Is this the best Sci-fi Show?

Puddle-Jumper

I love sci-fi everything from stargate (as you can see by name) to the alien films but I just think that battlestar has that something that puts it above the rest....I think its how realistic and easy to engage with it is

What do you think?

cyrusdvirus

I wouldn't say it's exactly easy to engage with. I mean if you only started watching it on Sky 1 now, about 1/2 way through S3 you'd be confused and couldn't figure out what's going on.

I get the impression that if you miss an episode you're kinda screwed, whereas with Star trek there was predominantly a case of bad guy of the week.

Stargate is somewhat similar to the BGOTW scenario, which makes them easier to watch (and miss). But i haven't missed any of BSG.

sioda

It has a much more integrated storyline running through it.

Plus i think the acting is a good bit better

excuse my ignorance BGOTW

aidan_walsh

BGOTW = Bad Guy Of The Week

One of the best television sci-fi's at the minute, definately. Whether you rate it as one of the better shows overall really depends on what you look for from your television, IMO.

Suaimhneach

It was better in earlier sessions. Had me at the end of the bed shouting at the screen. I think there is too much plot and not enough action at the moment.

Still it though.

qwertplaywert

finished season 1 on dvd yesterday, it was amazing
currently its my second favourite sci fi show

but tbh it aint fit to be in the room when fireflys boots are being polished

Khannie

qwertplaywert wrote:

but tbh it aint fit to be in the room when fireflys boots are being polished

Them be fightin' words 'round these parts pilgrim!

*khannie watches firefly to check the ludicrous accusations*

qwertplaywert

oh aye, all the power in the verse can't stop the Serenity!
it gorram wins!

Goodshape

I watched some of Firefly, and the film.

Enjoyed the film an awful lot, but really didn't see the appeal of the show. It didn't come close to living up to the hype for me.

robnubis

qwertplaywert wrote:

oh aye, all the power in the verse can't stop the Serenity!
it gorram wins!

Frack off, Galactica hands down. Toaster Lover.

thelordofcheese

i used to like firefly, but after living with a certified [and some would say certifiable] browncoat for the guts of a year, i can't stand it anymore.

And to be fair, in hindsight, it's not anywhere near as good as it's made out to be. Yeah it's pretty good, but not the amazing, all singing all dancing crap of the world.

Ohh yeah, and back on topic, BSG is probably one of the best sci-fi shows in ages. At the moment, things are a bit slow [as much as i didn't really mind "a day in the life" it's not doing it for most people] but i'd imagine the end of the season is going to be great.

Overheal

I reckon it will be some number of years before it takes the crown from Stargate...and several more years before Star Trek gets its lazy-ass off the throne...LOSE SOME WEIGHT, SCOTTY

qwertplaywert

you should hire Boston Legal to get a restraining order against them

MisterAnarchy

qwertplaywert wrote:

but tbh it aint fit to be in the room when fireflys boots are being polished

BSG is the dogs bo***x
First 2 seasons were edge of the seat stuff but season 3 is not as good.
I would get all sweaty when an episode came on ,dont get that feeling much these days.
As for Firefly,though twas woeful stuff.
A poor mans Buffy in space,and Buffy is cack.

qwertplaywert

i agree about buffy.....most of it is cack
exect the first 3 seasons ,which were excellant

User45701

Battlestar is the best i agree, SG1 Star trek and firefly are all amazing firefly rivles BSG but only because it had such a short run so no bad episodes.

Still tho BSG is best but other shows have amazing episodes aswell just not as consistent in greatness as BSG

Pugsley

Probably would rate it as the best sci-fi currently being released, not the best ever, Babylon5 can't be touched, sorry, but definately second best ever. This season has been fairly slow, and I expected it after the extreme CGI fest that was the season 3 opening episodes, probably the greatest CGI in TV history there, mind blowing stuff.

Praetorian

Of course it's the best, and isn't saying otherwise a hanging offense around these parts?

red dave

would heroes be classed as sci-fi? if so it's kicking bsg's ass imo.

Stark

BSG has gone to **** lately. First two seasons were awesome though. Farscape is still top of my list

I disagree with the comment about Firefly being "Buffy in space", it was really good for the short time it was on and it showed loads of potential. I rate it lower than Farscape because Farscape was around long enough to realise its potential, but to be fair to Firefly, the 15 episodes that were made of Firefly kicked the ass of Farscape's first 15 episodes.

Karl Hungus

BSG, to be quite honest, has gone to ****. Two very enjoyable seasons, and one season of unadulterated crap. I don't say that lightly either, because quite frankly, the Exodus 2 Parter was the only episode that I can say I actually enjoyed. Hell, pretty much every episode since has been a chore to sit through at the hope something good will happen. The writing has gone to ****, and the show seems to have lost all focus.

Babylon 5 is the best Sci-Fi Show.

Sure, the special effects have dated horribly, but I've never seen anything that has ever matched the sheer vision, mythic scope, and incredible depth of Babylon 5. Everything about it was phenominal, and it's all down the fact that everything in the show was pre-planned from day one, it set out with a full 5-year story arc behind it, and everything that goes on, from the rise and fall of empires, rising political tensions, conspiracies, the military coup... It's all been outlined from the start and develops so naturally.

BSG simply cannot compete with that, and when a big battle happens in B5, it's not because the writers decided it was time to mix it up with an action episode, it's because of something that was building up for years and coming to a head. Hence anything BSG has to offer is nothing in comparison to when B5 hits the peak of it's crescendo in Season 4, the intensity is phenominal.

Farscape comes in second though.

Khannie

Jaysus Karl. Makin' a good case for B5 there. I might give that a lash too.

Stark

What let Babylon 5 down for me was the filler episodes and the somewhat questionable acting especially in the earlier seasons. The first season was crap with the exception of Babylon Squared. And who forget gems like "Grey 17 is missing", "Walkabout" and those King Arhtur eps. But yes, it was epic overall and the 4th season was intense.

Karl Hungus

Stark wrote:

What let Babylon 5 down for me was the filler episodes and the somewhat questionable acting especially in the earlier seasons. The first season was crap with the exception of Babylon Squared. And who forget gems like "Grey 17 is missing", "Walkabout" and those King Arhtur eps. But yes, it was epic overall and the 4th season was intense.

Oh yeah, it's had it's moments of pure cheese, there's no denying it and the first season was pretty awful. But on the whole, it was incredible.

Khannie

Good to know to expect crap from the first season.

Karl Hungus

Khannie wrote:

Good to know to expect crap from the first season.

Yeah, the first season, is pretty episodic, it doesn't really get into the big arc of the story untill season 2. I think the first season basically establishes a lot of things, such as the setting, characters, but it was fairly shaky acting wise, and SFX wise too.

Still, once it gets into it, you'll hardly care.

Johnny Storm

B5 also had some woeful graphics (got lots better as it went on), occasionally terrible, puerile dialogue and a tendency to pretentiousness.

Had a few good bits too.

My personal fave is 50/50 TOS and TNG.

mewso

Have to come out of the closet and admit I'm a DS9 man. It was deffinately copying B5 to an extent but I did enjoy an awfull lot of the later seasons.

BSG has been dissappointing this season but I care enough about the characters because they have been so well established to stay with it. I'm sure it will pick up.

Firelfly was great. People always tell me I should watch Buffy if I like Firefly but I just say I can accept an aging cynic being a funny smart arse not a group of school kids.

Babylon 5 was excellent. I'm only a recent convert.

Sad I know but DS9 for me. BSG right now.

Karl Hungus

Johnny Storm wrote:

B5 also had some woeful graphics (got lots better as it went on), occasionally terrible, puerile dialogue and a tendency to pretentiousness.

Had a few good bits too.

My personal fave is 50/50 TOS and TNG.

Yeah, the CGI was pretty awful to begin with, and pretty much improved drastically as the seasons when on, but that's really a sign of the time it was made.

The varying quality of dialogue was something I never really did understand, because it was as you say, occasionally terrible and puerile, but other times it was incredible. Maybe it was down to JMS having written most of it himself? Still, I think the good outweighs the bad.

"The avalanche has started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote."

Ambassador Londo Mollari: Physics tells us that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. They hate us, we hate them, they hate us back. And so, here we are, victims of mathematics!

Lord Refa: Why should I do as you say?
Ambassador Londo Mollari: Because I have asked you; because your sense of duty to our people should override any personal ambition; and because I have poisoned your drink

Ambassador Londo Mollari: Everyone around me dies, Mr. Morden, except those who most deserve it.

Citizen G'Kar: I believe that when we leave a place a part of it goes with us and part of us remains. Go anywhere in these halls, when it is quiet and just listen. After a while you will hear the echoes of all of our conversations, every thought and word we've exchanged. Long after we are gone, our voices will linger in these walls for as long as this place remains. But I will admit that the part of me that going will very much miss the part of you that is staying.

"Well take this for what little it will profit you. As I look at you, Ambassador Mollari, I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear sounds, the sounds of billions of people calling your name."
"My followers?"
"Your victims."

"Commander, please. On the issue of galactic peace, I am long past innocence and fast approaching apathy. It's all a game -- a paper fantasy of names and borders. Only one thing matters, Commander. Blood calls out for blood."

"You are touched by darkness ambassador. I see it as a blemish that will grow with time. I could warn you of course, but you would not listen. I could kill you, but someone would take your place. So I do the only thing I can, I go."

"So much has been lost, so much forgotten. So much pain, so much blood. And for what, I wonder? The past tempts us, the present confuses us, and the future frightens us. And our lives slip away, moment by moment, lost in that vast terrible inbetween. But there is still time to cease that one last fragile moment. To choose something better, to make a difference, as you say. And I intend to do just that."

Sorry, I'll stop now.

Maybe JMS just hated certain characters though? I always thought that Londo had easily the best dialogue, whereas Ivanova seemed to get all the hammy crap, except for a few lines near the end.

Johnny Storm

You're obviously getting a lot more out of B5 than I ever did!

JIMHO A few of the B5 actors were very bad too:-

alcoholic security chief - seemed like a nice guy but couldn't act to save his life.
The black doctor - stilted
Bruce Boxleitner - wooden as Pat Kenny
Ivanova - barely adequate

OTOH the late Andreas Whasname who played G'Kar was a great actor and Londo was pretty good too.

Stark

I thought Garibaldi was good.

I agree with the others though, wooden as planks. Still, none of them were as bad as Captain Sinclair. *Shudder*