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It's kind of funny to watch the progression of a genre. I recently purchased the entire run of Space: Above and Beyond, a series I loved up until it was cancelled - rather unexpectedly in my opinion - and of course, afterwards as well. Looking back on it now, I can see so many inspirations in it for space-based shows that came after, and it's just neat to track the genre as it develops on television.
The most ground-breaking series in the genre, in my opinion, are:
~Star Trek, of course. No way that can be denied.
~Space: Above and Beyond. Definitely a new take, not on the distant future, but on the more immediate future, which is not often attempted in the genre.
~Firefly. I mean, who else could ever come up with a space-western? It's wonderful. (And the interesting thing is, watching S:A&B, I would be willing to bet money that Whedon watched it too.)
I don't watch Battlestar Galactica, but I have a feeling that it's also making a lot of headway, from what I've heard.
Some honourable mentions:
~Stargate SG-1: by virtue of its fascinating blend of faith and science;
~Farscape: took the idea of Star Trek and just flipped it on its head, beat the crud out of it, and popped off scintillating jokes all the while... with puppets;
~LEXX: talk about your weird. Definitely worth a watch just for the utter kink.
And then of course, there's Futurama. *grins*
So I am wondering, what is your take on this genre, f-list?
The most ground-breaking series in the genre, in my opinion, are:
~Star Trek, of course. No way that can be denied.
~Space: Above and Beyond. Definitely a new take, not on the distant future, but on the more immediate future, which is not often attempted in the genre.
~Firefly. I mean, who else could ever come up with a space-western? It's wonderful. (And the interesting thing is, watching S:A&B, I would be willing to bet money that Whedon watched it too.)
I don't watch Battlestar Galactica, but I have a feeling that it's also making a lot of headway, from what I've heard.
Some honourable mentions:
~Stargate SG-1: by virtue of its fascinating blend of faith and science;
~Farscape: took the idea of Star Trek and just flipped it on its head, beat the crud out of it, and popped off scintillating jokes all the while... with puppets;
~LEXX: talk about your weird. Definitely worth a watch just for the utter kink.
And then of course, there's Futurama. *grins*
So I am wondering, what is your take on this genre, f-list?
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no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 06:32 am (UTC)From:You didn't like Serenity? :(
I like Stargate pretty well, though I need to be in the mood for it sometimes. I don't really follow SGA, though I have watched a couple eps. But the original: I love shows that can make fun of themselves, definitely. Always intelligent, that one. And I just know that Ben Browder's character in Farscape was templated off the snarky Jack O'Neil (though they made John Crichton much more pessimistically sardonic).
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 11:26 am (UTC)From:DS9 never held my attention though I have heard that a lot of people like it. ::nod::
I...had issues with Serenity. I feel like they did an okay job considering they had to make it standalone and that they couldn't fesibly wrap up the all of the threads they left behind. However I feel like it was too serious given Firefly and that there was a general genre/style shift that didn't feel right too me. And a couple of the things they left open angered me. Like the MASSIVE, GAPPING things that had suggested that Book wasn't a Shepard, which they didn't even touch...they just killed him instead. I dunno...It just...didn't feel right to me.
As far as Stargate...SG-1's Prime really was seasons 4-7 (though that pains me to say, b/c I hate season 6 in a rather histrionic way). I still really liked 8. 9.....wasn't so good, but 10 thus far has been really good, which is why I'm crushed that it isn't being picked up...while remaining optimistic as to what the producers will do next. But the thing is..when SG-1 started to falter, SGA picked up the slack. It's season 1 (same year as SG-1's 8th) was..solid. 2 was better. And this season has been consistantly better than SG-1.
And wow...I talk (type) a lot...I blame it partically on the the fact that I got about four and a half hours of sleep. Oy.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 11:27 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 02:40 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 02:37 pm (UTC)From:Hmm. I guess I would have actually liked Serenity less if they had tried to answer everything, tie it all up in neat little bows and such. Shepherd Book was always a conundrum to me, and I suspected strongly that he'd been some kind of alliance Major Bad Guy Possibly An Assassin or some such whatever. I was definitely sorrowful that I never got to find out, but it didn't bother me too much. I get bugged by stories that try to tie up everything neatly at the end because it doesn't reflect real life.
I didn't have a problem with the tone. I felt it matched the pilot of the series a lot more than the rest of the show, but what always startled and awed me about the show was Whedon's willingness to get at the messy aspects of things. My favourite part of the series was the Reavers because of the utter chill they sent up my spine. He got very gritty with them and I really appreciate that.
I like the latest seasons of SG-1 as well, which is odd for me because I usually have a problem when they switch up characters. Probably a saving grace that it was Browder and Black from Farscape, because I love them. But still, it's been hard to not see Jack there with the team. *is a Jack/Daniel shipper anyway* :( But the Ori have definitely been pleasantly overwhelming; they make me grit my teeth and whisper "fight them!" at the screen. So good to see religious fanatacism addressed in the show.