Alternate History: The Series: Difference between revisions

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[http://mes-ah.com/episodes/ Read it here].
[http://mes-ah.com/episodes/ Read it here].


The parodic adventures of the members of the [[Alternate History Dot Com]] discussion board. Imagine [[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]] if everyone on board was a pornography-obsessed stoner. And every episode was that "Mirror, Mirror" one.
The parodic adventures of the members of the [[Alternate History Dot Com]] discussion board. Imagine [[Star Trek]] if everyone on board was a pornography-obsessed stoner. And every episode was that "Mirror, Mirror" one.


The basic setting is that the ragbag crew of the MES AH.com travel between parallel Earth [[Alternate Universe|Alternate Universes]], or timelines, exploring them for no better reason than to find booze and porn. Occasionally these timelines are serious, plausible scenarios, but more commonly they are jokey, unrealistic, magical or parodic situations, such as alternate Earths overrun by psychopathic lesbians or Charlton Heston film characters.
The basic setting is that the ragbag crew of the MES AH.com travel between parallel Earth [[Alternate Universe|Alternate Universes]], or timelines, exploring them for no better reason than to find booze and porn. Occasionally these timelines are serious, plausible scenarios, but more commonly they are jokey, unrealistic, magical or parodic situations, such as alternate Earths overrun by psychopathic lesbians or Charlton Heston film characters.


The show's main influences include [[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]], [[Discworld]] and [[Sliders]]. It has, oddly, "outlived" many real TV shows, having recently begun its fifth season with over 120 episodes produced.
The show's main influences include [[Red Dwarf]], [[Discworld]] and [[Sliders]]. It has, oddly, "outlived" many real TV shows, having recently begun its fifth season with over 120 episodes produced.


New episodes of the Series are published on the main AH.com site, viewable only by members, but the Series has now acquired its [http://mes-ah.com/ own site], where remastered versions of the old episodes will gradually be posted, complete with snazzy new title card artwork.
New episodes of the Series are published on the main AH.com site, viewable only by members, but the Series has now acquired its [http://mes-ah.com/ own site], where remastered versions of the old episodes will gradually be posted, complete with snazzy new title card artwork.


Has a [[AH Dot Com the Series (Script)/Characters|character page]].
Has a [[Alternate History: The Series/Characters|character page]].


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* [[Cool Starship]] : The AH.com Ship and its sister ships, such as the CF.net.
* [[Cool Starship]] : The AH.com Ship and its sister ships, such as the CF.net.
* [[Cunning Linguist]] : Leo Caesius.
* [[Cunning Linguist]] : Leo Caesius.
* [[Depending On the Writer]]: In the earlier seasons, much less noticeable later on.
* [[Depending on the Writer]]: In the earlier seasons, much less noticeable later on.
* [[Evil Counterpart]] : The Mirror Crew, who in the finest traditions of this role are all equipped with goatees. Also became the crew's Opposite Gender Counterparts in the singularly disturbing episode "Genderbender Mirror".
* [[Evil Counterpart]] : The Mirror Crew, who in the finest traditions of this role are all equipped with goatees. Also became the crew's Opposite Gender Counterparts in the singularly disturbing episode "Genderbender Mirror".
* [[Expansion Pack Past]]: Everyone, due to flashback episodes filling in how different characters joined the crew. The ship itself has a [[Belated Backstory]] that only comes at the end of season one.
* [[Expansion Pack Past]]: Everyone, due to flashback episodes filling in how different characters joined the crew. The ship itself has a [[Belated Backstory]] that only comes at the end of season one.
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* [[Official Couple]] -- Landshark and Iron Yuppie. Later, also Dave Howery and Keira Knightley (don't ask).
* [[Official Couple]] -- Landshark and Iron Yuppie. Later, also Dave Howery and Keira Knightley (don't ask).
* [[Only Sane Man]] : GBW's usual role on the ship.
* [[Only Sane Man]] : GBW's usual role on the ship.
* [[Put On a Bus|Put On A Crosstime Ship]] -- Often used due to former forum regulars, previously chosen to be crewmembers, leaving the Board. Crewmen Abdul Hadi Pasha and DMA were removed in this way - both eventually returned in real life, but only DMA was restored to the crew, Abdul Hadi Pasha instead being used in guest roles.
* [[Put on a Bus|Put On A Crosstime Ship]] -- Often used due to former forum regulars, previously chosen to be crewmembers, leaving the Board. Crewmen Abdul Hadi Pasha and DMA were removed in this way - both eventually returned in real life, but only DMA was restored to the crew, Abdul Hadi Pasha instead being used in guest roles.
* [[Real Life Writes the Plot]]: Some characters gain new catchphrases or attributes based on what their real life counterparts have been doing on the forum.
* [[Real Life Writes the Plot]]: Some characters gain new catchphrases or attributes based on what their real life counterparts have been doing on the forum.
* [[Red Shirt]] : Lampshaded with the CF.net's security goons, Federation X, Gedca and Fortyseven. All three are Trekkie forum members in real life, so naturally they wear red shirts as they go into battle. Yet subverted in that, while invariably defeated, they always survive. {{spoiler|That is, until the big battles at the end of the second season, which kill two of them}}.
* [[Red Shirt]] : Lampshaded with the CF.net's security goons, Federation X, Gedca and Fortyseven. All three are Trekkie forum members in real life, so naturally they wear red shirts as they go into battle. Yet subverted in that, while invariably defeated, they always survive. {{spoiler|That is, until the big battles at the end of the second season, which kill two of them}}.
* [[La Résistance]] : Many episodes involve the AH.commers helping the Resistance from a timeline overthrow their oppressors, whether these be the Spanish Armada, [[H.P. Lovecraft (Creator)|Hollywood Cthulhu]], or Barney the Dinosaur.
* [[La Résistance]] : Many episodes involve the AH.commers helping the Resistance from a timeline overthrow their oppressors, whether these be the Spanish Armada, [[H.P. Lovecraft|Hollywood Cthulhu]], or Barney the Dinosaur.
* [[Ridiculously-Human Robots]] : Averted with the ship's computer Leo Caesius' android avatar, who is a [[Steampunk]], obviously metallic humanoid robot. Played straight, however, with the super-sexy assassin droids Bill and Hillary (...yes) seen in the episode "Hey Hey We're The Monkeys".
* [[Ridiculously-Human Robots]] : Averted with the ship's computer Leo Caesius' android avatar, who is a [[Steampunk]], obviously metallic humanoid robot. Played straight, however, with the super-sexy assassin droids Bill and Hillary (...yes) seen in the episode "Hey Hey We're The Monkeys".
* [[Running Gag]] : So many that we're forced to link to the AH.com wiki to list them. Most are [[Shout-Out|Shout Outs]] to [http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/offtopic/running_jokes running jokes on the forum the Series is based on], but others are [http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/offtopic/series_running_jokes unique to it].
* [[Running Gag]] : So many that we're forced to link to the AH.com wiki to list them. Most are [[Shout-Out|Shout Outs]] to [http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/offtopic/running_jokes running jokes on the forum the Series is based on], but others are [http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/offtopic/series_running_jokes unique to it].
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* [[Shout-Out]]: The stories make frequent references to stuff that takes place on the AH.com discussion board.
* [[Shout-Out]]: The stories make frequent references to stuff that takes place on the AH.com discussion board.
* [[Spin-Off]] : ''AH.com the Next Generation'', written by and starring newer board members, has recently begun "screening".
* [[Spin-Off]] : ''AH.com the Next Generation'', written by and starring newer board members, has recently begun "screening".
** Also, via [[Commedia Dell Arte Troupe]]; [[AH Dot Com The Creepy Teen Years]], AH.com Wars and Luaky Commer (being parodies of [[High School]] series, [[Star Wars]] and ''[[Harry Potter (Literature)|Harry Potter]]'' respectively.)
** Also, via [[Commedia Dell Arte Troupe]]; [[AH Dot Com The Creepy Teen Years]], AH.com Wars and Luaky Commer (being parodies of [[High School]] series, [[Star Wars]] and ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'' respectively.)
* [[Stalker With a Crush]] : Psychomeltdown with Alyson Hannigan. Later brought to high levels of squickery when {{spoiler|Psycho's [[Gender Bender|GenderBendered]] [[Mirror Universe]] counterpart went insane and declared s/he WAS Alyson Hannigan - especially since s/he continued to maintain this even after partly changing back to a man}}. In later episodes, also used with several characters - both crewmen and recurring villains - with Keira Knightley.
* [[Stalker with a Crush]] : Psychomeltdown with Alyson Hannigan. Later brought to high levels of squickery when {{spoiler|Psycho's [[Gender Bender|GenderBendered]] [[Mirror Universe]] counterpart went insane and declared s/he WAS Alyson Hannigan - especially since s/he continued to maintain this even after partly changing back to a man}}. In later episodes, also used with several characters - both crewmen and recurring villains - with Keira Knightley.
* [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien]] : The ASB s (Alien Space Bats).
* [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien]] : The ASB s (Alien Space Bats).
* [[Take a Third Option]]: In "The Cult of the Swamp God", after a few members of the crew are forced to compete in a LARP due to a computer glitch, they are given the option to take one item from the LARP world. Dave Howery has to choose between a Bag of Holding and Keira Knightley. In the end, he chooses to put Keira in the Bag of Holding and take the Bag.
* [[Take a Third Option]]: In "The Cult of the Swamp God", after a few members of the crew are forced to compete in a LARP due to a computer glitch, they are given the option to take one item from the LARP world. Dave Howery has to choose between a Bag of Holding and Keira Knightley. In the end, he chooses to put Keira in the Bag of Holding and take the Bag.
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** A take that is given to german videogame censorship ([[Command and Conquer]] Generals?) by having Germany use "Cyborg Robots With Green Blood"
** A take that is given to german videogame censorship ([[Command and Conquer]] Generals?) by having Germany use "Cyborg Robots With Green Blood"
* [[Techno Babble]] : Used ironically. Notably, a powerful enemy weapon is said to use 'technobabblyon particle beams'.
* [[Techno Babble]] : Used ironically. Notably, a powerful enemy weapon is said to use 'technobabblyon particle beams'.
** A term borrowed from ''Sev Trek'', a [[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]] parody webcomic.
** A term borrowed from ''Sev Trek'', a [[Star Trek]] parody webcomic.
* [[Teleporter Accident]]: All the time, but usually played for laughs. There is the odd exception, such as "To A Theatre Near You", where it is used for drama.
* [[Teleporter Accident]]: All the time, but usually played for laughs. There is the odd exception, such as "To A Theatre Near You", where it is used for drama.
* [[Those Two Guys]]: Hermanubis and Imajin on the Hub, Shadow Knight and Scarecrow on the ''Mercator'', and Flocculencio and Michael on the AH.com.
* [[Those Two Guys]]: Hermanubis and Imajin on the Hub, Shadow Knight and Scarecrow on the ''Mercator'', and Flocculencio and Michael on the AH.com.
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* [[2-D Space]] : Averted quite well in the space battles depicted. Of course it helps that the special effects budget consists of the reader's imagination.
* [[2-D Space]] : Averted quite well in the space battles depicted. Of course it helps that the special effects budget consists of the reader's imagination.
* [[Unobtainium]] : Used as the actual name of the fuel that the Shift drive runs on, lampshaded mercilessly. Usually to be found in asteroid field mazes haunted by an entire race of psychopathic Pac-Men.
* [[Unobtainium]] : Used as the actual name of the fuel that the Shift drive runs on, lampshaded mercilessly. Usually to be found in asteroid field mazes haunted by an entire race of psychopathic Pac-Men.
* [[Unusual Euphemism]] : Although ordinary swearwords are used liberally, occasionally "fenk" shows up, possibly because "''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined|every]] [[Firefly (TV)|other]]'' sci-fi series has a blatant made-up alternative to fuck !"
* [[Unusual Euphemism]] : Although ordinary swearwords are used liberally, occasionally "fenk" shows up, possibly because "''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined|every]] [[Firefly|other]]'' sci-fi series has a blatant made-up alternative to fuck !"
* [[Villain Episode]]: The "Counterfactual" miniseries and the later episode "Whatever Happened to the CF.netters?"
* [[Villain Episode]]: The "Counterfactual" miniseries and the later episode "Whatever Happened to the CF.netters?"
* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: Pretty much everyone on the AH.com, but particular vitriolic pairings are Flocculencio and Michael, Psychomeltdown and Michael, and Matt and Weapon M.
* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: Pretty much everyone on the AH.com, but particular vitriolic pairings are Flocculencio and Michael, Psychomeltdown and Michael, and Matt and Weapon M.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Alternate_History:_The_Series"