Mind-Blowing TV Spinoffs That Shattered the Original Show's Timeline

Summary

Spinoff shows often change canon to develop new storylines and characters, but usually not enough to bother viewers.

Young Sheldon and Star Trek: Discovery caused a division among fans by introducing substantial alterations to the lore and storylines of their predecessors.

Despite the challenge of having aging actors, Better Call Saul remained faithful to Breaking Bad's plot, whereas Legacies took creative liberties with The Vampire Diaries' established canon.

While many TV spinoffs build on the narratives of their original shows, others deviate so far from the storylines that they completely disregard the established canon. Keeping track of a spinoff's story can be challenging, as it must continue the narrative of the original show while introducing new characters and expanding the series' universe. Although spinoffs sometimes unintentionally contradict their predecessors, these changes are usually minor and unlikely to bother viewers.

For instance, while Frasier may not have closely resembled Cheers, the spinoff did not entirely alter the story of its predecessor. On the other hand, Young Sheldon significantly shifted the focus of The Big Bang Theory, leading to substantial revisions of the main character's background. Similarly, Better Call Saul stayed faithful to Breaking Bad's storyline but had to make adjustments to the chronology due to the aging of the actors. Some spinoffs even choose to completely change the established canon, even when it is not necessary, as seen in the convoluted timeline of The Winchesters or the peculiar revisions in Roseanne's season 10 revival.

8 Young Sheldon

Young Sheldon initially departed from The Big Bang Theory's familiar hang-out show format and embraced a nostalgic family sitcom style. However, it quickly deviated from the established backstory of Sheldon Cooper. The retconning of Sheldon's childhood bullying, as well as the alteration of his father's significant character flaws, were prominent changes. Additionally, Young Sheldon not only eliminated The Big Bang Theory's laugh track but also presented Sheldon's mother, Mary, as a less bitter and antagonistic character compared to her portrayal in the original series. While these alterations contributed to a more heartwarming tone, they ultimately contradicted the established lore of the franchise.

7 Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery has boldly ventured into uncharted territory, challenging established storylines and lore. This audacious approach, while captivating, has unsettled die-hard fans who hold canon in high regard. The introduction of the Spore Drive, the absence of Spock's brother, and the inclusion of his sister have all redefined the history of the franchise's previous adventures right from the show's inception. Adding to the upheaval, the series even transformed the appearance of the iconic Klingons, further blurring the line between the familiar and an alternate timeline. Despite its commendable qualities, these creative choices have made investing in Star Trek: Discovery a more arduous task.

6 Better Call Saul

5 Sam And Cat

While the Better Call Saul series faithfully adhered to the plot of Breaking Bad, it faced an inevitable challenge. As a prequel tale, Better Call Saul effectively precedes Breaking Bad. However, it was difficult to overlook the fact that the returning actors visibly aged, despite their characters being portrayed as younger. This issue was particularly noticeable in Aaron Paul's cameo appearances, although it was forgivable given the overall exceptional quality of the show. Nevertheless, this inconsistency occasionally created a jarring effect, contrasting with the generally darker and more compelling nature of Better Call Saul.

Sam and Cat, the Nickelodeon spinoff featuring characters from iCarly and Victorious, caused confusion among viewers when it premiered. The show began by inadvertently disregarding a previous meeting between the two protagonists. In the pilot episode of Sam and Cat, the characters meet for the first time, even though they had already encountered each other in the "iParty with Victorious" crossover event. While this may seem like a minor detail, the significant amount of screen time they shared in the earlier crossover made it difficult to overlook.

4 The Mandalorian

3 The Conners

Despite being hailed as a valuable addition to the vast Star Wars universe when it first premiered, The Mandalorian encountered insurmountable timeline issues by its third season. Attempts by showrunner Jon Favreau to clarify the show's chronology were constantly contradicted by Lucasfilm, ultimately leading to an impossible task of reconciling the movie timeline with the events portrayed in the series. Din Dijarin's reunion with Grogu in The Book of Boba Fett, as well as the rapid pace of Grogu's Force training, were further complicated by this clash of timelines.

The 2017 revival of Roseanne brought back the character of Dan, played by John Goodman, who had been killed off in the original series' ninth season. This decision was made to please the fans who loved Dan's character. To justify this change, the show retconned the events of season 9, revealing that they were the plot of an unpublished novel written by Roseanne years before. Resurrecting Dan was seen as a way to undo Roseanne's biggest mistake. However, the revival took a complicated turn when it decided to kill off Roseanne herself. This unexpected twist led to the creation of the spinoff series, The Conners. It's worth noting that this spinoff contradicts the original canon even before it officially begins.

2 The Winchesters

1 Legacies

The backstory of Dean and Sam's parents was altered in the Supernatural spinoff. While Supernatural depicted their parents with a tragic past involving the temporary death of their father John and their mother Mary's subsequent deal with a demon, The Winchesters portrayed them as demon hunters many years before John even discovered Mary's involvement in demon hunting. This change was explained by the fact that The Winchesters takes place in an alternate universe. However, this alteration made it difficult for viewers to connect with a version of the family's story that existed solely in a different timeline.

Legacies, the spinoff of The Vampire Diaries, frequently altered the established canon of its predecessor whenever it served its narrative purposes. Even before the series commenced, it posed a logical quandary by being set in Mystic Falls, a location devoid of its magical essence since the original show. Additionally, Legacies weakened the potency of sire bonds, disregarded the intricacies linking prison worlds and the Gemini coven leader, and generally overlooked the elaborate rules governing the magical system of the franchise. This method allowed for the exploration of innovative storylines but resulted in Legacies often diverging greatly from the tone and essence of its predecessor.