Call Saul, if we’re including television. There’s no shortage of nods to Breaking Bad and you’ll probably enjoy it more if you’ve already seen BB, but it’s still standalone. I love Better Call Saul. It’s better than Breaking Bad. But I can’t unring the bell or watch Better Call Saul without having watched Breaking Bad. I wonder if I would have enjoyed it nearly as much without the Breaking Bad foundation. > [@silenus](#): > > > [@Munch](#): > > > > Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. > > The OP said “good.” Temple of Doom is good enough and truly stands alone. I give Munch one internet point for a solid suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/52 "2022-10-05T00:49:44Z")
While we’re on the subject, _The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles_. was pretty good. I watched a couple of episodes of Breaking Bad, but I couldn’t get into it. Didn’t watch any more. I’ve watched the first two seasons of _Better Call Saul_, and liked it a lot better. I get the feeling there’s several references I’m missing, but it’s all good, man. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/53 "2022-10-05T02:46:49Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > > _Oedipus Rex_, a prequel to [Antigone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigone_(Sophocles_play)) which was written first. > > Mother%#$%! I had no idea. We all saw what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/54 "2022-10-05T13:52:32Z")
> [JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)[Charter Member](https://boards.straightdope.com/g/Charter_Member) > > [11h](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/53) > > > [@Odesio](#): > > > > > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > > > > _Oedipus Rex_, a prequel to [Antigone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigone_(Sophocles_play)) which was written first. > > > > Mother%#$%! I had no idea. > > We all saw what you did there. You’re killing me. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/55 "2022-10-05T19:05:06Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Yeah, but it’s a sequel, not a prequel. Go figure. I had to read the plot summaries to learn it was not a prequel. Of course, it’s obvious now that it points out the other people who were in both movies. But I learned something today! ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecc23a/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada_Jr)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/56 "2022-10-05T19:22:03Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > _Falling Free_ by Lois McMaster Bujold is a prequel to her Vorkosigan Saga. The Vorkosigan Saga is a great example, but not _Falling Free_, which was an unconnected standalone. The relationship between the published order and internal chronology is complicated, but Bujold wrote 3 novels about Miles before going back to write _Barrayar_ about Mile’s birth. I was given the advice to read in internal chronology order, and the series works very well that way. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/57 "2022-10-05T19:27:18Z")
Sure it’s a prequel! It gives the origin story of one aspect of the complex universe of the Vorkosigan books: the Quaddies. One of the quaddies is an important ally of the Dendarii crew. More generally, it shows the universe Vorkosigan is set in a couple centuries earlier, which is background to how it got the way it is. It’s tied in with the series thematically that way. There’s no common narrative thread between them, is that what you meant? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/58 "2022-10-05T19:29:58Z")
Wait?! Are we limited to movies? If not then I would say Shogun is a example for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/59 "2022-10-05T21:37:21Z")
The Man Who Sold The Moon is a prequel to Requium - written 10 years later but covering the earlier days of DD Harriman. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2022, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657/60 "2022-10-06T00:05:41Z")
Then there is “To Sail Beyond the Sunset,” which manages to be both a prequel to **and** sequel to Heinlein’s Future History. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-prequels-that-actually-stand-alone-and-dont-need-the-original-to-make-sense/972657.md?page=4)