AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The 'Darkest Timeline' meme is inspired by the concept of multiple universes as described by multi-verse theory, suggesting numerous realities where various events occur simultaneously. This meme specifically gained traction from its use in the TV show Community, where a hypothetical scenario led to the worst of all possible outcomes. The template typically features images or descriptions of dismal or unfavorable scenarios in one part, often contrasting with better outcomes or the set-up scenario in another.

OriginWho did it first?

The concept of multiple universes, or the multi-verse, was first introduced by physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1952. He suggested that his equations might describe many different histories occurring at the same time, as documented in his talk in Dublin, Ireland (Erwin Schrödinger - Multiverse). The specific phrase 'Darkest Timeline' was popularized by an episode of the TV show Community, titled 'Remedial Chaos Theory', which aired on October 13th, 2011. In this episode, various alternative realities unfold after character Jeff Winger rolls a die to decide who should collect a pizza order. This leads character Abed to warn of creating six different timelines. Each timeline is explored, with especially disastrous events unfolding when Troy goes to get the pizza, a scenario that Abed labels as 'The Darkest Timeline'. This phrase was further explored in the show in various episodes, capturing the essence of the worst possible outcomes in these alternative timelines. The episode and concept are documented on the show's dedicated wiki (Community - Darkest Timeline) and further illustrated in this YouTube clip of the episode.^[1]

Origin: 2011