So, I watched BattleStar Galactica...what now?

[Royta]

I've never been that big into tv-series, but upon recommendation of a good friend I gave this show a go. Now I'm spoiled. The show is over and every moment hooked me from beginning to end.
The downside being, I want more quality television like this, but I don't know where to look.

So, any recommendations of series that come close to BSG in terms of writing, casting, action etc? As noted, I'm not that well vested in tv-series in general so even the most obvious ones could be a hidden secret for me.

Thank you all!

 

[GrandmaFunk]

Well for space-based shows there's Firefly and Farscape.

earth-based sci-fi: Fringe, Sarah Connor Chronicles.

not sci-fi at all but simply the best tv series: The Wire, Deadwood, Rome, Game of Thrones.

comedies: Arrested Development, Better Off Ted, Party Down.

and of course all 3 of HBO's war miniseries are simply superb: Band of Brothers, The Pacific and Generation Kill.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Well for space-based shows there's Firefly and Farscape.

Farscape went on far longer than it should, IMHO, but started out strongly enough.

earth-based sci-fi: Fringe, Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Started watching both of those, soon lost interest and gave up, maybe they get better though.

and of course all 3 of HBO's war miniseries are simply superb: Band of Brothers, The Pacific and Generation Kill.

Band of Brothers was superb, yes, The Pacific (which was Band of Brothers, but in the Pacific) I lost interest in, lightning didn't strike twice. Generation Kill...dunno. Spent most of my time wanting everyone to die, very few really sympathetic characters.

...

I'd also recommend Star Trek: The Next Generation, though not very actioney and a number of terrible episodes, there's some good stuff in there as well.

Stargate (or at least the early stuff) was pretty good.

 

[Royta]

"Sarah Connor Chronicles"
Hm, I'm a big Terminator fan..yet I never heard about this. Sounds awesome! Going to try and get my hands on it. After that I'll try Fringe and Band of Brothers, reading up on those made me curious as well.

What about Mad Men, heard some good things about that. How does that compare?

 

[GrandmaFunk]

Farscape went on far longer than it should, IMHO, but started out strongly enough.

Odd, that's the first time I read that take on the show. I found it to be the exact opposite: the first season starts off a bit bland and generic but as the show progressed the characters became more and more compelling and the story just kept growing in scale, both emotionally and in terms of stakes.

Given how you lost interest in all those shows after a few episodes, I'm guessing you simply prefer more episodic series, whereas all the stuff I mentioned is great because of long term character development and building story lines.

---

Mad Men is very high quality and I found the first 2 seasons very engaging but haven't caught up to the rest yet.

It is pretty slowly paced though...but if you have an interest in the golden age of marketing and 60s nostalgia in general, it's definitely worth checking out.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Farscape went on far longer than it should, IMHO, but started out strongly enough.

Odd, that's the first time I read that take on the show. I found it to be the exact opposite: the first season starts off a bit bland and generic but as the show progressed the characters became more and more compelling and the story just kept growing in scale, both emotionally and in terms of stakes.

I'll admit the season starts off bland, but IMHO it got more generic and formulaic as the show went on. The story increased in stakes, yes, but I don't necessarily view that as a good thing, it increased in much the same tired way that lots of those kinds of shows do. Behind the enemy there's a bigger enemy, who are fighting against someone even worse, there's the usual ancient all powerful blah blah blah. It's been done to death before.

They also got rid of a good major character, and needed a replacement that they didn't actually get round to developing so had to abandon in favour of someone else they didn't actaully develop.

Given how you lost interest in all those shows after a few episodes, I'm guessing you simply prefer more episodic series, whereas all the stuff I mentioned is great because of long term character development and building story lines.

No, it's more that you can't judge a show by its pilot, you have to watch a few episodes to see if you'll like it or not. Or if they are sufficiently weird, you have to watch the whole thing to see how it ends and then decide if it was worth watching at all.

As well as that, left long enough a series will peak and then decline again. All too often the creators keep the show going into its downward trend instead of ending it somewhere more laudable. That's not always their own fault, though, a number of times the makers of Stargate were told there'd be no more series, and then told there would be after they'd been trying to wrap everything up. Then it got ended for real after they thought they'd have more time and they had to go for the ending movies route.

 

[DazZ.]

I'm looking for a new TV series as well after finishing Dexter and The Walking Dead not coming out soon enough.

Not really ever been into a sci fi TV series, just a select few films and a boat load of games, but I'll give Battlestar and Firefly a look at next then. Anyone care to sway me to either one first?

 

[GrandmaFunk]

start with Firefly, it's only 14 episodes

 

[Plinglebob]

If you liked BSG then I'd definitly recommend Farscape. I'm watching The Sarah Connor Chronicles at the moment and definitely worth picking up if you can find it cheap and while I've never really enjoyed war films/tv, I really enjoyed Band of Brothers.

The only addition I can suggest to whats already been said here is 4400. While its not brilliant and the plot feels a bit rushed/pulled out of thin air (like BSG), the acting is strong throughout and watchable to the end.

 

[GothmogII]

Farscape went on far longer than it should, IMHO, but started out strongly enough.

Odd, that's the first time I read that take on the show. I found it to be the exact opposite: the first season starts off a bit bland and generic but as the show progressed the characters became more and more compelling and the story just kept growing in scale, both emotionally and in terms of stakes.

I'll admit the season starts off bland, but IMHO it got more generic and formulaic as the show went on. The story increased in stakes, yes, but I don't necessarily view that as a good thing, it increased in much the same tired way that lots of those kinds of shows do. Behind the enemy there's a bigger enemy, who are fighting against someone even worse, there's the usual ancient all powerful blah blah blah. It's been done to death before.

They also got rid of a good major character, and needed a replacement that they didn't actually get round to developing so had to abandon in favour of someone else they didn't actaully develop.

Stargate was pretty bad for that. Oh, the Gouald are defeated...now what? How about a super-ancient and powerful Gould? Oh...he's dead now. Replicators! Oh now they're done too...hmm, oh, a super powerful space church!

To Farscape's credit, they -did- keep Scorpius and the Peacekeepers as the main antagonists for most of the show's run, I mean, yeah, the Scarrens did come in later, but they were always there, and not some kind of uber-villain in shadow kind of thing. The just didn't appear till later.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

The only addition I can suggest to whats already been said here is 4400. While its not brilliant and the plot feels a bit rushed/pulled out of thin air (like BSG), the acting is strong throughout and watchable to the end.

Ya I quite liked the 4400 too, that definitely should've gotten an extra season, shit was getting so epic towards the end. Last year's Alphas reminded me a lot of it, I'm sure they'll be dealing with a lot of the same issues and tropes.

 

[Thaluikhain]

To Farscape's credit, they -did- keep Scorpius and the Peacekeepers as the main antagonists for most of the show's run, I mean, yeah, the Scarrens did come in later, but they were always there, and not some kind of uber-villain in shadow kind of thing. The just didn't appear till later.

True, (though it got cancelled earlier), but on the other hand, Skorpius only was introduced towards the end of the first season, suddenly the Peacekeepers are chasing him because of the ancient knowledge instead of the more interesting, IMHO, personal vendetta.

On the ohter hand, it was filmed in various bits of Australia, and not that same forest or desert they film everything in the US in.

 

[Temple Guard]

Check out Babylon 5. The first season is a little rough to get through, however the story is good, great writing, and interesting characters make this show stand out in sci-fi.

 

[Plinglebob]

The only addition I can suggest to whats already been said here is 4400. While its not brilliant and the plot feels a bit rushed/pulled out of thin air (like BSG), the acting is strong throughout and watchable to the end.

Ya I quite liked the 4400 too, that definitely should've gotten an extra season, shit was getting so epic towards the end. Last year's Alphas reminded me a lot of it, I'm sure they'll be dealing with a lot of the same issues and tropes.

My biggest problem with 4400 (along with BSG interestingly) was that it started off bleak, went bleaker and tried to go even further before cancellation which makes it very hard to watch a lot of it in a row. Was Alphas any good as never realy heard of it?

Check out Babylon 5. The first season is a little rough to get through, however the story is good, great writing, and interesting characters make this show stand out in sci-fi.

*bangs head on desk* How did I forget about this? If BSG is what happens with a sci-fi plot that has no pre-planning of the story, Babylon 5 is what happens when you plan the crap out of it. HOwever, just watch seasons 1-4 and the last episode of 5 and season 5 is very weak due to being forced to rush the plot then suddenly granted an extention.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

I'm a fan of Stargate SG-1. Atlantis and Universe, the spinoffs, were decent but didn't really match the chemistry and humor of the first series. Also, SG-1 is like 10 seasons long, though the main cast shifts a bit after season 7.

 

[Catfood220]

Check out Babylon 5. The first season is a little rough to get through, however the story is good, great writing, and interesting characters make this show stand out in sci-fi.

I will second Babylon 5, the first series is very slow, but it really takes off in the second series and becomes one of the best Sci Fi shows ever.

You might want to check out Dollhouse too, not a space opera like Battlestar or Babylon 5, but its pretty engrossing Sci Fi regardless.

 

[Antwerp Caveman]

Stargate SG1 the first 8 seasons are good, but my fave series of all time has to be The Sopranos.

 

[Buzz Killington_v1legacy]

I can't believe no one's mentioned Breaking Bad yet. I'm going nuts waiting for the fifth (and final) season to start.

 

[Carl The Manicorn]

Watch Firefly then watch Flight of the Conchords. Firefly is only 14 episodes of spacey goodness and it's written by the guy who is directing the Avengers.

Flight of the Conchords? Well that's just because it's a good, stupid, funny show with awesome songs.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

it's written by the guy who is directing the Avengers.

that statement made me laugh and cry at the same time.

it's a bit like calling Tarantino "that guy who was a producer on Hostel".