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 ...
I always liked “The Time Tunnel”, especially the episode where they brought machine guns to the Roman Era....talk about a fantasy game-changer......
The last year of the reboot alternated between cheesy, plot holes too big to handle, horrible monsters (eye snot? really?) and throwbacks to the old series to try to make it OK.
I remember I was a kid, maybe 11 or 12, when “The Prisoner: was on as a summer replacement. It was so far ahead of it’s time that even today you can watch it and it doesn’t seem dated. They did a remake I passed on, just now as good as the original. Patrick MacNee was really good writer, producer, and director as well as a very good actor and made that series work.
It is a direct revival. Even has the same actors reprising their original characters when possible.
That is the one show I seriously hope for a reboot. The concept deserved better than what it got.
How about “Galactica 1980”? Laughable to the point of being a classic, lol.
The Invaders.
Quinn Martin’s only SCI-FI series.
Battlestar Galactica reboot before bringing in Starbuck as an angel was good.
Babylon 5 is excellent. The spinoff series was horribly trope.
Earth Final Conflict was good until they brought in the vampire energy alien progenitors of the Taelons.
Good list with BTVS in top 10, but never watched Dr Who , Battle Star Galactica, Space 1999.
Could not make sense of the Prisoner, saw some Firefly , but never Dollhouse, saw X files until final season , Lost Quantum Leap, the Star Treks.
Where is Angel?
Flash is currently good.
I don’t agree that ST: TNG is only #17. I think it rates higher.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psi_Factor:_Chronicles_of_the_Paranormal
Psi Factor was syndicated in the US back in the 90’s.
It’s essentially a Canadian version of the X-Files with Dan Ackroyd doing the intros.
Babylon 5 should be WAY higher on the list. It should be at least top 10 if not top 5.
LOL. You stole my thunder.
The genius kid that Adama took advice from was probably the killer. Even Star Trek’s Wesley had him only as an ensign, officially reporting to adults.
Agreed.
I remember I was a kid, maybe 11 or 12, when “The Prisoner: was on as a summer replacement. It was so far ahead of it’s time that even today you can watch it and it doesn’t seem dated. They did a remake I passed on, just now as good as the original. Patrick MacNee was really good writer, producer, and director as well as a very good actor and made that series work.
Patrick McGoohan. Yeah, way ahead of it’s time.
He was a Shakespearean actor as well as played Longshanks in Braveheart as well.
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