Posted on 06/05/2016 9:02:29 AM PDT by EveningStar
It's odd to think that, once upon a time, a TV show set in space -- one that declared, in its opening narration, as the cosmos being the "final frontier" -- was considered the pop-cultural equivalent of an unwanted party-crasher. Yes, a concept like Star Trek was both of its time and clearly ahead of it; history has more than vindicated Gene Roddenberry's notion of boldly going where no man had gone before. But given the number of top-notch shows set in the far reaches of the galaxy and that used genre for pulpy and profound purposes over the last 30 or so years, it seems crazy to think that one of the most groundbreaking SF series was a network pariah and a ratings dud. Today, there's an entire cable network devoted to this kind of programming. You can't turn on your TV/Roku/cut-cord viewing device without bumping into spaceships, alien invasion and wonky sci-fi food-for-thought.
Science fiction has been around in one form or another since the early-ish days of television, both here and abroad, and its legacy now looms larger than ever. So what better time to count down the 40 best sci-fi TV shows of all time? From anime classics to outer-space soap operas, spooky British anthology shows to worst-case-scenario postapocalyptic dramas, primetime pop hits to obscure but beloved cult classics, here are our choices for the best the television genre has to offer -- submitted, for your approval.
(Excerpt) Read more at rollingstone.com ...
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Oh, thank goodness! I hate those things.
They left out Logan’s Run TV show with Gregory Harrison.
Thunderbirds?? Really??
Concerning the “Doctor Who” entry, the recent ones ought to never ever compare to the Jon Pertwee/Tom Baker era.
Not a bad list. Personally, I would flip Battlestar Galactica with Babylon 5 and Star Trek with The Twilight Zone.
Babylon 5 had a clear continuous story, whereas a large part of Galactica was made up as they went along.
the Twilight Zone is the clear gold standard for story telling with highest percentage of wheat to chaff of any SF series.
Thunderbirds? Astro Boy?
Oh, yeah, it the Rolling Stoned.
What?! No “Lost in Space”!
only stargate and babylon 5 are good
No Farscape?
Wouldn’t go to Rolling Stoners for any reason, but here are my favorites.
BSG
DS9
TNG
Sliders (1st season only)
Dr. Who (2005-2006)
Earth: Final Conflict
Alien Nation
X-Files
SeaQuest (first couple of seasons)
Humans (one season in and this is already a classic)
Outer Limits
The premise is that Earth, being wrecked by humans, gave rise to some mutant humanoids, the albino, mostly nocturnal, ferociously strong and blood thirsty Abbies. (aberants? aboriginals?) The Abbies build nothing. They seek to destroy anything built.
One scientist recruited or kidnapped people, put them into hibernation for two thousand years, and built an impregnable valley fortress to shelter them from the Abbies.
It's the engineering and the economy of the place that tick me off. How could you make a place that would tend itself for two thousand years, especially against humans before they were destroyed? How could you store that much food and power?
And how would humans not efficiently wipe out the Abbies, small in number at first, as they proved themselves able to wipe out every large beast they set their mind to?
As with all lists like this, it is pretty subjective. Some of these shows I have never heard of, some I would like to see.
I have always really liked British Sci-Fi as they could do a lot with cheesy special effects but had a great story line and characters, along with some really good actors to play the roles.
Now while not strictly a sci-fi show,”The Avengers” TV show from England had it’s share of sci-fi themed shows.
The Prisoner, Twilight Zone and the first Star Trek were way ahead of their time. Not so sure I’d call the first two ‘Science Fiction’ though. More like reality tv and fantasy.
Red Dwarf
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