SciFi tends to be (what I consider to be) fucking bad.

[StBishop]

It just tends to be poorly made (production value) and my dislike of space enhances it rather than help me to get over it.

There just tends to be a very home made feel about it, watch Star Gate and then watch Fringe. There's a massive disparity between (what I consider to be) one of the best made Sci Fi shows (Edit: Fringe) and what I consider to be a pretty much standard production value Sci Fi show (Edit: Star Gate) , I don't mean that everything needs great effects or what ever, Quantum Leap is an example of something I consider to be "well made", especially for it's time, I just expect the sets and acting to seem organic.

So with that in mind, prove me wrong. Give examples of well made, and especially non-space based, good Sci Fi shows.

PS. Inb4 Doctor Who. I don't really like it and can't be bothered getting in to it.

EDIT: For clarity! Thanks Jadak.

 

[Jadak]

Which is best made and which is standard?

Both Stargate and Fringe are excellent shows.

Off the top of my head for decent non-space based sci-fi, Eureka.

Edit: Also, Warehouse 13 and The 4400.

Edit Again: Sliders. The Outer Limits? X-Files? The Dead Zone?

 

[MercurySteam]

PS. Inb4 Doctor Who. I don't really like it and can't be bothered getting in to it.

Perhaps it's not something wrong with the genre, but maybe the fact that you cannot get into that's the problem. We all have genres we don't give a crap about but the more perceptive people would say "It's not for me" as opposed to the others who say "The whole genre is shit."

I can't blame you for not being able to say anything good about a genre that you're so obviously disinterested in but know that there's nothing wrong with Sci-Fi, it just doesn't appeal to you.

 

[blankedboy]

Moon.
The Fifth Element.
Minority Report.

^Three movies.

I don't watch TV shows, but if anime counts I'll leave Ergo Proxy and Texhnolyze here.

All five of those are film masterpieces. Go have a look.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

Anything put onto a DVD by SyFy. You don't know good cheesy sci-fi until you've seen Crocosharktipus Vs. The Arachnapiranhaconda.

I kid, I kid.

But yeah, Warehouse 12 is a good new one, Sliders eternally rules, and X-Files is always classic.

 

[Doclector]

Wait, you don't like space? How is that even possible? Just to hate space? Never mind.

I'd say a town called eureka and heroes series 1.

 

[StBishop]

Um, X-Files guy

Good idea. I missed that as a child due to my mother thinking it'd give me nightmares.

PS. Inb4 Doctor Who. I don't really like it and can't be bothered getting in to it.

Perhaps it's not something wrong with the genre, but maybe the fact that you cannot get into that's the problem. We all have genres we don't give a crap about but the more perceptive people would say "It's not for me" as opposed to the others who say "The whole genre is shit."

I can't blame you for not being able to say anything good about a genre that you're so obviously disinterested in but know that there's nothing wrong with Sci-Fi, it just doesn't appeal to you.

It's not that I don't like Sci Fi, I love the Sci Fi that I've found which I don't find to be prohibitively bad (poorly made).

It's the same as how bad the D&D movies have been. Just that Sci Fi tends to go hand in hand with space and the sets tend to be really shoddy, whereas with fantasy they can just shoot in a forest, or go to New Zealand. There's less barriers to the suspension of disbelief.

Like games that aged really well are easy for new comers to enjoy, while games that age poorly are only for the devoted retrogamers and those who're coming back with nostaliga to patch up the cracks.

I 'spose the thing is, I missed out on Sci Fi as a child, and I've recently realised that I like it as a genre (thanks to arguing with my brother and watching Fringe and Quantum Leap) but there doesn't seem to be much "good" Sci Fi.

The only reason I asked for people to not recommend the Doctor is because, that particular series isn't my cup of tea. Not the entire genre. I acknowledge that Dr. Who is good, and that I just don't like it, but that's separate to the rest of my point.

TL;DR Space is boring to me, it's not bad. Sci Fi is interesting to me, but there's not much high quality Sci Fi around, please recommend some.

 

[Hoplon]

Sturgeon's Razor 95% of everything is shit.

Usually that's just in a purely technical sense, as in one or more of the basic building blocks is just not there at all.

On top of that you have the stuff you won't like because it just isn't something you like though as a counterpoint to that there will be demonstrably bad stuff you will like anyway.

 

[Sonicron]

I'd say it's simply a matter of taste. Just because you can't get into most sci-fi (space-based or not) doesn't mean it's "fucking bad". Personally, I can't be arsed to get incensed at your wording, but other folks might take issue with it, just saying.

Anyway, 'good' sci-fi that's not space-based... hmmm... have you tried the movie Splice? Or perhaps Joss Whedon's TV show Dollhouse? The range is so broad; even that show Dark Angel (with Jessica Alba) is sci-fi and not bad (at least the first season).

 

[BaronUberstein]

If you think Stargate is bad, there's nothing I can do to help you.

Stargate SG-1 is easily in my top 5 Sci-Fi shows and movies, up there with Firefly and The 5th Element.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Moon.
The Fifth Element.
Minority Report.

^Three movies.

I don't watch TV shows, but if anime counts I'll leave Ergo Proxy and Texhnolyze here.

All five of those are film masterpieces. Go have a look.

Supported, a great assortment of films.

.

There was a movie where an expedition came to investigate a ship that had stopped contacting earth. At the end, it was all a giant orgy and everybody died except for one.
I forgot the name of the film, I think it was a '04 film.
Any help?

 

[Jadak]

If you think Stargate is bad, there's nothing I can do to help you.

Stargate SG-1 is easily in my top 5 Sci-Fi shows and movies, up there with Firefly and The 5th Element.

Pretty much this. I think he needs to realize that he actually doesn't like sci-fi as a genre, he just happens to like a show or two that happen to be sci-fi.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I only got two word to say "Red Dwaft". Ok yes it set in outer space but it is much more than a comedy than SciFi so thay may help you get into watching it.

 

[Mr Pantomime]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon%27s_Law

This conversation has been had before

 

[Jadak]

There was a movie where an expedition came to investigate a ship that had stopped contacting earth. At the end, it was all a giant orgy and everybody died except for one.
I forgot the name of the film, I think it was a '04 film.
Any help?

Prior to guessing, are you completely certain that it wasn't just sci-fi themed porn?

 

[Rawne1980]

The few decent shows I can think of are either set in space or incredibly cheesy but funny.

Farscape.
Battlestar Gallactica.
Caprica.
Hercules the Legendary Journeys (oh come on, you've all watched and giggled at the cheese).
Zena (same reason as above).


Can't remember if Beastmaster was on sci-fi channel or not, think it was.

Angel.
Buffy.
Dark Angel.
Witchblade.
Sanctuary.

 

[CrashBang]

Why would you watch sci-fi shows set in space if you, uh, don't like space?
Also is your problem solely on budget and effects? If so that's ridiculous.
Also also have you seen Battlestar? In my opinion the greatest and most well-thought out sci-fi show (set in space) ever made.

 

[Fewell]

There was a movie where an expedition came to investigate a ship that had stopped contacting earth. At the end, it was all a giant orgy and everybody died except for one.
I forgot the name of the film, I think it was a '04 film.
Any help?

Doesn't exactly fit but i'm gonna guess Event Horizon. Actually it doesn't fit at all. Except for the ship part, and if the orgy is one of violence.

 

[TheIronRuler]

There was a movie where an expedition came to investigate a ship that had stopped contacting earth. At the end, it was all a giant orgy and everybody died except for one.
I forgot the name of the film, I think it was a '04 film.
Any help?

Doesn't exactly fit but i'm gonna guess Event Horizon. Actually it doesn't fit at all. Except for the ship part, and if the orgy is one of violence.

No, not close.

There was a movie where an expedition came to investigate a ship that had stopped contacting earth. At the end, it was all a giant orgy and everybody died except for one.
I forgot the name of the film, I think it was a '04 film.
Any help?

Prior to guessing, are you completely certain that it wasn't just sci-fi themed porn?

Definetly not porn. Had no money shots.