Science Fiction: Greatest TV Shows Part III
- Thread starter Snarf Zagyg
- Start date
payn
Legend
I always felt like Alien Nation (The film) was just an interesting twist on the drunk divorced almost fired detective who manages to save the day genre.
Mannahnin
Scion of Murgen (He/Him)
Sure. How about the TV series, which did get one complete season before being cancelled, as well as five TV movies to continue the story?
payn
Legend
I'm less familiar with them. How was it?
Snarf Zagyg
Notorious Liquefactionist
Both would be eligible-
1- Lasted a full season.
2- In English.
3- Drama.
4- THERE IS NO 4!
5- N/A
6- N/A
7- N/A
8- THERE ARE NO MULTIPLES OF 4! Private jokes are the best jokes.
9- N/A
10- Not animated.
11- Definitely Sci-fi.
So yeah, both Alien Nation and Dark Angel would be eligible. I think that they would be a tough sell ... if this was a list created in 1991 or 2003, they might have been on the list of top 10, maybe.
But the sheer number of great shows both before those shows, and more importantly, the number of shows getting pumped out since then means that I find it hard to believe that many people would put them on the list.
Heck, since I posted the list last year, The Expanse became eligible.
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Ryujin
Legend
Very true. Just like "Resident Alien" is essentially just a take on the weird small town genre, typified by shows like "Northern Exposure."
The wonder of not having cable is I haven't seen a ton of the newer ones...
In any case, I'm not sure I'd call Dark Angel great television or great science fiction -- but I thought it had a cast that worked really well together and were fun to watch (part of the show focusing on Max, and part being like an ensemble cast). Is being a "comfort show" (like "comfort food") a thing?
payn
Legend
For sure. Typically, its stuff like Friends and Big Bang Theory, but I don't see why sci-fi shows cant fit the bill for folks.
Snarf Zagyg
Notorious Liquefactionist
Certainly! There is nothing wrong with comfort.
In my long backlog of posts that I haven't written, I was going to do something based on the "Unreturned Netflix DVD," which, back when Netflix was primarily known as a service that provided you three mail-order DVDs, was that one DVD.
We all had it. We'd order three DVDs. Two would be something fun, or comforting, or part of a TV series we were watching. And one was the "serious" film that was on our "to-do" list.
And we'd get through the two DVDs, and return them, and ... just not watch the third. We'd keep cycling through the first two DVDs, while the Unreturned Netflix DVD would just sit there- Alphaville, or the Death of Mr. Lazerescu, or whatever. Because sometimes we want fun, not homework.
Anyway, I'm currently watching, in addition to my serious shows, Santa Clarita Diet and Young Justice ... which is why I have this post right now-
The DC Extended Animated Universe- A Consideration
I haven't been feeling like posting new threads recently (although I have one loosely based on Chuck Klosterman's excellent 90s book percolating), but I wanted to shine a spotlight on an oft-neglected, but kind of cool, part of the overall geek metaverse ... not to be confused with whatever The...
www.enworld.org
But yeah, go Comfort TV!
Mannahnin
Scion of Murgen (He/Him)
Damned if I know!
I remember finding the initial show pretty compelling and a solid sci-fi prime time concept, but for whatever reason I'm the type of person who rarely sticks with TV shows. I think I may be able to count the number of shows I've watched all the way through in my lifetime on my ten fingers*.I enjoy reading other folks' criticism, though, and adding points to a vague amorphous "I'll get to that at some point" list in the back of my head.
(*Pondering this, the ones I can think of are:
ST: TOS
ST: TNG
Six Feet Under
Game of Thrones
Black Adder
Rome (but that's just two HBO seasons)
Extras (just two BBC series)
Cowboy Bebop (26 episodes mildly respectable, but still just one traditional TV season)
Firefly
Loki
Most of Monty Python
West Wing only the first 4 seasons, and started the 5th.
Simpsons I think I stopped following regularly after the first 4 or 5 seasons.
Red Dwarf probably 2-4 seasons/series.
I probably watched the entire runs of GI Joe, Thundercats, and original Transformers as a kid.
There are a bunch of other sitcoms I watched big chunks of as a kid in the 80s, but mostly just as time-fillers.)
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Snarf Zagyg
Notorious Liquefactionist
Damned if I know!
Ugh! How can you do that!??!!
I am such a completist. If I start a show, I MUST FINISH IT.
Which is why I will never, ever, ever get back the countless hours of my life that were the last four seasons of Dexter.
I AM STILL BITTER.
Mannahnin
Scion of Murgen (He/Him)
Hugs. I generally am happy to abandon a show if it's not proving to be worth my time anymore. The ones I've stuck with are pretty solid, and often ones I was specifically watching WITH friends or family.
Actually that's one of my obstacles for getting into shows- usually if I'm just by myself I'd rather read, go on internet forums, or watch someone stream M:tG. I prefer to watch TV shows with other people.
payn
Legend
I want the hours of my life back y'all told me about Person of Interest!
Snarf Zagyg
Notorious Liquefactionist
I don't know what to say ... that's a really good show. Seasons 3 and 4 are right up there with the best Fringe was putting out. IMO.
It's hard, though. There is just so much. I finally watched Counterpart, which is a show I had never heard about ... and it was so good ... and I can't believe it was cancelled.
That's where we are now. Shows are getting released and cancelled without fanfare, shows that EASILY would have been considered the best things on TV in the 90s.
payn
Legend
I couldnt get past how cartoony and episodic it was.
You're welcome. Also, couldn't believe it was cancelled.
I think part of it was Counterpart was on Starz. Not many folks have access to it. Black Sails was also (at times) amazing. American Gods is pretty good too. The Rook was meh.
Ryujin
Legend
It's a damned shame that we'll never get to see the end of "American Gods."
Enevhar Aldarion
Hero
How has no one mentioned Sliders? Sure, it changed channels and went out with a mediocre final season, but it was great for the first couple of seasons.
payn
Legend
A fun show, with some inconsistent execution. Its notable, but certainly outclassed for a best of list.
Enevhar Aldarion
Hero
No my Best Of list.
For example, I think Babylon 5 and Farscape were both muddled messes. And the original Battlestar Galactica's campiness was better than the reboot's grittiness.
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