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Author: OmarKarindu

Jun 12th 2012 at 9:34:34 AM

SuddenlyAlternateHistory? AlternateHistoryTwistEnding?

Comic Books
* In an odd example, the old [DCUniverse DC Multiverse]] started out with Earth-1 (the SilverAge) and Earth-2 ([[TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks the Golden Age]]) as basically exact duplicates of the real world timeline for major historical events, but with added superheroes. Later on, though, writers introduced casual historical divergences in stories set on Earth-2, such as a single panel rather pointlessly revealing that its South Africa had ended apartheid in the 1970s. At the time the story was published, this hadn't happened in the real world or on Earth-1.

Live Action TV
* [[{{Series/Blackadder}} Blackadder]] did this occasionally. In one episode, Baldrick accidentally burns the manuscript of Dr Johnson's dictionary, realises he's actually burnt something else, then ends up deliberately burning the real manuscript anyway. In fact, every series of Blackadder uses this, usually in the finale, as a major plot point. (Just formatting your suggestion and expanding on some sub-examples, robinjohnson. Hope you aren't offended. Blackadder really plays with this trope.)
** The first episode of ''[[{{Series/Blackadder}} Blackadder]]' starts out as a humorous version of the Battle of Bosworth field, but then has Richard III actually win only to die when [[spoiler: the title character accidentally kills him]]. The finale of the first season then explains how the historical record we have was actually created.  
** The second SeasonFinale  has a tag in which [[spoiler: the evil Prince Ludwig returns and kills the entire cast, including Queen Elizabeth, and then rules England for the rest of Elizabeth's recorded reign while disguised as her.]]
** ''Blackadder III'' ends with [[spoiler: Edmund Blackadder replacing the now-dead Prince Regent, George IV, The imposture]] is aided greatly by the madness of George III and the episode's successful ZanyScheme to deceive the Duke of Wellington.
** ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' shockingly ends by [[AvertedTrope averting]] the twist from previous seasons after teasing it. [[spoiler: For a moment, it looks as if the cast are to be spared, because the FirstWorldWar has ended. Then Percy gives the date, a year before the actual armistice, and the viewer realizes that no twist is coming. instead, the characters are all killed when they are sent "over the top."]]