Which Show to watch?

[Kegg]

Gaith wrote:

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[Picture of Carnivale title]

Oh, we're just generally recommending shows now? Alright.

I'd actually second Carnivale, but with the caveat that it's a weird mythology-driven series, some kind of supernatural apocalypse set in the 1930s, America, during the Dustbowl. The series was cancelled so the ending is unsatisfying, but the mythology was actually quite well thought out, which is refreshing.

It's definitely not for everyone though. A tl;dr description would be HBO's answer to Twin Peaks, which, given the casting of Michael J. Anderson in a prominent role, is sort of obvious.

Temis the Vorta wrote:

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No love for nuBSG? It's worth a look!

The new Battlestar Galactica is a fantastic series. In fact, being a dark, serious space opera with a serialized storytelling and morally compromised leads, it's more a 21st century heir to Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5 than any other TV show. Sure, the series can get frustrating, and the mythology arc is less satisfying the more you think about it, but in many other respects - its approach to drama, characterisation, the political and military content - it's one of the best space operas around.


My own recommendations would be kind of scanty, as I can almost name the sci-fi shows I actually like from the last decade on one hand. But what it's worth, if you want a cool, weird sci-fi show that blends a tale of interlocking alternate realities with ecological concerns, cyberpunk, and a fresh South African setting... there's always Charlie Jade.

Lonemagpie wrote:

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Or go find Dr Who, obviously.

Never cared much for Who.

[Distorted Humor]

Charlie Jade looks like something to watch...but can't seem to find it on Netflix/amazon.

I have decided that I am going though

DS9 -> B5 -> Farscape -> SG1 => NuBSG

Which should keep me busy for ..a year or so.

[Ian Keldon]

Gonna add my vote to "finish DS9 and B5" but then go to SG-1

[Kegg]

Distorted Humor wrote:

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Charlie Jade looks like something to watch...but can't seem to find it on Netflix/amazon.

It is notoriously difficult to get in some areas, although I believe in the Americas it had a short run on Sci-Fi (had a run on UK tv on FX, which is how I saw it). DVDs were easy enough to get on Amazon.co.uk, but I see that's not quite the same for Americans. Shame.

I have decided that I am going though

DS9 -> B5 -> Farscape -> SG1 => NuBSG

Which should keep me busy for ..a year or so.

Conservatively speaking. I mean, SG1 is what, ten seasons? You're gonna be at that a while... but a fun while, to be sure. Enjoy.

[Distorted Humor]

I will, finished up the opener for DS9...one down, many to go

[Gaith]

Evil Twin wrote:

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NOT THIS! Seriously, it's the only HBO show I've watched that I ultimately WOULDN'T recommend. Not enough stuff gets answered before the show got axed, so it just ends up being a bizarre, vague, and confusing series. I liked the setting, but that's about it.

Really? Unlike Lost, BSG and Twin Peaks, Carnivàle was pretty fully plotted from the get-go. Sure, the story isn't completely wrapped up, but I'd say that 80-90% of the questions posed in the first two seasons are answered by the show's end (check out the super-detailed Wiki pages if you don't already believe). What nagging mysteries eluded you?

[Mistral]

1001001 wrote:

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Stargate: SG1 is a solid, fun show. It goes on for many years, and gets a satisfying ending.

Plus, it has spin off movies. Always a bonus, IMO.
As does B5.

[Kegg]

Gaith wrote:

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Really? Unlike Lost, BSG and Twin Peaks, Carnivàle was pretty fully plotted from the get-go. Sure, the story isn't completely wrapped up,

Well, that's an understatement. I would rather say 'ends on massively infuriating cliffhanger.'

[JD]

Distorted Humor wrote:

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Charlie Jade looks like something to watch...but can't seem to find it on Netflix/amazon.

I have decided that I am going though

DS9 -> B5 -> Farscape -> SG1 => NuBSG

Which should keep me busy for ..a year or so.

Looks good to me.
I wonder what happened to Charlie Jade, I just watched it on Netflix streaming service a few months ago. They have it for free on Hulu though.

[Gaith]

Kegg wrote:

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Well, that's an understatement. I would rather say 'ends on massively infuriating cliffhanger.'

To me, "cliffhanger" means that something big is just about to happen/get started. See: Marty stuck in 1955 again at the end of BttF II, "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I". But Carnivàle was always intended to be a six-season trilogy of three two-season parts, and, given the tone of the finale's last scenes, I expect there would have been a lot more build-up to the next big event in the overall story. So sure, the epic was unfinished, but I wouldn't call the finale a cliffhanger per se.

[Satyrquaze]

Lonemagpie wrote:

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Finish DS9 and B5. move on to Farscape and SG1.

Or go find Dr Who, obviously.

/Thread

[Kegg]

Gaith wrote:

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To me, "cliffhanger" means that something big is just about to happen/get started.

I'm pretty sceptical of the idea of defining cliffhanger in such a way you don't have to say an obvious cliffhanger is a cliffhanger, so I checked Wikipedia's brief.

A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction. A cliffhanger is hoped to ensure the audience will return to see how the characters resolve the dilemma.

How Carnivale leaves us definitely qualifies,

with a main character going all black eyeballs on us. That's pretty clearly fitting the 'ensure the audience will return' bit, and also 'confronted with a shocking revelation' bit.