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Published Sep 8, 2014

Star Trek: It All Began... Today in 1966

Star Trek: The Original Series boldly began going 48 years ago today: September 8, 1966. It took a couple of years, lots of blood, sweat and tears, not to mention two pilots, but Star Trek finally debuted with the episode “ The Man Trap ,” also known as the one with the vampire monster. Though the episode – as written by George Clayton Johnson and directed by Marc Daniels – tells a powerful story of loneliness, survival and a symbiotic relationship – it is, in many ways, not representative of the Star Trek that fans came to know and love. Kirk, furious that the shape-shifting M-113 creature killed members of his crew, really only wants to chase it down and destroy it. The last of its kind? A species worth studying. None of that really crosses Kirk’s mind until it’s too late, when he admits to Spock “I was thinking about the buffalo” just before the credits roll.

-- Anyone remember the statue in Spock’s quarters in “ Amok Time ?” Take a close look at “The Man Trap,” as that same statue stands close by the entrance of the Crater home

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Star Trek: The Original Series

Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy meets a former girlfriend when the Enterprise brings supplies to a remote archaeological survey group. Still attractive to McCoy, the woman's current appearance and her colleague hide a deadly secret, ultimately revealed as a tragedy of ecology.

Raised from infancy by noncorporeal beings, 17-year-old Charles Evans is ferried by an Enterprise crew unaware of his true nature. Once aboard, the teenager develops a crush on Yeoman Rand and proves dangerously unable to wield his enormous psionic powers with maturity until higher authorities intervene.

While exploring the energy barrier at galaxy's edge that crippled an earlier ship, Kirk's long-time friend and crewmate Gary Mitchell begins mutating into a god-like entity disdainful of the "mortals" around him. Can the captain overcome his own feelings for his friend before the new entity grows too powerful to stop?

An alien virus picked up from the now-dead Psi 2000 outpost strips the crew of their inhibitions, causing chaos as each individual is overcome by hidden emotions -- even Spock. Meanwhile, the disabled crew have left the Enterprise unable to react to the planet break-up below that is pulling them down.

A magnetic ore brought back from Alfa 177 causes a beam break-up in the transporter, splitting Captain Kirk into two different beings: one "good" and one "evil." The malfunction must be repaired before Sulu's stranded landing party freezes to death -- and Kirk's separated "halves" perish.

Just as his ship is destroyed by an asteroid field, conman Harry Mudd and his "cargo" of three beautiful wives for lonely miners are rescued by the Enterprise and arrested. The rescue burns out the big starship's dilithium crystals, but Kirk's unhappy reliance on Mudd's clients for replacements is in jeopardy when the women's real secret is exposed.

Cast & Crew

William Shatner

Capt. James T. Kirk

Leonard Nimoy

DeForest Kelley

Dr. Leonard McCoy

James Doohan

Engineer Montgomery Scott

Nichelle Nichols

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‘star trek’ first aired episode: thr’s 1966 review.

On Sept. 8, 1966, the sci-fi series was beamed to American homes via NBC.

By THR Staff

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On Sept. 8, 1966, Star Trek was beamed to American homes via NBC during the 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. hour. The Hollywood Reporter’s review of the first aired episode, titled “The Man Trap,” is below. 

The planets come into play in the latest entry in the sci-fi category. Most of the action takes place on a spacecraft called USS Enterprise which has a medical group aboard to visit a planet outpost where guest stars Jeanne Bal as Nancy Crater and Alfred Ryder, as Prof. Crater, have been living several years doing research allegedly for their archeological designs.

Soon after the government scientists land, namely William Shatner as Capt . James T. Kirk, and Leonard Nimoy , as chief science officer Spock, two of their crew are mysteriously killed, red circles on their faces being the mark of the terrorist.

The audience is soon informed who the killer is and learns the strange power of changing from Mrs. Crater to women the two stars knew years back, later transforming herself into men she wants to dispose of, and does except for Nimoy , whom Shatner saves at the last second.

There’s quite a bit of suspense and tricks with gadgets that will please the sci-fi buffs no end. Featured as regulars are Deforest Kelley, Grace Lee Whitney, George Takei and Nichelle  Nichols. Mark Daniels directed with an eye for building suspense; people running in and out of rooms and passageways excitedly. Gene Roddenberry was creator and executive producer. Gene Coons produced for Norway productions in association with Desilu and NBC. Alexander Courage wrote the theme song called “Star Trek Theme.”

Should be a winner. — Bill Ornstein

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10 best sci-fi TV shows of all time, ranked

The sci-fi genre owes much of its evolution to a myriad of television series that have shaped and redefined it over the years. These influential shows underscore the power of the small screen to captivate audiences, particularly through sci-fi’s distinct combination of innovative storytelling and ambitious visuals. Whether viewers are fans of futuristic technology, extraterrestrial encounters, or dystopian futures, there’s something for every kind of sci-fi lover among the genre’s best entries.

10. Black Mirror (2011-present)

9. neon genesis evangelion (1995-1996), 8. lost (2004-2010), 7. the mandalorian (2019-present), 6. the x-files (1993-2016), 5. battlestar galactica (2004-2009), 4. doctor who (1963-present), 3. stranger things (2016-present), 2. the twilight zone (1959-1964), 1. star trek: the original series (1966-1969).

From the groundbreaking brilliance of Star Trek to the modern masterpiece Black Mirror , the greatest sci-fi TV shows of all time have expanded the genre’s horizons and left an indelible mark on pop culture in the process. They promise worlds beyond anyone’s wildest imagination, with the mind-bending journeys they depict ending up being some of the most unforgettable adventures ever seen on television.

A modern classic created by Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror is an anthology sci-fi series that explores the potential dystopian dark side of mostly existing technology. Almost all of its episodes are set sometime in a near future where one particular piece of technology has become advanced and resulted in sinister consequences for society.

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Whether it’s social media actually dictating social standing and power in Nosedive or augmented reality tech that can be used to record every single moment and replay it for others in The Entire History of You , Black Mirror ‘s best episodes  often feature its most familiar and frightening storylines. While the show’s sixth season has drawn more criticism than usual for Brooker’s divisive attempt at ditching the futuristic for the supernatural, the Netflix series is overall still a treasure trove of acclaimed episodes that fans can dive into.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a groundbreaking sci-fi anime series set in a postapocalyptic world where beings known as Angels are causing cataclysms around the planet. Pilots called Evangelions are tasked with controlling giant mechas to go against these enemies, and in the process, they hope to learn exactly what is causing these disasters. One pilot in particular, Shinji Ikari (Megumi Ogata), reluctantly joins the fight at the request of his estranged father. Shinji’s emotions and experiences soon reflect what other Evangelions go through as they brave increasingly difficult battles.

Hailed for being an ambitious deconstruction of the popular mecha anime genre, Neon Genesis Evangelion set itself apart for its philosophical and existential perspective that invites viewers to think about its complex characters. Many fans were frustrated by its highly anticipated finale, which delivered an abrupt and confusing ending. Fortunately, the demand for a better conclusion would lead to one of the best anime movies of the 1990s , Neon Genesis: The End of Evangelion .

A captivating sci-fi drama that took fans on a wild adventure, Lost is centered on the experiences of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 after it crashes on a mysterious island in the South Pacific. When no help arrives, they realize they have to adapt to their new surroundings, which just so happen to have terrifying secrets. For six riveting seasons, the survivors must deal with inexplicable supernatural events, turmoil within the group, and the possibility that they’re not alone on the island.

Key characters like Dr. Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox), Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly), Hugo “Hurley” Reyes (Jorge Garcia), and more would become fan favorites worth rooting for at every bizarre turn. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Lost became a cultural phenomenon, with countless fans tuning in every week to see what answers each new episode would bring. There would often be more questions than answers, though, and Lost would, in the eyes of most, lose its way until it reached its polarizing finale

Set five years after the events of 1983’s Return of the Jedi , The Mandalorian follows a lone bounty hunter who accepts a job to capture a mysterious asset known only as “The Child” and affectionately referred to as Baby Yoda by fans. As the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) prepares to deliver the Child to those who want him, he hesitates when they form an unlikely bond. This connection soon draws him into the larger conflict between the remnants of the Empire and various other factions.

Contemporary entries in the Star Wars franchise have been inconsistent, to put it mildly, but The Mandalorian  proved the saga had the potential to dominate the small screen. As the first live-action Star Wars series, it had a lot to live up to, and the space Western exceeded expectations and had fans hooked on the reluctant protagonist and his adorable companion. With a feature film titled The Mandalorian & Grogu (that’s Baby Yoda’s real name) in the works, it’s unclear if fans will ever actually get a fourth season of the widely beloved show.

The X-Files is a pop culture touchstone that would entertain numerous fans with more than 200 episodes released over 25 years, making it the longest-running science fiction series in the U.S. The show follows FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), a believer in the existence of aliens and the paranormal, and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), a skeptical scientist assigned to debunk his theories. The duo would investigate unsolved and often inexplicable cases known as the X-Files, which involved paranormal phenomena, extraterrestrial encounters, or government conspiracies.

Featuring a mix of standalone “monster-of-the-week” episodes and overarching mythology arcs, The X-Files had a knack for keeping fans coming back and eventually cemented its legacy as one of the most famous shows ever. Its gripping mysteries and two main characters who had opposing views about them would perfectly align with societal shifts that encouraged conspiracy theories and lack of faith in governments and institutions.

Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the far less successful 1978 series. Syfy’s Peabody-award-winning sci-fi show centers around the crew of the Battlestar Galactica, a powerful warship led by Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos). Its inhabitants are among the only survivors after a devastating attack by the robotic Cylons. As humans on the last military ship, the Admiral and his crew must navigate space in search of survivors while evading and surviving the relentless pursuit of the Cylons.

Part of the reason why the reimagining of the series was so successful is its much darker tone, with Battlestar Galactica ‘s best episodes using the threat of the extinction of the human race to propel its riveting story. There had also been significant improvements in special effects by that time, which meant the modern series’ visuals were less likely to distract from its well-written plot that would unfold over just four seasons.

Over 60 years ago, the first episode of Doctor Who  would premiere and change British television and sci-fi as a whole. The show follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, a spaceship disguised as a British police box. The Doctor, often alongside a companion, encounters various alien species, historical figures, and futuristic civilizations on his trips. Always trying to help or save others, the Doctor sometimes dies, but no worries, a new face always takes their place and continues the epic story.

Doctor Who is currently the longest-running science-fiction TV series ever and is particularly popular among viewers in Britain, though it enjoys a loyal following around the world, too. It has become an iconic part of popular culture and is endlessly referenced and parodied by other shows. While its seasons vary in quality depending on when they were released and who was playing the titular character, numerous arcs are worth revisiting or discovering for the first time today.

Certainly among Netflix’s most successful flagship series , Stranger Things is a sci-fi horror drama that uses nostalgia to its advantage. Set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, the show initially depicts the events surrounding the mysterious disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), which soon leads to the discovery of a girl with psychokinetic abilities named Eleven ( Damsel ‘s Millie Bobby Brown). As Will’s friends continue to search for him, they encounter a parallel dimension known as the Upside Down, which is full of terrifying creatures.

Stranger Things appeals to audiences of all ages, drawing younger viewers in with relatable teen drama and attracting more mature fans with its nostalgic homage to 1980s pop culture. There are several references to classic films, music, and video games, with the well-known series credited for revitalizing interest in the hit songs of yesteryear like Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill and Metallica’s Master of Puppets . That’s not even mentioning its genuinely intriguing sci-fi mystery with a hint of the supernatural. Now, fans are hoping it will stick the landing with its fifth and final season that is set to premiere sometime in 2025.

The Twilight Zone is a legendary anthology series that showcased a blend of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy in its suspenseful episodes. Created and hosted by Rod Serling, each episode presents a unique story full of unexpected twists, with characters finding themselves in strange and unsettling situations as they enter “the Twilight Zone.” There’s almost always a surprise ending in store for viewers, as well as a lesson that’s often a hard truth about the human condition.

The pioneering show would inspire future series that would adopt a similar format and approach to storytelling, with a notable modern example being Black Mirror . The Twilight Zone also highlighted how well-written narratives could tackle political and social issues, with the show taking a cynical perspective of the then-current and future state of the U.S. This would clearly resonate with countless fans and critics, many of whom have hailed the series as one of the greatest TV shows ever made time and time again.

“Space: the final frontier.” These words would become familiar to countless fans as this sentence is uttered in the intro of every new episode by none other than Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) himself. Star Trek: The Original Series revolves around Captain Kirk’s crew on board the starship USS Enterprise as they embark on missions to explore new worlds, seek out new life and civilizations, and boldly go where no one has gone before.

It would be hard to find any fan of pop culture who hasn’t at least heard of the original series, which is as one of the most popular and influential shows of all time. It would go on to spawn a thriving Star Trek franchise . Released in 1966, Star Trek would eventually be celebrated for its diverse cast and innovative approach to addressing weighty subjects such as racism and diplomacy through allegorical narratives set in space. Its underlying concept alone was groundbreaking, as it presented a hopeful vision of humanity’s future, which sees a society that has overcome its differences and is united for the common good.

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There are so many reality shows coming to Hulu in May that you could start to wonder if this was actually supposed to be the schedule for Max. Fortunately, the lineup of movies coming to Hulu in May is exceptionally strong, including Elvis, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Mask, Cast Away, Those Who Wish Me Dead, all of the Die Hard films, and more.

Because it premiered on April 30, FX's The Veil doesn't show up on this month's Hulu list, but it's bound to be one of the most popular shows of the month alongside Welcome to Wrexham season 3. There's also new episodes of first-run network series from ABC and Fox, including the season 2 premiere of Jeopardy! Masters on May 2.

Evil is coming to Paramount+ in May. To be clear, we're talking about Evil season 4, the final run of episodes for the supernatural drama series that began on CBS. And it's not the only highlight this month. The Chi season 6 will premiere on May 10, and Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza will follow on May 21. Younger viewers and kids in your family may also be happy to hear that PAW Patrol season 9 will be streaming as of May 1.

Paramount+ also has a strong lineup of movies in May, including Oscar-winner No Country for Old Men, Ghost, Stand By Me, Annihilation, and more. However, certain titles are only available on Paramount+ with Showtime. Keep that in mind when looking over our roundup of everything new on Paramount+ in May 2024. The shows and movies below marked with an asterisk (*) are only available on Paramount+ with Showtime. Titles marked with a double asterisk (**) can be live-streamed from CBS by Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers. Our picks for the month are in bold.

Netflix is always at its best when it has a robust lineup of movies from other studios to go along with its original films. But in May, Netflix is going to lose a lot of great flicks, because several of its movies on loan from rival studios are going back home. This month, that includes L.A. Confidential, the first four Hunger Games movies, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and even Where the Crawdads Sing, which enjoyed a nearly 18-month run on Netflix following its theatrical release.

Fox's short-lived sitcom The Mick is also departing Netflix, which tends to shed movies more often than it does shows. But there is an upside to this month's content migration: May has a full 31 days and a holiday weekend. That should go a long way toward helping plan your movie nights so you can catch these films and shows before they depart.

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21 Things About Star Trek That Fans Hesitate to Acknowledge

Posted: April 27, 2024 | Last updated: April 27, 2024

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Screen Rant

10 tv franchises with completely broken canon.

Though TV series require the audience to suspend their disbelief, some franchises go so far that they break their own canon, creating plot holes.

• TV shows like Doctor Who and Supernatural have faced challenges in maintaining their canons due to time-traveling plots and long story arcs.
• Franchises like Star Trek and Avatar have struggled with consistent storytelling due to spinoffs and changing creative teams.
• Series like The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars have faced plot holes and inconsistencies in character development over multiple seasons.

Most TV shows and franchises have made mistakes with plot holes or continuity errors, but some have gotten so off-track that their canon's are completely broken. This doesn't make the show any less enjoyable to watch, and when a series has gotten big enough to be considered a franchise, there are so many episodes and characters that smaller changes and rewrites can go unnoticed. However, a broken canon can come back to haunt writers and creators of a show when the dueling plot points come into conflict.

When a TV show’s internal canon starts to break down, the timelines don't match and retcons are implemented, making it difficult to follow the storyline

Large franchises like Star Wars or Marvel are juggernauts, incurring so many movies and television shows, it was inevitable that the canon would become confusing. However, changes to MCU canon can happen because the universe is so far-reaching that it's plausible everything exists at once. Unfortunately, not every TV show has the staying power and influence of the MCU or Star Wars . When a TV show’s internal canon starts to break down, the timelines don't match and retcons are implemented, making it difficult to follow the storyline

10 Doctor Who (1963 - Present)

After traveling through time and space for over 50 years, there are some mistakes.

*Availability in US

Not available

Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits.

Few science fiction franchises are as successful and long-running as Doctor Who , and part of that is because the series continues to reinvent itself and surprise the audience. Since the Doctor can travel anywhere and anytime across the universe, this opens the door to practically infinite adventures. However, as the writers are only human, there's been some overlap and rewriting of the rules. When the series was first revived in 2005, the Doctor was already on their ninth regeneration, this was a challenge as a time lord only gets 12.

Most recently, it was revealed that the Doctor isn't a Time Lord at all, and many audience members are wondering if this storyline will be retconned in the coming seasons.

However, through a throwaway plot point, the Doctor gets a whole new string of regenerations so the show can continue. Most recently, it was revealed that the Doctor isn't a Time Lord at all, and many audience members are wondering if this storyline will be retconned in the coming seasons. Outside the Doctor as a character, there have also been many occurrences of episodes creating intricate time paradoxes that never come back to haunt the characters with little to no explanation. Many of the most egregious errors occurred during Matt Smith’s tenure as the eleventh Doctor.

9 The Big Bang Theory (2007 - 2019)

Because of the prequel show, young sheldon, the original canon is up for debate, the big bang theory.

The Big Bang Theory first premiered on CBS in 2007 and became one of its era's most popular and longest-lasting network sitcoms. Running for 12 seasons, The Big Bang Theory focuses on a group of self-proclaimed nerds, Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Howard (Simon Helberg), and Raj (Kunal Nayyar), who form an unlikely friendship with their new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco). The series became a ratings giant and took home multiple Emmys. The Big Bang Theory was so successful that it ended up spawning a spinoff titled  Young Sheldon , which has also become one of CBS’ most popular sitcoms.

One of the most popular characters on The Big Bang Theory , Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), was such a compelling character, that the franchise creators decided to give him his own spinoff show. However, the choice to make this series, Young Sheldon , a prequel, has caused some problems with the canon of the original show. When audiences meet Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory he still has a lot of developing to do, and he has a strained relationship with his family. However, Young Sheldon couldn't keep its characters stagnant just to remain true to the canon.

A TV show is only effective if the characters learn and grow, and if the relationship dynamics do the same. Many key characters in Young Sheldon , like Sheldon's mom, Mary, are unrecognizable compared to who they are in The Big Bang Theory . While this makes Young Sheldon a better show, it also changes the perception of Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory because the positive dynamic he had with his family has disappeared. The two shows illustrate how difficult it can be to maintain the integrity of an original show when making a prequel.

Young Sheldon’s Season 7 Retcons Hurt The Big Bang Theory Spinoff’s Upcoming Death

8 star trek (1966 - present), many shows and movies have created contradicting events.

Star Trek is one of pop culture's biggest multimedia franchises, spanning multiple movies, TV shows, books, comics, video games, and various other media. The franchise was created by Gene Roddenberry and started with the 1960s TV series starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Over the decades, several equally popular series have come out since as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Discovery.

Beginning in 1966 with Star Trek: The Original Series , the films and TV shows have chronicled the adventures of different spaceship crews exploring the universe and defending it from evil.

Two of the newest shows in the Star Trek canon are Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , and they each take a different approach to expanding the franchise’s universe. Beginning in 1966 with Star Trek: The Original Series , the films and TV shows have chronicled the adventures of different spaceship crews exploring the universe and defending it from evil. Some of the most notable characters like Captain Kirk and Spock have appeared in many stories and maintained their longevity.

Star Trek: Discovery has brazenly broken canon the most in recent years. The series created the character, Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and made her the adopted human sister of Spock, even though she didn't exist before the new show. Additionally, one of the main antagonists of the Star Trek universe, the alien race the Klingons, are constantly being rewritten and changed to suit whatever story they're being introduced in. Since many timelines are being juggled across the stories, there are still opportunities for Kirk to break canon in Strange New Worlds to further differentiate it from The Original Series .

7 The Vampire Diaries (2009 - 2022)

Canon is frequently thrown out the window for the sake of plot armor, the vampire diaries.

Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another's affection.

Throughout the seasons and spinoffs, there are many The Vampire Diaries plot holes fans can't overlook , and that's only in the first series of the franchise. After the success of The Vampire Diaries , the network developed the first spinoff, The Originals , and the additional one, Legacies . During the initial run of The Vampire Diaries , certain rules were established about the magic systems, the vampire's powers, and their limitations. However, Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), one of the show’s protagonists, was frequently exempt from these rules to keep her alive for the sake of the story.

In The Vampire Diaries season 1, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) can do much more than compel humans, with strange abilities to control animals or summon mist. This is disregarded after the pilot, as are the rules of life and death. Death is only permanent for minor characters, as many main characters die and come back to life several times across the series. In one of the most shocking twists , Elena is put to sleep and can't wake up until Bonnie (Kat Graham) dies, but just in time for the series finale, Bonnie finds a way to wake her up without perishing.

6 Supernatural (2005 - 2023)

The well-established history of sam & dean's parents is rewritten in the winchesters, supernatural.

Created by Eric Kripke, Supernatural is a fantasy/drama series that premiered in 2005. The series follows the adventures of Dean and Sam Winchester - two men wronged by supernatural beings as children who now spend their days investigating and hunting demons, ghosts, and monsters across the United States. 

It's not surprising that the network and creators of Supernatural wanted to continue capitalizing on the series’ success, as the show became a breakout hit while it was airing. Originally only meant to tell a complete five-season arc, Supernatural went on for ten more seasons after that. Since so much of the truth surrounding heaven and hell was shrouded in mystery throughout the story, it was reasonable that changes in the canon would occur as the show progressed.

The Winchesters was meant to expand the world of Supernatural by looking into the story of how John and Mary Winchester met, and their demon-hunting days before their sons were born.

However, certain aspects of the series, like Sam's (Jared Padalecki) and Dean's (Jensen Ackles) parents’ origins seemed fairly set in stone. The Winchesters was meant to expand the world of Supernatural by looking into the story of how John and Mary Winchester met, and their demon-hunting days before their sons were born. However, the series was poorly received, in part due to how much it changed the fabric of Supernatural . John's history with demons and hunting is altered, as is his future, since Dean travels to the past to give him a letter, something never mentioned in Supernatural .

5 Friends (1994 - 2004)

Silly mistakes and series extensions make the timeline convoluted.

Friends is the popular sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, released back in 1994 and ran for ten seasons. The show follows a group of six twentysomethings through their lives in New York City and their time spent between their two apartments and their local coffee shop. The show features the group navigating tricky relationships with one another and comical misadventures.

Though Friends is one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, running for ten seasons, the spinoff, Joey , was such a plot that Joey may no longer be part of Friends canon . Joey would've expanded the universe of Friends had it remained on the air, and likely would've altered the show’s canon by providing alternate endings for the beloved characters. Fortunately, most of the happy endings the titular friends got in the series finale are set in stone. However, bigger questions surrounding the series' timeline and continuity have been raised.

The four characters whose lives are the most intertwined are Ross (David Schwimmer), Monica (Courteney Cox), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), and Chandler (Matthew Perry). Their relationships are well established, except for the key plot hole that Chandler and Rachel are reintroduced to each other in conflicting flashback episodes several times over the seasons. Additionally, the ages of the characters make no sense compared to the way time is supposed to be passing in the show. It takes many years for them all to turn 30, and their ages change based on what's convenient for an episode.

4 Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 - Present)

While the initial series might be a tight story, additional lore changes the fabric of the story, avatar: the last airbender.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is an Animated Fantasy and Adventure series that appeared on Nickelodeon and was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The series featured voices from Zach Tyler Eisen, Jack DeSena, Dante Basco, and Mae Whitman. The premise follows a young boy named Aang, an Air Bender who is set to be the next Avatar, master of all elements, in a bit to unite the nations together and bring peace.

Not all the lore is completely fleshed out and explained, which left room for the spinoff series, The Legend of Korra to expand the franchise's world.

Though Avatar: The Last Airbender was only on the air for three seasons, it changed animation forever and introduced the world to a universe audiences will never forget. These first three seasons of the original show tell a cohesive story with a timeline that can easily be followed. Not all the lore is completely fleshed out and explained, which left room for the spinoff series, The Legend of Korra to expand the franchise's world. However, The Legend of Korra and the new live-action Avatar on Netflix have run into problems keeping the canon intact.

The live-action adaptation of Avatar had to leave out certain plot points and dedicate more time to others because this is what an adaptation does. While nothing major has been changed, the subtle character and story alterations will inevitably have bigger impacts on the story's ending. Conversely, The Legend of Korra was able to tell its own story. However, in explaining the Avatar’s origins and jumping forward in time, changes were made that didn't fit the franchise's integrity. Aspects of bending that was supposed to be impossible or rare, like metalbending and lavabending, suddenly became commonplace skills in Korra .

Netflix’s The Last Airbender Show Will Make Avatar’s Canon Way More Complicated

3 how i met your mother (2005 - 2014), early character traits or habits are dropped for the sake of punchlines, how i met your mother.

How I Met Your Mother is a sitcom created initially for CBS by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas. Five friends living in New York City navigate their twenties and thirties as they try to find love, success, and purpose. The show is framed through one friend's eyes, Ted Mosby, as he retells the story of how he met his wife to his children.

How I Met Your Mother had one of the most divisive series finales of all time, but the ending wasn't the first time that fans were surprised by story changes in the show. Each character changes a lot throughout the show's run, but Robin (Cobie Smulders) is rewritten considerably after the first couple of seasons. In How I Met Your Mother seasons 1 and 2, Robin mentions certain traits and events in her past that are changed in the future seasons.

This is illustrated in that playing hockey was a large part of her childhood, but she mentions to Ted (Josh Radnor) that she never played team sports. Additionally, the timeline surrounding Ted's near misses meeting the future mother of his children is altered considerably. There is an episode when it's revealed that the Mother was at the same St. Patrick's Day party as Ted, but later on, she describes the same party being in April. While this was just a small error overlooked by the creative team, it does draw attention to the other issues of continuity in the series.

2 That '70s Show (1998 - 2006)

Characters disappear and it takes far too long to reach the 1980s, that '70s show.

That ‘70s Show was one of Fox’s most popular sitcoms upon its release in 1998. Starring Topher Grace (Eric Forman), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), and Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), That ‘70s Show revolves around the teens’ mishaps as they grow up in Point Place Wisconsin in the 1970s.

In some ways, That '90s Show works because of That '70s Show 's plot holes , and the spinoff show has been a fun expansion on the original format of the first show. Many TV series don't follow a concrete timeline, and don't start a new year with every new season of the show. Notably, this happened in the hit show MASH , which went on for eleven seasons despite the Korean War only lasting three years. That '70s Show faced the problem that its main characters were in high school.

To solve this, the characters stayed in high school for quite a long time, but their ages didn't always match the grade they were supposed to be in.

This meant it wouldn’t be long before the character's ages became a major issue for the continuity and conflict of the show. To solve this, the characters stayed in high school for quite a long time, but their ages didn't always match the grade they were supposed to be in. Eric (Topher Grace) changes ages several times throughout the show. Additionally, there are more Christmas episodes than there should be based on how time is moving, Donna's (Larua Prepon) sisters disappear, and there are frequent anachronisms and references to things that didn't exist in the 1970s.

That '90s Show Season 2's Confirmed Original Actor Return After 20 Years Can't Work Without 1 Huge Cameo

1 pretty little liars (2010 - 2017), characters escape hospitals, cheat death, and make impossible decisions, pretty little liars.

Pretty Little Liars is a Teen Drama and Mystery series based on the novel by Sara Shepard. The show was created by Marlene King and stars Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, and Holly Marie Combs. The series revolves around four friends who meet back up with one another and begin to receive strange threats from an unknown source simply labeled "A."

Trying to follow the complete canon of Pretty Little Liars is nearly impossible, as the series changes villains, heroes, and victims at the drop of a hat. Some of the worst plot holes on the show make it clear that the series creators weren't always planning ahead when it came to the shocking twists and unbelievable events portrayed on screen. What becomes the most confusing as the series progresses is how so many characters can be in two places at once and easily avoid detection.

This flaw becomes extremely obvious in the case of Charlotte/CeCe (Vanessa Ray), who was both visiting and a patient at Radley at the same time. CeCe's character introduces many major issues into the fabric of the story, as the timeline of Marion Cavanaugh's death changes, as she was supposedly killed when CeCe was a child and Toby (Keegan Allen) was a teenager. The show's proposed timeline would've been impossible considering how much older CeCe is than the other characters. Almost every aspect of CeCe's character throws a wrench into the entire show.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Episode list

S1.E1 ∙ The Man Trap

S1.E2 ∙ Charlie X

S1.E3 ∙ Where No Man Has Gone Before

S1.E4 ∙ The Naked Time

S1.E5 ∙ The Enemy Within

S1.E6 ∙ Mudd's Women

S1.E7 ∙ What Are Little Girls Made Of?

S1.E8 ∙ Miri

S1.E9 ∙ Dagger of the Mind

S1.E10 ∙ The Corbomite Maneuver

S1.E11 ∙ The Menagerie: Part I

S1.E12 ∙ The Menagerie: Part II

S1.E13 ∙ The Conscience of the King

S1.E14 ∙ Balance of Terror

S1.E15 ∙ Shore Leave

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'Star Trek: Discovery' season 5 episode 6 goes old school and benefits because of it

Why do unevolved, pre-warp civilizations always have such strange and often lethal customs?

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Star Trek: Discovery" season 5, episode 6

Here we are then, the other side of the halfway mark of the very last season of " Star Trek: Discovery ." Will the plot actually advance any further? Or does the chase across the galaxy for the Progenitors MacGuffin continue, offering another chance to insert a stand-alone, episode-length adventure along the way? Interestingly, a look at the IMDb top 10 rated episodes of "Discovery" there isn't one single entry beyond the second season. 

This week's curiously named installment is entitled "Whistlespeak" and it's almost a throwback to old school-style of sci-fi storytelling, more typically found in something like "Stargate SG1." And a 10 episode-long chase for an alien artifact would be just fine in that show, because each season was typically 22 episodes long. Sadly, that's one reason why "Discovery" has been deteriorating, rather than improving, because each season — and it's far more obvious in seasons 3, 4 and 5 — seems to follow a very cookie-cutter formulaic approach. 

Related: Star Trek streaming guide: Where to watch the Star Trek movies and TV shows online

Watch Star Trek on Paramount Plus: Get a one month free trial  

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There's always a threat facing all life in the universe (killer AI, exploding dilithium, gravity waves, Progenitor tech), there's always a series of clues-of-sorts that have to followed and that usually entails a set of standalone adventures before finally everything concludes in a disappointing payoff. Tragically, "Discovery" never really found its identity and it struggled from the outset when the original concept was not to focus on the captain of a particular starship, but rather the first officer. 

That combined with the fact that big-budget TV sci-fi has shifted to shorter seasons with more expensive episodes over longer seasons and more expansive storylines. Just remind yourself what other sci-fi shows have managed to achieve in five seasons; "Stargate: Atlantis" and " Babylon 5 " both had five seasons, "Battlestar Galactica" only had four and "Stargate: SG1" had 10. (Although the less said about the whole Ori storyline, the better.)

All that aside, this particular episode was a quirky little number that was actually quite enjoyable. So, that's nice. Yes, there are one or two enormous small plot holes and the super-convenient tech has somewhat taken a turn for the ridiculous. This is not swallowing a pill to genetically alter you temporarily, these are easy-install "optical tricorders" — yes, indeed, you need never have the burden of having to actually carry a tricorder anymore, because now they can be worn like contact lenses.

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This week, Capt. Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) beam incognito down to the surface of a pre-warp, pre-industrial world much like the Planet Vancouver that we often saw in just about every incarnation of "Stargate." And why-oh-why do these primitive, unevolved civilizations always have traditions that seem harmless at first, but upon further examination almost certainly seem to involve decapitation, disembowelment or any one of a hundred different, excruciating ways of dying, all in the name of glorious sacrifice to some god or another. Was the human race ever like tha...oh wait, hang on. Damn .

In this particular instance it's simply suffocating. Of course if you blew the fires out that also happen to be burning in the room, you know, using up all the precious air that's left, you might last a teeny-tiny bit longer. But that's probably not covered in standard Starfleet training, rather undergraduates are instead taught how to rebuild an illudium Q-36 explosive space modulator using only a discarded toothbrush, a clothes peg, an empty washing up liquid bottle and sticky-back plastic. 

You also have to wonder how the local population had such an in-depth knowledge of the sacrificial chamber if no one ever survived, but we'll look past that, just like the writers did. And boy-oh-boy, there's along time to kill before you get killed. On the up side, the dialogue is pretty sharp this week and despite all its flaws, this is a well-paced installment. Still, a cliffhanger might be nice at some point before the show wraps permanently. All things considered though, given the low bar "Discovery" has sadly set itself, this one isn't terrible. 

In other, somewhat related news, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish has stepped down and it's rumored that the entertainment giant is going to create an "office of the CEO" and have a team making the important decisions rather than a rich, white man who doesn't seem to have much of a clue. Sounds like a plan, right? Well, wait for it... Instead, three rich, white men will be making all the important decisions. George Cheeks, president and CEO of CBS; Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Paramount Media Networks and Brian Robbins, president and CEO of Paramount Pictures.

Needless to say, Paramount's share value has taken a nosedive this week. Now while most of this is related to Paramount Global, it will of course affect the future of Paramount Plus, including programming choices, budget and just about everything else that determines whether or not we'll get to see any "Star Trek" going forward, let alone quality "Star Trek." Let's face facts, the only reason we're getting a Section 31 TV series TV movie is because of contractual obligations. 

The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery," and every other episode of every "Star Trek" show — with the exception of "Star Trek: Prodigy" — currently streams exclusively on Paramount Plus in the US, while "Prodigy" has found a new home  on Netflix.  

Internationally, the shows are available on  Paramount Plus  in Australia, Latin America, the UK and South Korea, as well as on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. They also stream on  Paramount Plus  in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In Canada, they air on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and stream on Crave.

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When Scott's application to the NASA astronaut training program was turned down, he was naturally upset...as any 6-year-old boy would be. He chose instead to write as much as he possibly could about science, technology and space exploration. He graduated from The University of Coventry and received his training on Fleet Street in London. He still hopes to be the first journalist in space.

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Burnham Realizes There Are 'No Shortcuts' in Star Trek: Discovery 506 Clip

Exclusive: CBR has a sneak peek of Star Trek: Discovery Episode 506, "Whistlespeak."

The final season of Star Trek: Discovery is moving along at Paramount+ leading up to the final episode. For now, fans can anticipate watching episode 506, and CBR has an early sneak peek at the show.

Titled "Whistlespeak," the sixth episode of Star Trek: Discovery officially debuts on Thursday, May 2, on Paramount+. CBR's sneak peek clip features Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) realizing that "there are no shortcuts," joined by Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman). While the answers are not yet clear, Michael has a game plan. The clip can be watched below.

Star Trek: Discovery's David Ajala Gets Candid About Book's 'Very Complicated Situation'

The official synopsis for the episode reads, "While undercover in a pre-warp society, Captain Burnham is forced to consider breaking the Prime Directive when a local tradition threatens Tilly’s life. Meanwhile, Culber tries to connect with Stamets, and Adira steps up when Rayner assigns them a position on the bridge."

This episode puts the show past the halfway mark to the end of the final season, with the series coming to an end with the finale episode on May 30. It had been announced ahead of the season's debut that Season 5 would also serve as the last for the series. It's unfortunate for the fans who wanted to see a sixth season and beyond, though the news has also been hard for the cast and crew.

Michael Burnham's Biggest Offense Mirrors Another Popular Star Trek Hero But With a Twist

"We just thought, 'Hey, see you for Season 6, and we will go even bigger.' ... So when I got the news, it was bittersweet and shocking. But I always felt a great sense of peace about it, and just gratitude and accomplishment and achievement," series star Sonequa Martin-Green previously told Variety about the show ending coming as a surprise .

Reshoots Allowed for a Proper Ending

On getting the chance to shoot a more proper ending with reshoots after getting the news, Martin-Green added, "That Michelle Paradise and [executive producer] Alex Kurtzman really fought for that and CBS said yes. We were able to have that real experience of, 'Oh, this is the last time we’ll ever do that.' It felt like a gift. I don’t know if we needed it, but man, we really appreciated it."

Star Trek: Discovery is streaming on Paramount+.

Source: CBS

Star Trek: Discovery