History Main / BestOfAllPossibleWorlds

*** Well, a lot of those other people died averting, just less well, so there were repercussions. Sarah Jane was on the moon, for example, and Torchwood Three died in something or other the Doctor had originally handled. Leaving Wales vulnerable to all the stuff they originally saved it from...

* Most of ''{{Futurama}}'''s "Anthology of Interest" episodes are like this.
* This is one of the arguments against the Problem of Suffering, especially suffering created by nature. Designing creation any other way would have to other, more destructive consequences.
* Deconstructed and back in the series ''{{Noein}}''. Haruka has the ability to jump dimensions, and spends an episode or two observing possible parallel or future time lines. One is 'perfect' in a StepfordSmiler kind of way, one is seriously [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]], and most are pretty average, but after all of it she comes to decide there really isn't a best world, and even if there was, it's really not where she belongs.

* The ''FamilyGuy'' episode "Stewie Kills Lois" deals with ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Stewie finally carries out his long running threat to kill his mother. [[spoiler: Over the course of the episode and the next he takes over the world, culminating in an action movie style showdown between him and his parents (Mom was NotQuiteDead), which results in his death. The we see it was [[AllJustADream all just a simulation]], and Stewie concludes he's not ready to kill Lois yet. Brian lampshades the cheapness of this ending.]]
* Inverted (so far) in ''RebuildOfEvangelion''. It is by no means a happy place, but (so far) no main characters have died, making it markedly happier than the original ''NeonGenesisEvangelion''.

* The ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' AlternateUniverse where Willow and Xander were vampires and its RocksFallEveryoneDies at the end would qualify.

In other words, the canon is treated like the BestOfAllPossibleWorlds for the characters, and an AlternateUniverse / {{Elseworld}} / WhatIf has two options: have a DownerEnding, or revert to match the original canon. [=~Hitler's Time Travel Exemption Act~=] often runs on this.

See also: RubberBandHistory (the general tendency for alternate histories to end up more like the "real" history); [=~It's A Wonderful Plot~=] (a specific history change that almost always makes things worse).

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'' we have the alternate universe created when Donna [[ForWantOfANail turns right]] in "Turn Left", which causes the Doctor to die at the Thames Barrier when he defeats the Racnoss, and several contemporary attacks on Earth to cause mass casualties, and/or wipes out several of the Doctor's allies (including Martha, who he never met here). Naturally, Donna set her timeline back on its proper course at the end of the episode.

* The ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' AlternateUniverse where Willow and Xander were vampires and it's RocksFallEveryoneDies at the end would qualify.
* The FamilyGuy episode "Stewie Kills Lois" deals with ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Stewie finally carries out his long running threat to kill his mother. [[spoiler: Over the course of the episode and the next he takes over the world, culminating in an action movie style showdown between him and his parents (Mom was NotQuiteDead), which results in his death. The we see it was [[AllJustADream all just a simulation]], and Stewie concludes he's not ready to kill Lois yet. Brian lampshades the cheapness of this ending.]]
* Inverted (so far) in RebuildOfEvangelion. It is by no means a happy place, but (so far) no main characters have died, making it markedly happier than the original NeonGenesisEvangelion.

* Deconstructed and back in the series {{Noein}}. Haruka has the ability to jump dimensions, and spends an episode or two observing possible parallel or future time lines. One is 'perfect' in a StepfordSmiler kind of way, one is seriously [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]], and most are pretty average, but after all of it she comes to decide there really isn't a best world, and even if there was, it's really not where she belongs.
* In ''Series/DoctorWho'' we have the alternate universe created when Donna [[ForWantOfANail turns right]] in ''Turn Left'' and the one that needs the heroes' help in stopping the Cybermen in ''Rise of the Cybermen/The Age Of Steel''.

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'' we have the alternate universe created when Donna [[ForWantOfANail turns right]] in ''Turn Left'' and the one that needs the heroes' help in stopping the Cybermen in ''Rise of the Cybermen/The Age Of Steel''.

* In ''DoctorWho'' we have the alternate universe created when Donna [[ForWantOfANail turns right]] in ''Turn Left'' and the one that needs the heroes' help in stopping the Cybermen in ''Rise of the Cybermen/The Age Of Steel''.

* Deconstructed and back in the series {{Noein}}. Haruka has the ability to jump dimensions, and spends an episode or two observing possible parallel or future time lines. One is 'perfect' in a StepfordSmiler kind of way, one is seriously [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]], and most are pretty average, but after all of it she comes to decide there really isn't a best world, and even if there was, it's really not where she belongs.

Ever wonder what would happen if something in your favorite series ''[[StatusQuoIsGod changed]]''? Do you wish TheScrappy had never been born, the BigBad would get his comeuppance, or that TheEgregiousTropeman and his [[TheLoisLane love interest]] [[SuperheroesStaySingle would just get married already]]?

* This is one of the arguments against the Problem of Suffering, especially suffering created by nature. Designing creation any other way would have to other, more destructive consequences.

Ever wonder what would happen if something in your favorite series ''[[StatusQuoIsGod changed]]''? Do you wish TheScrappy had never been born, the BigBad would get his comeuppance, or that TheEgregiousTropeman and his [[TheLoisLane love interest]] [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies would just get married already]]?

* The Buffy Alternaverse where Willow and Xander were vampires and it's RocksFallEveryoneDies at the end would qualify.

Oh noes! This other universe is [[CrapSackWorld a terrible place]]! Tropeman's enemies have discovered his secret identity by [[HollywoodHacking hacking]] [[ItsASmallNetAfterAll the internet]], and now they've [[StuffedIntoTheFridge horribly murdered his wife]]. Since the BigBad is in jail, the power-vacuum caused by his absence has resulted in [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil an even worse villain stepping up to the plate]], and now Cthulhu is running for president. Also, TheScrappy was somehow responsible for preventing World War III.

* Most of ''{{Futurama}}'''s "Anthology of Interest" episodes are like this.

* This was the heart of the original MarvelComics ''WhatIf?'' series. Only one or two stories ever came out happier than Earth-616's story. (Ironically one of the few that had a happy ending was a version of the original Clone Saga years before TheCloneSaga came to be rued in the minds and hearts of fans.)

Oh noes! This other universe is [[CrapSackWorld a terrible place]]! Tropeman's enemies have discovered his secret identity by [[HollywoodHacking hacking]] [[EverythingIsOnline the internet]], and now they've [[StuffedIntoTheFridge horribly murdered his wife]]. Since the BigBad is in jail, the power-vacuum caused by his absence has resulted in [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil an even worse villain stepping up to the plate]], and now Cthulhu is running for president. Also, TheScrappy was somehow responsible for preventing World War III.

Oh noes! This other universe is [[CrapSackWorld a terrible place]]! Tropeman's enemies have discovered his secret identity by [[HollywoodHacking hacking the internet]], and now they've [[StuffedIntoTheFridge horribly murdered his wife]]. Since the BigBad is in jail, the power-vacuum caused by his absence has resulted in [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil an even worse villain stepping up to the plate]], and now Cthulhu is running for president. Also, TheScrappy was somehow responsible for preventing World War III.

Oh noes! This other universe is [[CrapSackWorld a terrible place]]! Tropeman's enemies have discovered his secret identity by hacking the internet, and now they've [[StuffedIntoTheFridge horribly murdered his wife]]. Since the BigBad is in jail, the power-vacuum caused by his absence has resulted in [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil an even worse villain stepping up to the plate]], and now Cthulhu is running for president. Also, TheScrappy was somehow responsible for preventing World War III.

There now. See how terrible change can be? But don't worry, we can fix it: at the last moment, a magical imp shows up and [[ResetButton changes this universe into an almost perfect copy of the original one]]. Now Tropeman and his girlfriend are in an unsatisfying quasi-dating relationship, the BigBad is causing trouble, and TheScrappy is getting plenty of screen time. Everyone's happy!

*** Subverted in the Imaginary Story "Superman Red and Superman Blue" after accidentally [[StarfishCharacter splitting himself in two]], Superman not only fixes all of his personal problems (now he can marry BOTH Lois Lane and Lana Lang!) he also turns the world into an Utopia (thanks to the SuperIntelligence he also conveniently gained) curing all diseases and turning ALL criminals good.

Oh noes! This other universe is [[CrapSackWorld a terrible place]]! Tropeman's enemies have discovered his secret identity by hacking the internet, and now they've [[StuffedIntoTheFridge horribly murdered his wife]]. Since the BigBad is in jail, the power-vacuum caused by his absence has resulted in an even worse villain stepping up to the plate, and now Cthulhu is running for president. Also, TheScrappy was somehow responsible for preventing World War III.

There now. See how terrible change can be? But don't worry, we can fix it: at the last moment, a magical imp shows up and changes this universe into an almost perfect copy of the original one. Now Tropeman and his girlfriend are in an unsatisfying quasi-dating relationship, the BigBad is causing trouble, and TheScrappy is getting plenty of screen time. Everyone's happy!

-> "Once one dismisses the rest of all possible worlds, we see that this is the best of all possible worlds."
-->--'''Voltaire'''

In other words, the canon is treated like the BestOfAllPossibleWorlds for the characters, and an AlternateUniverse / {{Elseworld}} / WhatIf has two options: have a DownerEnding, or revert to match the original canon.

* The Buffy Alternaverse where Willow and Xander were vampires and it's Rocks Fall Everyone Dies at the end would qualify.

* Most of Futurama's "Anthology of Interest" episodes are like this.

--> "Once one dismisses the rest of all possible worlds, we see that this is the best of all possible worlds."
--> --'''Voltaire'''