Best Genre TV shows of the Decade 2000-2009

[Mr Light]

Why are people disqualifying a show that started in 1999 but aired the vast majority of its episodes in the 2000s? (Farscape)

 

[species5618]

^^^I think the idea was to list shows that started from 2000 onwards...like I said, I'd throw Farscape in there but it technically doesn't count I guess.

 

[DevilEyes]

Originally I was going to make this only a Sci-Fi list of the best shows that came out in the just concluded decade, but I felt it was unfair to leave out shows that weren't Sci-Fi but weren't enough of to warrant a listing of their own.

Well, actually, this decade hasn't concluded yet, since it started on January 1st 2001 and it concludes in a year's time, on December 31st 2010 while the new one starts on January 1st 2011...

But what the heck, since we're doing this, I'll list my favorite SciFi/fantasy/horror shows of the first 9 years of this decade... Lost is on top followed by Battlestar Galactica (which was #1 for a while, but it slipped after the 2nd part of season 3 and the season 4); then, in no particular order, Life on Mars (UK - I haven't seen the US version), Carnivale, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The 4400, Doctor Who... I also loved the pilot of Caprica and I expect it to make my top 10 shows of the decade list if the rest of the show lives up to it.

I liked Jericho but I don't see how it is SciFi any more than, say, Sleeper Cell.

I watch Heroes but I don't think it's that good, season 1 could sneak in, but barely, since the finale was very underwhelming.

FlashForward is interesting but I'm not sure of the quality yet - we'll see how it develops...

I'm halfway through Enterprise's run so I still have to make the final judgment. I've only just started watching Eureka, I'm far behind on Fringe, Dollhouse and Torchwood and haven't even seen True Blood or Stargate Universe yet. I've also seen very little of Firefly and it the little I saw didn't grip me, but I might give it another chance. So this list may change quite a bit when I do finally get to see them all.

Since we're talking about "genre" rather than SciFi, I've recently started watching Spanish mystery/thriller/horror/drama El Internado Laguna Negra (Boarding School Black Lagoon) - even though it's a couple of years old - so far it is very interesting and addictive, I'll see if it's really good.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Well, actually, this decade hasn't concluded yet, since it started on January 1st 2001 and it concludes in a year's time, on December 31st 2010 while the new one starts on January 1st 2011...

The rule that is applied to centuries isn't usually applied to decades though. So, the century started in 2001, but the decade began in 2000. Otherwise, the year 1990 would have been part of the 80ies and so on.

 

[DevilEyes]

Well, actually, this decade hasn't concluded yet, since it started on January 1st 2001 and it concludes in a year's time, on December 31st 2010 while the new one starts on January 1st 2011...

The rule that is applied to centuries isn't usually applied to decades though. So, the century started in 2001, but the decade began in 2000.

You are aware that this doesn't make any sense?

Otherwise, the year 1990 would have been part of the 80ies and so on.

It is.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

The rule that is applied to centuries isn't usually applied to decades though. So, the century started in 2001, but the decade began in 2000.

You are aware that this doesn't make any sense?

Would I start to worry about all the things which don't make sense in the world I wouldn't have time for much else.

Otherwise, the year 1990 would have been part of the 80ies and so on.

It is.

Technically, 1990 is part of the ninth decade of the 20th century, which started in 1981 and ended that year. But it is also commonly referred to as part of the 1990s, which started in 1990 and ended in 1999.

By definition, a "decade" is any random period of ten years. Strictly speaking, the period between 1995 and 2005 is also a decade. There aren't such strict rules like they are with centuries and millenia. 2000-2009 is a decade because we decide it is.

So, we're currently in the first decade of the 21st century as well as in the 2010s.

 

[TheMasterOfOrion]

Some very good shows mentioned in this thread, apart from a fist full of stinkers

LOST

nothing but a soap opera, it wasn't really ever about science fiction
Alias had the same problem - rudderless
JJ should stick to movies

Smallville

terrible show, I get what they were trying but it should have been canceled years ago

Battlestar Galactica (first two seasons only)

I agree the first two seasons were ok, no in fact the first two were very good but the rest sucked the time jumps at the end of S2 is where the show really started to jump the shark. When some old direct-to-dvd scifi B-movie with crappy actors from the 1980s show kicks BSG's butt in the ratinsg you know something is wrong with the show. Fans said they were walking away in disgust and the Nielsens prove it

Dollhouse

meh

 

[Kegg]

Since Farscape is excluded, well, Battlerstar Galactica, Charlie Jade, Futurama and Firefly were the shows I saw and thought were overall very good. So them. The second show gets my whiny, obnoxious fanboy pick for most underrated program.

 

[Harvey]

Since Futurama started in 1999, I suppose it would have to be excluded as well, on a technicality.

I keep hearing about this Charlie Jade, but I missed its run on SyFy. I've read that it's not coming to (region one) DVD. Is it available online somewhere?

 

[Kegg]

Illegally, all over the place (IIRC even with some tacit support by the producers simply as means of raising awareness of the show), but not legally that I know of. It is (was?) available in R2 DVD around the time it aired here a few years back.

Anyway, yeah, I'm a big fan.

Also, blast Futurama was easily one of the defining sci-fi shows of last decade for me, simply because I rewatched any given episode of that show more times then I watched the other shows put together. And Zapp Brannigan. And that one with all the Star Trek actors. Glorious!

 

[Harvey]

Where No Fan Has Gone Before. Simply brilliant. Yeah, I love that series, too. I enjoyed the movies for the most part, and look forward to 26 new episodes.

Alas, Region 2 DVDs are of no use to me. I can't afford the investment in a new DVD player at the moment, and the DVD drive on this computer has been broken for several months...

 

[Kegg]

That's a shame. If it ever airs again or you get some other improbable opportunity to watch the series, it's worth checking out. The first six-eight episodes are pretty uneven, but around that point there was a complete staff turnover with the writers and the show became a lot tighter (though I found a lot to like about the early part of the season also).

 

[Trek4Ever]

Why are people disqualifying a show that started in 1999 but aired the vast majority of its episodes in the 2000s? (Farscape)

Well the same rule will apply ten years from now with a top ten list of shows from this decade. Meaning stuff that just premiered like SGU, V, Flash Forward can't make the list even though they may wind up running a long time (I have no idea if that's the case but let's just pretend).

That was a headache for me when I made up my own list. I really enjoyed what I saw of SGU but I knew it would last beyond 2009 and for all I know future episodes could suck so badly to disqualify it from the original top ten list (Heroes comes to mind) so I didn't include it. Maybe someone should make a post of best shows from each decade?

 

[Checkmate]

What I meant were shows that are science fiction, fantasy or horror. And though some people have listed shows like Farscape, I meant for shows that made their debut from 2000 and on (and yeah some those shows should be on a top 90s list).

I'm assuming "best" means best, not necessarily favorite. So I'm going to base my top five on that concept.

1) Dexter. The first season was, in my opinion, a masterpiece. The following seasons weren't as good, but still way above most other series on television. A favorite and a best.
2) Supernatural. This show is just fucking awesome. The leads are charismatic as Hell and fun to watch, the writing is (very often) creative and inspired, and the world the show takes place in is exciting and fascinating to speculate over. It's too bad its on the CW. Another favorite and best.
3) Battlestar Galactica. Moore took the concept, fiddled with it a bit, and tried to explore how a high-tech society would deal with an apocalypse. While I didn't care for where the story went, I applaud it for at least trying to do that. Unlike the original series. "Hey guys, our entire civilization just went up in flames, let's take a break on our last-ditch effort to escape and survive to hang out at this casino planet! Which, uhm, kinda proves that there's more than just us out here. But nevermind that, pass the Ambrosia! Whee!"
4) Lost. I avoided this series for the first four years it was on the air. The concept didn't appeal to me at all; I've never been a fan of stranded-on-an-island stories, despite loving every one I've broken down and watched over the years (which itself is kinda odd). But once I gave it a chance, I was absolutely hooked. Enthralling characters, interesting storytelling, and quite a few actors who really stand out. My only criticism is how they seemed to be winging it in the beginning and how they gave up some of their original concepts nad went down some really odd roads as a result. Still enjoying it and still admire the tenacity of creating a whole new mythos.
5) Futurama. Kind of a "duh." This show has clever writing, fun storytelling, and voice actors who really seem to enjoy themselves. A genre show I never get tired of watching in reruns; something I haven't been able to say since the original Star Trek.

I really enjoy True Blood as well, but I'll be the first to say that the storytelling and (in several cases) acting is God-awful. Definitely a favorite, but not a best by any measure of the term. Doctor Who falls into this category for me, too. RTD is a God-awful storyteller, but the concept of the show is one that can survive despite that set-back. Here's hoping Moffatt will be able to show him how it should have been done.

I also really wanted to add Heroes, but I can't. I simply can't. The concept is absolutely brilliant and something that could really take off in the right hands, but the execution has been mind-boggingly wretched. Even the few great actors and actresses they get on the show are left stranded and lost amidst the mediocrity of the writing and inability of the show's head to get over his pout-fest of not being able to do what he originally wanted to do. It's a great example of one of those shows that's perfect on paper, but which poor management and disgusting writing turns into a pile of dog shit.

 

[Chris_Johnston]

All the obvious choices have been listed, but I'd like to add one...

Day Break - Hulu
Day Break - Wikipedia
DVD Verdict Review - Day Break: The Complete Series

 

[RAMA]

I don't really watch horror or fantasy shows, so I'm sticking mainly with Sci fi...

1. Lost-Mainly on the strength of the first 2 seasons
2. Heroes-Mainly because of a great 1st season
3. Fringe-Getting better and better
4. Flash Forward-Became a fast favorite in the RAMA household
5. Dr Who-Great show but a little too silly at times.
6. ST Enterprise-Underrated
7. Battlestar Galactica-Started out with a bang then fizzled into stupidity, complete with a horrbile finale.
8. Threshold-A shame this one was canceled
9. Defying Gravity-This one never had a chance
10. Eleventh Hour

 

[Jetfire]

Smallville, LOST, SuperNATURAL, Enterprise, Kyle XY, The Vampire Diaries, BtVS/Angel...I mentioned this in another thread but I liked this show called Starhunter...wish it would have lasted more than 2 seasons.

Oh...gotta love Mutant X!

 

[Bob The Skutter]

1. Doctor Who
2. Lost
3. Battlestar Galactica
4. Life on Mars (UK)
5. Firefly
6. Torchwood
7. Supernatural
8. Ashes to Ashes
9. Misfits
10. True Blood

There's others like Daybreak, Survivors, The Dresden Files, The Lost Room, Invasion, Dollhouse, Carnivale, etc. Some may even deserve to be on the list above ones I've put on there, but those are the ones that came to mind first.

 

[AvBaur]

1. LOST

2. Battlestar Galactica
3. True Blood
4. Doctor Who
5. Buffy/Angel (would be higher, but some of Buffy's best stuff was still in the 90s)
6. Firefly
7. Farscape
8. Enterprise
9. The 4400
10. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

I also watched and mostly liked Fringe, Dollhouse, Legend of the Seeker, Dark Angel, Smallville, Heroes, Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures. But I think those were either too mixed quality-wise or too short-lived to make my list. I realize Firefly wasn't exactly on very long either, but that had more of an impact, I feel.

 

[The Comedian]

Firefly
Battlestar Galactica
Torchwood
Dr. Who
True Blood