My brain is fried from a cross-country flight and from crafting a fellowship application that will convince the NSF that I am the most brilliant graduate student ever to cross their electrons. So, in lieu of actual science and/or technology, I give you geekery.
Eric and I are always looking for more science fiction TV shows to tide us over between BSG and Dr. Who seasons. It doesn’t have to be of the very highest quality, but it has to not suck. Unfortunately, “not sucking” seems like an overly high standard. We’ve tried Farscape, Babylon 5, and both Stargates (SG-1 and Atlantis), but been unable to get into any of them. Farscape drove me off after they claimed a character was cold-blooded – then showing her sweating. (and I didn’t care about any of the characters anyway.) Babylon 5′s acting was so atrocious that I actually had to close my eyes. Stargate SG-1 was cliche-ridden and tedious. Atlantis had great supporting characters (love me some Scottish doctor) but the main characters were annoying, and the genuinely scary Wraiths never reached their full villain potential.
But Heroes Season 1 seemed so promising. There were some great characters (Hiro Nakamura is my imaginary best friend), a fine apocalyptic plot arc, gorgeous visuals…despite the blatant X-Men ripoffs, giant plot holes, and Mohinder’s Angel-esque angst. Unfortunately, Season 2 seems to have fallen apart so badly that the creator apologized to fans from the writers’ picket line. I’ve only watched the pilot so far, but eep.
I hold out hope for Battlestar Galactica: Razor (Admiral Cain is my imaginary evil mastermind best friend) and for Joss Whedon’s new series. (Though it’s called Dollhouse. Double eep.)
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It’s not science fiction, but I highly recommend at least the first season (which is all I’ve watched so far) of Deadwood. Starring Wormtongue as the doctor!
i don’t actually think that heroes season two has been much worse than much of heroes season one. if you liked the first one, it’s worth watching. some of it is good. the show never aspired to much (in many ways). hiro is my best friend too. especially since he went to brown. we must have all met there.
my battlestar galactica expert friend says that razor kinda sucks. i am officially clueless, but thought i’d share.
i’ll take the opportunity to push “dexter.” scifi, no. excellent, so. and “ugly betty!” and “the wire” and “weeds.” my parents are obsessed with “mad men.” it’s very good.
I’ve been digging Journeyman, which got moved around to follow Heroes in NBC’s Monday lineup. It really only uses sci-fi as a plot device, so I guess it’s more like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in terms of its sci-fi-ness. I am somewhat upset for Joss caving and returning to Fox given the treatment of Firefly and his own words on the matter, but c’est la vie.
Stick with Babylon 5. Maybe start with season 2 and then go back once you’re hooked (you will need to have seen season 1 eventually to get what’s going on). The acting is painful in the first season, no doubt, but by season 2 they a) have a new captain, which solves a lot of the problem right there, and b) the other actors have settled into their roles better. But really, it does all of the amazing plot arc and characterization things that make Buffy and BSG so good.
We’ll check out Dexter & Journeyman. And Sam, because I trust you, Babylon 5. :>) We’re already into Ugly Betty, Weeds, and the Wire. Especially the Wire – SO GOOD.
Re: Joss on Fox – he said there were totally different people in charge at Fox now and that he thought he could work with them. I’m a bit dubious too. But I want so badly for him to go another TV show! His long plot arcs are just not suited to the movies.
Martini-Corona – I don’t know why the wordpress spam catcher hates you, but it sticks all your posts in the spam folder where the sun don’t shine. Sorry! (and I want to watch Deadwood but Eric has already seen it so I need to either do away with him or wait for him to go on vacation without me.)
Wifey and I got into Eureka last fall and still watch it when we remember. Its smart and funny with plots that continue on in other shows, but with a central plot for each individual show.
Thanks, Kevin! Though I have to say, I fear the town of angsty scientists – sounds too much like working at an isolated field station. :>)
Except they are all physicists!! Now how scary is that?