Help a guy out

[Manji187]

I have been out of the whole sci-fi series thing for a long time but feel the need to go back in again .

I absolutely loved the late 90's (1996-1999). During that time there were several interesting series on Dutch TV: Sliders, Stargate SG-1, Star Trek Voyager and Deep Space 9, Babylon 5, Earth: Final Conflict. Then the new millenium began and they all vanished one by one (some even before the turn)...to be replaced by doctors, lawyers and crime scene investigators (and other men and women of the law). Mystery was mostly provided by psychics and vampires.

My last bit of sci-fi on TV was Star Trek Enterprise. After that I didn't watch TV series for a long time.

Yes...I've heard of a channel called "SyFy" (don't have it).

Basically my questions are: are 21st century sci-fi series (beside Star Trek Enterprise) any good? If so, which ones? How do they compare to their predecessors?

 

[DefunctTheory]

Battle Star Gallactica isn't TO bad... until you get to Earth. Then it just degrades into nonsense.

Eureka is Sci-Fi. Its basically a sitcom where crazy science stuff happens. The characters exist, for the most part, to be in danger, and to be funny, while the show mostly revolves around 'worst case scenarios,' flopping back and forth between soft science (Midas's touch bacteria? Really?) and theoretically possible stuff (Combat drones gone haywire).

Its good stuff.

 

[smearyllama]

Doctor Who is exceptionally brilliant, and Firefly was good while it lasted.

 

[Radeonx]

Firefly is pretty good, if you watch it in order.

 

[Realitycrash]

Stargate: SG1, Stargate: Atlantis are both EXCELLENT series. I wouldn't bother with Stargate: Universe tho.
And if you doubt me, let me just say this: Both series have Richard Dean Andersson, SG1 as regular and SG:A as reoccurring.

If you don't know who Richard Dean Andersson is, then SHAAAAAAME!

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Doctor Who is exceptionally brilliant, and Firefly was good while it lasted.

Yup. Right here. It's all available on Netflix Instant Streaming, by the way.

 

[Manji187]

Stargate: SG1, Stargate: Atlantis are both EXCELLENT series. I wouldn't bother with Stargate: Universe tho.
And if you doubt me, let me just say this: Both series have Richard Dean Andersson, SG1 as regular and SG:A as reoccurring.

If you don't know who Richard Dean Andersson is, then SHAAAAAAME!

He's the guy who can get out of any sticky situation with some bubblegum and his trusty Swiss Army knife

But I mostly remember him as the joke-cracking Jack O'Neill. Good times.

Hmm, so SA: Atlantis is worth checking out where SA: Universe is not. But why? Simply because it doesn't have Jack in it ? Or does it bring nothing new to the table?

 

[JezebelinHell]

Universe is a completely different show, they are stuck on a ship. Besides it is already canceled. Two seasons is all there will be. Personally I liked it but it was a big change from SG-1. They tried to leach off the popularity of Battlestar Galactica with a show called Caprica too and that has also failed as it was completely different and really just uninteresting.

I suggest:
Fringe, currently running season 3.
Battlestar Galatica, 4 seasons total and some specials. The ending wasn't great but it was a really good show and they are going to be making another attempt with a spin off of it called Blood & Chrome. So you have time to get caught up and judge them on a new one.
V, currently in the second season. No one seems to mention it much on here but I enjoy watching it.

 

[similar.squirrel]

I know it doesn't quite meet your criteria, but I'd recommend a 'documentary' called Alien Planet. Breathtaking animations coupled with good astrobiology.

 

[Realitycrash]

Stargate: SG1, Stargate: Atlantis are both EXCELLENT series. I wouldn't bother with Stargate: Universe tho.
And if you doubt me, let me just say this: Both series have Richard Dean Andersson, SG1 as regular and SG:A as reoccurring.

If you don't know who Richard Dean Andersson is, then SHAAAAAAME!

He's the guy who can get out of any sticky situation with some bubblegum and his trusty Swiss Army knife

But I mostly remember him as the joke-cracking Jack O'Neill. Good times.

Hmm, so SA: Atlantis is worth checking out where SA: Universe is not. But why? Simply because it doesn't have Jack in it ? Or does it bring nothing new to the table?

As Jezebelin pointed out, SG:U is a different show alltogether. They tried to make it "darker" and "more mature", but all they did was kill of everything that made the franchise special, while also failing in all regards to be "dark and mature". Most characters are tiresom stereotypes with little depth. But Jack O'Neil does show up in about three to four episodes, so that is always something.

SG:A is worth checking out because it is everything that SG:1 was, plus it has Dr Rodney McKay, a quite superb actor (David Hewlett) and an excellent character. A whining, brooding, petty supergenius, but with a sarcastic wit and tendency to save the day when threatened with violence.

 

[Manji187]

Stargate: SG1, Stargate: Atlantis are both EXCELLENT series. I wouldn't bother with Stargate: Universe tho.
And if you doubt me, let me just say this: Both series have Richard Dean Andersson, SG1 as regular and SG:A as reoccurring.

If you don't know who Richard Dean Andersson is, then SHAAAAAAME!

He's the guy who can get out of any sticky situation with some bubblegum and his trusty Swiss Army knife

But I mostly remember him as the joke-cracking Jack O'Neill. Good times.

Hmm, so SA: Atlantis is worth checking out where SA: Universe is not. But why? Simply because it doesn't have Jack in it ? Or does it bring nothing new to the table?

As Jezebelin pointed out, SG:U is a different show alltogether. They tried to make it "darker" and "more mature", but all they did was kill of everything that made the franchise special, while also failing in all regards to be "dark and mature". Most characters are tiresom stereotypes with little depth. But Jack O'Neil does show up in about three to four episodes, so that is always something.

SG:A is worth checking out because it is everything that SG:1 was, plus it has Dr Rodney McKay, a quite superb actor (David Hewlett) and an excellent character. A whining, brooding, petty supergenius, but with a sarcastic wit and tendency to save the day when threatened with violence.

Just did a quick info check on Wikipedia...found out that SG:A main guy's character name is John Sheppard....lol. Apparently the series started in 2004, three years before the original Mass Effect, but it kind of makes me wonder. Is it just a rather generic name or was Bioware "inspired"?

Thanks for the suggestion (to watch SG:A) by the way .

 

[Realitycrash]

Stargate: SG1, Stargate: Atlantis are both EXCELLENT series. I wouldn't bother with Stargate: Universe tho.
And if you doubt me, let me just say this: Both series have Richard Dean Andersson, SG1 as regular and SG:A as reoccurring.

If you don't know who Richard Dean Andersson is, then SHAAAAAAME!

He's the guy who can get out of any sticky situation with some bubblegum and his trusty Swiss Army knife

But I mostly remember him as the joke-cracking Jack O'Neill. Good times.

Hmm, so SA: Atlantis is worth checking out where SA: Universe is not. But why? Simply because it doesn't have Jack in it ? Or does it bring nothing new to the table?

As Jezebelin pointed out, SG:U is a different show alltogether. They tried to make it "darker" and "more mature", but all they did was kill of everything that made the franchise special, while also failing in all regards to be "dark and mature". Most characters are tiresom stereotypes with little depth. But Jack O'Neil does show up in about three to four episodes, so that is always something.

SG:A is worth checking out because it is everything that SG:1 was, plus it has Dr Rodney McKay, a quite superb actor (David Hewlett) and an excellent character. A whining, brooding, petty supergenius, but with a sarcastic wit and tendency to save the day when threatened with violence.

Just did a quick info check on Wikipedia...found out that SG:A main guy's character name is John Sheppard....lol. Apparently the series started in 2004, three years before the original Mass Effect, but it kind of makes me wonder. Is it just a rather generic name or was Bioware "inspired"?

Thanks for the suggestion (to watch SG:A) by the way .

Yeah, I'v picked up on the Sheppard thing aswell, pointed it out on the forums a few uears ago. Sheppard is a rather generic hero-name, actually. There have been quite a few of those on TV. But what annoys me with Mass Effect-SG:A is: Both have the same attitude, both are team-leaders, both are brownhaired, both are generic-white, both star in SF-adventures, etc etc.
I am CERTAIN that someone in Bioware's team were fully aware of the similarities, but just chose to ignore them.