Snarf Zagyg
Notorious Liquefactionist
Part I (Dramas):
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Part II (Comedies):
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What are the top 10 SCIENCE FICTION shows of all time? Why do this? Why not? Procrastination is a helluva drug.
Before starting, the criteria I use, because I am a masochist and love writing stuff everyone ignore in order to argue with the premise.
1. The show must be complete, and have lasted at least one full season. In other words, no matter how much you like The Expanse or Stranger Things they are just not eligible. This also means no miniseries (not a "season") and not beloved shows that have been cancelled prior to airing a full season. That means you, Firefly. Please note, however, pace no. 5, below, that if a show has been around forever (with "forever" being defined as at least 10 years) in multiple incarnations (Doctor Who) or multiple series (Star Trek), it is eligible.
2. It must be in English. There is, in fact, a surprising amount of good, non-English science fiction TV out there. But you have to narrow the field somewhat. This is the El Ministerio del Tiempo corollary. This does allow shows from the UK and Canada on this particular list. I'm relaxing this criteria only because I feel I am sufficiently informed about these shows- although I am sure someone will point out something I missed. Probably from Australia.
3. It must be a drama, or a dramedy (mainly a drama). This is not because you can’t have a science fiction comedy- I just don’t want to cross the streams. This is the Futurama/MST3k paradox.
5. The show will be judged from all episodes holistically, but sticking the landing matters. Most importantly, if a sci-fi show constitutes a whole “canon,” or "shared universe," then the various shows will get lumped together as one. If, on the other hand, a show has been rebooted (BSG, Lost in Space), then the reboots count separately. Call this the Star Trek Rule.
6. Unlike the other top 10 lists, science fiction is about ideas- and often (but not always) the future. Which means that shows will be given a slight nudge for being ahead of their time- or, if you prefer, they will not be docked because the special effects could not keep pace with the ideas. This is the Inviolable Law of the BBC Using a Telephone as a Spaceship.
7. If the show is on my other top 10 list, then it is ineligible. In other words, I don't have to make the call on "Is Buffy sci fi?"
9. I have to have watched the show. Are the entirety of the Stargate shows good? Perhaps! I just don't know because I haven't seen them.
10. No animation. Everything from Futurama to Cowboy Bebop could be on this list, but including animation (and, especially, anime) would make this too unwieldy.
11. Science fiction should be given as wide as possible of a definition; if in doubt, it should be science fiction. However, shows like Game of Thrones are probably better as "fantasy" so I'll leave it at that. You can apply your own definition.
Now, without any further warning, and remembering that this is not an ordered list, here are the top 10 in my opinion.
1. Star Trek (collected series). One of two absolute must inclusions. By the way, while making absolute determinations, be aware that TOS is the greatest of all Star Treks. You’re welcome.
2. Doctor Who (incl. Torchwood). Whether you only love the old stuff, or are an unabashed nu-Who fan, this is the other absolute must inclusion on this list.
3. The Prisoner. Orwellian and perfect in every way.
4. Blake’s 7. Long before anti-hero and grimdark was even a glimmer in modern discourse, a show taught us that character death, losing, and rooting for a slimeball like Avon could be a winning formula. That ending, though. I still hear the blaster fire.
5. Twilight Zone (1959 original). On the plus side, so very many good stories. On the minus side ... probably at least 85% responsible for the career of M. Night Shyamalan.
6. Battle Star Galactica (2004 reboot) (incl. Caprica, webisodes, and tv movies). People can endlessly debate whether or not the ending of BSG “stuck the landing.” What no one can reasonably disagree with is that for many years, BSG was a shining example of how to do science fiction right, with the gravitas it demanded. It's like ... remember when Syfy used to have good science fiction?
7. Babylon 5 (incl. tv movies and Crusader). Sure, the issues with some of the CGI remain. Some of the scripts haven’t aged well (JMS earnestness). And the first season, needing to balance the “monster of the week” with the overall arc, can be a struggle for people that are more used to modern TV to get through. But this was the series that was clearly ahead of its time, even if it is dated now. If you can get on its wavelength, it is more rewarding than almost any other show on this list.
8. Fringe. The first season looked to be a run-of-the mill sci-fi procedural and X-Files ripoff. But then it got weird ... and good.
9. X-Files. There's a lot to dislike about the show now. After Muldur left, it just kind of meandered. The mythology ... that ended up going nowhere. But for a certain period of time, there was nothing more thrilling and, at times, subversive than the best one-shot X-Files episodes.
10. Legion. "Unreliable narrators are the best narrators." Nabokov, probably.
Honorable Mentions:
Life on Mars / Ashes to Ashes (two series, BBC)
Mr. Robot
Orphan Black
Lost
Farscape
Various CW series that are complete, like the 100 and Arrow
Sense8
So, what obvious show (shows) did I miss?
The Greatest TV Shows of All Time (Kinda): The Top 10
Greetings and recriminations, and welcome to a very special edition of the Snarf's Musings about the Media. If you haven't seen the posts leading up this, they are located here: https://www.enworld.org/threads/firefly-reconsidered-why-firefly-isnt-hall-of-fame-great.680424/ ...and here...
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Part II (Comedies):
The Greatest TV Shows of All Time Part 2: HA HA! Comedy Illustrated
If you haven't seen it yet, then here is Part 1 - the Dramas. Oh, the DRAMA! You'd think that people would be understanding if you create a list of shows and put forth reasons for having the list exclusive (such as American shows, and no Comedies) given that you were only doing 10, but, of...
www.enworld.org
What are the top 10 SCIENCE FICTION shows of all time? Why do this? Why not? Procrastination is a helluva drug.
Before starting, the criteria I use, because I am a masochist and love writing stuff everyone ignore in order to argue with the premise.
1. The show must be complete, and have lasted at least one full season. In other words, no matter how much you like The Expanse or Stranger Things they are just not eligible. This also means no miniseries (not a "season") and not beloved shows that have been cancelled prior to airing a full season. That means you, Firefly. Please note, however, pace no. 5, below, that if a show has been around forever (with "forever" being defined as at least 10 years) in multiple incarnations (Doctor Who) or multiple series (Star Trek), it is eligible.
2. It must be in English. There is, in fact, a surprising amount of good, non-English science fiction TV out there. But you have to narrow the field somewhat. This is the El Ministerio del Tiempo corollary. This does allow shows from the UK and Canada on this particular list. I'm relaxing this criteria only because I feel I am sufficiently informed about these shows- although I am sure someone will point out something I missed. Probably from Australia.
3. It must be a drama, or a dramedy (mainly a drama). This is not because you can’t have a science fiction comedy- I just don’t want to cross the streams. This is the Futurama/MST3k paradox.
5. The show will be judged from all episodes holistically, but sticking the landing matters. Most importantly, if a sci-fi show constitutes a whole “canon,” or "shared universe," then the various shows will get lumped together as one. If, on the other hand, a show has been rebooted (BSG, Lost in Space), then the reboots count separately. Call this the Star Trek Rule.
6. Unlike the other top 10 lists, science fiction is about ideas- and often (but not always) the future. Which means that shows will be given a slight nudge for being ahead of their time- or, if you prefer, they will not be docked because the special effects could not keep pace with the ideas. This is the Inviolable Law of the BBC Using a Telephone as a Spaceship.
7. If the show is on my other top 10 list, then it is ineligible. In other words, I don't have to make the call on "Is Buffy sci fi?"
9. I have to have watched the show. Are the entirety of the Stargate shows good? Perhaps! I just don't know because I haven't seen them.
10. No animation. Everything from Futurama to Cowboy Bebop could be on this list, but including animation (and, especially, anime) would make this too unwieldy.
11. Science fiction should be given as wide as possible of a definition; if in doubt, it should be science fiction. However, shows like Game of Thrones are probably better as "fantasy" so I'll leave it at that. You can apply your own definition.
Now, without any further warning, and remembering that this is not an ordered list, here are the top 10 in my opinion.
1. Star Trek (collected series). One of two absolute must inclusions. By the way, while making absolute determinations, be aware that TOS is the greatest of all Star Treks. You’re welcome.
2. Doctor Who (incl. Torchwood). Whether you only love the old stuff, or are an unabashed nu-Who fan, this is the other absolute must inclusion on this list.
3. The Prisoner. Orwellian and perfect in every way.
4. Blake’s 7. Long before anti-hero and grimdark was even a glimmer in modern discourse, a show taught us that character death, losing, and rooting for a slimeball like Avon could be a winning formula. That ending, though. I still hear the blaster fire.
5. Twilight Zone (1959 original). On the plus side, so very many good stories. On the minus side ... probably at least 85% responsible for the career of M. Night Shyamalan.
6. Battle Star Galactica (2004 reboot) (incl. Caprica, webisodes, and tv movies). People can endlessly debate whether or not the ending of BSG “stuck the landing.” What no one can reasonably disagree with is that for many years, BSG was a shining example of how to do science fiction right, with the gravitas it demanded. It's like ... remember when Syfy used to have good science fiction?
7. Babylon 5 (incl. tv movies and Crusader). Sure, the issues with some of the CGI remain. Some of the scripts haven’t aged well (JMS earnestness). And the first season, needing to balance the “monster of the week” with the overall arc, can be a struggle for people that are more used to modern TV to get through. But this was the series that was clearly ahead of its time, even if it is dated now. If you can get on its wavelength, it is more rewarding than almost any other show on this list.
8. Fringe. The first season looked to be a run-of-the mill sci-fi procedural and X-Files ripoff. But then it got weird ... and good.
9. X-Files. There's a lot to dislike about the show now. After Muldur left, it just kind of meandered. The mythology ... that ended up going nowhere. But for a certain period of time, there was nothing more thrilling and, at times, subversive than the best one-shot X-Files episodes.
10. Legion. "Unreliable narrators are the best narrators." Nabokov, probably.
Honorable Mentions:
Life on Mars / Ashes to Ashes (two series, BBC)
Mr. Robot
Orphan Black
Lost
Farscape
Various CW series that are complete, like the 100 and Arrow
Sense8
So, what obvious show (shows) did I miss?
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But the rest didn't seem in the ball park of Star Trek, or Dark Angel, or Firefly, or even Brisco County to me. If they had communicators or phasers or... then it would have jumped out more to me. 
