Overlooked/underrated sci-fi/fantasy TV series

[Commander Richard]

Another vote for Being Erica. It's a serialized show, so if you do catch it, start at the beginning. I'm still hoping for a TV movie or something.

Invasion and Surface aired at the same time (along with Threshold) and their serial stories paid off in some cool endings but didn't grab people for whatever reason. I remember posting here during Invasion complaining that nothing seemed to happen. I don't know if that was a fault of the series or this viewer but by the end I was disappointed that we didn't get a second season of Invasion and Surface.

A big problem with Invasion is that it aired after Lost when people were either still on a high or discussing the show online.

 

[Greg Cox]

A big problem with Invasion is that it aired after Lost when people were either still on a high or discussing the show online.

And that, as noted, it debuted at the same time as SURFACE and THRESHOLD. Three different serialized, mystery-filled, alien-invasion series, all going after the LOST audience, may have been two too many.

"Okay, is this the one with Lake Bell, or the one with Carla Gugino?"

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Dead Like Me

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Commander Richard]

And that, as noted, it debuted at the same time as SURFACE and THRESHOLD. Three different serialized, mystery-filled, alien-invasion series, all going after the LOST audience, may have been two too many.

I thought he meant that they aired around the same time. I don't recall them all airing on the same night and in the same time slot, and a quick look at their Wikipedia pages shows different air dates. But yeah, they were all Lost clones and people just weren't up for inferior products.

 

[JD]

Hugo - This has, as per usual, descended into the "Cut too short" Thread, no?

That makes sense. If a show was overlooked and underrated, then it probably didn't last long.

 

[fireproof78]

While we're on the subject of Stargate, am I the only person who feels like Stargate: Atlantis, despite lasting 5 seasons, didn't get nearly as much attention as it deserves/deserved?

I think it's an all-round better series than Stargate SG-1, with a more cohesive overall narrative and a broader ensemble feel (SG-1 felt at times too much like the "O'Neill and Carter Show", even after O'Neill left).

Sorry, no. As much as I like the characters of SG:A, the story line never grabbed me in a way that SG-1 did. I always felt like SG:1 gave each character episodes to show themselves and their abilities, or explore another facet of themselves.

 

[intrinsical]

Another vote for Being Erica. It's a serialized show, so if you do catch it, start at the beginning. I'm still hoping for a TV movie or something.

Yes! We have another one.

I can't say enough about how seriously underrated Being Erica is. It's like someone perfected the Quantum Leap technology and decided it is best used to improve people's lives by allowing them to jump back into their younger selves, fix mistakes they have made in their past.

It is a show format that can be replicated again and again. It's just too bad all the rumored spinoffs failed to materialize. I would have loved to see the show's concept of time travel therapy applied on a different person.

 

[Vandervecken]

The first six episodes of this show are, frankly, sublime, mental genius. Jonas & Josh Pate (who later went on to create Surface, which I have also seen on this thread) had a really distinct and unique brand of humour that didn't just tickle me, but, frankly, caused my laughter to turn into pain. They also employed every cinematic trick in the book to make their universe as ridiculous and amazing as possible. Sadly, they fell out with the production company and from episode 7 onwards they were no more. Oddly, Ron D Moore (DS9, BSG) took over the mantle as a consulting producer, but he couldn't "right" the ship in favour of what the Company wanted and the whole thing just turned into a pastiche of what the Pate brothers crafted in those first brilliant, insane 6 episodes.

Such premise, such a loss.

Another show that just popped into the brain that might float some people's boat - Brimstone - 11 episodes of well crafted "mission of the week" mayhem as a dead cop, sent back from Hell, hunts down 113 escaped souls in payment for his own. Worth it alone for John Glover as "The Devil".

Hugo - This has, as per usual, descended into the "Cut too short" Thread, no?

This is so interesting. I never knew about the disconnect between early and later episodes but it makes some sense. There was more connectedness between scenes in the early episodes as I remember, But I still enjoyed many of the later ones. Remember when Chandler was buried alive? And Henry ends up partway through the episode chained with his wrists overhead being cattle prodded by a Latino transvestite satan-worshiper?

Conversationally, with an accent: "it's a good thing you told me, otherwise I might have sacrificed you to Satan."

Just typing it I am grinning ear to ear.

Also, I knew the funny was always going to be ratcheted to gasping for air when Marshall Bell and Googy Gress started doing their senior agent thing.

And who knew Clayton Rohner could be funny? But come to think about it, if we forget that it was a serious role, his really unbelievably awful appearance in TNG in Too Short a Season does suggest a goofy and funny comedic actor in there. It wasn't all the prosthetics' fault, he came up with different weird and downright laughable takes on what Jameson would do in every scene, including acting like a muppet in one.



--------------



Terra Nova maybe?

Also: The Tick, animated, although I know some people do like the short-lived live action show. I didn't, but the main show was comedy superhero gold. But maybe the Tick is too popular to be considered underrated? I'd call it overlooked now, though, even taking into account it's a 90s show. Hah I am thinking suddenly of Sarcastro....hahaha....and "American Maid, we lost our arms, we lost our arms!!"

 

[John Clark]

Dead Like Me

Loved that show and also had a George Av for a while

 

[Hugo Rune]

Loved that show and also had a George Av for a while

I know it's generally bad when the creator of a show leaves after 1.5 episodes, especially when that creator is Bryan Fuller, but frankly I rather enjoyed what Stephen Godchaux did with the show. It may not have been what Fuller wanted (and there will always be that bit in my mind wondering "what if...?"), but for its two short seasons (minus the two replay/flashback episodes) it had great fun with some wonderfully acerbic characters and some clever and thoughtful portrayals of death.

Fuck that TV movie though. In the eye. With a needle.

Hugo - Who had the nerve to call you Joy?