Best Space-Based Sci-Fi Shows in the Last 25 Years

[Lonemagpie]

Assuming "space-based" to mean centering on characters based on a starship or space station...

In chronological order:

DS9
B5
Farscape
Firefly
NuBSG

I don't consider Dr Who or Stargate to be "space-based" (except SGU, which was disappointing anyway and wouldn't fit in a "best of" list), so there you go...

 

[MacLeod]

^Using your definition DW could qualify as the Doctor is based on/in the TARDIS which fits the criteria of star ship. SG:A could also qualify as the characters are based on the City Ship of Atlantis. True in SG:A Atlantis only travels something like twice.

 

[Angel4576]

^I thought TOS finished 43 years ago.

I'm treating TOS:R as a new body of work

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

^I thought TOS finished 43 years ago.

I'm treating TOS:R as a new body of work

Fair enough - I liked the updated effects much more than I thought I would.

 

[Starkers]

Frankly, all the treks are similiar.. seasons 1-3 meh to blah, seasons 4-6, pretty good, season 7 depends.

Even Enterprise , who had a much shorter run, knew it was in danger of cancelation and after season two , kicked it up a few notches.

My list if it "only" had 5 would be, and Im regulating to "space" shows vs "scifi" shows.



3. Star Trek Voyager, I really think this was some of the most worthy moments of trek history from Seven of Nine to the end. It was truly a treat to see Sevens growth, the interactions of the crew around having a borg on board, plus you have to admit the show was ten times better when they changed antagonist to the Borg. The show really started off slow, but built, just like TSG and DS9 in my opionion, however overall I would rate Voyager as slightly ahead of both of those in its overal content. I just cant get over how terrible the start of ds9 was, I know some of you will disagree, but there is a reason they made as many changes as they did.

Not on my list,
Dr Who.. its more scifi, then space based scifi, so it would be in my top 5 of my whole complete list for sure, as would star trek TOS, but if your judging a show by its ships, the Tardis, is more a vechicle to a destination and never a vechicle you lived in , for the show purpose anyways.

B5, story arc aside, I just dont think this is a top 5 show, either in the space side , or full list side. It never drew me in like other shows, I struggled to get through them at times. There is a reason you share story writing responsibilites at times, fresh perspectives, do help!

DS9, early DS9 was just the worst of trek IMO only, it grows, it grows dramatically , but I cant get past those first couple of years, the worst of DS9 is far more horrible then the worst of TSG or Voyager.

TSG, This grows as well, from borg/picard onward, the show is much better. There is a episode, where they focus on lesser officers for a whole show, its really quite unique in the trekverse, I wish TSG highlight moments were earlier and more often, but the best of TSG still holds well. .

I'm sorry but VOY aka TNG-Lite, wasn't 10x better when they intrdocued the Borg. From a story point of view it weaked the Borg further as a threat. Yes I know DW uses the Dalek's a lot but in that case the main protaganist "The Doctor" is from a race that is at worst equally advanced as the Daleks. Rather than the Federation which is less advanced than the Borg. VOY never drew me in like DSN did, as for which was better overall I would give VOY 3 stars out of 5 decidely average it did show flashes of greatness but sadly it was dull repative storylines that had been done many times before not only in ST but other Sci-Fi Shows. Shows like Farscaoe did at least try to do something new with similar stories. The best chracter in VOY was the EMH in fact I might go so far as to say if it wasn't for Robert Picardo the show would have been a lot worse.,

BTW don't you mean TNG not TSG?

But we as viewers are drawn to different elements of a show.

Personally I liked Voyager a lot more whilst DS9 was still running, I thought they complimented each other well, and much as DS9 is my favourite Trek show (well joint top with TOS) often if I just want to slap an episode in to pass the time it's Voyager I reach for simply because it's lighter fare. Also I've recently embarked on a rewatch of Voyager (thought it was finally time to get the DVDs) and while I'm only in the 2nd series I have to say I'd forgotten how good the show was, the first season was a bit meh, but season 2 has really picked up the pace and I'm surprised at how much foreshadowing has been going on. Sadly I recall it going down hill after the whole Seska arc is finished, though it does pick up again, initially at least, when Seven shows up.

 

[TerraNovan]

Im throwing in Europa report and voyage to the outer planets, as a pairing.

They are both technically movies, but there are better understood as television docudrama .