Your 3 best Sci Fi TV Series

ei.sdraob · 09-01-2010 06:26PM

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

Defying Gravity (dead before its time)

damn right

was turning out to be a great show

thank you ABC

for screwing up

iguana · 09-01-2010 08:11PM

Babylon 5. By far and away the tv series that has had the biggest impact on me. No tv show has ever made me feel as joyful as when the king of off-the-cuff speeches said "I don't know what to say" allowing Delenn to finally kiss him, followed by the punch to the guts as the screen switches to Z minus 10 days and you know this moment was not a climax but a brief respite.

Torchwood: Children of Earth. Which was fantastic and horribly, horribly dark at the same time. So good I'm not sure I can ever stomach watching it again.

And V the original mini-series. But just the first series, not The Final Battle which was mostly stupid with a few good ideas and certainly not the weekly series which was a complete joke.

I would have chosen the BSG remake as number one but from midway through series 3 it became clear the writers had no bloody idea what they were up to. The series went from being an extremely intelligent series to a stupid mess.

JP Liz · 09-01-2010 08:18PM

Firefly

Quantum Leap

Dark Angel

Tomohawk · 09-01-2010 10:15PM

Dr. Who - great electronic soundtrack too.

Blakes 7. Dark and dystopian but who didn't fancy a bit of rough with Servalan?

Star Trek. Red shirts RIP!

judas1369 · 09-01-2010 10:22PM

Star Trek the original series
The Twilight Zone the original series
The Prisoner

Although found it tough to narrow it down to a mere three!

Caprica · 09-01-2010 11:09PM

Tough to narrow it down to only 3 but here I go

Star Trek - Deep Space Nine
BattleStar Galactica (the remake)
X-Files

Watch Ryder · 10-01-2010 09:06AM

Pushtrak wrote: »

Leaving earth isn't a necessity of sci-fi.

How far did you watch of B5? Things that happen at the start are relevant all the way of to the end, so saying it doesn't go anywhere suggests you had limited exposure.

That's correct I have only watched about 2 or 3 episodes and wasn't in the groove of it.

I disagreed with the shows concept of an orbital base that just sat there and was a weekly soap opera-esque of visiting aliens with problems each week. Star Trek had this concept to a point, but at least they were actually exploring and adventuring while they did it.

If they had made Babylon 5 as a small compliment to a travelling ship like star trek which occasionally returned there ok you'd have the balance imo.
But like I said the focus was on a static thing in space too much. I know it had to fight off an overwhelming force / enemy a few times which gives it appeal but this aside it didn't have the 'draw you in appeal' that other Sci-Fi shows have.

ixoy · 10-01-2010 01:54PM

Watch Ryder wrote: »

I disagreed with the shows concept of an orbital base that just sat there and was a weekly soap opera-esque of visiting aliens with problems each week.

That was only really true of the first season - it became something very different then. You could level the same accusation at BSG which was, largely, them stuck on a ship and not visiting planets, alien life forms, etc.

I know it had to fight off an overwhelming force / enemy a few times which gives it appeal but this aside it didn't have the 'draw you in appeal' that other Sci-Fi shows have.

The fact that it was brave enough to do something different is what made the appeal, something unusual - cerebral and political moments, focus on character and - of course - a true vision in terms of plotting that no other show really (across all genres) has managed to accomplish since.

Klingon Hamlet · 10-01-2010 01:59PM

Firefly

X-Files

Galactica Reboot

iguana · 10-01-2010 02:09PM

ixoy wrote: »

- a true vision in terms of plotting that no other show really (across all genres) has managed to accomplish since.

The Wire?

Pushtrak · 10-01-2010 02:44PM

Watch Ryder wrote: »

That's correct I have only watched about 2 or 3 episodes and wasn't in the groove of it.

You owe it to yourself to watch more if/when given the free time.

I disagreed with the shows concept of an orbital base that just sat there and was a weekly soap opera-esque of visiting aliens with problems each week.

There was a reason the show decided to go with a set location. It worked well with the story arc that Stracyzinski could plan. But more importantly, he had done other shows before that had gone over budget, didn't get enough of a fanbase to justify the cost and thus were canned. By staying at the one set location, and reducing the number of set designs, they could reduce the cost.

ixoy · 10-01-2010 04:41PM

iguana wrote: »

The Wire?

No not really "The Wire" even. It had densely written season arcs, but not show arcs to the same degree. It didn't have lines in the pilot episode that really only resolved themselves in its fifth season - it couldn't really, due to the type of show that it was. That's from someone who puts both shows in his Top 5 of all time!

rovert · 10-01-2010 06:30PM

ixoy wrote: »

No not really "The Wire" even. It had densely written season arcs, but not show arcs to the same degree. It didn't have lines in the pilot episode that really only resolved themselves in its fifth season - it couldn't really, due to the type of show that it was.

Bub's story

Richard Dower · 10-01-2010 08:53PM

ei.sdraob wrote: »

damn right

was turning out to be a great show

thank you ABC for screwing up

+1 on Defying Gravity, by ep. 5 it came into it's stride...had potnential

ziedth · 10-01-2010 11:32PM

funny how firefly is easy in my top 5 shows of all time but i didn't pick it. I guess because i look at it like a joss wedon show and not a scifi if you get my meaning.

LeixlipRed · 11-01-2010 02:55AM

Firefly, STTNG and STDS9 for me. I have the complete Babylon 5 and X files boxsets but anytime I go to start watching em the daunting task facing me just makes me all depressed

taram · 11-01-2010 03:01AM

BSG remake
X-Files
Stargate of all shapes and sizes.

Pushtrak · 11-01-2010 03:16AM

LeixlipRed wrote: »

Firefly, STTNG and STDS9 for me. I have the complete Babylon 5 and X files boxsets but anytime I go to start watching em the daunting task facing me just makes me all depressed

I started watching the X-files having only seen random episodes here and there years ago. It really isn't a show for heavy duty watching. At least at the start, anyway. I find I have to give a bit of time between eps.

You are in for a treat with B5. Just make sure you look up a good viewing order for it. You don't want to start off with, for instance In the Beginning. There is one that recommends starting with that. Don't. Start with The Gathering, and on to season 1.

Tristram · 11-01-2010 05:04AM

Babylon 5
FarScape
Space Above & Beyond / Odyssey 5

Wossack · 11-01-2010 11:44AM

I love these threads - gives me great ideas about what to watch next

off the top of my head.. firefly, battlestar (2003) and xfiles

KerranJast · 11-01-2010 01:59PM

Firefly - Fantastic setting, loveable characters, innovative storylines, witty dialogue. Just fantastic.

Farscape - Again loveable characters (it's a testament to the writing, voice actors and puppeteers that the "Muppet" characters are more memorable than 99% of actors in other shows), ingenious storylines with overarching arcs, some incredibly emotional moments

The whole 2 Crichton storyline where one of them dies saving Aeryn and she has to face the surviving Crichton back on Moya

, truly alien enviroments and characters (as much as I love SG & Trek, there's only so much Canadian forest and medieval sets I can stand

), the Aeryn/Crichton relationship

Aeryn learning English via Sesame Street was just a beautiful moment.

BSG Reimagined - Great cast, dark storylines, deep plot, fantastic set pieces, as many arguments & theories as "Lost", the allegories to real life events, the Adama/Tigh "bromance", THAT maneuver on New Caprica, Number 6, loveable Gaius Baltar the nutter, "there must be some kind of way out of here..."

Honourable mentions for DS9 & SG1.

Watch Ryder · 11-01-2010 02:12PM

KerranJast wrote: »

Firefly - Fantastic setting, loveable characters, innovative storylines, witty dialogue. Just fantastic.

Farscape - Again loveable characters (it's a testament to the writing, voice actors and puppeteers that the "Muppet" characters are more memorable than 99% of actors in other shows), ingenious storylines with overarching arcs, some incredibly emotional moments
The whole 2 Crichton storyline where one of them dies saving Aeryn and she has to face the surviving Crichton back on Moya
, truly alien enviroments and characters (as much as I love SG & Trek, there's only so much Canadian forest and medieval sets I can stand ), the Aeryn/Crichton relationship
Aeryn learning English via Sesame Street was just a beautiful moment.

I did like Farscape. That was a pretty adult-themed-show that was cleverly writted and acted to leave a lot to the imagination.
The aliens on board the ship and each episode was like a whole new world and show in some ways. This would be number 4 or 5 on my sci-fi favourites, although Buck Rogers is up there too

Pushtrak · 11-01-2010 02:25PM

Farscape is brilliant. I'm conflicted between it and Sliders for which one is better. Thoroughly enjoyed both.

Doodah7 · 11-01-2010 03:22PM

Star Trek, Original Series
Blake's 7
and I can' believe no-one has mentioned Space 1999. Classic sci-fi. 'Eagle' ships still look fantastic...

ixoy · 11-01-2010 03:22PM

Pushtrak wrote: »

Farscape is brilliant. I'm conflicted between it and Sliders for which one is better. Thoroughly enjoyed both.

You're trying to decide between Farscape and Sliders?! Sliders got so bad that I had to stop watching, as did many people I know. Once it began to rip off movies every week, it had sunk to a real low.

judas1369 · 11-01-2010 04:09PM

tallpaul wrote: »

Star Trek, Original Series
Blake's 7
and I can' believe no-one has mentioned Space 1999. Classic sci-fi. 'Eagle' ships still look fantastic...

Yeah, outstanding for its time, although some of the episodes bordered on the psychedelic! again a reflection of its time perhaps.
Honourable mention to its predecessor- UFO
http://ufoseries.com/

Thanks for reminding me of a great show!

hairy cake · 11-01-2010 04:14PM

Gotta mention Buck Rogers as one of the best, especially for Twiki: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd8MGNjkm0s

Of course the original Battlestar Galactica is worth a shout too!

madrab · 11-01-2010 05:47PM

Yeah sliders had a great premise & for the first season or 2 was quite good but the lost it after bringing in other races & what's face's brother

Other good shows worth a mention
Earth final conflict - first season was very solid, not so much the seasons after that
Lexx - if you can get over the campness of it, the first seasons opening and closing episodes were really good (Kai, his divine shadow story line)
Captain Power & the soldiers of the future - really liked the storey but it has aged badly with its computer effects
Crusade was intereting if you liked B5 but it left alot of people confused if you had never watched it before
& a curious one for you all, its a sci-fi/western
Brisco County Junior

youcancallmeal · 11-01-2010 09:30PM

Deep Space 9 - A close call between this and TNG but DS9 wins out with a bit of a more darker tone and better characters.

Quantum Leap - The final episode is something I'm still not sure if I liked or not

V (Original) - Scared the sh*t out of me!

Not sure if Futurama could be counted but that would be up there for me as well.

grounderssource · 10-06-2026 03:19PM

Battlestar Galactica
The Expanse
The 100

The 100 probably wouldn't make everyone's top three, but I thought it did a great job with character development and moral dilemmas. It kept reinventing itself and somehow managed to stay interesting for a lot longer than I expected.

Your 3 best Sci Fi TV Series

Comments