Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-1916997-20160610195019/@comment-24674051-20160614170732

I think for it to be a sequel,  there has to be some connection to the previous story. A spin-off would, in my opinion, be a show that occurs in the same universe or setting, but has a completely separate storyline, and mostly new characters.

A Sequel not only utilizes the same universe, but is also a direct continuation of the story being told. For example, Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, is a sequel, because it is a continuation of the story that was first told in Star Wars IV: A New Hope, even though it is mostly new characters.

It's not really even a matter of When the events occur, They could be concurrent (rare but possible), Previous (a Prequel, which is just a specific form of sequel), or after. If it is the same story, or a story that is very interconnected with the original story, then it is a sequel. If it is just the same "Universe" or setting, but a different story with (mostly) different characters, it is a spinoff.