The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

1. Firefly
2. Star Trek
3. Dr. Who
4. The Outer Limits
5. Lost In Space

1- Firefly
2- Sarah Connor's Chronicles
3- Andromeda
4- Battlestar Galactica
5- Babylon 5

1. Farscape
2. Firefly
3. Lexx
4. The prisoner
5. Max Headroom

1. Star Trek
2. Star Gate SG-1
3.Farscape
4.Fire Fly
5.The Outer Limits

Are we doing of all time here? I'm going to not put mine in any particular order:

1. The Twilight Zone (still some of the best, and most innovative stories ever written in sci-fi).
2. The X-Files (because this show made the sci-fi TV show mainstream. Also, some brilliant episodes before they jumped the shark)
3. Firefly (no explanation needed)
4. Doctor Who (classic and pre-Steven Moffat!)
5. Sarah Connor Chronicles (some of the best plotting ever created!)

Honourable mention for Dollhouse - first half a season was good, but after that it really started taking off and getting heavy, which was awesome.

Second honourable mention for Futurama - one of the best marriages of comedy, sci-fi, and some truly poignant stories!

1. Doctor Who
2. Lost
3. Fringe
4. BSG
5. Supernatural (does it count?)

I can only think of two and they are The Twilight Zone and Futurama.

Alexander wrote: "I can only think of two and they are The Twilight Zone and Futurama."

You and I have very similar sensibilities I see.

My personal top 5

1. Star Trek DS9
2. Firefly
3. BSG minus the last 2 episodes :)
4. Star Trek TNG
5. Babylon 5

i dont watch much tv at all so i'll stuggle to fill 5

1. x-files
2. battlestar gallactica
3. the outer limits
4. land of the giants
5. futurama

these are not in any particular order

1. Twilight Zone. I just watched "Eye of the Beholder" and "To Serve Man" with my kids last week and they loved it.
2. Star Trek - TOS, often candy-coated social commentary but it was my grandma's favorite so that alone puts it in my top 5.
3. X-files.
4. Babylon5
5. BSG

Gregory: I'm curious, why barring the last two episodes? I think the concept of the series finale is fantastic - mitochondrial Eve and humans developing advanced robots! The latter indicating that 'history' may repeat itself.

Spoilers!!!! :)

I loved BSG and didn't hate everything about the ending, but I found it hard to believe that this technologically advanced people would unanimously agree to live without even the basic technology, medicine, etc.. Also I understood the Starbuck vanishing act, but she was my favorite character on the show and I guess I was hoping for something more.

1. BSG
2. Firefly
3. Dr. Who
4. X-files
5. Orphan Black

The last one is a modern sci-fi show from the BBC network. I love it so far. :)

1. BSG
2. X-files
3. Red dwarf ( British comedy / Sci-fi)
4. Babylon 5
5. The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy

In order of appearance:
1. The original Twilight Zone is absolutely the best speculative TV show ever produced. Great writing, actors, & Rod Serling was a genius!!!
2. The Outer Limits hasn't aged as well as I thought it would, but I was awed as a little kid.
3. Star Trek was so awesome. We always made sure to catch it & my wife is a super fan, so we've seen them all. I don't mind re-watching them. We never got into DS9 or Enterprise, but both STNG & Voyager are included.
4. Firefly - how could they cancel such a wonderful space opera. Death to the TV executives responsible!!!

I should be a Whovian, but never got into it for some reason. Marg didn't like the X-Files, so I haven't seen much of that, either. I liked Red Dwarf the few times I watched it.

For me it is:
Doctor who
Firefly
Twighlight zone
Star Trek (s)
Hard to pick a fifth one???

For me:
-Sliders
-FarScape
-Dark angel
-Firefly
-Orphan black

#randomSpam:
I'm watching Fringe, (3 season now), so far I've seen some references to science fiction books and authors, such as:

1.One of the characters said:
a friend of mine used to say: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." , and I was like OMG, arthur c Clarke third law.

2. other character was looking the bookshelves of another one, and there was a copy of "Childhood's End" by arthur c clarke

3. other said:
my friend Isaac said: "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome", then again I was like: Oh, Isaac Asimov!

4. one episode is called: "Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?" Shapeshifters are half machine half organic.

I've seen Firefly a time or two, but I'm completely unaware of all the other shows you listed. I'm not a TV watcher. But I am familiar with the four references you listed.

So, I'm going to do a top 5 old, 5 new, and 5 alternative list because I feel like it. I had an awful lot of trouble comparing my old 60's favorites with my modern favorites and my non-US produced favorites. It's like they're completely different animals.

Old Stuff:
1. Star Trek TOS
2. Twilight Zone
3. The Avengers
4 The Outer Limits
5. Lost In Space

New Stuff (relatively speaking) in no particular order:
1. The X-Files
2. Lost
3. Battlestar Galactica (the new one not the old one)
4 The Walking Dead
5. Alien Nation

Alternative stuff:
1. Misfits (season 1-3. An unbelievably good time travel/ superhero/ super powers arc. BBC).

2. Being Erica (a very bizarre mix of chick flick/time travel/ dimension travel/ therapy session in 4 seasons. Canadian)

3. Lost Girl (succubi,were creatures, you name it, they've got it in this show, just lots of fun. Canadian)

4. Being Human (the British version, first three seasons. SO much better than Syfy channel watering down of it).

5. Can't think of a fifth right now.

David wrote: "So, I'm going to do a top 5 old, 5 new, and 5 alternative list because I feel like it. I had an awful lot of trouble comparing my old 60's favorites with my modern favorites and my non-US produced ..."

I have to agree with Being Human it's brilliant, I was sad when it ended. definitely one of my favorites.

In no particular order:

Babylon 5
Battlestar Gallactica
Farscape

Blakes 7 - for something a bit different

Dr Who (the original - though that's from the POV of a child)

Can we include Japanese Anime as well? I would definitely add Neon Genesis Evangelion to the mix then.

Radiantflux wrote: "In no particular order:

Babylon 5
Battlestar Gallactica
Farscape

Blakes 7 - for something a bit different

Dr Who (the original - though that's from the POV of a child)

Can we include Japanese A..."

Personally I like Japanese anime although i've nor watched as much as i'd like. Not seen Neon Genesis Evangelion but am going to go look it up.

1. Cowboy Bebop (The original inspiration for Firefly)
2. Firefly
3. Star Trek: The Original Series (select episodes)
4. X Files (select episodes)
5. Doctor Who (select episodes)

I find it hard to find good science fiction TV. Series like Doctor Who and X files are a bit overrated because although there are some great episodes, you have to sift your way through a lot of poor writing first.

Doctor Who (Original Series)
Star Trek TNG
BSG (Re-imagined)
Star Trek DS9
Lost In Space

Not in definitive order ... They can be interchangable for various reasons ;-)

Doctor Who
Battlestar Galactica

and that's it, i'm not that expert on sci-fi on televiosn....

I'm going to add Black Mirror to my favourite series. Not conventional sci-fi but a dark view on modern life and technology. Each episode is a different subject. There not all great but they do set you thinking.

In no particular order:

Star Trek
Doctor Who
X-Files
The Twilight Zone
Farscape

In no order.

Sarah Connor's Chronicles. I'm glad to see a few others that agree. Better than all the Terminator movies put together.

Star Trek. All of them. DS9 and Voyager at the top.

Babylon 5. One of the best 5 year story arcs.

Stargate SG1. Great story arcs and the best character growth.

Dollhouse. Everyone picks Whedon's Firefly. I found this to be better (Not counting the weird ending extra episodes).

50 years of Sci-Fi TV shows. My list on IMDB. No fantasy, no animation.
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls017484399/

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey knocked my socks off. 5 stars!!! I saw the first season of "The Expanse" on TV & liked it. It was one of my top 5 this year, but I heard the book was even better. They were not kidding. Far better & the show didn't spoil it at all. Next season might, so read this now. Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

1) The Twilight Zone
2) The Outer Limits
3) Star Trek - TOS
4) The X-files
5) The 100 (if you ain't seen it you are missing out)

Runners up : Cowboy Bebop and Alien Nation

Gregg wrote: "1) The Twilight Zone
2) The Outer Limits
3) Star Trek - TOS
4) The X-files
5) The 100 (if you ain't seen it you are missing out)

Runners up : Cowboy Bebop and Alien Nation"

I'm watching the second series of The 100 now. I'm quite enjoying it although they have changed a lot from the first book.

I haven't read the books. Are they adult or juvenile SF?

These are all older shows.

1. Star Trek ( original series)
2. Doctor Who
3. Red Dwarf
4. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

And a tie for fifth: The Invaders starring Roy Thinnes and the British series Blake's
Seven.

Gregg wrote: "I haven't read the books. Are they adult or juvenile SF?"

They are YA so I guess teenager or thereabouts. I've only read the first one but I was going to read the second one as well - they are quite cheap for the Kindle and it's an easy read for my holiday.

Unfortunately, I have never read any juvenilia other than "Twilight" and "The Hunger Games". I require a more adult format and "The 100" broke into that in the TV adaptation, otherwise, it would have been Earth 2 and such all over again.

01 - Star Trek (TOS)
02 - Futurama

I do not watch much series and even those is not sci-fi.

1. The Twilight Zone (original series)
2. Star Trek (original series)
3. The Walking Dead
4. The X-Files
5. Battlestar Galactica (original and reboot)

Honorable mention to Genndy Tartakovsky's animated Clone Wars series and the old black and white Superman TV series.

Special nod to Space: 1999 just because of the cool intro each week and also Martin Landau's out-of-control eyebrow hair.

And let's not forget the Star Wars Holiday Special.

Not one person mentioned "Lost in Space". I'm shocked.
;)

It is nice to see the Twilight Zone so well remembered. I'm still amazed by how well those episodes have aged.

Twilight Zone (original series)
Star Trek (original series)
X-Files
Lost
Stranger Things

If Xena: Warrior Princess could count as sci-fi then it would definitely make my list. Also, I like Orphan Black, Outlander, Game of Thrones, Jessica Jones, Handmaid's Tale, and American Horror Story (seasons 1&2). I guess those all have some sci-fi elements to them.

I've only seen 1 episode of Doctor Who but my friends were all obsessed with it so eventually, I want to give it a chance.

Star Trek Voyager
X-files
Stranger Things
Star Trek Next Generation
Andromeda (only for sentimental reasons - my daughter was just born and I would hold her during naps and watch Andromeda reruns).

That's a great reason, Matt.

Jim wrote: "That's a great reason, Matt."

Thanks Jim :)

And now, one can buy Twilight Zone action figures.

Because, of course you can: https://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Henry...

My top 5

1- Battlestar Galactica
2- Space 1999
3- Twilight Zone
4- Star Trek
5- Logan's Run

Ed wrote: "And now, one can buy Twilight Zone action figures.

Because, of course you can: https://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Henry..."

I think the Kanamit action figure would be the way to go. But the three-eyed Venusian looks pretty cool too.

Jim wrote: "Not one person mentioned "Lost in Space". I'm shocked."

Fine, I'll mention it. I like both versions of "Lost in Space".

It is impossible to pick a top five, but here are five greats:
Deep Space 9
Babylon 5
Blakes 7
Farscape
Westworld

1. Battlestar Galactica
2. Firefly
3. V
4. Max Headroom
5. Person of Interest

1. Twilight Zone (85-89) I HAVE to look out the airplane window..every time I'm up there and more than once. I can't not look.
2. Tales from the Dark Side
3. V
4. Stranger Things
5. Star Trek, The Next Generation
6. Quantum Leap

Let's see. I'd say my top five would be:

1 - Star Trek TOS
2 - Star Trek TNG
3 - Battlestar Galactica (2004)
4 - Twilight Zone (1958)
5 - Stargate SG-1