Nov
18
Science fiction has spawned an incredible amount of television since the birth of network drama, some of it good, some of it bad, some of it excellent. This list focuses on ten of the best shows ever produced in the genre, in no particular order…
10. The Twilight Zone
Created by: Rod Serling
Seasons: 5
Debuted: 1959
This classic series of science fiction not only catapulted SF literature into the national spotlight, but also inspired films decades later and continues to do so. Indeed, the phrase The Twilight Zone is shorthand for an odd environment now.
9. Stargate SG-1
Created by: Jonathan Glassner, Brad Wright
Seasons: 10
Debuted: 2007
One of science fiction’s longest-running shows also has a certain sense of action and fun about it that makes it unique among the pantheon of other Nineties shows. The franchise is still continuing today in the form of Stargate Universe.
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What the hell? Charlie Jade? Have I missed something? Where was Reaper and Chuck? Stargate was a bit high to as was Babylon 5. I’ve been watching it again on FX and it brought back so many good memories. I agree with you about The Prisoner, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek though. Not bad…
It’s in no particular order, but I don’t really class Reaper and Chuck as some of the very best science fiction, even though I love Chuck.
Babylon 5 rocked, if only I had FX at home.
Charlie Jade’s text has been fixed now. Oops.
Farscape? Only because Charlie Jade is a show I’ve never seen here in the U.S., I would replace it with Farscape. But otherwise, your list is so spot-on that I can’t even find room in the top 10 for the original Outer Limits.
Farscape was awesome, I really did want to include it, but alas, space constraints.
Maybe a “10 more shows” post tomorrow. Perhaps.
In many ways I thought DS9 was superior to TNG. Im curious as to what you thought of it
I’m always surprised by the rabid salivating Firefly receives. I’m not remotely convinced it’s one of the top ten sci fi shows of all time. What about Dr Who? Farscape? DS9?
Where is Deep Space 9? It is clearly better than TNG and TOS on many levels. TNG may have had better ratings and been the first Trek series after many years, but I thought this was supposed to be about BEST series?
And Stargate SG-1 as one of the best SF series of all time? Come on. It’s fun, but in no way is it top 10 material.
@Daniel
DS9 was a far more mature show than TNG I think. My main problem with it is that it didn’t really make the best use of its setting or its plot, giving the characters a cohesive narrative structure until the Dominion War arc came along. Even then, they wasted time on characters who should have been killed off earlier, like Gul Dukat. In the same way, they never explored the Maquis over several seasons with the panache and aplomb that TNG did in the seventh season episode ‘Pre-emptive Strike’, and they never handled issues of torture and coercion as well as TNG did in ‘Chain Of Command’. I loved DS9, but I do think that TNG is the superior show ultimately.
@MW
It’s a matter of opinion I suppose. Personally, I love Firefly, but I can see why some people may not like it. I’m not a fan of Dr Who to the same extent as the other shows on this list, and while I do love Farscape, I couldn’t take anything out to replace it with.
@Ivana
It is just ten of the best, not the ten best. I disagree about DS9 being better than TOS or TNG as well, but that’s just me. And I stand by Stargate, what would your list be?
How can you say Firefly is “as eternally popular now as it ever was”? It flopped when it first aired. Are you suggesting that the show remains unpopular? Joking aside, though I greatly appreciate both Firefly and Charlie Jade, their lack of episodes has always convinced me that they are overrated. Not because I associate quantity with quality, far from it, but because popular opinion seems rooted in simple wish fulfilment. In essence, because I like what I have seen then more would surely be even better. However, as familiarity breeds contempt, longer running shows are more likely to decline in quality or simply fall out of favour, ie. the X-Files. Shorter running shows are thus unable to wear out their welcome in this way, providing them the opportunity to first build and then retain lofty reputations. Given this, if Firefly and Charlie Jade had remained in production would they be on a list such as this? Would Firefly have experienced the same problems that plagued Buffy as time passed? Who can make a case for seasons 6 and 7 over 1,2 or 3? Would a show as delicate in structure as Charlie Jade have ended in way like BSG, something specifically mentioned above. Or even worse, would they have suffered like Millennium, surely the ultimate example of decline through continued production. How can anyone defend the second season? Millennium would be held in much higher esteem if it had been cancelled after one year.
Great response, very considered and eloquent.
My ideal world would have seen Firefly continue for two or three seasons of 10-13 episodes each, because I think it had the potential and the momentum to do so. But I think that Charlie Jade was elegant enough in its current form, and didn’t really need any more than it had. Problems with the show were already evident when they changed writing staff halfway through and abandoned the blue pebbles idea, so if that continued I do think that the show would have suffered. Its structure and slow pace lent itself well to an enclosed structure, and mostly everyone other than Charlie and 01 Boxer had a conclusion at the end.
I still have a sneaking suspicion that Firefly would flop again if they brought it back though, in all honesty.
Cheers for the response. I loved TNG too and it definatley deserved to be on the list. As for TOS, I think it’s without doubt the greatest sci fi tv show ever.
@ James Rundle
Absolutely, it’s matter of opinion – but I have some objective bones to pick with Firefly. I’ve never been a devotee of the Church of Whedonology. Regardless, I’m sure we could have a beer together.
I’d suggest most TV franchises evolve and adapt to the audience they eventually have. I think it’s immensely rare to see a franchise stick strictly to the vision they originally conceived.
The best type of TV series simply service what the various stories require. However, TV studios are seldom interested in such things.
I HATE when articles are spread over 10 pages when they could easily fit on one. screw this. I refuse to go to other pages, or even scifinow in the future.
“Would Firefly have experienced the same problems that plagued Buffy as time passed? Who can make a case for seasons 6 and 7 over 1,2 or 3?”
Kudos, perfect point. If you’re going one season wonders, why not Space, Above, and Beyond? I wouldn’t neccessarily say Space belongs on this list, but it’s far, far, better than Whedon’s tired rip-off.
Firefly is overrated derative nonsense, ripped off from half a dozen better films and shows, acted by a mostly inept cast, delivering Whedon’s trademark cornball dialouge. Sloppy world-building too. Why not put Blake’s 7 on instead, rather than the show it ripped off?
No Farscape, The 4400,no DS9?
This junk is higher than Babylon 5? A show that set out its conclusion in the very first episode through brilliant foreshadowing, and then unlike Whedon, stayed consistent in its continuity for FIVE years?
Good list man. I don’t know a lot of these though.. Like I’ve heard of most on your list, and seen some. Never heard of Charlie Jade though.. Loved Star Trek NG; little bit more than the original actually. Battlestar Galactica and Stargate, I’m ashamed to say I’ve never seen. Need to Netflix ‘em.
I warn you, I’m a huge Whedon fan; LOVE Firefly. Have it in my DVD player right now actually.. lol. Thought I’d get that out of the way first.
I can see how people wouldn’t like Firefly, but I really think Joss kind’ve got screwed by FOX. Not airing the pilot and the early cancellation and such.. I never really saw it lasting incredibly long, a sci-fi/western, but I am surprised it was canceled so soon. I mean, they funded a major motion picture by mostly fan contributions.. Only failed TV show to ever make a movie. Obviously, it’s a cult show, and unfortunately, I didn’t see it until after it was canceled, but was it really so unpopular? I’ve yet to show it to a person who doesn’t love it.
X-Files deserves more. It was 1 of the biggest, most expensive shows of it’s day. Hailed for the first time as near cinema quality tv. I think people have short memories when it comes to the X-Files. Unfortunately the movies kind of ruined it, when it should have been the James Bond of sci-fi’s.
Oh, and I don’t know how you could leave off Dr. Who.
Just my opinion :)
Hehe. The list of one is another man’s cry for injustice, I guess. :)
I really don’t know Chuck, but Reaper, sci-fi? Hardly. No more than Supernatural, or the Mother (or MILF…) of adventure-terror-pop tv shows: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.
I wouldn’t have The Prisioner as being sci-fi neither, at least no more than any James Bond movie, what I’d rather not consider at all. :) Although it was a great show, without no doubts… instead, I’d gladly pick Doctor Who, as some folks have manifested.
I am a Babylon 5 devotee, I’d put second to the original Star Trek. B5 was so good that even its famous copy, DS9, could beat TNG – has any of you folks watched that lately? Gosh, it was so *UH-AH-YAWWNNN* – any time of the day.
Firefly… I think I prefer Serenity. Sadly, the original show never had gripped me. And, talking about cancelled tv shows: hey, where is Galaxy Quest? ;-)
And thanks for presenting me Charles Jade, I got really intrigued.
Nice list, though. :)
@zsgfgsa
How peculiar.
@KC
I did consider Space: Above And Beyond. What a great show! I would point out again though that the list isn’t in any order, and I do disagree with you on Firefly, but each to their own.
@nerdjuice32
Thanks! I’ve also yet to show Firefly to a person who didn’t like it – bear in mind that it wasn’t just the pilot fiasco that turned people off, but also the pre-empting for sports events, the lack of marketing, the constant shuffling of its schedule. Fox did a lot wrong there, which I suspect is why they gave Dollhouse such a huge chance. Making up after the fact.
@Eddy
The X-Files did deserve more than the treatment it got at the hands of the public. I enjoyed it all the way though, but did feel that it lost its soul slightly after Duchovny and Anderson departed.
@Luiz
I was actually having the Buffy debate with someone on Twitter the other day, and we came to the conclusion that it’s pretty damn sci-fi in places, although I was originally more in line with your view. Think about it: Robot Demon in the first series, Robot Ted, alternate universes, Adam and The Initiative in season four, BuffyBot, steroid-taking-fish-jocks and the such.
Essentially there’s a lot of robots, but still. And good shout on Galaxy Quest!
The Prisoner?? Really. I tried to watch both series, and could not get past the first 2 hours. Where was Torchwood?
@rehabber
Fair enough, I rather liked it. Torchwood didn’t factor into the list for me to be completely honest, I’m not a fan.
I remember Chris Carter at an interview saying that his show is planned to have 5 seasons, for he felt it was good enough to tell the story that he wanted to (pretty much like John Michael Straczynsky and Babylon 5), but atr the height of the 5th seasons, Fox had told him, ‘this is our main show. With or without you, we’ll keep producing it till the rates wear off’ (unlike JMS, who had some other type of contract that gave him almost full powers and rights over the show, to the point when WB ‘forgot’ to spare money for B5 finale season next year, he told a ‘screw you guys, I’m going home’ Cartman sort of attitude, and ran to TNT with his show).
I’m a bit uptight with some undefinable definitions like what is science-fiction and what is not. In my strict p.o.v., if you drop one bit of out-of-the-closet magic at a story, automatically you have a fantasy story.
Science-fiction non-sequitur characteristics (teleport, warp drives, psionic powers, time *machines*) have always the promise that actually those are cause-and-effect phenomena, understandable for whoever studies that, instead the all-nigh-and-mighty ‘just accept it, it is magic’ kind of lore spared for the Few Chosen — or something like that.
So, as Physics precedes Chemistry which precedes Biology, Fantasy precedes science-fiction. Hence, although Buffy has robots, it is still a fantasy (horror-style) show.
Hum, any word on Blake 7? The British seem to love that show. Never watched it myself.
And Galaxy Quest: Never give up, never surrender!
Oh yes, Buffy is primarily a fantasy show, but it has elements of science fiction to it inarguably. Not enough for me to include it on the list though.
Blake’s 7 is pretty good, Sky are commissioning a Battlestar Galactica-style remake at the moment – more on that here: http://www.scifinow.co.uk/news/exclusive-sky-high-hopes-for-blakes-7-remake/
Those are just great news! Despite of British tv shows have shorter seasons, they do great stuff! I loved ‘Jekyll’, and strongly recommend watching it.
But it is true, also, it saddens me a bit. As great as remakes can go (BSG Galactica), it seems to me that we are beginning to be stuck in some kind of karmic-tv-and-movies cycle… I miss watching a new concept. I think most recently I just had watched Dollhouse, or even Eureka. Of course, you can trace back Dollhouse all way up to Phillip K. Dick (and I’m pretty sure we’ll find something prior that Eureka would remind), but even so, both shows at least convinced me that they have (enough) originality.
One last random thought… the original Galactica may be of some worth, as well Buck Rogers in the XXVth Century (although I’d rather stick with Duck Dodgers in XXIV1/2 Century, in any of his both encarnations): these Glen A. Larson’s series brought the sound and fury of Star Wars space opera to the tv, shaking off the pessimism and glooming mood of 70′s sci-fi tv shows, such as Ark II and the Planet of the Apes tv series.
Just for the record, I loved the Battlestar finale. I don’t think it’s at all a shame where the writers decided to take it. It’s just an incredible episode in my book.
Anyway, it’s nice to see TNG and Firefly on the list too.
I would proudly defend Buffy 6 and 7 over 1, 2 and 3.
Just sayin’.
“I did consider Space: Above And Beyond. What a great show! I would point out again though that the list isn’t in any order, and I do disagree with you on Firefly, but each to their own.”
Fair enough James, but I’d say Whedon is a far, far better publicist and cult leader than he ever was writer.
And when I say cult leader, I’m not inferring you’re one of the nutters, you’re far, far too polite for that. :D
shame about BSG’s end, one of the best series finales ever, but no mention of the inimitable shame that was (and still is) the end of the X-Files? and by “end” i mean the last three seasons and most recent film? :p
‘KC’.. That wouldn’t happen to mean Kansas City does it? Where I’m living currently.. lol
Ah man, you don’t even think he’s a good writer? Well.. that’s just something I can’t explain.. different tastes to blame I guess. I suppose you could be correct if by ‘far, far better…’, you’re inferring he’s AMAZING at publicity and just really really good at writing.. :D
James,
Yeah I know.. I have a lot of problems with FOX. Didn’t want to get into it too much, so I didn’t just come off as bias against Fox. It’s not because I hate Fox that I defend Firefly…
They also didn’t air I think 3 other episodes near the end of the season, although one, I honestly didn’t like so much. I think it was ‘Heart of Gold’. Not my fav.. Not terrible, but probably my least favorite.
Great list, I agree with you about Charlie Jade (truly the best show I’ve ever seen), Babylon 5, The Prisoner, X-Files, SG-1 – true classics of the science-fiction genre – and partially on BSG (one of the best shows, but the ending ruined it for me).
Firefly – Very enjoyable, but also very unoriginal. Joss Whedon clearly stole many ideas for Firefly(2002) from Starhunter(2000).
The first season of Moonlight has just finished here in the UK on Virgin-1 and i appalled to hear that’s it no more it’s been cancelled by the US network…
Bugger is all i can say, yet again that’s another great US TV series that hit the skids way, way to early and we won’t be seeing any more along with:
Terminator (The Sarah Conner Chronicles)
Heist,
Firefly,
Life,
Dirty Sexy Money,
The Unit,
Reaper,
Chuck,
That one about troops in Iraq can’t remember the name
Deadwood,
My Name is Earl
Kipnapped,
Jericho,
Need i go on, i think you get the idea..
Ok not all Sci-Fi but all excellent shows, in their own right, but now vanished forever, while we get sado and mostly crap reality TV shows, and poxy Eastenders, shoved down our throats for years and years, i for one am sick of it…
Time for a revolt, i feel, And why in 2009 with all the Freeview channels and Satelite channels available are we still paying that out dated stealth tax the TV Licence Fee, the BBC should now be independant and have advertising.
you Numptys.
Firefly ahead of Galactica? what the….
Having TNG at 6 is patently ludicrous as it is the single most influential and popular SciFi ever.
And what is it with you and the lamentable Charlie Jade. The 4400 should be put in its place.
Again! Firefly. 13 episodes barely counts as a TV series.
Does Lost count as SciFi, where is that then?
Here are the top ten:
Star Trek TOS (the first and the best)
Star Trek TNG
Dr. Who
Star Trek DS9
X Files
Lost
Battlestar Galactica (remake)
Stargate SG1
Babylon 5
The 4400
Yes I think SG1 is very good and only pretentiousness prevents reviewers rating it higher.
Ryeman
1. Battlestar Galactica (1978)
2. Star Trek (1966)
3. Alias (2001)
4. Firefly (2002)
…that’s all I’ve got…
Um, Doctor Who?
For what its worth my top 10 from 10 to 1
Babylon 5 (until zahadum)
Quantum Leap (up to the Leap for Lisa episode, not to mention the final season )
the Twilight Zone (original)
Lost (position may change depending on ending)
DS9 (the best of the spinoffs)
BSG (would have been higher but for the ending, such a letdown)
Dr Who (New series,may drop down the list if any more “beast below” type episodes)
the Prisoner (orignal, see BSG)
Dr Who (original series, up to Androzani)
Star Trek (what it lacked in budget & effects it made up for with good stories most of the time)
1 – Stargate SG-1
2 – Stargate Atlantis
3 – Stargate Universe
4 – Star Trek Voyager
5 – Star Trek TNG
6 – BSG
7 – Alias (does that fit the genre)
8 – X – Files
9 – Bionic Woman
10 – Buck Rogers
Firefly is without a doubt the MOST OVERRATED sci-fi show EVER!! The writing is awful, the dialogue is cringe-worthy, the acting sucks, the characters are cut-outs and worst of all, EVERY CHARACTER PROVIDES COMIC RELIEF! It’s like sitting around a table where everyone is drunk and trying to outdo the last guy’s comment with a stupider joke. This show doesn’t take itself seriously and is one long jokefest, which turns to be a frakking boring and impossible for anyone over 14 to sit through…
Charlie Jade?? Thanks for that one…i’ve never heard of it, and since you rate it so highly i’m determined to watch it. If you have any links to watch it online then please post here.
As for the list…paah!
Battlestar remake definetely…that is one of the greatest shows in tv history. But where is Dr.Who and Blakes Seven? The Outer Limits?
You just can’t have a top 10 list without Dr.Who…that’s insane.
Ok, so just finished watching Charlie Jade. A very dream-like Ridley Scott-esque production..so dreamy in fact that I fell asleep almost continuously watching this.
It’s a terrific story, with some unusual direction and good performances all round. It most definetly is not top 10 material though.
My top 10 would include, in no particular order:-
Battlestar Galactica
Lost
Babylon 5
Star Trek
Dr.Who
Blakes Seven
The Outer Limits
The Twilight Zone
The X-Files
The 4400
Babylon 5? I found it hard to progress beyond the poor CGI and wooden acting, but it did have some good stories.
DS9? I found it hard to progress beyond the poor regular cast members (the outstanding cast members know who they are) and tedious Bajoran religious stuff, but again, some good stories.
I was always surprised that the Star Trek TV franchise did not include a whole show set it a holodeck; the writers loved the device so much.
Number one on my list – Futurama.
Close behind (in no order)
Red Dwarf
SG1
Universe
BSG (remake)
Caprica
Torchwood
Terminator The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Firefly
All Star Treks
UFO
Space 1999 (season one only)
Blakes Seven
Mentioned in despatches:-
Odyssey 5
Dollshouse
Warehouse 13
Sanctuary
Eureka
Hello,
what about Space: Above and Beyond. That was a hell of TV show
so Charlie Jade and SG1 make the list, but Buffy and Lost don’t even make it in? You also say “Shame about the ending”? Whoever wrote this needs to be booked into a rehab clinic immediately
How pleasant.
It´s a weird list. I love Firefly but to put it on the list and don´t have Blake´s 7 included (Joss Whedon admitted he was inspired by it) is strange.
From all ST shows, DS9 was the best. The black and white TOS or TNG can´t reach its quality. And you missed Farscape totally. (as much as I love Stargate, ti wasn´t the best, just average, with a luck for a big followings)
“9. Stargate SG-1
Created by: Jonathan Glassner, Brad Wright
Seasons: 10
Debuted: 2007″
Not true!!! The show started in 1997 and finished in 2007. The list by the way is not bad but some of the shows like Prisioner and Charlie Jade have questionmark in my book. Not beacose they are bad but becoase I’ve never heard of them.
My no.10 list would go like this (by the year of debut):
1. The Twilight zone (1959)
2. The Outer Limits (1963)
3. Star Trek (TOS) (1966)
4. Star Trek TNG (1987)
5. Stargate SG1 (1997)
6. Farscape (1999)
7. Firefly (2003)
8. Stargate Atlantis (2004)
9. Battlestar Galactica (2004)
10. Eureka (2006)
WTF? Where is HHGTTG?
And all the way down to Danny before any mention of Futurama and Red Dwarf. For Shame.
I also am in the anti Firefly camp. While harmless enough to while away a few hours it in no way was Top 10 material. And Dr Who, whether the new version (Don’t you just love the cheek of packaging the DVDs as Seasons 1, 2 etc), or the earlier Hartnell Troughton, Tom Baker versions really should be on their somewhere. In fact looking at the list apart from The Prisoner there are no UK made programs at all.
How about in addition to those mentioned already Survivors and Tripods.
I will let you off Torchwood as that really isn’t up to it.
Where is the original outer limits, perhaps the most influential, brilliant sci fi show of all time?! Where’s the beloved Futurama?! Wheres Farscape, the most perfect tv show to air since the outer limits?! And you can’t have a list of the best sci fi series without the classic dr who!!!!!!! Come on, we all know that Star Blazers also deserves some love. And wheres fan favourite Mystery Science theater 300?!