Favorite Sci-Fi Show

[bad_ronald]

Battlestar Gallactica is the best series (note: what Brits call a series, we Americans call a season, series refers to the entire life of a program) on TV today; this includes non-sci-fi. It is refreshing to see a series where the leaders are concerned with realpolitik instead of trying to make every decision a moral one (ahem, Weir). This leads to situations that couldn't occur in Stargate (or even B5, I suspect) like where the Chief admits that he was lying to Adama and that his crewmen were covering up for him, but Adama keeps that guy locked up anyway to not create a scandal.

I like Babylon 5 and admire the way that it was written to end after the fifth season (unlike SG-1 which died after Richard Dean Anderson left ), though there were like five made-for-TV movies and an ill fated spin-off afterwards. Londo was, of course, the best character and the Centauri were more interesting than most sci-fi races. It's hard to look at the special effects nowadays, though .

SG-1 was great for the first six seasons (I even liked Jonas). SG-A isn't all that bad, and McKay is the best character on any sci-fi series, IMO. I've never even watched a full episode of Star Trek (I can't say why, I just haven't).

 

[Winner]

I only own seasons 4 and 5. The seasons aren't sheap either. SG seasons cost about $50 while B5 costs about $100

Quality is expensive

 

[Hitro]

Quality is expensive

B5 is less than €40 here.

Still, does that mean you like it, too. I might have to rethink my opinion...

 

[Gelion]

I got my seasons.... let me think....for 30$ a box.... yes it is expensive, but I would not hesitate to buy it again if I had that chance....

 

[Winner]

Battlestar Gallactica is the best series (note: what Brits call a series, we Americans call a season, series refers to the entire life of a program) on TV today; this includes non-sci-fi. It is refreshing to see a series where the leaders are concerned with realpolitik instead of trying to make every decision a moral one (ahem, Weir). This leads to situations that couldn't occur in Stargate (or even B5, I suspect) like where the Chief admits that he was lying to Adama and that his crewmen were covering up for him, but Adama keeps that guy locked up anyway to not create a scandal.

That's exactly what I am talking about. No crappy moral issues.

"Oh, should we release this poor Cylon who helped us?"
"No, kill that frakking toaster"

I like Babylon 5 and admire the way that it was written to end after the fifth season (unlike SG-1 which died after Richard Dean Anderson left ), though there were like five made-for-TV movies and an ill fated spin-off afterwards. Londo was, of course, the best character and the Centauri were more interesting than most sci-fi races. It's hard to look at the special effects nowadays, though .

Again, I agree. B5 authors had a vision and they realized it. Of course they could make another 4 seasons filled with crap just to make money, but they didn't. (I don't count the Crusade)

SG-1 was great for the first six seasons (I even liked Jonas). SG-A isn't all that bad, and McKay is the best character on any sci-fi series, IMO. I've never even watched a full episode of Star Trek (I can't say why, I just haven't).

Well, I liked it, when I was younger. The older I am, the more stupid it seems to me. I still think the first three or four seasons were good. Then it has become just a plain money-maker.

 

[Lezyt]

Well, first of all I should say that Sci-fi shown on TV over in the UK (at least on the free-to-air channels) is usually cut due to them showing it at stupid times, such as Farscape at 6pm (having now bought every episode on VHS/DVD, I despise the BBC for that descision), and SG:1 at anywhere from 3-5pm (and every few episodes, you get a noticable plot 'jump' which really pisses me off). Star Trek also suffered noticable jumps every once in a while (the TNG episodes about the mind-controlling parasites springs immediatly to mind). So, Sci-fi is not exacly healthy over here - a dying breed (which I do hope the recent Doctor Who revival reverses)

However, Farscape is my all time favourite. More interesting than pretty much any other Sci-fi show for a good long time, sustained, complex plots that you do actual have to think about, no 'latched on techno-babble' just to make it sound technical, everything has a reason instead of just trying to sound good - and not bogged down with PC rubbish and 'the moral of the story is...' type crap a la (most) Star Trek. Cancelling it was the worst descision ever made by a TV network (well, aside from commisioning Andromeda, that is).

Doctor Who is good, as is Babylon 5, Futurama (died before it's time), and the older series of Red Dwarf (the later ones just lacked the old magic, I thought) - especialy ones taking the mick out of other Sci-fi shows. SG:1 does not deserve it's popularity in my opinion, but it's not terrible, and has got better as the series has progressed (though we are a bit behind here in the UK, I think the last to air on terrestrial TV was season 7). Above average, perhaps, but not outstanding.

Andromeda was particularly dire I thought. It deserved it's own paragraph for me to repeat that fact

Well, to Star Trek... I have to agree with DS9 being the best of the bunch. TNG (usually) and Voyager (almost always) were bible stories with Aliens and Spaceships. Enterprise is weak, formulaic, and mostly derivative of both previous Star Trek series, and other popular sci-fi shows, and it's cancellation does not surprise me one bit. The original wasn't startling, but it was watchable for me. The films of the old crew were mostly better than the series.

DS9, however, actually took some chances, deviating from the mould, and went for rolling plot approach (or, at least, more of a rolling plot approach than previous Star Trek series) which meant that the characters developed, and were more than 'The robot who's basically a pinochio clone' or 'the ex-bad guy with the big breasts that's only really there as eye candy 'cos the ratings fell'. I also thought it had less of a PC/moralistic bias, which is good, because I do not like someone else's beliefs rammed down my throat.

And yeah, I realise that likely 100% of Star Trek fans will want to lynch me after my above synopsis of the shows Ho-hum, can't please them all

 

[Hitro]

I got my seasons.... let me think....for 30$ a box.... yes it is expensive, but I would not hesitate to buy it again if I had that chance....

Aren't you Russian? Isn't everything like €0.01. over there if you know the right people?

 

[JtheJackal]

If your gunna like star trek, at least like a good series . DS9 is just a boring spin off IMO.

Star Trek, TNG are both great, but DS9 was the best. It was the smartest, most entertaining of all the Star Treks.

 

[SonicX]

And yeah, I realise that likely 100% of Star Trek fans will want to lynch me after my above synopsis of the shows Ho-hum, can't please them all

No, not really actually.
Perhaps I'm just a ST fan because of a lack for better sci fi on Belgian TV ... I haven't even heared of other shows except SG-1.

But the morality and politically correct stuff is very annoying at times, I have to agree with you on that one. Nothing reflects humanity as for what humanity is in real life. Stargate also pretended to be so ethical, as in some episode, they gave up the chance of getting nuclear fusion because the trading partner was a hitler like person, while getting the fusion and then screwing the nazi's was as far more likely possibility. In Star Trek you'd find a dozen more examples I'm sure ... that's too bad.

I don't mind the technobabble though, I like it, even if it doesn't make a lot of sense What is also likable, is that many technologies in ST are theoretically possible, except ofcourse any lightspeed breaking techs, while in FarScape, you'd feel like you're watching a fantasy show in stead.
SciFi en Fantasy are to children of the same family, but they shouldn't mix.

 

[slip79]

Unfortunately here in NZ we have the same prob as the Europeans. No decent channel of Sci-fi and stations here that are sometimes pretty damn arbitrary when it comes to purchasing new shows.
So from the selection we've had (which actually hasn't been too bad )....
All time fav would have to be ST: DS9 closely followed by B5, which a few friends and I have been watching from the beginning over the last few months (God bless DVD!).
Sliders was awesome, ST: Voyager was good, childhood fav was Seaquest and old Battlestar. New Battlestar Gallactica is fan-f***in-tastic. Luv Starbuck, she is a goddess.

Finally....
Ivanava IS GOD!!!!

 

[frekk]

This is exactly what I'm talking about.

Everyone is so fixated on special effects, the story goes out the window.

I've tried watching shows like Stargate and Andromeda, and lose interest after about 15 minutes. There is an enormous level of cliché there, far beyond what one might expect for suspending disbelief.

You're just getting older. I thought so too, until they started playing some of the old Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rodgers on Space Channel. Twiggi twiggi twiggi ... remember that? It's all pretty bad actually, it just seems good when you're a certain age.

I tried to watch some of the newer shows ... they aren't any worse than that, anyway, but it is kinda funny to hear ppl gushing over them. The only sci-fi show I've seen in the last while that's even remotely bearable with the sound on is Firefly.

But all in all, outside of the literature, there are only 3 sci-fi media that ever mattered or will be remembered: Star Wars Ep. IV, the original Star Trek series, and 2001. I have this itching suspicion I might be missing one, though.

 

[Gelion]

Aren't you Russian? Isn't everything like €0.01. over there if you know the right people?

True we get stuff cheaper, but on the other hand we do earn less do we?
Atm I live (guess where?) in the center of Europe so I have to (and dont' really mind) buy things for much more than I usually pay back home... I, however, have to really like what I am buying at those prices

 

[steviejay]

Star Trek, TNG are both great, but DS9 was the best. It was the smartest, most entertaining of all the Star Treks.

here here!

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

I used to watch Quantum Leap when I was young. Then X-files came out and blow out my mind, never missed an episode for the whole 9 seasons. Other than that, not much a sci-fi fan.

 

[classical_hero]

Would Astro Boy be considered Sci-Fi? I remember seeing the complete series for about $155 at the shops recently. I almost bought it, but the cost was too much for me to get it.

 

[GeneralZed]

Stargate is the best one. I tried to watch once Star Treck but...

 

[greekguy]

Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis. I tried watching Star Trek a few times, but i never really got into it...

EDIT: thought of a few more that are on that i like: Lost and 4400.

 

[vikingruler]

Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis are the best shows on televison. I love the shows. I personally like Atlantis more then SG-1, I like the whole story line, with Atlantis and the Rath. But they are both really awesome shows. I don't think SG-1 died when Jack left, but It lose a lot of comedy. Mitchell isn't that bad of a replacement for O'neill though. The new general sucks though, he is no Hammond and definitley not O'neill. Maybe the writers will kill him off... Vala is like the best one on the show now. The story line isn't bad, I mean they had to do something, the Goa'uld are gone so the Ori are now the evil false gods. Also, the problems with the Jaffa council add a nice little sub-plot. I just didn't like the way they started the story line with the cheesey King Arthur and Merlin rip-off.

 

[Gladi]

True we get stuff cheaper, but on the other hand we do earn less do we?
Atm I live (guess where?) in the center of Europe so I have to (and dont' really mind) buy things for much more than I usually pay back home... I, however, have to really like what I am buying at those prices

Bright day
Well the center of Europe is set in west by Atlantic ocean, east by eastern Ukrainian border, north by south Sweden, south by northern Italy. It is true! People in these regions will tell you they live in "center of Europe". Anyway geographically speaking center of Europe is AFAIK in Zakarpatskiy region of Ukraine... so how is weather in Mukachevo?

 

[Aleph-Null]

I just remembered a sci-fi that no one has mentioned yet and that would be Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict