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8 Aborted Story Arcs That Would Have Totally Changed TV Shows

Unlike movies (though they can change a lot, too), TV series are made in such a way that the unfolding story is constantly evolving and being reformed. Even at the start of the process, after the idea goes through the network and producers, a show rarely ends up being exactly as the creators originally conceived it. Other times, shows take unexpected avenues during their run as public reaction or actors’ performances influence the direction of certain story arcs.

2) Star Trek

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From one juggernaut of sci-fi television to another, Star Trek has endured across the decades through various incarnations. However, its success can be traced back to the original 60s show, with its two leads in William Shatner’s Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as his logical first mate Spock. In the original pilot, however, neither character was the same.

First of all, the big thing is that Kirk was nowhere to be seen. The lead in the pilot is Captain Christopher Pike, as played by Jeffrey Hunter. When Star Trek went to series, however, Hunter elected not to return. Shatner was then drafted in and a new character was created for him.

Moreover, Pike’s second-in-command was Number One, as played by Majel Barrett. However, the network didn’t like putting a woman at the forefront of the show. As such, Nimoy’s supporting character was bumped up to fill in her role.