A good sci-fi show is perhaps better
than a normal TV show for the following reason. When it comes to Sci-Fi, a good
series will be able to fully create a new world or an alternate universe which
we wish we could be a part of. That is why I love Sci-Fi so much. I love being
taken into a new world an engulfed in what this new world has to offer. Here
are my personal favorite Sci-Fi TV Series of all-time.
10. Fringe
Fringe started off as an X-Files lookalike
with weekly stories and weekly sci-fi story lines. However, they thankfully
realized this was a wrong plan. Instead the show just jumped into a singular
storyline involving a mostly one-sided war between two parallel universes. The
show has become quite good and with an excellent cast of Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson
and John Noble, anyone can enjoy this sci-fi great. With these great characters
and their equally great ‘alternates’ this show has quickly become a fan
favorite, surviving 5 seasons.
9. Stargate SG-1
Stargate was a spinoff off a
not-so-successful 1994 movie. The TV Show however became one of the preeminent
sci-fi franchises on TV. SG-1 brought back the characters Jack O'Neill and
Daniel Jackson from the film, now played by Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver!!!)
and Michael Shanks. The crew of soldiers are charged with defending Earth from
the Goa'uld, the Replicators, and any other threats. The show is quite
entertaining and lasted a solid 10 years. Check it out, if for nothing else,
for MacGyver!
8a. Heroes: 2006-2010, 5 Seasons, NBC
When Heroes came onto the scene, it
exploded. Heroes became an international sensation as characters became
household names, actors became stars, and the entire world wanted “to save the
cheerleader.” Heroes was very strong and very popular for most of its 5 seasons
on the air but a weak and non-compelling storyline dragged this series down
towards the end. Still the first few seasons make for an unbelievable watch.
8b. Lost: 2004-2010, 6 Seasons,
ABC
Lost was a great sci-fi show. I just
want to clarify that before I bash it. In my humble opinion, Lost was great at
two things: 1) a great premise 2) daring to do whatever the hell the writers
wanted. Now I would like to fault it for doing whatever the hell the writers
wanted. The show seemingly decides to use time travel, alternate realities,
monsters and the “others” in whatever way they liked. If a character was
annoying, they killed him off, but if fans wanted him back they would just
bring him back to life. The show makes absolutely no sense what so ever. Which
may just have made it Sci-Fi genius.
7. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
People had their doubts about this
Terminator TV Series but this show was awesome in its short lived life. Josh Friedman and his writing team created an
intense series that expertly built upon the Terminator mythology. From the
awesomeness of Derek Reese (Brian Austin Green) to the complicated portrayal of
Cameron (Summer Glau), to the kick-ass "What comes next?!" finale, we
find ourselves still mourning this show's too-brief run. With a coming-of-age
John Connor and a super hot Terminator, what else could you have asked for
other than more episodes?
6. Star Trek: The Next Generation
After a rough first-two season start,
The Next Generation proved that Trek can exist independent from The Original
Crew. The adventures of Picard and his became THEEEE Star Trek crew for my
generation. Though everyone could agree Picard was no Kirck, the show was still
great and reminded us of why we love space so damn much.
5. Quantum Leap: 1989-1993, 5 Seasons, NBC
I
grew up watching this show. Quantum Leap operated on a great premise. You had
one scientist "leaping" into body after body across time, and his
only companion was the holographic representation of a computer back home that
only he could see. Way ahead of its time in terms of technology, Quantum Leap
crossed genres like it was in style. Obviously the show was made by the awesome
Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell who were heroes of mine growing up. The show
had drama and comedy, making it a Sci-Fi classic.
4. Star Trek Original Series: 1966-1969, 3 Seasons, NBC
"Star Trek" is "Star
Trek," a cultural phenomenon that bridges generations, survives and
thrives in reinterpretation, and invites reinvention. Leonard Nimoy and William
Shatner starred in this ground breaking show which has simply defined sci-fi
for all of history. People even swap the term Sci-Fi for Star-Trekie. With
numerous movies spawned from this original series, Star Trek didn’t redefine
the genre it defined it.
3. Firefly: 2002, 1 Season, Fox (and a movie)
Joss Whedon had already become famous
with Buffy The Vampire Slayer before this masterpiece. Though it only survived
one season and a movie (for reasons unknown to mankind), Firefly could arguably
be considered the greatest sci-fi show ever. . Firefly" posited a future
universe that echoed today's political landscape but felt like a classic
western. The crew of space pirates led by captain Malcom "Mal" Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and
his first mate Zoe Washburne (Gina Torres) are
veteran "Browncoats" of the Unification War, a failed attempt by the outlying worlds to resist the
Alliance's assertion of control. Summer
Glau and Sean Maher also star as the crew of misfits scavenge their way across
the universe. This is arguably the greatest writing you will ever see.
2. The X-Files: 1993-2002, 9 Seasons, Fox
One of the longest-running shows of
its kind (certainly on American network television), "The X-Files"
was groundbreaking because it married the familiar TV formula of the police
procedural (our heroes are FBI!) with the sci-fi (and they chase aliens!). The
show was built on the awesome chemistry between David Duchovny and Gillian
Anderson. The show gave new meaning to alien abduction and government
conspiracies. The show overflowed into two movies but the series was the real
star. Many argue that this show truly defined the sci-fi genre over the last 20
years. You will love the drama and pray for Moulder and Skully to get together.
1. Battlestar Galactica: 2003 intro mini-series, 2004-2009
series, 4 Seasons, SyFy
Based on the 1978 light hearted
series, this show is the greatest sci-fi series ever. BSG with its numerous
seasons, numerous movies and even a prequel and pre-prequel, is a work of art.
The show has awesome graphics and brings an almost unbearably awesome drama to
it. The story telling is intelligent and craftily pulled off on screen.
Though some of the acting isn’t great,
there are some unreal performances and all the casting was done better than
anyone could have imagined. The show has a huge following and has even created
its own Fracking language. The show won me over in many ways. Of course using
my favorite song of all-time (All Along The Watchtower) didn’t hurt. Drop
whatever you are doing and please go on Netflix and watch this entire series.
Thank you!
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