The genesis for this thread was unknowingly begun a couple summers ago when I purchase a Star Trek complete series Blu-ray set. I've since added Sci-Fi's Battle Star Galactica, Babylon Five, Space Above and Beyond, and The Prisoner. In descending order, here goes.
Let's face it, for many of us older AKers the original Star Trek will always have a special place in our hearts. I was still in grade school when it first aired on NBC at 10. This was after my bedtime and we had but a single TV, so even if I had a later bedtime I wasn't going to be watching. However thanks to the wonders of syndication and channel 20 in DC I was able to view every episode numerous times. The thing that really struck me when re watching the series in original broadcast order was the colors. I don't think I had seen an episode in color, well maybe a few, until my re watch. Another thing was the unevenness of the stories which was also apparent to me when I first watched, but there were only a few that I didn't care for. Even with this minor picked nit Star Trek will always be my favorite.
Next on my list is Sci Fi's Battlestar Galactica. I remember watching a few episodes of the original when it was produce and aired by network TV thanks in no small part to Star Wars. It didn't do anything for me and I found the Buck Rogers TV series of the same time more entertaining. Not being a cable kind of guy, I rented the first season of the new and vastly improved Battlestar Galactica from Premier Video as soon as it came out and fell in love and the series remained excellent for the reminder of it's seasons. Truth be told in a direct comparison it is a better series than Star Trek.
Firefly has an advantage of having but 14 episodes, but everyone is great. I saw maybe two or three episodes over the air and rented the discs when they came out. A future where the world's cultures are mixed and the out world planets having an old west vibe. What's not to like? River and Jayne are my favorite characters.
When I purchased and began watching Babylon 5 I wasn't sure if I had watched the entire series when originally aired, but when binge re watch was finished with the emotionally moving last episode I knew I had. It's usually not in me to be in front of the TV the same time every week for to watch a show. Luckily for me a good friend shares the same trait and programmed his VCR to record every episode when they originally aired, all five seasons. He would fill a tape up, watch it and pass it on to me. After completing my DVD re watch marathon I couldn't help thinking what this show would have been like if it had a budget similar to concurrent Star Trek series. Maybe in a alt universe?
The first four choices were relatively easy compared to the fifth. The choice was basically between Star Trek Next Generation and Orphan Black. I also remember how much I liked The Prisoner back in the day which is why I purchased it. So far I've only been able to bring myself to watch 3 episodes to date (too much other good stuff to spin in the DVD player) showing that sometimes you can't go home again. I was in on Star Trek The Next Generation from the start and pretty much saw every episode. I'm still contemplating buying a complete series DVD set. If the entire series had been done to the level of the Borg stories it would've been number five. There's also Wesley Crusher to consider. Upon watching Orphan Black;s 4th season on DVD I've no qualms putting it in fifth place.
Looking forward to hearing about your five favorites.
Let's face it, for many of us older AKers the original Star Trek will always have a special place in our hearts. I was still in grade school when it first aired on NBC at 10. This was after my bedtime and we had but a single TV, so even if I had a later bedtime I wasn't going to be watching. However thanks to the wonders of syndication and channel 20 in DC I was able to view every episode numerous times. The thing that really struck me when re watching the series in original broadcast order was the colors. I don't think I had seen an episode in color, well maybe a few, until my re watch. Another thing was the unevenness of the stories which was also apparent to me when I first watched, but there were only a few that I didn't care for. Even with this minor picked nit Star Trek will always be my favorite.
Next on my list is Sci Fi's Battlestar Galactica. I remember watching a few episodes of the original when it was produce and aired by network TV thanks in no small part to Star Wars. It didn't do anything for me and I found the Buck Rogers TV series of the same time more entertaining. Not being a cable kind of guy, I rented the first season of the new and vastly improved Battlestar Galactica from Premier Video as soon as it came out and fell in love and the series remained excellent for the reminder of it's seasons. Truth be told in a direct comparison it is a better series than Star Trek.
Firefly has an advantage of having but 14 episodes, but everyone is great. I saw maybe two or three episodes over the air and rented the discs when they came out. A future where the world's cultures are mixed and the out world planets having an old west vibe. What's not to like? River and Jayne are my favorite characters.
When I purchased and began watching Babylon 5 I wasn't sure if I had watched the entire series when originally aired, but when binge re watch was finished with the emotionally moving last episode I knew I had. It's usually not in me to be in front of the TV the same time every week for to watch a show. Luckily for me a good friend shares the same trait and programmed his VCR to record every episode when they originally aired, all five seasons. He would fill a tape up, watch it and pass it on to me. After completing my DVD re watch marathon I couldn't help thinking what this show would have been like if it had a budget similar to concurrent Star Trek series. Maybe in a alt universe?
The first four choices were relatively easy compared to the fifth. The choice was basically between Star Trek Next Generation and Orphan Black. I also remember how much I liked The Prisoner back in the day which is why I purchased it. So far I've only been able to bring myself to watch 3 episodes to date (too much other good stuff to spin in the DVD player) showing that sometimes you can't go home again. I was in on Star Trek The Next Generation from the start and pretty much saw every episode. I'm still contemplating buying a complete series DVD set. If the entire series had been done to the level of the Borg stories it would've been number five. There's also Wesley Crusher to consider. Upon watching Orphan Black;s 4th season on DVD I've no qualms putting it in fifth place.
Looking forward to hearing about your five favorites.
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