"Best of" SciFi?

[adam_grif]

Specifically TV-Series, although films can be nominated too, I suppose. What are the SciFi series worth watching? Don't recommend specific episodes unless you feel they are truly exceptional.

I'm going to preemptively throw out the first four seasons of Babylon 5. Tightly written, well planned and lacking any meaningful presence of techno-babble. The 5th season was such a letdown after I got through the end of 4, which was amazing.

Seasons 2-7 of Stargate SG1. I can't really get more specific than that because I can't really remember, but I do remember that when I did the start-to-finish binge on the DVD box sets about three years back I didn't enjoy Season 1 very much, and it went downhill during 8 and never really recovered. Loving SG1 may just be nostalgia goggles for me since our family used to watch it when it was on TV as a youngin'.

[Adrian McNair]

Off the top of my head these are my choices.

The first selection would have to be seasons 1-2 (plus the first four episodes of the third season) of Battlestar Galactica. That was when the storytelling and characterisation was at its height. The series was more grounded and the spirituality was relatively ambiguous. Those were good times. The fourth season had its high points (The Hub, Revelations and the Mutiny Arc) but it was all undone by that staggeringly poor conclusion.

Babylon 5's second, third and fourth seasons were definitely, in my opinion, the best. The fifth could have been among that list, but that stupid telepath arc bogged the whole thing down (as did Captain Lochley and her ridiculous attitude regarding the Earth Civil War). If it hadn't been for the Centauri War and Sleeping In the Light (probably the finest ending to a major sci-fi series. It honours its characters and doesn't contradict the premise like BSG did) it would have been a total loss.

[SilverWingedSeraph]

The first season and a half of Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda is, in my personal opinion, one of the better sci-fi series out there. After the first season and a half, however, the quality drops dramatically. There are still some good episodes here and there after that, but it's not as consistent or as tightly written. The final season in particular is so much crap that I'd recommend avoiding it entirely.

I'd have to second SG-1 Seasons 2-7, although I don't mind Season 1 either.

Firefly and DS9 are the only other television series I would nominate as being on par with either of those. That is, again, my own personal opinion, though.

The first two seasons of nBSG were pretty tight, though. Pity it went so downhill after that.

[adam_grif]

I kept on trukkin' through Andromeda until the Season 4 final episode, during which not a single fuck was given, and I finally stopped watching the show. I think the thing that finally sent me over the edge was when they shot Rommy, and I didn't care. So, I just stopped. Andromeda, I am disappoint.

[Stofsk]

I'll mention Star Trek and TNG, and FarScape as well.

[adam_grif]

I have the feeling we're going to get every show except Voyager and Enterprise mentioned in this thread

[weemadando]

S:AAB is worth it for some great ideas, amidst poor execution.

First Wave had some interesting concepts and a few really good episodes - whenever it decided to focus on the idea of aliens running psy-ops and test scenarios for how to best invade I remember it being quite wonderful.

[Shroom Man 777]

Doctor Who

[adam_grif]

S:AAB is worth it for some great ideas, amidst poor execution.

Could you elaborate?

Doctor Who

All 500 seasons?

[Shroom Man 777]

The first season of nuWho, with Doctor Destro.

[Razor One]

I'll also throw in for Farscape. Most every other SciFi show has been down hill in terms of characters, plot and execution in comparison... though I'll admit I'm biased.

Think Babylon 5 in terms of characters Meets the Anti-Trek in terms of setting and execution.

And unlike most SciFi, they're not afraid of sex and drugs.

[Kyler]

I am just going to throw some out, but not going to say which seasons

Scifi Channel's Battlestar Galacticia, Farscape, Stargate SG-1, Dr. Who, Star Trek TNG, X-Files

I was a big fan of Scifi's Invisible Man in the first season, Space Above & Beyond could have been great if Foxed had not canceled it.

Up & coming shows like Stargate: Universe & Fringe definitely show promise but only time will tell.

[Nathaniel]

Firefly season 1
nBSG: Miniseries, 1 and 2.
DS9: Seasons 3 to 7
Voyager (that's right): season 5. Voyager has a lot of crap in it, but season 5 actually has a pretty high concentration of good episodes. Season 4's also not unwatchable.
Futurama seasons 1-3

[Batman]

Err-there was only one season of Firefly to begin with?
Not that I disagree it was awesome.
I'll heartily second the first one and a half seasons of Andromeda. It's a pity it turned to utter shite after that.
SG-1 and SGA.
I've heard good things about Farscape but never really watched it.
NuWho was cool for s1 and okay during s2 but essentially took a downwards turn when Eccleston left.
I'd rather not comment on nBSG. oBSG was campy and stupid and made no sense a lot of the time, but at least it never had me rooting for the Bad Guys. Plus the Viper Mk VII is butt-ugly.

[FedRebel]

S:AAB is worth it for some great ideas, amidst poor execution.

Could you elaborate?

Swiss army knife Marines would be one thing

Marine Aviators are MARINE AVIATORS, they don't storm beaches "planets", and they don't perform Force Recon missions

[Eleas]

I've heard good things about Farscape but never really watched it.

Warren Ellis summarises Farscape as "the story of an American's descent into Australia's BDSM scene." While I'm not sure that's correct (as to the best of my knowledge there are few BDSM scenes starring creatures by Jim Henson), it's not too far off either. Basically, Farscape is what you'd get if you infused the concept of Voyager with the visual flair of Fear and Loathing and the chutzpah of Evil Dead. I don't know that I can describe it any better, really.

Definitely watchable, though.

[mr friendly guy]

First 1-4 seasons of Babylon 5.

First 2 seasons of Andromeda.

I would also recommend Doctor who (NuWho seasons 1-2). The latest season wasn't too bad IMHO although I know lots of people will bitch about it.
There are also lots of old classic Who stories, however there are numerous threads about those. Now I know you specificied season, but most of old who is sold as individual stories, so there.

[CaptJodan]

I'm going to reinforce the B5 era, seasons 2-4. I couldn't stand to watch it for quite a while because I watched it too much there in my youth, but watching it through again a few months ago reminded me of the quality, even if the sets and CGI are badly dated.

nBSG had the best opportunity to reach the same kind of characterizations and arcs that B5 had, but failed miserably after season 2.

I still enjoy watching TNG, though that could be more nostalgia than great quality.

I'll also reinforce Farscape. It's a wacky show, but took a lot of risks and often times those paid off. And I have a special love that they used puppets instead of CGI for most of their aliens. Even though it dates the show, I never got tired of John's constant injection of western references into the alien world that didn't get it (and his difficulty understanding their references was also enjoyable).

SGU has potential, but I think it'll get canceled before it reaches it.

[Captain Seafort]

There are also lots of old classic Who stories, however there are numerous threads about those. Now I know you specificied season, but most of old who is sold as individual stories, so there.

Nonetheless, the final two series were pretty consistently good - the only meh among them I recall was Silver Nemesis (although I admittedly haven't seen TGSIG).

[Skylon]

I

nBSG had the best opportunity to reach the same kind of characterizations and arcs that B5 had, but failed miserably after season 2.

People seem locked in a "season" mentality, so I'll just tweak this statement. I'd say BSG up to "Exodus pt 2", which remains, IMHO, the best episode of the series. The New Caprica arc wrapped itself up in amazing fashion. Season 3 got off to a really good start, then the series took a sharp nose dive.

B5 I'd say the season 1 finale, "Chrysalis" thru season 4. Season one had some real clunkers ("Grail" and "TKO" are Voyager level bad), but its finale was such an amazing turning point...it was the trigger that set off the main conflicts for the next four seasons.

[TOSDOC]

Star Trek TOS was limited in its SFX but had some terrific stories--the writing of seasons 1 and 2 were excellent. TNG had some moments, but the old series remains my fav.

Farscape was a great show from start to finish--it's only downside is that it must be watched in its entirety. Stand alone pieces don't really exist as there is always something mentioned to connect to past and future episodes. Farscape is also the ultimate cure for those who are fed up with "forehead" aliens--it really goes out of its way to display exotic alien creatures, some albiet tongue-in-cheek. It's also why I was turned off to the new BSG at first--I thought the whole Number 6 thing in Baltar's head was done first and better with the Scorpius clone in Farscape.

The new Doctor Who was my first sci-fi show after Farscape left, and it had it's stand-alone stories which made fun to watch week-to-week without Farscape's neverending cliffhangers. My wife also got into it with me in the second season--she thought David Tennant was hot, and I thought he was the best Doctor since Tom Baker. All of the seasons have a couple of terrific stories.

For me, a good show has taught pacing--I like the feeling of having watched a full-length movie from an hour of television. Farscape and Doctor Who certainly provided that.

Trying Firefly and Torchwood now on Netflix.

[Lord Insanity]

S:AAB is worth it for some great ideas, amidst poor execution.

Could you elaborate?

Swiss army knife Marines would be one thing

Marine Aviators are MARINE AVIATORS, they don't storm beaches "planets", and they don't perform Force Recon missions

So the main characters of Space: Above and Beyond all have a degree in "military" like almost all mainstream sci-fi military characters. At least the S:AAB characters had R. Lee Ermey as their drill instructor during the two hour pilot. Seriously though S:AAB has all the best parts of nBSG in it. Sure the effects are dated, but not much more than B5 really. Also by the third episode, Capt. Vansen is the best female soldier ever.

[Stark]

Did you just compare SAAB effects to B5? It pisses all over B5; B5 looks like a C64 game. SAAB's CG is fine, poor texturing aside.

Since the Wildcards spend maybe four whole episodes being pilots and the rest of the show being Marines, I really think nerds have to just get over it. Remember, they suck as pilots so bad someone grounded due to injury is better than them.

[Batman]

Regardless of the quality (or lack thereof, I don't remember enough of it to comment either way)of S:AAB, B5's CGI quality was fine for its day.
It just didn't go out of its way to not LOOK CGI. I'm happily awaiting Stark presenting CBM64 graphics looking better than B5 SFX.

[Stark]

Fuck off. The SAAB CG had a better palette, better designed ships for the CG limitations, and similar problems blending explosions. SAAB is also older. Its better than B5. I was blown away when I realised SAAB is from 1995. Its probable that their intelligent re-use let them put more effort into each shot, since they had less situations and less types of ships.