Hi Jen!
My geek girl cred is limited to being a die-hard Browncoat, watching BSG three times, and being almost caught up on Fringe. I like Terry Pratchett and Robert Heinlein and Roald Dahl. I'm a mechanical engineer... according to my diploma..., am a mother to a 2 year-old "Dar Wards" fan, and own a cafe in a small town by day.
So where do I go from here? Stargate? Doctor Who (where does one begin?)? Something completely different?
Guide me, oh wise one!
Ruth
My geek girl cred is limited to being a die-hard Browncoat, watching BSG three times, and being almost caught up on Fringe. I like Terry Pratchett and Robert Heinlein and Roald Dahl. I'm a mechanical engineer... according to my diploma..., am a mother to a 2 year-old "Dar Wards" fan, and own a cafe in a small town by day.
So where do I go from here? Stargate? Doctor Who (where does one begin?)? Something completely different?
Guide me, oh wise one!
Ruth
Hi Ruth!
Oh, goodness, there's lots of shows you could try! I never connected as much with the original Stargate series (although I loved the movie) but Stargate: Atlantis is sooooo good. I *highly* recommend it.
I grew up on the older Doctor Whos, but they put John to sleep, so I'm not sure I'd recommend you starting before the most recent reboot with Christopher Ecclesten. This newer incarnation is a lot more dramatic and heart-wrenching, so I've been terrible about keeping up; I like my sci-fi a bit lighter. Still, it's probably the most popular sci-fi series still on the air today, and that many geeks can't be wrong!
Warehouse 13 is great, goofy fun, and if you can make it through Eureka's first few seasons, it gets AMAZING by around season 3 or 4.
You mentioned Road Dahl - have you seen the show Pushing Daisies? Not *exactly* geek fodder, but so, so good, and it had a whimsical storybook vibe that reminds me of Dahl. It was such a shame the series didn't last longer.
And of course if you've never tried any Trek (tho I imagine you must have seen some of it), there's lots of good stuff there. We recently started watching Voyager again from the beginning, and I'd forgotten how great some of those episodes are. TNG is classic, too - but start a few seasons in. (Trust me. Ha!)
Oh! And you HAVE to take 45 minutes and see Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog, if you haven't already. I think you can still watch it for free online; just google it. [Update: Here 'tis!] It's fabulous. Iconic, even.
So, I'd give those shows a try, and see if anything grabs ya! Then report back, and I'll recommend some more. ;)
- Jen
PS - These are just a few of the sci-fi shows that I like personally, but tell me what I missed in the comments, guy! John and I just finished all the episodes Netflix has of Eureka, so now we need a new show, too! (Bonus points if we can watch it online, since we don't have cable.)
Babylon 5 is the best sci-fi series. It's got a terrific 5-year arc, with individual character development and subplots to keep you interested and entertained ... and to break your heart.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest watching Misfits (Available on Hulu I believe). When you first start it can be hard to make out words through some of the accents (it's from the UK) but it is so good. About a group of young community service workers who get zapped in a storm and end up with powers. And accidentally kill people. It's funny, I promise.
ReplyDeleteBabylon 5. You'll get various opinions on the beginning and end, but there are so many awesome moments and it rewards close watching/rewatching. There's, y'know, actual continuity and characters don't forget things they learned last week or drop inventions on the floor or forget the right answer just to serve this week's drama and, and, and ...
ReplyDeleteIf you've never seen Chuck, we like that one a lot, although it's more action/spy comedy, there's a definite sci-fi element. Plus, the main character and his best friend are a couple of geeks.
ReplyDelete(Another show we love a lot which has geek appeal despite not being sci-fi/fantasy is Leverage.)
Let's see: if you like Dr. Horrible, you might like the live-action version of The Tick (on Netflix)
ReplyDeleteI'd also highly recommend the BBC series Being Human (it is a bit scary and often violent, but really well done.) If you live in the UK, there's a miniseries version that we can't get here!
Also, (and also somewhat violent in case that bothers you) the BBC series Sherlock is pretty geeky/nerdy. There is even less of it than Firefly, though.
I've already whipped through everything Jen mentioned, so I hope other people will chime in.
Farscape! And all four seasons (except for the mini series) are available on Netflix streaming. Farscape is my ultimate favorite TV show, I was pretty much a closeted nerd until I started watching Farscape and now I'm out loud and proud! Like you mentioned with Eureka, you need to hold on until season 2 when things get awesome.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend Alphas. I'm not sure where to get the first season though - but this is "people with extraordinary abilities" done right. No spandex, good guys making bad decisions and trying to fix it, and so on.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend Community, it's not sci-fi, but it has loads of geeky references.
ReplyDeleteI love Doctor Who (the new series), but I got into it by way of Torchwood, the more grown-up spinoff series. So if you're not sure you want to get into Doctor Who, you might check out Torchwood since it has a similar flavor.
I also second Warehouse 13 & Doctor Horrible!
Farscape and Community (not scifi, but great for geeks) come to mind.
ReplyDeleteAnd I completely agree about Pushing Daisies - love that show.
Sanctuary! Sanctuary! Sanctuary! I'm DEVASTATED they cancelled it, but it's my favourite TV show EVER and I highly recommend it. I love it more than all the Highlander, Stargates and Star Treks put together.
ReplyDeleteAlso, 10,000 Days is a web series that’s really great - it stars John Schneider and Peter Wingfield.
I also recommend The Big Bang Theory, Saving Hope and Hell on Wheels - none are strictly scifi (although Saving Hope and TBBT do have touches of that) but there are several familiar faces to fans of scifi stuff, and they're really good.
On my to watch list: MacGyver, Doctor Who, Falling Skies, Continuum, Downton Abbey and Sherlock!
Oh, and I almost forgot about Star Wars: the Clone Wars cartoon series! Some of the eps are groaners, but some of them are real gems.
ReplyDelete'Warehouse 13' is definitely fun! I agree about 'Pushing Daisies'. I'm still crushed about it.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't think it was a big deal show but I'm sure someone would yell out 'Firefly'. Hubby loved it. All mentioned are light hearted and good intro to sci-fi.
For something more serious, My hubby also loved 'Battlestar Galactica'. We're both waiting for Fringe to come back. I hope they wrap up the story good!
Farscape!
ReplyDeleteBeing a crazy anime fan of a young adult (almost twenty but will never act my age...)I think that if you ever tried an anime, you'd probably like Trigun. It's a scifi fantasy about a man that's supposedly got a 6 billion double-dollar bounty on his head, and two insurance girls who's job it is to make sure he doesn't destroy near by towns. Such a beautiful show, full of both drama and action, I don't think either you or John will be able to sleep through it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really old post but I have to second Trigun. Most anime makes me roll my eyes at best and wonder what I see in my husband (the anime nut) at worst, and I really, really enjoyed Trigun. It has humor and emotion and almost none of the anime stereotypes that I hate the most (schoolgirl miniskirts, balloon boobs and that...overly cartoony emotional face thing...
DeleteHey jen, have you seen Murdoch Mysteries? I found it on Netflix instant watch and fell in love from the very first episode(it has Nikola Tesla!). It's a sciency murder mystery set in victorian era Toronto.
ReplyDeleteFarscape.
ReplyDeleteIt can be a bit campy at times but was overall fantastic, especially after the first season. A lot of what made it great was the characters. The hero is experiencing all of this alien-ness for the first time, and all of this violence too. It makes an impact. Even the characters that were made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, as well as villains, were given opportunity to develop. There were huge story arcs, and great stand-alone episodes. And an homage to Loony Tunes.
I was disappointed in the mini-series, though. They tried to cram an entire season in a few hours, so nothing had the chance to sink in and impact the viewer.
Tor is doing an episode-by-episode rewatch/review if you'd like to read a bit before watching.
Big Bang Theory, Adrian Paul in Highlander (had such a crush on him!), and extra votes for the current Doctor Who.
ReplyDeleteAs an avid Whovian, I would definitely encourage you to catch up- but if you are looking for something more lighthearted and fun, I wholeheartedly suggest Avatar:The Last Airbender. It's all on Netflix, and it is phenomenal and the sequel- The Legend of Korra (which isn't on Netflix yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time)- just finished a stunning first season. It is full of fun, action, and heart. Don't be put off because it's a cartoon- it has some of the storytelling of any TV show ever- I put it up there with Firefly, Pushing Daisies and Doctor Who in terms of fabulous stories. And even though it's not sci-fi or fantasy, the BBC's Sherlock is also a current TV show that is not to be missed- I only wish there were more episodes! (1st season is on Netflix- warning: Benedict Cumberbatch has the cheekbones of a god- just saying :-D)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSherlock is not very geeky but an amazing and quick series.
ReplyDeleteThe newer Battlestar Galactica is a great geeky/philosophical watch.
All my co-workers love Firefly but I can't vouch for it.
and 30 Rock is great for watching the main charecter Liz Lemon be a geek girl.
All these are available on Netflix.
Well, it's not sci-fi, but it does have the amazing Nathan Fillion in it: Castle. It's a murder mystery show with Fillion being, well, crazy! It's a lot of fun. Netflix only has the discs right now, which is a shame because I tend to watch all of the episodes on a disc in one go. But I would highly recommend that, although it is a little gory.
ReplyDeleteI probably could have written that email myself, Jen, so I appreciate your suggestions! I've been wanting to watch Dr. Who, but didn't know where to start exactly. I'll do what you said :)
ReplyDeleteFor Doctor Who I definitely recommend starting with the "reboot". You can always go back and watch some of the older episodes later.
ReplyDeleteHow about Babylon 5? Season 1 is rough (there are guides out there for which episodes are essential if you can't stomach the whole thing), but it gets super good by the end. Many will recommend you stop before season 5, but I didn't hate it as much as some people do.
And Farscape. You should definitely watch Farscape.
Now I loved the original Stargate, but you have to kind of take it with a grain of salt. It can be very corny. Atlantis was definitely fantastic. I couldn't really get into Universe, though. It had a lot of potential, but I thought it was too uneven.
And of course there's always the other Joss Whedon shows: Buffy, Angel, Dollhouse, and as Jen said you really should watch Dr. Horrible. Depending on where you live you might still have a Can't Stop the Serenity event nearby and they often screen Dr. Horrible at those.
Sometimes I feel like the only person in the world for whom Voyager is the preferred Trek series.
ReplyDeleteI can't get into Doctor Who, although I really enjoyed its campy spin-off, Torchwood.
I LOVED Pushing Daisies and was so sad when it stopped. Eureka is great too - it's one of our favorites.
ReplyDeleteHave you watched Being Human yet? I couldn't get into the UK version (I only made it through one episode) but the US version is fantastic (the US version is the one with the red artwork on Netflix).
We also really liked Kyle XY, but it, too, doesn't really end and just sort of stops because it was canceled.
Not sci-fi or fantasy, but How I Met Your Mother is hilarious, and the guys in the show are all a little bit obsessed with Star Wars and other things geeky.
Others that are good are Firefly, The Adventures of Merlin (UK), Robin Hood (UK), Lie to Me, Ugly Betty. Again, the last two aren't really sci-fi or fantasy, but they are fantastic.
I know you and John really aren't into anime, but you should really try to check out Trigun and Full Metal Panic.
All of these are available to watch through Netflix streaming. We don't have cable either!
Oh, dear...can't believe I forgot Firefly & Serenity, too!
ReplyDeleteYou can never go wrong with Farscape and it's available on Netflix.
ReplyDeleteInteresting timing Jen. Earlier today I was thinking that you would probably enjoy the show we have been watching, "Kyle XY". It's a few years old but we're just watching it now. I'd tell you what it's about but I wouldn't want to give anything away! I'll just say that it follows a teen boy who appears mysteriously, has some extraodinary abilities and no belly button. We are halfway through the second season and we're totally hooked! (I am forseeing a problem with that as there were only 3 seasons made.)It's not really the kind of sci-fi stuff you often recommend, but considering your love of YA fiction I think you'd really enjoy this show.
ReplyDelete(I don't know if it's available to watch online; we just bought the DVDs from Amazon.)
Not a sci-fi show but TLC's Craftwars is fun. If you can get past some of the cheesy commentary. The first episode is free on iTunes. When I watch I think that you and John would be great competitors!!! You seem to craft well together!
ReplyDeleteApart from seventh-ing Sherlock, I'd recommend Primeval. It's on Netflix right now, and it's like Torchwood (which I, too, preferred to Dr. Who-I didn't realize that was so common), but with holes in time letting dinosaurs into the modern world instead of aliens. It has a great cast and great dialogue.
ReplyDeletePrimeval- dinosaurs in modern day England 'nuff said.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked Hitchhikers and enjoy British comedy then you should try Hyperdrive, about the crew of a British starship that patrols the galaxy.
I'm really enjoying Quantum Leap at the moment, it's terribly addictive, though it does have a rather unexplainable premise.
Spaced is a great British show lots of geeky references, great characters and really well shot by the maestro Edgar Wright.
And finally, I'm not sure if it's available for you folks overseas but The Almighty Johnsons is a great New Zealand show. About Norse Gods reincarnated in suburban Auckland (our largest city) and what it lacks in special effects it makes up for with awesome characters and unpredictable storylines.
I'll add another vote for Alphas as far as a current show and Pushing Daisies is one of my absolute all-time favorites.
ReplyDeleteAnd a note to those suggesting Firefly or Serenity, anyone who identifies as a Browncoat does not need that suggestion.
Phil
Seconding MichelleH, SANCTUARY, SO MUCH SANCTUARY. It's amazing and gorgeous and my favorite show still (so sad it was cancelled). It's the kind of show where you can rewatch episodes multiple times and still be enthralled by . . . love it so much. It's also the first series I've ever seen that has a strong female main character. Most 'strong female characters' seem to be strong 'in spite of being women', but she's a natural badass and absolutely awesome. The dialogue is top-notch and it doesn't have too much blood, gore, or angst. Also it has Nikola Tesla as a snarky vampire! <3
ReplyDeletePushing Daisies not geek fodder!? It has alive-agains!
ReplyDeleteStargate:SG1 & Atlantis are great and easy to get "in" and enjoy quickly.
My 2yo geek-girl-in-the-making loves My Little Pony:FiM and that's a show I can actually enjoy with her (unlike Dora or Sesame Street)
Definitely Farscape! My husband & I started our relationship watching it and we named our dog D'Argo. Love Farscape!
ReplyDeleteRed Dwarf is great and totally funny. Also a fan of Who, Torchwood and Voyager and Farscape. Buffy and Angel and Dollhouse are also Joss Whedon and pretty brilliant. I loved Dead Like Me, although not scifi, it is fantasy (Grim reapers just going about their business). Grimm is brilliant, although being from Portland I am totally biased.
ReplyDeleteAnd Once Upon a Time has been pretty good. Good Luck!
Laundry Day. See you there. Underthings. Tumbling.
ReplyDeleteAlso, ANYTHING and EVERYTHING by Whedon. Buffy, Angel and Dollhouse are all wonderful- but very different from one another (even the ones in the same 'verse)
ReplyDeleteOooh... Wonderfalls! Again, Another fantastic series that got cancelled way too soon. :( Brilliant writing, created by one of the guys who also did Pushing Daisies (LOVE!), Brian Fuller.
ReplyDeleteNot sci-fi, exactly, but I think anyone who appreciated the writing for Firefly can appreciate those two as well.
If you like Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me is another great show (and halfway decent movie, but entirely skippable). Canceled too soon, but still, very good. It's loosely based on Piers Anthony's On A Pale Horse.
ReplyDeleteDepending on your age, you might like Buffy. I grew up at the right time for Buffy, just wasn't allowed to watch it (my mom is opposed to how wiccans are depicted on television). Watching it 15 years later, everything is new for me, but definitely dated, and I can see how some of the pop culture references could go right past a younger audience. Still, if you like Firefly, you'll probably like any of Whedon's stuff.
WHAT!!!!!!!! There was a web series with Peter Wingfield that I didn't know about????? Definitely B5---and you do need to watch the first season. It sets up all the ones to come. And it's political aspect is fascinating...and I think it parallels current events to a certain degree. Not crazy about Torchwood, but am watching Eureka through again, along with a lot of the shows mentioned...as well as a few others!
ReplyDeleteMy geeky pick would be Buffy and Angel. On the sci-fi side I recommend LOST. All are highly addictive once you start watching!
ReplyDeleteNot having to do with geeks or anything, I love White Collar.
Not sure if you've ever seen this, as it's not sci-fi, but it is sort of geeky, but the hubs and I really enjoyed Better Off Ted.
ReplyDeleteWonderfalls! By one of the creators of Pushing Daisies (Which I also LOVED), it's full of quirky characters and interesting story lines. Not sci-fi, but if you enjoyed Firefly, I think you'll enjoy both of those.
ReplyDelete(sorry if this posted twice, I wasn't sure it went through the first time) :\
I have to totally disagree with Katie- the UK version of Being Human is awesome, but the US version is horrid. Maybe if I'd seen the US version first, but I hated it from the first episode after having watched 2 seasons of the UK version.
ReplyDeleteI love Doctor Who (started with the reboot), Eureka, Sanctuary, Warehouse 13, and Alphas.
On the topic of sci-fi anime, I could never personally get into Trigun, but I loved Ghost in the Shell & Cowboy Bebop. I would also argue that the majority of anime is better with subtitles, but I definitely watch in English sometimes too.
Supernatural and Once Upon a Time are favorites of mine!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd suggest the Doctor Who reboot, Stargate Atlantis, oh, and Eureka and Warehouse 13.
ReplyDeleteFor something a little different, I suggest the anime Trinity Blood. It's on Netflix streaming (or at least, it was the last time I looked). It's got a bit of an almost-steampunk vibe, a bit of scifi, supernatural elements, and that oddball anime humor. It's still pretty good though, and it's worth trying at least an episode or two!
You should certainly watch Buffy and Angel, they're clever, funny, dark and wonderfully Joss Whedon. But DO NOT watch Dollhouse. Really, it"s a show about hookers, so I'm not sure why Joss expected them to let him do what he wanted, but the network restrictions crippled the show. The only part that was entertaining was the single episode with Felicia Day, but the rest was just terrible. It'll just make you sad.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, I highly recommend Being Human. I watched it on Netflix, and it sucked me right in after I had gone through all the episodes of Dr. Who 3 or 4 times. I liked Babylon 5 when it was on TV, but I tried to rewatch it recently and it just didn't hold up for me.
ReplyDeleteI liked Torchwood, the Dr. Who spinoff with Captain Jack, which is also available on Netflix.
I recommend if you haven't seen it, life after Humans. I also saw it on Netflix (we don't have cable, either). It has very cool effects and it is neat to see what would happen if humans suddenly ceased to exist.
My list is completely unfair because like Firefly they were 1 season shows for no good reason. First the quirky and strange "The Middleman. It was a ABC Family show in 2008. The second one was from 1988 called "Probe". It was created by Isaac Asimov and sheer genius. Sadly, it can't be found unlass you know someone like my mother who recorded them all on VHS. (I should really have those transfered to dvd) SyFy once did a marathon of it. Maybe we could start a write in campaign to get them to show it again.
ReplyDeleteIf you were by any chance a Gilmore Girls fan then you MUST watch Bunheads. It is a totally different story line, but still so much like it. The last episode was called "What's your damage Heather".
Not sci-fi, but BBC SHERLOCK! GO. WATCH. BECOME OBSESSED. The first series is on Netflix right now and the second one can be found easily online. Be warned they don't even start filming season 3 until January.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I loved Dead Like Me.
Not super "geeky", but I definitely recommend Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Also, I think they have all the original episodes of the Twilight Zone on Netflix. Some of the better episodes never get shown on the tv marathons, so it's worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteI like most of the ones already mentioned. One I haven't seen mentioned yet is 'Haven' from ScyFi Channel. I really like it. It's based on a Stephen King short story, and it's set in a quirky New England small town. too cool! And Eric Balfour is easy on the eyes... ;)
ReplyDelete"The Colony." Not a fictional show, kinda along the lines of Myth Busters. Take a group of people (engineer, carpenter, mechanic, kick boxer, etc) and place them in a post apocalyptic scenario and see how they survive. Only 2 seasons as far as I recall, played on Discovery or something like that and I think is now on Netflix. One season the group made bio fuel to run a generator out of a pig carcass. Was a really interesting show.
ReplyDeleteFirst season of Colony was FANTASTIC, second season was a little too artificial.
DeleteBabylon 5. Get through the first season...trust me, it will ALL make sense in the remaining seasons. Seasons 3 & 4 are particularly intense. Highly recommended.
ReplyDeleteI also love the rebooted Dr. Who, but, as you said, it is a bit emotional. I also love Sherlock and Castle.
I second whoever recommended Avatar: The Last Airbender. Also more comedy, less actual sci-fi is Red Dwarf. And the 2 mini-series of Sherlock the BBC aired this year and last. No sci-fi at all, but pure win.
ReplyDeleteI love Firefly and Farscape, too!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Finders, not very sci-fi-y, but mostly light and kooky fun like Warehouse 13. I am waiting for Haven to come back on; it's one of those summer shows.
Robotech.
Stargate Universe was good, too, (I watched it even though I vowed not to in order to protest the cancellation of Stargate Atlantis).
I've also taken to watching old sc-fi on Hulu like Lost in Space the original TV series. : p
Twilight Zone (the TV series with Rod Serling) was always a favorite of mine, too.
Happy watching!
Andrea
Besides hulu that only has the last five episodes of a show another good place to find tv shows that haven't yet made it to hulu or netflix is www.yourtvseries.com do be careful what you click on but you can watch for free anything they have not everything is on there but enough that I was able to catch up on castle, glee and I may start watching unforgettable. Bones, monk, and greys anatomy are all good even thought they're not exactly geeky thay are informative psyhc(sp?) is good too. Really though if your have netflix a lot of their suggestions are really good once your done with all the thing you really want to watch.
ReplyDelete(It seems that a lot of people are missing the fact that Ruth says she's a die-hard Browncoat. aka, she's seen Firefly and Serenity. They're awesome, but we're looking for additional series. And I'm one who is also looking for more geeky tv, too, so the more suggestions, the better!)
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, most of my tv watching isn't very geeky--I'm mostly in to crime/mystery stuff. But I do recommend Sherlock, and I've started with the Chris Eccleston Doctor Who and am really enjoying it.
Psych is more dorky than geeky, but it has great banter and chemistry very much like Firefly, and is a really great mystery show with Very little gore.
If you like Joss Whedon, you could try Dollhouse (I only watched about halfway through the first season, but enjoyed it), Buffy, and Angel (neither of which I've seen-YET-but most Browncoats seem to like them).
I don't claim to be a geek girl, there is way too much pressure with that title, but I do like geeky shows. I tend to like shows with a strong female lead. I loved Dollhouse (2 seasons) and Dark Angel (2 seasons) with Jessica Alba but that is going back a few years... and you can tell at some points, but I love it anyway. Most of the others I would recommend have been mentioned but I also love Murdoch Mysteries and I think it is highly under rated!
ReplyDelete@ Susie Q: here's where you can watch Peter Wingfield in 10,000 Days:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/user/10kdaysdigital
Enjoy! :)
If you like Pushing Daisies, give Wonderfalls a watch. It only ran for one season, but I liked it better than PD. (Also Kaylee shows up!)
ReplyDeleteAlso: Threshold is (in my opinion) one of the most overlooked sci-fi series. Starring Carla Gugino, Brent Spiner and Peter Dinklage, it got cancelled before they had a chance to air all the episodes in the first season, but you can get the whole season on DVD. Great stuff, I wish they could have continued.
I love -- LOVE -- Stargate. I enjoy the campy, inside humor (like, when Samantha Carter suggested that something needed to be "MacGyvered" ). And the banter between Teal'c and O'Neill is very entertaining. Last but not least, Michael Shanks/Daniel Jackson: oh, to swoon! Watching Saving Hope right now just to get a MS fix. Plus, you've got 10 seasons to get through. 10. Sheepishly, I'm on my third go-round with it.
ReplyDeleteVoyager (Captain Janeway ROCKS!), Doctor Who, Warehouse 13, and Torchwood are in my Netflix faves. You'll occasionally see WH13 making reference to sci-fi that's gone before them, and that's a sentimental touch I appreciate. Torchwood is at times more about making a statement and less about the story, but Captain Jack is and amazing character.
I'm going to be checking out Alphas as the first season comes up on Netflix. Also, someone suggested Murdoch Mysteries here, and the website is so intriguing that I'll have to check that out, to
I too am in the really really miss Pushing Daisies group. Also agree with the Dr Horrible recommendation
ReplyDeleteTo add to list - loved pretender and Psych is good for the references brought up rather than true geek themes...reaper and dead like me were good too - dead like me is from same producer as pushing daisies; and agree with Chuck as well. And I think that's all I have for now
And I forgot about Dollhouse (yeah, I seem to have a penchant for loving the shows that are wonderful but get canned)
ReplyDeleteRed Dwarf, its an 80's British campy sci-fi show about the last human, a hologram and a guy descended from cats. Hardly any continuity, but hilarious (if you like British humour) . It is on Netflix.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't already seen it - LOST. So, so good. (But you might want to skip the final episode which I hated. Just make up your own ending, it is bound to be better.)
ReplyDeleteHooray for Voyager love!! My favorite, I've never met an episode I've seen too many times. And I've seen them all many, many times.
ReplyDeleteI am on the Dead like Me bandwagon. Two words, Mandy Patinkin. Also, I loved Quantum Leap. Pushing Daisies is ok too. Sherlock, and of course Dr Who. I would also recommend starting at the reboot, although I have a soft place in my heart for Tom Baker and the later Docs!
ReplyDeleteI second the Murdoch Mysteries recommendation. As an added bonus to the Victorian-era proto-CSI sciency stuff, Yannick Bisson (the star) is very, very easy on the eyes. And you can watch it streaming on Netflix!
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone has mentioned Psych yet. It's amazingly funny, and the first 5 seasons are on Netflix. I will second a lot of things already mentioned: Quantum Leap (which, sadly, has some episodes missing from Netflix Instant Watch...really good ones like the Lee Harvey Oswald one and the series finale), Stargate:SG1, definitely Pushing Daisies!
ReplyDeleteIf you liked Pushing Daisies you must try Wonderfalls by the same creator. Unfortunately it didn't last very long either.
ReplyDeleteSANCTUARY!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was cancelled, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. And it has Amanda Tapping. How could you go wrong?
Also, Kyle XY (a bit younger, a bit lighter, but still good)
Warehouse 13 & Eureka are both great. I'm working my way through them at the moment.
Definitely Dr. Who from the Eccleston series.
Merlin - I've only seen the first series, but hanging to watch the rest.
And yes, definitely Firefly and Serenity.
Star Trek the Next Generation!!! Start from season 3, go up to 7 and then 2 and 1. Trust me on this.
ReplyDelete30 Rock, and it's okay to start from season one
I didn't read all of the comments, but I didn't see these mentioned: X-Files and Lost. You'll probably like both if you like Fringe. Others that I didn't see mentioned were Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles (I'm not a huge fan of the movies, but I loved the show), Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. And I'll add my endorsement to DWho, Star Trek (particularly TNG and Voyager), Buffy and Angel (but not Dollhouse!), Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, Sherlock, Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, Spaced and Community. I've only seen some of Misfits and Being Human (UK), but I think they're both worth watching as well. Also, just for fun you might want to watch the original Battlestar Galactica. It's kind of hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI think I was the only person who watched and loved Stargate Universe. It was dark and moody like BSG and featured a crew stranded on the other side of the universe like ST:Voyager - and therefore was a delicious cocktail of my favourite things. It was definitely flawed but what isn't? Robert Carlyle is fantastic as Rush. I never watched either SG1 or SG:Atlantis and I think that may be why I liked this one so much. The whole feel of the show is pretty different and I don't think they necessarily appeal to the same audiences. If I had gone in expecting Atlantis I would have been disappointed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, add my name to the list of people who preferred Voyager. I loved Tom Paris. It blew my mind a little when I discovered he was a producer and sometime director on Chuck, one of my other favourite shows. A nerdy circle of life.
I would also recommend The Guild. Felicia Day is amazing and crazy talented - I am deeply envious of her mad skillz, determination and will power. I am in no way a gamer but I loved every minute of the entire series which focuses on a random and bizarre group of people who become real life friends after playing together as a guild in an online game. Bonus - Wil Wheaton is in it!
The IT Crowd
ReplyDeleteTech geek hilarity. On Netflix.
You may see some familiar British faces.
--bobina
Okay, not a geek show necessarily but I love a British show called "Outnumbered," It's about a young family with three kids in London. The two younger ones I think must be allowed to ad lib stuff or the writers are just astonishingly good. The younger son loves dinosaurs and has a pants-wettingly funny scene at a family wedding asking the vicar about Jesus' superpowers. As a parent of a young child, you'll definitely enjoy this one. I've seen it on BBC America, not sure of the DVD availability.
ReplyDeleteHa! AS soon as I saw the title of this post I was hoping I could mention Pushing Daisies. It's my current obsession having been introduced to it just recently (I immediately bought both seasons and am on my second viewing through them in less than two weeks). How I wish there was more of it.
ReplyDeleteI saw another person mention Murdoch Mysteries and wanted to second it (if no one else has, I didn't read all through the comments). Not exactly sci-fi, but there's definitely a bit of steampunk vibe to it.
I'm all about the classics: Gigantor, Astro Boy, Voltron, Science Ninja Team Gatchaman(aka Battle of the Planets), My Favorite Martian, Lost in Space, The Jetsons and Get Smart (lots of gadgets!).
ReplyDeleteLots of good shows mentioned here, so I won't reiterate them. One of my faves is missing, tho: Sliders!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post, btw. I just wrapped up my latest Firefly viewing, and was wondering what to watch next while I punish myself on the elliptical, heh.
I put in my vote for Doctor Who starting at the reboot as well. Christopher Eccelston just doesn't get the hype that David Tennant and Matt Smith do but he was wonderful! Many people have suggested Torchwood but no one seems to be mentioning The Adventures of Sarah Jane. My teenagers and I loved this show and were so sad when the show ended because of Elisabeth Sladen's death. Sarah Jane is a bit more of the Doctor Who for kids but I really enjoyed it as an adult as well!
ReplyDeleteI loved Stargate SG-1 mostly because I thought Richard Dean Anderson was so funny and very nice to look at as well. I enjoyed Atlantis as well but couldn't get into Universe. From what I'm hearing maybe I need to try it again from season 2.
Alphas is a fabulous show as is Eureka, Warehouse 13, and Fringe.
Pushing Daisies was such a great show and my whole family cried when it was cancelled.
I've really enjoyed Sanctuary and would recommend it as well.
A very funny show I'd also highly recommend Drop Dead Diva - it isn't too sci-fi-ish other than the main character has the spirit of another woman put in her after a car crash. Think Warren Beatty in Heaven Can Wait. Oops I think I just let my age show!
These have all been mentioned already, but throwing in my vote for new Doctor Who, Big Bang Theory, Falling Skies, Kyle XY, Lost, and Pushing Daisies. Also, Arrested Development is not geeky, but is fabulously goofy and a lot of fun. Plus, they just started filming a new season after six years off air!
ReplyDeleteI just have to add that if you're willing to watch shorter bits, the youtube channels: GeekandSundry & Nerdist have really great shows! I would add Alphas as a great show too.
ReplyDeleteFarscape 1st (BEST. SHOW. EVER) and then start with Stargate SG1. And then Atlantis etc... Other people mentioned Babylon 5 - amazing story line. A bit of bad acting to begin, but the story is great. And for the geek funny, Community and Big Bang Theory. A lot of our other favorites have already been mentioned, but have I said Farscape?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fantasy novels are the Sword of Truth books and the tv adaptation holds its own. Give "Legend of the Seeker" a try. I also agree with everyone who mentioned "Lost"-its a masterpiece.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked Pushing Daisies, I think you would like a couple of the other shows by the same creator...
ReplyDeletecheck out DEAD LIKE ME on netflix. it's kind of awesome.
also by the same creator of Pushing Daisies is WONDERFALLS...I think it was only one season, and when we had a netflix acct, you had to get the discs, but it was worth it.
The IT Crowd
ReplyDeleteBeing Human (UK version)
Red Dwarf
Summer Heights High
The Boys
We Can Be Heroes
Voyager! :D Doesn't get enough love. :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely recommend Babylon 5. As people have said, the first season is a bit patchy in places, but the set up in season 1 for the five year arc is brilliant. I cannot count how many times I have rewatched the series since it first aired, but it still makes me cry/laugh/tense/amazed.
PSYCH!!! Watch Psych!! So Awesome and full of 80's references. My most fav show ever.
ReplyDeleteLove so many of the ones you've mentioned and I'm off to check out the rest. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAlphas season one is on hulu... maybe youd like it?
ReplyDeleteI watched 31 episodes in 4 days of Stargate Atlantis before it got kicked off netflix today. Lots of great shows have already been mentioned, and it made my geek heart proud. Some others to consider are Lost, Covert Affairs(Girl kicks butt and a geeky sidekick & loss of bonus points for not being on Netflix), and of course The X-Files.
ReplyDeleteA few others I'm considering that I did see yet are Twin Peaks and Alias and Veronica Mars
Big Bang Theory is Geek-A-Riffic! Very funny and very smart at the same time.
ReplyDeleteFarscape, Sanctuary, Battlestar Galactica, and Firefly are all great if you haven't seen them yet.
I agree with Eureka, though I have to say that I have loved the show from the very first episode so I wouldn't skip a single one. ;)
Stargate, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe are must see's in my book. The first two are very fun, the third much more dramatic and very well done IMHO.
Another good show is Primeval, a BBC show that has a pretty good following. There are whispers that they may be doing an American version at some point too.
If I think of anymore I'll let you know.
It's not a "geek" show, and there's only 13 episodes (which I very much hope are available online somewhere), but "CHAOS" was a really good funny spy show. It had Tim Blake Nelson in it. You know, the third guy in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Also James Murray, who has to be in the running for hottest Brit ever born.
ReplyDeletePushing Daisies is excellent; if you like its quirky sense of humor, you will love Better Off Ted. It's a workplace comedy, only has 2 seasons, and is hilarious, with a couple of really geeky characters. Everyone has already recommended my other favorites.
ReplyDeleteI am thirding Murdoch Mysteries. It's wonderful. The core characters are ridiculously lovable, the historical cameos are hilarious if not accurate, and the inter-personal drama doesn't feel contrived. And they occasionally have the actual Canadian Prime Minister playing the Prime Minister in the show. How cool is that?
ReplyDeleteI'm also twentieth-ing Farscape. I love Farscape.
If you like hilarious 90s B-grade fantasy/sci-fi, you can never go wrong with Xena, Hercules, Beastmaster, Andromeda, etc.
If you like kid-friendly animated series, Avatar The Last Airbender and its sequel The Legend of Korra are phenomenal. The Avengers: Earth's Mighiest Heroes is also really good, if you're a Marvel person.
If you like animated shows for adults, Archer is fantastic. It's witty, deadpan, and often in horrible taste. Sometimes you feel like you're going to hell for laughing but it is SO FUNNY.
i didn't read all the comments, but i second Continuum and i also suggest you watch Veronica Mars if you never did. It's supposedly a teen-show, so not TOO MUCH violence (i'm looking at you Jen) but really gripping season-long story arcs in the first 2 seasons (you might skip the 3rd, it's just not as good)
ReplyDeletealso Game of Thrones of course, especially the first season (still happy with the second one, but not as much).
I loved Dollhouse although it's short it has a lot to say and ends really well. And every geek girl should see Buffy (and Angel). One of my favorite sci-fi/action series will always be Alias.
ReplyDeleteDollhouse! We're just going through it now on Netflix but it's fascinating and so well done. Firefly is also great. Two shows cut off way too early!
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, the Big Bang Theory for some lighthearted geek love.
I add my voice to the Farscape recommendations! Farscape and Firefly/Serenity are my all time favorites.
ReplyDeleteI actually DID like all of SG1, Atlantis - Universe is just a train wreck - you keep thinking it will get better! It had a few moments but overall - eh.
ReplyDeleteThere is also Sanctuary (Amanda Tapping again). If you want to go old school I really enjoyed Babalon V - I know we are almost to the original Battlestar Gallactica here (which I hear the new one rocked but I've never seen that one) but trust me BV had a good story line and very quirky characters.
I don't know if it qualifies, but TNT had a series a number of years ago called Witchblade. I absolutely loved the series, even if parts of it were a bit campy. It was only two seasons and ends sort of abruptly (it was canceled), but it was just so fabulous while it was on. I don't know if it's available on Netflix, but I found the entire series on DVD for $17 on half.com. (It's the live action version, not the animated ones.) Looks like you can get it now for as low as $13.
ReplyDeleteMerlin I think it came out in 2008 and there are 39 episodes on netflix. It's got action, it has drama, it's funny, AND it's family friendly (when you have to kids it's hard to watch some of the scarier shows). But the story line is pretty good and we've really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI also would recommend Tabletop on GeekandSundry which is a youtube channel if you like roleplaying games. It's an addictive show. And they also have some other fun shows (that run about 5-10 minutes) like The Flog, and Written by a Kid.
Jen I loved all of your recommendations, especially Dr Horrible, Eureka, and Warehouse 13.
I think you pretty much got mentioned all the shows I would recommend too! I miss "Pushing Daisies" horribly too - that was probably my favorite shows visually because all the details added to the humor (even the camera work made me laugh).
ReplyDeleteBtw, Jen, "Warehouse 13" season 3 is available TODAY! My husband and I have been waiting for it to show up in our instant queue for what seems like forever!
I would start with the Tom Baker who's, as I think the reboot after Eccelston is dreadful and poorly written. Babylon 5, Red Dwarf, Mystery Science Theater 3000 (start with Joel if you can.) Misfits of Science, Time Tunnel (classic Sci-Fi); Quartermass, and Quark. Happy watching!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen,
ReplyDeleteFor all those buffy fans there is a great series that aired at about the same time that didn't get as much interest because it was shown opposite Buffy and Angel. It stars Jessica Biel and is entitled Dark Angel. Set in a post-disaster America, a group of kids escape from a research facility where they were created by genetic manipulation and taught to be super soldiers in a specialized training facility. Jessica begins to use the skills she was given to fight the corrupt government while hiding from her trainer who wants to kill or recover all the kids who escaped. I don't know if you can get this series on Hulu or Netflix but I know it isn't on cable anymore. Not much in the space-travel department but plenty of tech is involved.
I ditto so many things listed above that I'm not going to try to repeat any of them.
ReplyDeleteI recently watched The Dresden Files on Netflix and enjoyed it quite a bit. The books are better, but aren't they always?
The way to introduce someone to classic Doctor Who is to find a list of favorite episodes and watch the best ones.
All the obvious good stuff has been mentioned several times. I'll add more anime to the list:
ReplyDelete* Croisee in a Foreign Labyrinth - Japanese girl in France... in a metalworking shop.
* Mahoromatic - Android fighter with classic backstory retires as a maid. Nudity.
* The Ghost in the Shell - Policewoman with cybernetic body struggles.
* Please Teacher! - Young man is married to his teacher, who is an alien. Interesting story arc.
* Angelic Layer - Gentle story involving remote-controlled fighting dolls. http://www.crunchyroll.com/angelic-layer
* The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Girl is bored, much to the terror of everyone around her. Episode 00 is a hilarious student film which introduces the characters.
* Planetes - Junk collectors in space. Good physics.
* Kamichu! - A new god explores her new powers.
* Squid Girl - Squid invades the human world. Not really relevant, just squidly cute. http://crunchyroll.com/squid-girl
SPACED is classic and awesome. Simon Pegg plays a budding comic book artist. The cast is perfect and there are tons of "geekdom" references (including one episode where they go on a secret mission to break into an animal testing facility to rescue their dog and use Star Wars characters as code names) It's only two series but the whole thing is currently on Netflix watch instantly. Oh, and you can't go wrong with Futurama.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of the suggestions already posted, but would also like to add:
ReplyDeleteThe Unusuals - not sure about streaming, but def available on DVD. Sadly only one season, but an absolutely hilarious cop show with a geeky feel. Like a cross between Castle and Police Academy, but in a good way.
The animated The Tick
The Terry Prachett live action adaptations--I haven't had time to watch Going Postal, but both The Color of Magic and Hogfather are great (although Hogfather is better, I think).
My husband and I are currently obsessed with Being Human (BBC version).
ReplyDeleteTerry Pratchett fans unite! Netflix has a Hogfather (2 ep) mini series and a Color of Magic (2 ep) mini series, both set in Discworld, of course. Hogfather is awesome. I've only watched the first ep of CoM so far, but it was good fun, too.
ReplyDeleteSpaced is a must. Simon Pegg. 'Nuff said.
Avatar: The Last Airbender. Incredible storytelling.
I'm a huge fan of light-hearted humor so I adore Stargate: SG-1. Atlantis was awesome, too. I was incredibly disappointed in Universe because it departed so far from the other two series. It's set in the same 'verse, but it might as well be a series to itself. That's not to say it wasn't good, it's just much, much darker and very serious.
Sanctuary is a must. No idea where to watch it online. Ryan Robbins' "Henry" is just good fun. And sooo pretty....
And it's not sci-fi, but a new favorite of mine is Numb3rs. It's math-geeky with the occasional sci-fi reference thrown in. And there are over a hundred episodes (and it's on Netflix, too).
i know two of these have been mentioned, but you should check out:
ReplyDelete- chuck (on netflix, LOVE!)
- psych (also on netflix, hilarious)
- torchwood (on netflx, at least john will like it)
warehouse 13 started up again also bbc robin hood its not science fiction but its really good same with merlin (also bbc)all of them are on netflix and the new warehouses are on hulu
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny, I had the exact opposite reaction to Eureka: Loved the first two and a half seasons, and then completely lost interest! Everyone is looking for something different I guess :).
ReplyDeleteDollhouse was kind of good (but weird), fairly scifi-ish and full of intrigue. Not exactly light watching though, be warned.
Let me second (or was is third?) Game of Thrones. As an avid Browncoat/all-around sci fi /Fantasy geek girl, I highly recommend it. The books are also amazing.
ReplyDeleteAhhh! So many comments, I'm sure these have already been mentioned, but I'm going to add my faves anyway, because "that many geeks can't be wrong" - hehe.
ReplyDeleteFarscape is an older series, but recently discovered for me (thanks, Netflix!) and I'm really enjoying it. Get's a bit weird toward the end, but I'm really attached to the characters.
Supernatural is a fun, engaging show that has been unfairly sidelined because of its eyecandy (those boys are PRETTY!), but the writing is actually among some of the best on television. (Ditto with Vampire Diaries s1-2, but I'm not up to speed on 3.)
Of course the standard Buffyverse - classic for a reason.
Battlestar Galactica is an emotional investment, and a worthwhile one, but it is NOT light viewing, so be prepared for that.
Being Human - BBC version. It has real relationships in supernatural circumstances, genuine character development and plausable storylines. The US version has none of those things.
X-Files, if for no other reason than to acquaint yourself with the references virtually every other sci-fi-leaning show makes.
Big Bang Theory - it's like a love letter to geeks.
Oh to be a n00b geek again, just discovering these things for the first time!! I envy you, Ruth!!
Browncoat here too, as is my hubby!
ReplyDeleteSci-fi geeky shows we love are: Stargate franchise, especially the last couple seasons on Atlantis. We enjoyed Universe too, though it was cancelled too early. Currently we are totally hooked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, both of which are on Netflix streaming. BSG and Doctor Who are in our list next.
Non-sci-fi geeky shows we love: Castle, Psych, White Collar, The Big Bang Theory. Hubby is enjoying Grimm as well, though it is too dark for my taste.
Heard good things about Warehouse 13 and Fringe.
I love some of these recommendations (note to self: go check out Primeval.)
ReplyDeleteIn defense of Babylon5 (for anyone who doesn't remember when it was on the first time), the entire 5 year story arc was planned and penned before filming started. The first couple seasons aired on a major network, then it was cancelled. It was picked up by SciFi (when it was still SciFi here in the States) and they made Season 4 with no promises for Season 5, so the producers panicked and packed in as much as they could to be able to wrap up the storyline before the end of that season. After filming all that, they got Season 5 greenlit because...well, damn, Season 4 kicks a$$. So Season 5 *does* seem to have a bit of a tacked on feel, but it also opened up room for things like the amazing episode "Day of the Dead", written by Neil Gaiman and starring Penn and Teller.
/geek rant
My suggestion is *anything* by Graham Linehan. The IT Crowd is the most distinctly nerdy as it's about the IT department of a large corporation (*HILARIOUS* program), but Black Books (about a curmudgeon running a book store, which is silly and wonderful), Father Ted (about three catholic Fathers on a tiny island in Irland), Big Train (sketch comedy program) and really anything else. All BBC programs, all absolutely hilarious, delightful, and silly.
ReplyDelete(And if any of you out there have seen Father Ted, don't you just love Dougal? "Aaahh. No, Ted.")
Community - great geeky references and just funny
ReplyDeleteThe Big Bang Theory - geeky and HYSTERICAL!
Falling Skies - can't go wrong with a good alien invasion
Firefly/Serenity - if you have already seen it... watch it again. Be sure to get the episodes that never aired.
Andromeda - otherwise known as Hercules in Space
Hercules/Xena - cause why not!
Babylon 5 - but be aware, this was supposed to be a 5 season arc, but they made him rush it to 4, then gave him the 5th season afterall... so after 4 things get odd.
The Walking Dead - zombies, really what more needs to be said?
Sanctuary - it was a Syfy original that was fun
Farscape - I really need to finish watching this!
Mystery Science Theater 3000 - because I said so and it has robots
Earth: Final Conflict - Gene Roddenberry show from the 90s
Seaquest - another 90's scifi show that I liked
Lois and Clark - Dean Cain as Superman - YUM!
The A Team - the 80's were fun!
MacGyver - did I mention the 80's were fun?
Wow. As of 98 or so comments - 117 TV shows mentioned, 2 YouTube Channels, 3 Internet Shows, and the saddest part? I've watched at least half of the TV shows (or part of them), 1 of the YouTube channels and 2 of the Web Shows.
ReplyDeleteI need to get out more.
And I love the fact that not all of the shows are sci-fi, but run the full gamut of genres. This is why I trust Epbot readers. All geeky, but in our own special way.
If you want to wade into the geek waters of anime, the following are terrific AND all currently streaming on Netflix:
ReplyDeleteClannad
Fruits Basket (great starter)
Eden of the East
Angel Beats
School Rumble
Ouran High School Host Club
and (my personal favorite)
Black Butler
There are many, many (many!) more, but these are some great starters.
Star Trek: Enterprise: if you can make it past the song and deal with the cringe worthy moments in the pilot, well, if you are like me you will start to want to watch ALL OF THE episodes! And then you will find yourself singing along to the very dorky song in the introduction. I've heard the ending is disappointing but I refuse to think that far ahead!
ReplyDelete~ Jan
Farscape. Enuf said.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone who recommended Big Bang Theory and Farscape. FS made it rather hard to watch the last two seasons of SG1 when Ben Browder and Claudia Black joined the cast since the amazing chemistry they had on FS was not allowed to flourish on SG1. (Of course, it helped that Black's characters on the two shows were so vastly different.) And I think it made SG1's 200th episode that much better, having watched FS.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I adore Burn Notice. It's not geeky sci-fi/fantasy, but Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) is like a modern MacGuyver. He makes a lot of homemade, er, items and explains how and what he's doing, so I suppose it could be considered tech geeky.
Finally, haven't watched it yet, but but the alternate fairy tale world Once on ABC looks intriguing.
I'll second (third? fourth?) Alphas. I originally boycotted Alphas on principal because SyFy cancelled Eureka in favor of it, but when I ran out of Eureka to watch on Hulu, I surrendered. The second season just started and you don't need to have seen the first season to enjoy the show (but guest appearances by Brent Spiner and Summer Glau in Season 1 would make it worth the effort to track down!)
ReplyDeleteGrimm is really quite wonderful--nifty spins on fairytales (without toomuch goofyness)), racial diversity, strong ladies, and the makeup people all deserve Oscars. Plus it has actual depth.
ReplyDeleteThere's a new show coming out on the 19th on BBC!!! It's called Copper and it's about 19th century police in New York with fancy steam punk and crime and everything. Obviously you couldn't watch it all right away since it's just coming out, but it seems super steamy and geektastic!
Welcome Ruth! Oh how much you have yet to enjoy. So jealous! Here are some of my favorite shows and where to watch them. I have watch many of them multiple times. Hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteWatch Instantly on Netflix:
Stargate SG-1
Farscape
Dr. Who (reboot)
Torchwood (Dr. Who at a later time spot)
Dollhouse
Defying Gravity
X-Files
Ultra Violet
Primeval
IT-Crowd
Netflix DVD:
Dark Angle
Defying Gravity (short lived but great)
Hulu:
Ark
Chuck
Community
Eureka
Haven
Warehouse 13
Finder
webisodes:
AWkward Embraces
The Guild
Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog
As far as supernatural/paranormal mystery type stuff, I'm recruiting as many people as possible to watch Haven on SciFi. The third season is slated to begin in September. It's been a horrible long dry stretch without the show, as seasons 1 and 2 were summer shows and this season has been delayed for fall. And they left us on a huge cliffhanger. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteThe SciFi website has a bunch of full episodes you can watch to get the flavor of the show. It might be a little tough to get up to speed with all the many plot and character twists, but it's so full of humor and Stephen King goodness that I think it'd be worth it to try. Love that show!
As a mechanical engineer and big BSG fan, I recommend Firefly.
ReplyDeleteOooh, lots of good stuff on here. I'd also add "Alias" to the list if you like Fringe. It has some of the same shady government agency tropes and gets a bit sci-fi near the end. Plus, young-ish Bradley Cooper= yum.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever watched Farscape or Lexx? They were both on the SYFY channel. Love Dr. Horrible as I am a huge Browncoat and a Nathan Fillion fan from his days on OLTL.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the comments recommending Farscape. I LOVE it! And I was really happy to discover you could stream it on Netflix.
ReplyDeleteI also loved Stargate SG-1, and Atlantis. And while you can stream all 10 seasons of SG-1, I discovered today that you can no longer stream Atlantis! HORRORS!!
OMG I had forgotten about Farscape. It was Brilliant! About 15 (or more) years ago here in the UK we had a couple of seasons of a show called Lexx which was about a living spaceship and her inhabitants. Mental! I don't know if it is available anywhere tho'
ReplyDeleteHave you seen "The 4400?" I liked it for the first couple seasons anyway....
ReplyDeleteSPACED. There's 2 series, 12 episodes, with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jessica Stephenson and the director Edgar Wright. It is a UK comedy chocka with geek jokes and references to movies, games and TV. You really can't go wrong, this has a cult following here in the UK and launched of the above's careers.
ReplyDeleteMISFITS. I'm sure someone mentioned it and you can't go wrong with the dark humour of people who gain superpowers by accident, some of which are useless or dangerous.
RED DWARF. Need I say more?
BEING HUMAN. The original UK series, not the remake. It's good but not great- halfway it stops being such a comedy about a werewolf, vampire and ghost living together and becomes a bit too much of a drama.
DR WHO. I agree that the pacing changes drastically from before the 1996 movie and the series after, but he's got a huge following for a reason.
STAR TREK. Like Dr Who, the various seasons (Deep Spaces Nine,Voyager etc) have their own tones and paces, youll have to test the water of each to find your taste.
GAME OF THRONES. I really can't reccomend this fantasy series more, except perhaps by saying the books are excellent too.
SHERLOCK. It's not geeky, but it is a lot of fun.
DEADWOOD. Alright, it isn't geeky, so I'm just naming probably my favourite CANCELLED TV show other than Firefly. It has cowboys and some of the best writing and cast you will ever see on the small screen. Although it was cancelled, there's still 3 series-30 hours worth- so enjoy.
oh, god, the end of Doctor Horrible just ripped my heart out and tore it to pieces. I, as have several posters before me, highly recommend Sherlock. Beware, though, because if you get hooked on the show, you might have trouble coping with the loooong, depressing wait for season three, which doesn't come out untill 2013.
ReplyDeleteI say go with Continuum. It's a Canadian show, so you might have to coughdownloaditcough, but it's a good mix of sci fi and crime - cop from the future comes back to present-day Vancouver chasing a criminal gang.
ReplyDeleteI forgot Dark Shadows, it's both a hoot to watch (flimsy sets!) and compelling. AND the fact that Barnabas Collins stomps Angel and Edward and his clan into the dirt. Also Forever Knight, which is what Angel attempted to be F.K is better.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest the, parody/homage of all things geek/nerd, TV series The Middleman and Spaced.
ReplyDeletePsych.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really geeky, but it's hilarious. And 5 seasons on netflix, so there's that.
Reaper was great fun. Guy wakes up on his 18th (21st?) birthday to find that his parents had sold his soul to the devil when he was a baby, and now Satan is putting him to work as a grim reaper, collecting souls that have escaped from hell. Well, in between his shifts at Home Depot, that is! The series was canceled mid-season, so there's no closure, but the episodes can all stand alone are hilarious. I'm sure I watched this on Hulu...
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm not sure there's much to add to this list (except a time machine of your choice so you'll have time to watch all of this!)
ReplyDeleteI'll add my votes to Babylon 5, Eureka, Alphas, Dr. Horrible, Dollhouse, The Pretender, Sliders, Grimm and Once Upon a Time.
In the kinda geeky but not S-F, Chuck and Leverage are a must!
And a couple of additions -- The Prisoner (classic British series, absolutely mind breaking - ignore the remake), and if you can find it, Sapphire and Steel (British series with David McCallum and Joanna Lumley as "interdimensional operatives" in charge of fixing time. Rather dark and atmospheric.)
I'll also add Roar (historical fantasy with a young Heath Ledger) and Robin of Sherwood (British series with a fair amount of Pagan religion added to the mix -- one of the things responsible for introducing the band Clannad to the American public!)
If you enjoy Leverage then you must check out Hustle (British series with a similar concept -- these bad guys are bad guys!)
If your into the "behind the scenes" stuff, we've been enjoying Face-Off. It's a reality-competition show where budding special effects make-up artists compete. There's a new season starting soon on Sy-Fy.
Enjoy!
Its gotta be the new Sherlock from the BBC. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to find someone else who likes Pushing Daisies! My family all watched it, and one of my friends got me into it. It's fantastic! So sad it got canceled after 2 seasons. Brian Fuller (creator of PD) has a new show this fall based on the Munsters, so it will be interesting to see how that turns out.
ReplyDeletePlenty of other people have suggested it, but Community is amazing. Not sure how much of it is online, since last time I checked it wasn't on Netflix. But there are so many geeky references, including Inspector Spacetime, which is their version of Doctor Who!
Another series, I don't know if it exactly qualifies as geeky, is Gravity Falls. It's a Disney cartoon, but I really like it. It takes place in a town where a lot of paranormal things happen, such as encounters with gnomes, haunted convenience stores, and wax figures who come to life. It's really fun if you're looking for something lighter.
Okay. Much as there are so many AWESOME tv shows out there, I just finished watching the entire buffy the vampire slayer series so I MUST reccomend them to anyone who will listen. : )
ReplyDeleteThe X-Files is must-see for any good geek. Unfortunately despite 9 popular seasons (at least 5 of which were really good), it doesn't air much in reruns, so people often forget about it, but it's all on Netflix. Agreed with another poster that it's especially important because many other recent scifi shows are structured on canon that XF set in place.
ReplyDeleteAlong with that, I'd watch its sister shows, Millennium and The Lone Gunmen. Harsh Realm was a very short-lived series by the same team (Fox cancelled it before the 3rd episode aired) but that was interesting. There were 9 episodes made and they're available on DVD.
OK - If you like Pushing Daises then you'll love WonderFalls
ReplyDeleteAnd I'll put in another vote for SuperNatural. It tends towards the horror side of sci-fi, but not too much gore. I'm not a fan of horror movies at all but I love this series.
oh boy. Alicia you are my all time fave person. Babylon 5 is indeed the standard of awesome to hold all other scifi. i've actually lost count of how many times i have seen it all the way through. crusade also. i must be up to at least 10-12 times now and it gets better each time. i still sob my way through scenes.
ReplyDeleteas for good geek shows, gee, my list doesn't get any shorter:
babylon 5, firefly, dr horrible, earth 2, american gothic, warehouse 3, sanctuary, star trek - all series except enterprise, fringe, lost room, stargate - all of them, 1400, bsg, doctor who (tennant for the win!), farscape....oh farscape i love you etc etc etc.
that day when i was 13, up late, unable to sleep and desperate to watch something and all that was on was the star trek tos ep the apple, is a day i will cherish forever. so began my love of scifi.
Just found this while looking at woot.com : http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/e0baed7a-890a-4a22-ae9d-be01792578cd/dr-horribles-sing-along-blog-dvd#10
ReplyDeleteIt is also on netflix: https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Dr._Horrible_s_Sing-Along_Blog/70115760?locale=en-US&KID=k207752&USERID=1512936381&CREATIVE=n&SESSIONID=id_1512936382&SITEID=&TACID=
I would whole-heartedly recommend Farscape. The first few episodes can seem a bit, well, awkward, but stick with it for humour, anger, love and a mind-blowing storyline that will leave you gasping for air and wishing for more
ReplyDeleteAlso, 24! Although some would call this mainstream, my geeky husband and I (not to mention the kids) get a real kick out of the Aspergers systems analyst's (Chloe) endless ability to kick ass and Jack Bauer's inescapable death wish/need to be exiled from the States. Here there is also humour, and if you're into guns, planes and/or helicopters, you will have plenty to drool over. We are only four series into the nine, but we are so addicted that we are really relieved that we're watching the DVDs and not waiting a week for the next episode!
ReplyDeleteSo basically anything Bryan Fuller touches is magical. He wrote:
ReplyDelete-Various episodes of Star Trek DS9 and Voyager
-Dead Like Me
-Wonderfalls (with Tim Minear from various Joss Whedon projects)
-A 22 minute pilot of The Amazing Screw-On Head WHICH IS AMAZING
-The first season of Heroes (it fell apart when he left it for Pushing Daisies)
-Pushing Daisies
He's kinda cursed though, because none of his shows make it past 3 seasons and they all are fantastic. Especially if you like Roald Dahl whimsy.
Tim Minear is also a good guy to follow.
As a new reader of Epbot, I'm going through older posts to try catching up with all the geeky goodness. It's been a month since this was posted, but if you're still looking for other geeky goodness, I would definitely recommend many of the shows listed above. Also, if you are more into the fantasy side of sci=fi, I'd like to recommend Heroes (the first few seasons are way better than the last). Kindred (very short series based on Vampire: The Masquerade RPG). Wolf Lake (short series set in a town populated by werewolves), and a current one, Lost Girl. The last one is PG-13 with some episodes even R-rated. It's about the hidden world of supernatural creatures living among the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteThe boyfriend has some recommendations as well: the Alien Nation series, Life on Mars (both the British and the American versions), and though not really geeky, if you like mysteries, the A&E Nero Wolfe series starring Maury Chaykin and Timothy Hutton.
I'd also like to thank you and everyone else who recommended shows as I've now got a list of shows watch as well.
Absolutely Red Dwarf...
ReplyDeleteAnd the IT Crowd... I don't hate The Big Bang Theory, but I just always wind up thinking it's going for the vibe of what Red Dwarf just pulled off amazingly.
If you've never seen Tron... gotta see it. I'm sort of trying to re-engage my own geek-heart that got lost along the way. It's just weird that it's now something aspired to... I remember back in high school being connected to folks in the 'cool crowd' but spending my weekends playing DnD with the geekazoids. I freaking love my T-Shirt with "I Was Gaming Before You Were Born" with the Atari 2600 on it... amazing how much awed attention I get from that thing (and being hit on by guys half my age who are oddly turned on by it...:P)