This list was extremely difficult. I moved shows around, added new ones, had to take some off the list. This was difficult to do. Here is my list of top 10 Science Fiction series that I love. Just because I love it, doesn’t always mean I think it was best acted nor even the best concept. These are just my favorites.
This list doesn’t include shows that I would classify as primarily fantasy like Xena and Hercules nor supernatural/Monster series like Buffy or Supernatural.
10) Six Million Dollar Man — The Six Million Dollar Man was a huge part childhood. This series based of the novel, Cyborg by Martin Caidin. This series featured Lee Majors as a astronaut Colonel Steve Austin. After a bad crash, they rebuilt his body with bionics, cyborg parts. This gave him super speed, strength, and telescopic sight that he used as a secret agent for OSI. This was my go to show as a young boy. I can still the sound effect. The episodes with Big Foot were so cool.
9) Space: Above and Beyond — 1995 Fox aired this awesome space marine fighter pilot series called Space: Above and Beyond. It is 2063 and Earth has started colonizing a couple of planets. This caused first contact with an alien race to be hostile. This series dealt with racism, technology, slavery, PTSD, and much more along with being a kick butt space marine series. You can check out my full look back review of this series from January here. This one season was mistreated by FOX and was nominated for two Emmy Awards and one Saturn Award.
8) X-Files — Here is a science fiction series that FOX actually let find its following and promoted it. The FBI has a special unit that investigates things that cannot be explained. This series had a heavy dose of government cover up along with aliens, mutants, and the unknown. This series held my imagination for 11 seasons. The TRUTH is out there.
7) Doctor Who — One of the most influential series for all of Science Fiction. Doctor Who has always been huge in Britain. It has gain huge popularity on this side of the Pond since the relaunch in 2005. No matter who your favorite doctor is, Doctor Who is a main stay for science fiction fans. BTW, my favorite is the 10th Doctor (David Tennant). Allons-y!
6) BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (2005) –Rarely are re-makes at the same level as the original on any series or movie . BSG is one of those exceptions. It took the general ideas of the original series and expanded upon their original mythos. This series added a level of intrigue with the human form Cylons. The controversial ending of this series is loved or hated by fans. This version of BSG changed the way science fiction series were viewed by critics.
5) Star Trek (TOS) — I could easily have several different Star Trek Series on this list. But I chose the original Star Trek because it is my favorite and was important to my childhood. I would come home from school and watch reruns of the original series. This developed my love for Star Trek after I feel in love with Star Wars. I just love the dynamic of Kirk, Spock, and Bones.
4) BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (Original) — The remake made the list at 6 but the original makes my list at 4. This show was only on for one season. But this series built upon my freshly developing love for science fiction action. It premiered in 1978, just over a year after the original Star Wars (A New Hope). It had KOOL space battles and awesome characters. It had depth of story and mythos. There was a lot more than just a cheesy sci fi series in the late 70 even though it did have its share of 70s cheese.
3) Stargate SG1 — I really enjoyed the Stargate movie. it was so different with aliens who acted like they were gods. This series was a sequel to the original movie. Again, these don’t usually work especially when you replace the stars. But Richard Dean Anderson became Jack O’Neil and Michael Shanks became Daniel Jackson for me. When you add in the new characters of Sam and Teal’c, it propels into even more awesomeness. The Goa’uld are a prefect bad guy group. This series was amazing and I would still watch it anytime. It originally aired the first couple of seasons on Showtime, which I didn’t have. I had friends tape off the episodes so I could watch.
2) Land of the LOST (Original) — I know this may be a cheesy pick but this series was instrumental in my childhood. There was so much weird and KOOL storylines and plot to this series (especially the first two season). You have top of the line special effects (at that time) to create awesome dinosaurs. There are lizard people who cannot come out in the daylight. There are pylons with gems that do weird things to the Land of the LOST. One of the KOOLest ideas was that of a closed universe. When they went to the top of a mountain they could see themselves through the binoculars. Such a KOOL series an so important for my love for sci fi.
1) Firefly — Number 1 is the short lived space western that we all hate FOX for canceling. This series is about perfect. It is set 500 years in the future. The crew are all unique and different. You have to love each one of them and they are all so flawed. The outer rim planets that are very old west except for the occasional space ship. They are smugglers but with a conscience. My favorite episodes are Jaynestown and Our Mrs. Reynolds. It won a primetime Emmy.
