Choose…
vs
Choose…
vs
I’m going Odo and Garibaldi! And you?
Came across this fan poll of the Best Sci-Fi Shows of All Time. There was a lot of arguing in the comments and I realized that people were debating three different polls: The Most Iconic Sci-Fi Shows of All Time (which, I would argue, should include the likes of Dr. Who and Babylon 5), The Greatest Sci-Fi Shows of All Time, and the much simpler My Top 10 Shows of All Time. I considered the latter, and came up with the following list…
Not surprisingly, many were disappointed that I hadn’t included their favorites – and then were surprised to learn I hadn’t included them because I’d never seen them. Shows like Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, TNG, and DS9. I explained…
I know, I know. As someone who works in sci-fi, I’ve missed out on a lot of legendary sci-fi. True, but it all comes down to opportunity. When I’m in production on a show, I rarely have time to watch anything, and when I’m not in production, I focus on reading (which I consider research) or viewing shows that fall within the genre I’m developing (for a while now, that’s been the crime genre).
With regard to what made my Top 10 list and why…
Star Trek: The Original Series and the original Twilight Zone make the list on the basis of nostalgia. Yes, they are admittedly dated, but I’ll excuse a lot because both of these shows were so iconic and personally influenced my writing.
Dark Matter, Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Universe, in much the same way, bring back overwhelmingly positive memories of my time working on these shows, crafting the creative, overseeing production, and collaborating with a wonderful cast and crew.
As a life long fan of the anthology format, I consider Black Mirror one of the very best – clever, surprising, and intellectually provocative.
Back when I first moved to Vancouver for Stargate, I started building a DVD library covering both anime and television. And since I owned the box sets, I decided to start checking out some of Stargate’s sci-fi peers. I’d heard good things about Babylon 5 and started with that. Although I found the first episode underwhelming (mainly due to the basic video game-level VFX), I stuck with it and was rewarded with wonderful world building, terrific character development, and a satisfying overarching storyline. Farscape, on the other hand, I checked out because it just looked so damn weird. I was continually amazed by its audacious visuals and respected its willingness to creatively swing for the fences. Firefly was a show I’d heard a lot about, but not in a good way. People were dumping on the show which was considered DOA when it aired so, out of curiosity, I decided to check it out and was surprised because I loved it and wondered whether I was crazy or the lunatics had actually taken over the asylum. As it turns out, history has shown it was the latter.
Finally, Star Trek: Voyager is an interesting one. I tried watching TNG and couldn’t get into it. My former writing partner spoke very highly of DS9, especially the Dominion War storyline. But I decided to start watching Voyager as it was airing every night on then UPN. It was a way of staying connected with my now ex who was living in my hometown of Montreal while I was working on the other side of the country. We would both watch the show and then catch each other up on our respective days, and discuss the episode, over the course of a late night call. Given the show’s themes of isolation, separation, exploration and discovery, it was a perfect parallel to my life at the time and so, it holds a special place in my heart.
As for some of the other genre fare…
As a lifelong comic book fan, these Marvel shows should have been right up my alley, but after checking out a few episodes here and there, it dawned on me that they were being written by people who either never read the source material or actively hated comic books – which I found kind of strange. So very quickly, I decided the Marvel t.v. world was not for me and dismissed the entire slate. The DC shows I watched also failed to impress. Now I’ve heard great things about Andor, but I got off the Star Wars train halfway through Return of the Jedi which I felt, at the time, was a betrayal of what had come before. So, to paraphrase a friend: “I don’t have the Star Wars gene.”
Last year, I did something called “Best Of…” where I had fans come up with a list of the Top 32 Sci-Fi Shows, and then had them vote on the best episode of each. I watched them and then hosted an X Space wherein I discussed them with a co-host. The hope was that the single standout episode would captivate and compel me to watch the entire series. In the end, only one show really succeeded in accomplishing that – DS9 (and the episode “In the Pale Moonlight”). If anything, this marathon actually compelled me to rewatch some of my favorites – Farscape, Black Mirror, and Babylon 5.
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So, what are YOUR Top 10 Favorite Sci-Fi Shows of All Time?
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Odo & Garibaldi
Surprised not to see any mention of “Fringe” and so many more. Any version of “The Outer Limits”, “Eureka”, Warehouse 13, and of course, The Walking Dead🧟🧟???
Personally, the only Star Trek I’ve seen is the original, back in the day, as they say, so I fully understand that we all have glaring gaps in our viewing past.
My Top 10 will have to wait. It seems I missed a lot of filmed sci-fi in last 40+ years, and I was late to adopt streaming.
Working my way through DS9 via Paramount Plus at present.
Odo
Worf
Number 1 is X-Files, then Star Trek TNG, SG-1, Fringe, Star Trek Voyager, Battlestar Galactica, Picard, West World, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and SG Atlantis
Hmm, yes, I agree: Odo and Garibaldi.
As far as best Sci-Fi shows, it really matters a lot if I’m trying to be objective or if I’m merely basing it off of the impact the shows had on me personally.
SG-1 is probably my personal top Sci-Fi show, with the likes of Farscape, Babylon 5, ST:DS9, SGA, BSG etc. pretty high up (shoutout to Killjoys that I enjoyed quite a bit as well).
But more objectively, I believe ST:DS9 is probably the best Sci-Fi show in general, and non space based shows like the X-Files high up as well. The Expanse should also be high up on this list. Babylon 5 definitely very high up as well.
I’m not quite sure where I’d even list Firefly, maybe this second group. I might have to rewatch.
And when it comes to being iconic? Obviously ST:TOS, ST:TNG, SG-1, BSG, X-Files, Doctor Who, …
I don’t have ten. Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis are my go to sci-fi shows.
Tuvok and Worf!
The thing about Andor is that it’s in some ways not really like most Star Wars at all. The acting, writing, production values are some of the best I’ve seen even from movies. And it’s definitely adult fare – I can’t imagine kids would even understand what’s going on. I actually think I need to watch it again – for the fifth time, LOL.
Ooo! Another one to add to my now top 11 is Evil, brilliant show
Odo and Garibaldi.
I don’t know what Stranger Things is doing on a Sci Fi list. Even X Files is a stretch.
It’s hard to rank my favourites so I will base my list on rewatchability.
I watch Firefly at least once a year, sometimes more. So it absolutely ranks as number 1. The stories and characters are perfection. Would it have turned to shit if it had received more than half a season? Maybe. But Joss Wheedon pulled off some consistent storytelling over multiple seasons of Buffy and Angel so I feel he could have pulled it off with Firefly.
Red Dwarf is my number 2. I love that show so much. I don’t watch it in its entirety very often but when I’m feeling like a laugh I will put on an episode or two to cheer me up. Sad to hear of co-creator Rob Grant’s passing this week. I am looking forward to reading his new Red Dwarf novel. Add it to your sci fi book list!
Third is probably The Expanse. It’s a little too long and serialised to do a full rewatch regularly but I’m currently watching a YouTube reactor watch it and I’m enjoying her 10 minute supercuts of each episode as a reminder of how good that show was. I’m surprised you haven’t watched it. It’s textbook storytelling and perfectly adapted from the equally excellent books (have you read the books at least?). Showrunner Naren Shankar is a Star Trek alum and knows how to tell an enthralling story and construct an end of episode cliffhanger that makes you come back for more.
Four is Doctor Who. Mostly for nostalgia reasons having grown up with the early Doctors. But recent years has soured my liking for it.
Babylon 5 is fifth! That show taught me about character development and about subverting expectations. It was such a hard show to watch in Australia, with fan clubs having to import bootleg VHS copies from the US since none of the networks carried it. I don’t think I ever saw it in its entirety until I bought the DVD box set.
6 is ST:TNG. I loved it when it first aired. I have not managed to successfully watch TOS all the way through, though.
7 and 8 are Stargate: SG1 and Atlantis. I love the shows but there’s just too much of them to sit through so I don’t watch them often.
9 and 10 are ST:DS9 and ST:VOY. It was great to continue in the TNG universe with new ships and crews and darker storylines.
I enjoyed your “Best of” series last year. I watched most of the selected episodes but didn’t end up watching more of the shows I liked. I need to ditch my YouTube habit and watch more long-form shows again.
Great list!
SG-1, Earth 2, WestWorld, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek : Strange New Worlds, FarScape, Star Wars : Clone Wars.
Sliders, X-Files, SeaQuest DSV also had memorable episodes.
The Mass Effect, the StarCraft and Ascendancy are also great computer games with detailed lore, history, characters and races.
Just checking in.
Been nursing another stubborn lingering infection making me cranky and tired.
Kinda shocked and appalled The Jetsons did not even make a nostalgic honorable mention on your list. Neither did the 13 episodes of Planet of the apes that aired in 1974.
Any luck yet locating better candidates for adoption?? I’m sure if you can find a super mellow, submissive, cuddly type, female sister
Sharky will bond with her. I’m fairly certain He just needs to be able to approach them first and more or less be in charge of physical contact to begin the relationship. Until he becomes comfortable / secure with them.
He’s such a sweety pie at heart.