Star Trek

Okay, so we're all obviously Star Trek fans ... of one series or the other. But I'm curious to know how you stack Trek against a variety of other "outer space" sci-fi televison shows.

For me, I'd have to say my favorite "we're out in space!" sci-fi series are the following:

1) Star Trek (TOS)

2) Battlestar Galactica (Ron Moore's reimagining)

3) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)

4) Battlestar Galactica (classic)

5) Red Dwarf

6) Farscape

7) Babylon 5 (seasons 1-4)

8) Doctor Who (the Tom Baker years)

9) Star Wars: Clone Wars

10) Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG)

Note: I only included the Star Wars CGI series because it's tied into a live-action film series.

If I were to include animated series in general, then I'd have to add The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers as well as various incarnations of Macross, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Space Pirate Captain Harlock.

And well, that could get a bit out of hand...

My list of space shows worth watching:

1. Star Trek (TOS)
2. Star Trek: Voyager
3. Stargate Atlantis
4. Star Trek: The Next Generation
5. Stargate Universe
6. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
7. Star Trek: Enterprise

Red Dwarf is a cheeky time, occasionally. Wasn't able to sufficiently get into Farscape, Babylon 5, or the original Battlestar Galactica to continue watching after a few episodes. I stopped watching the new Battlestar Galactica a few episodes into the second season because it felt ideologically manipulative, (in a similar way to what spoiled Enterprise for me). The cartoons, I can't do. That said, if Pixar decides to do Star Trek, I may sqwee until I pass out.

* I should add that despite the fact that Stargate is as ideologically manipulative as can be without being outright propaganda, it has a great premise, a good story and a surprising amount of wow.

I won't put it in any particular order except that Star Trek is first in my mind. Enterprise, TNG, Voyager and DS9/TOS are first then.....(and mind you these are just "outer space" shows, not like Wonder Woman and such)

I enjoyed Earth 2, Babylon 5, Buck Rogers, Space:Above and Beyond, Both versions of V, the original Battlestar Galactica, Lost in Space, Stargate SG1, The X-Files, Alien Nation

My Top 8 (In no particular order):

1. Stargate SG-1

2. Starate Atlantis

3. Firefly!!!  (Surprised noone mentioned it yet)

4. Star Trek TOS

5. Star Trek: TNG

6. Star trek: Enterprise

7. DS9

8. Farscape

I'm still in the middle of some of these, and I've yet to start watching Battlestar, Babylon 5, and Stargate: universe.  But all of them are on my list...

FascinatingIndeed, I'm just not a fan of Joss Whedon's body of work. I never liked Buffy, Angel, or Firefly. I thought Serenity sucked. And I felt Alien Resurrection was WAY too "comicbooky" for an entry into the Alien franchise. Sorry. Whedon's characterization and tendency toward overly melodramatic, yet snarky dialogue just doesn't ring true for me. (I'm now seriously crossing my fingers for the upcoming Avengers film!)

Lula, in the same way you had trouble with shows such as Babylon 5 and Battlestar Galactica, I could just never get into Stargate. And I really tried to give the various series a chance. But yeah... Nothing. I mean, they actually bored me.

And based on your "ideologically manipulative" comments, I assume you hold a more liberal view that was offended by the likes of BSG and (sometimes) SG-1? You know, I'm really curious about those "wow" moments as I, apparently, never witnessed them...

I avoided Farscape based on promotional images and SciFi teasers back in the day. (It seemed to give off an aura of "kiddie sci-fi" with all of the puppets and whatnot.) But I gave it a chance last year and utterly dug it! Good, good stuff. Ben Browder did amazing things with the John Crichton character. The stories were really trippy and far-out. And the sets were incredible.

Reedworftripparis, I still adore the original V miniseries, with its parallels to Nazi Germany and resistance movements. Plus, it was just really great science fiction; I loved how the world's scientists were piecing together clues about the Visitors' true nature. But the ongoing series that followed? As well as the recent reboot? Yowch. Too much focus on flash than substance.

And as much as I enjoyed watching Lost in Space and Buck Rogers as a kid ... well, as I got older, I grew to appreciate them less and less. Ha. Unlike Farscape, they really did seem to be targeted to kids.

Of course, all of my above comments are opinion only! Hey, "different strokes for different folks" and "there's no right or wrong way to eat a Reese's" and all that...

Of those mentioned so far (besides TOS & TNG) I'd go with Red Dwarf and Babylon 5.

The former is great comedy and a new series is due soon. The latter shows what DS9 should really have been like. If you lke sci-fi comedy check out Hyperdrive if you can find it.

I liked two other old 60s US shows: Land of the Giants and The Invaders. The former suffered due to Irwin Allen's lack of interest in character development and some frankly unbelievable plots - but was well made considering the times. The latter represented the best of the Quinn Martin stable and at its best was sinister and eerie.

Regarding the other Irwin Allen shows: The Time Tunnel was just daft. I watched it again recently and cringed. Lost In Space was always silly nonsense; but his first show Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea was really good (if eventually a little drawn out) and could be seen as a forerunner of Star Trek.

Regarding homegrown product there is not a lot that is really great. I guess only UFO which stands out.

Perhaps not 'outer space' shows - but definitely connected in terms of otherworldly or supernatural qualities - we have the marvellous but tragically short American Gothic; the era defining Twin Peaks; Dark Skies; and the greatest shows of the 1990s: Millennium and of course The X-Files which was quite simply better than anything else around at the time - including Trek.

They should have made a TV series of Blade Runner. Perhaps they did ...

Enterprise disappointed me when Archer started torturing people and stealing their property. I remember the political climate at the time, with the constant justifications for torture from the government & media. That was around the same time that Battlestar Galactica started doing stories about suicide bombers. I stopped watching both shows because the political mindf*ck sucked the fun out of them. (I did finish watching Enterprise recently.)

If being offended by entertainment that sells torture and stealing makes me liberal, that is something you'll have to find a way to accept, dear TheDriver. Snark aside, since it apparently matters to you, I am most definitely liberal, humanist, progressive, leftist...

I knew what Stargate is going into it, so there was no disappointment. I liked the original movie, but never got into SG-1 which I found to be like the A-Team in space. Too much juvenile gunplay for my taste. I gave Stargate Universe a try because it's only 2 seasons and ended up liking it. Yeah, it has too much silly gunplay as well, but the premise of the story is compelling and most of the episodes were pretty good. After that, I sampled Atlantis and liked it for the same reasons. The wow is sometimes in the storytelling, sometimes in the set designs and the "technology". Plus the shows look great on a widescreen HD tv.

Babylon 5

Battlestar Galactica 2004

Doctor Who -- both new and old, some doctors more than others

Red Dwarf

Besides Trek, those are the only outer space shows I watch. I've never had a chance to see Farscape, though it's been recommended to me. Stargate always looked very silly, though I've seen a few episodes here and there. I agree with TheDriver about Firefly -- it's a relief to find out I'm not the only person in the world who didn't like that show!

[quote]

Reedworftripparis, I still adore the original V miniseries, with its parallels to Nazi Germany and resistance movements. Plus, it was just really great science fiction; I loved how the world's scientists were piecing together clues about the Visitors' true nature. But the ongoing series that followed? As well as the recent reboot? Yowch. Too much focus on flash than substance.

And as much as I enjoyed watching Lost in Space and Buck Rogers as a kid ... well, as I got older, I grew to appreciate them less and less. Ha. Unlike Farscape, they really did seem to be targeted to kids.

Of course, all of my above comments are opinion only! Hey, "different strokes for different folks" and "there's no right or wrong way to eat a Reese's" and all that...

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I loved the new V, I liked the story line, it kept part with the original series but there was definitely a lot of twists. I liked the addition of Diana and I just hated the way it ended. Would have liked to see how it ended. 

As far as Lost in Space, I agree it was better when I was a child but still something that I like and I do like the movie that was made of it. Matured it up. Buck Rogers I still like, it had a nice story though some of the stories were cheesy. But you have to expect it from the decade it was made. 

Well...

My second favourite show (Primeval) isn't a space opera so I guess that doesn't count. And my third favourite (Monty Python's Flying Circus) isn't even sci-fi!

The ones I can think of right now are the movie Galaxy Quest and the TV show Red Dwarf.

I did quite like Farscape back in the day. And Ulysses 31 when I was a kid!

I saw Doctor Who mentioned and I like that too, although I don't really think of that as a space show.

Want To See A Trek:TNG/Galactica Crossover Graphic Novel. Also, A Trek:TOS(Movies)/Spaceballs Saga Wouldn't Hurt,Either!  

After reading your comments, I decided to give Farscape another chance. I'm on episode 3.

Planet of The Apes-animated

Return to The Planet Of The Apes- live action

Star Wars- The Clone Wars

Space 1999

Buck Rogers

Lost in Space

Dr. Who

Land of The Giants

Voyage to The Bottom of The Sea

and, if they count, Hercules and Xena