Cult Spy: Alternative Endings

The parallel universe is a concept deployed by hordes of cult shows over the years, forcing us to confront the grand question of 'What If?' So what if the spate of recent season finales had turned out differently? Cult Spy serves up some tantalising possibilities.

Doctor Who Season Four Finale

What Happened

The human Doctor snogged Rose, the original Doctor wiped Donna's mind, the Daleks were wiped out and Davros was last seen engulfed by flames. Martha is involved in a barely relevant subplot.

What Could Have Happened...

After decades of unrequited love, the human Doctor shuns Rose to cop off with Sarah Jane instead, prompting K-9's tail to drop off after excessive wagging. Donna, equipped with her new Time Lord skills, opts to nick The Doctor's Tardis and travels back to Chiswick to steal more staplers from former boss Mr. 'Wandering Hands' Chaudhary. Meanwhile, Davros launches an escape pod, ditches his burnt body and encases his head within a jar and starts calling himself 'Boe'. Martha is still involved in a barely relevant subplot. (Some things can never change).

Lost Season Four Finale

What Happened

In the future, Jack encounters Ben Linus in a funeral parlour and the pair open up the mysterious coffin to reveal the body of... John Locke!

What Could Have Happened...

In the future, Jack encounters Ben Linus in a funeral parlour and the pair open up the mysterious coffin to reveal the body of... the polar bear! Fresh from his globe-trotting activities, turning up in Egypt of all places, the island's favourite furry thing (apart from Sawyer's stubble) has shed a few pounds and assumed the identity of Jeremy Bentham. He has been individually warning the Oceanic Six to return to the island, but to no avail as his growls are incomprehensible to them.

Torchwood Season Two Finale

What Happened

Gray is chloroformed by his brother Captain Jack after shooting Toshiko dead and Owen Harper is killed by a meltdown at a power plant after telling Tosh that he loves her. Jack, Ianto and Gwen watch a video message from Tosh in which she tells them all that she loves them.

What Could Have Happened...

Gray is attacked by Jack, but his wooden disposition gives the immortal Time Agent splinters. Ianto eventually captures Gray and makes him into matchsticks. Owen is killed in the meltdown, but not before he tells Tosh that he was using the alien pheromone spray (from 'Everything Changes') on her all along. Tosh hastily records a video message in which she calls the rest of the Torchwood team a bunch of "philandering, morally repugnant bastards". She passes away shortly after and the survivors view her message while munching on Jubilee pizza.

Battlestar Galactica Season Four Midway Finale

What Happened

The rebel Cylons form an alliance with the Galactica fleet after Starbuck discovers the coordinates for Earth. When they all arrive, they discover that the planet is in ruins and deserted.

What Could Have Happened...

The Cylons and Capricans arrive on Earth, in the present day, to find it thriving. Starbuck is sued by a well-known coffee chain, accosted by an irate Dirk Benedict and turns to Saul Tigh for comfort, seeing as she is the one remaining blonde he has yet to snog. The Final Cylon is revealed to be Romo Lampkin's dead cat Lance, who cannot be revived due to a design flaw. This prompts Adama (and the show's audience) to hit the bottle in pure frustration.

Prison Break Season Three Finale

What Happened

Michael Scofield sets off on a mission to kill Gretchen for beheading Sara Tancredi. Lincoln Burrows is reunited with his son LJ.

What Could Have Happened...

Scofield tracks down Gretchen and is on the verge of shooting her when she removes a latex mask from her face - to reveal that she was Sara Tancredi! The pair resolve their differences and make love. With Scofield asleep, Sara peels off a full body mask - like a Russian doll - to reveal the grinning figure of Brad Bellick. Concurrently, Burrows is reunited with LJ but his son tragically drowns in his father's massive sweat patch while hugging him. Come on, far less plausible plot twists have happened on Prison Break...