I'm sure you guys are already familiar with the most popular sci-fi stuff there: Doctor Who, all the Star Treks, Battle Star Galactica, LOST, etc. etc. (And you ARE already watching Sherlock, right? RIGHT?! [meaningful glare] Good.)
So here's a list of some of the newer and/or lesser-known shows we've tried that I think you might like:
- Continuum
A lady cop from the future accidentally time-travels back to present day with her super suit. ("WHERE IS MY SUPER SUIT?")(Sorry. Had to.) Here she teams up with a teenage computer genius and a local detective to track down baddies and - of course - try to find a way home. Plenty of action and good characters, and they just added the second season to Netflix Streaming!
- The IT Crowd
A BBC cult classic, though not for the easily offended. I just finished re-watching all 24 episodes this last week (it's only a half-hour show) and it has one of the most hilarious pilots ever, so at least watch that. Best of all, the show JUST released an official "final episode" last month, although that's not on Netflix. You can watch it here on Youtube, though!
- Haven
Kind of like Eureka, minus the town geniuses and with a female Sheriff (though technically she's an FBI agent). We're only a few episodes in, and aren't hugely impressed yet, but it's not bad. (And, hey, it took me a while to warm up to Eureka, too.)
- The Dresden Files
Another older cult-classic starring a gritty modern day wizard who uses a hockey stick for a staff. Like many great shows it was cancelled way too soon, so we only have 12 episodes - but I'm told the books by Jim Butcher are amazing, so maybe pick up there?
- Alphas
If the X-men were regular schmoes, or if Heroes was less angsty. I remember almost hating the first episode of Alphas, but eventually I grew to love a lot of these characters - so definitely stick with it, if you give it a try. There are 2 seasons total, both on Netflix - and I was heartbroken when it wasn't picked up for a third!
- Once Upon A Time
I love the premise of this show - where every fairy tale crashes together in a small Maine town - but to be honest, we didn't last very long even through the first season. Still, give it a shot; I know lots of people who really adore the series, and the first two seasons are available on Netflix. (Maybe John and I will try this one again - right after we finish with the third season of Nikita - which you should also be watching. :))
- Primeval
A geeky SWAT team hunting dinosaurs. I've talked about this one before, and... well... give it a go, and see how long you last. Eventually we couldn't take the gaping plot holes and bumbling idiocy of the main characters any more - but hey, we lasted a good 3 or 4 seasons! (There are currently 5 on Netflix.)
- Supernatural
(K, srsly, what the heck did the photoshoppers do to Sam? He looks like some kind of twig-waisted mutant! I'm not the only one seeing this, right?)
I devoted a whole post to this show last year, but I can now add that Supernatural evolves over its 9 seasons from absolutely terrifying to ridiculously campy - but it's ALLLLL good. (Although if you're losing the will to live through season 7, just skip that one and pick up again in season 8. It's BACK, y'all.) The show isn't even remotely scary anymore, which is kind of nice, but it has tons of heart and humor, great writing (minus season 7), and captivating characters. (I know Castiel is everyone's fav, but I love me some Crowley. Mark Shepard is an evil genius, I tell you.) Season 9 is just airing now, but the previous 8 are all available on Streaming.
Then there are a few New Shows I Haven't Watched But Know Other Geeks Like:
- Arrow
- Teen Wolf
- Lost Girl
Again, all on Netflix Streaming, so go browse and report back!
And finally, for something COMPLETELY different: if you're a crazy cat lady trapped in a mostly sane person's body - you know, like me and John - then check out My Cat From Hell.
There are only 9 episodes on Netflix, but it's basically The Cat Whisperer, and several of the stories are just so stinking sweet that John and I MAY have gotten a little weepy. The cat guy, Jackson, is this big tattooed musician with a great personality, which really helps when you want to throttle half of the cat owners on the show. ;)
So, what'd I miss, fellow geeks? Tell me in the comments!
Oh! Please make Lost Girl one of the next things you watch. I LOVE it! I watched the two seasons that are on Netflix much too quickly and I'm now not-so-patiently waiting for the next season to come out. A bunch of these were already on my list of things to watch, so I'm glad I made good choices :)
ReplyDeleteI was going to say Lost Girl too! One of my most fave shows ever! Hot guys, hot women, awesome story lines. Fae. Need I say more? And Kenzie is the best bad ass side kick to ever walk the face of the earth!! Season 3 starts up here in Canada in a couple of weeks!
DeleteMy wife and I have watched or are watching nearly every show on the list, but Lost Girl became one of our favorite shows VERY quickly. We've been itching for season three. Kenzie is easily the coolest side kick in the universe.
DeleteLOST GIRL FTW!!! yes love it!!! :-) Kenzie is amazeballs! I am watching season 2 on netflix currently, and about lost it when I saw the "leftover" waving cat decorations from Bo's birthday. . .
DeleteNot sci-fi-ish but Don't trust the B**** in apartment 23 is hilarious as well. James Van der Beek playing himself is quite the trip.
I totally agree! I really love Lost Girl - it's just killing me that the new season is airing in Canada and we have to wait for it! Mackensie is the BOMB!
DeleteSanctuary and Dead Like Me are both great shows! Sanctuary has that fun, slightly campy vibe, and Dead Like Me can be deep, irrelevant, funny, light, and dark all in one episode.
ReplyDeleteLoved both of these, though preferred 1st season Sanctuary to the rest.
DeleteJen ~ I agree with you on so many of these shows! Lost Girl has great side characters but I don't love the lead (and the show is about a succubus, so expect lots of sex talk).
I'm really enjoying the new show on Lifetime (who knew?) called "The Witches of East End". Reminds me a lot of Charmed.
Arrow is very good, and The IT Crowd is a favourite of mine and Husband's! And the cat show is pretty great, too :) Definitely get Arrow high up on your list for future watching!
ReplyDeleteGotta bring up Once Upon a Time.
ReplyDeleteLet's get one thing straight: it has cheesy moments and some needless angst, but that kinda adds to it's charm.
BUT aside from that the writing is really fun. While they bring in characters you recognize, there's a lot of puzzle solving to do. Which character from the fantasy world is a character in the real world? Where have they met each other? Is this bad guy good and is this good guy bad? And the writers realize you know the characters well, so they add in differences that throw you for a loop. You'll love who the big bad wolf is. And when they say 'He's a wizard of sorts, we'll go off to see him." they don't mean who you think they mean.
They also do some neat things with villains. There are some really impressive moments in the second season, which I'm currently in the middle of. Rumplestilskin is my favourite. (Regardless of whether I can spell that name or not. Darn)
Give it a shot. I for one found it rather addictive.
I'm so in love with Once Upon a Time, and the new Wonderland version. Rumplestiltskin is my favorite too, I'm current on the show, and his character just keeps getting more developed, and wonderful. I agree, the character twists are amazing, I love how it connects the fairy tales. Amazing.
DeleteI love it too! Some of the plot twists I saw coming, others were a total surprise! I love how everything connects.
DeleteI ended up watching Stargate: Universe because Rumpelstiltskin (played by Robert Carlyle) is in it. He is such a great actor. Love him in Once.
DeleteI haven't watched Supernatural, but there is a massively massive fan following. I THOUGHT those gifs looked different from the Supernatural I thought I knew of. That season dissonance makes sense now.
ReplyDeleteIt's not sci-fi but it is a little geeky: New Girl! There are now two seasons on Netflix. I can't help but laugh out loud at this show. The first episode is horrible and it doesn't start actually getting funny until after the third but I adore this show now. The main character is smart and funny and awesome and, well, you just have to see it.
ReplyDeleteI will second this rec; it's pretty adorable. And there're some cute LOTR references in the first episode. Everybody's great, but Schmidt is the Sheldon- he totally steals the show.
DeleteI've been watching New Girl nonstop for the past week. I got through both seasons on Netflix and just got caught up on season 3 on Hulu Plus. SUCH a funny show.
DeleteSchmidt is amazing, although in season 3 he kind of turns into a major jerk. I love Winston too.
I stumbled across the season 9 premiere of Supernatural and, having been primed by Tumblr, I got totally hooked and am now marathoning my way through the series on Netflix! So addicting!
ReplyDeleteIn terms of other shows, you NEED to try Fringe. It is glorious and so so fabulous! And all 5 seasons are on Netflix in all their fantasmic awesomeness. Trust me.
Seconding Fringe. I think it's seriously under-appreciated. The first few episodes are a little rough, with a lot of motion sickness-inducing camera 360s, but after that it really picks up. And they were able to give the show a very satisfying ending, which you can't say for a lot of sci fi shows.
DeleteI third Fringe. Most. Awesome. Show. Ever. At least half of the actors should be given awards for their talent, and the story is very unique and cool and has a lot of funny moments as well.
DeleteWe tried a little of Fringe, but I quickly got too grossed out. (I'm a total wuss with cop-show gore type stuff - not to mention we watch most shows during dinner. Ha!) It's a shame, because otherwise it seems like a fantastic show!
DeleteOh, Jen, you HAVE to do Fringe. It's like, geek mandatory!! I watch all five seasons more often than I'm going to admit in public. Grimm is also good - and I'm liking Sleepy Hallow. OH - and John Barrowman is a must see in Arrow (first season on Netflix, second on Hulu)
DeleteI adored Fringe. (I do, mind you, have an annoyingly strong stomach. Made it through two full-term pregnancies without barfing once. Not even after seeing what a c-section looks like.) Walter is my favorite, favorite mad scientist EVER. And Joshua Jackson has acquitted himself for "Skulls" with this show.
DeleteSleepy Hollow is fabulous; the characters totally override the cheesiness of the concept. Ditto for Grimm--particularly Monroe.
Grimm, if you haven't caught up. Season premiere is Friday. Yay, Monroe!
ReplyDeleteif you liked the premise of once upon a time but thought it was stupid, you should check out the comic series "Fables" which it is sort based on/kinda rips off
ReplyDeleteYes! I didn't last long with Once Upon a Time, but I freakin LOVE Fables.
DeleteI assume you are talking about the comic book series, was it ever produced into the tv show?
DeleteI'm going to do that thing, and tell you that the Jim Butcher books are one thousand percent far superior to the tv show. I know some people like the show a lot, but as an avid fan of the books first, I couldn't get past the arbitrary changes that the show made. Also, I feel that a lot of the heart, charm and good willed snarkiness of the books was missing from the show. Also, Bob the skull is far funnier in the books, and actually a skull, so.... I find myself rereading the books, finding new things each time and looking forward to favorite parts again and again. I personally would recommend reading all the books first ( there are only fourteen =) ) and then trying out the show. But, like I said, I am a rabid and avid fan, so perhaps you should take all this with a grain of salt?
ReplyDeleteRight there with you, tangeria. Except, I say go ahead and watch the show first, because that's the only way you are going to enjoy the show. The show is a fine show...until you read the books. I would use those books to teach a class in minor character development over book arcs and series pacing.
DeleteThough, on the off chance anyone reading these comments decides to pick up the book for the first time, sixteen pages in is one of the most gruesome scenes in the whole series. If you have a low ability for squick, rest assured that while the series continues in perilous tense moments they come from the characters and how you love them, not from descriptions of gore.
Totally agree here. The books are head and shoulders above the tv show. Although I do appreciate the show because it got me hooked on the books. Yes there are a lot, but they're a fast read (Not like Wheel of Time huge or anything).
DeleteI also highly recommend Lost Girl. If you're any sort of fan of fae mythology, you'll love it/get all excited when you're introduced to the Fae of the week.
Agreed. The books are amazing. The show is only tolerable if you've never read them. The main reason is that the show completely reverses what you experience as a reader: It's first person, so we're privy to Dresden's thoughts about how completely screwed, terrified, and in over his head he feels. At the same time, he manages to pull the impossible solution out of ass while mouthing off (His snark is do die for) to the big baddies. Dresden's internal voice is all bumbling, OMG! OMG! We're all going to die (**cue Wash moment**) but from the baddies perspective he's a holy terror. The show flipped this completely around, losing a lot of the humor, suspense, and heart. I did a fair into to book one (Storm Front) here at KCLS's book talk: http://blogs.kcls.org/booktalk/2011/11/storm-front.html.
DeleteYou might also like Primeval: New World, which does a neat thing: it doesn't just give us the U.S. version, it assumes the British story is real (and ongoing) and tells us what's happening contemporaneously here in America.
I'm just gonna add my voice to the choir that sings the praises of Jim Butcher's vastly superior books. While Paul Blackthorne made for a compelling Harry, the other changes they made? GOD! NOOOOOOOOOO!/Darth Christensen My favorite book, to this day, remains book 4, Summer Knight. Something you can do (which is how I came around to the books) is get them in audio read by James Marsters (Spike on "Buffy"). I tried a couple of chapters read by him and RAN to the store to buy the books. First in the series is "Storm Front."
DeleteAdding my voice to the "the Dresden Files books are better than the show" choir. I've yet to meet a fan of the book series who liked the TV series. Although...the books also not for the fain of heart. IMO the first 5 books are probably the most "PG-13" of the series. It gets worse from there. So people who are sensitive to that sort of thing (Jen?) might want to read at your own risk. That being said the Dresden Files is one of my all-time favorite series. Amazing dialog, believable universe, characters (good guys and bad guys) you can completely relate to, etc. I'm almost done with Ghost Story and I can't put it down! If you even remotely liked the TV series please give Storm Front (book 1) a shot.
DeleteI started reading The Dresden Files early in the series (I think Proven Guilty was just out...) and have read, re-read and listened to the entire series multiple times. I did like the tv show - though after the first episode I quickly accepted the show as a "Harry-in-another-dimension" version ;) The real gem is the original two-hour pilot where Bob is still a skull but sadly, I think it's only aired once.
DeleteI'll be the strange outlier here. I LOVE the books. The written ones, the audio books, and even the RPG. I'm a big Dresden fan-boy.
DeleteI also really like the show. I think part of that is that halfway through the first episode, I just let go of the books. It is much more "inspired by" than any kind of re-telling. Everyone's story is radically different from the book versions, even Harry's. But, that also allows for some pretty radical story shifts. I still desperately want to know what Justin's story was on the show. I loved that Bianca and Harry had an uneasy alliance (affair?). And, it's hard to beat Terrence Mann as Bob.
Yes, I completely agree. I got into the books after I'd watched the TV show and never looked back. The books are way more involved and really flesh out the universe much more than the tv show ever did. Also, one fault that was pointed out to me in the tv show (besides only able to adapt about half of the very complex plots from the books) is that Harry doesn't do a lot of magic. He stirs a few potions and points his blasting wand at things, but not as much magic as he does in the books, which is a little disappointing. I highly recommend the books, but like Allison said, they are NOT for the faint of heart, but they are very good. But, the unofficial motto of the Dresden Files series is that is can always, always get worse.
DeleteYes, the books ARE much better than the TV show. I watched the TV show just because it was nice to see a favorite series get recognition, but the arbitrary changes they made really knocked me out of that particular 'verse. Also? Bob was a Skull.
DeleteA really cool thing about the book series was that I talked the school librarian at the high school where I worked into getting the series. Every single kid I recommended them to was hooked, and it was VERY gratifying to see non-reading high school boys get all fanboyish over Dresden. Quite a few of them demanded the next installment YESTERDAY. Even though it wasn't written yet ;^D It was so cool to have discussions/arguments over plot twists and favorite characters, too.
I found the books via the show, and love the books so much more even though I thought the show was fun. Jim Butcher made it to my 'buy nearly anything he writes based on name alone' author list.
DeleteYou guys. I love those books so much. Can we also discuss the Codex Alera that Butcher wrote? Because that may be my favorite fantasy series OF ALL TIME.
DeleteI came to the series when it premiered on TV as a fan of the books already, and I have to say, I really like the show. It is drastically different from the books, but quite good none-the-less (plus, because of it, I'll watch literally anything that Paul Blackthorne is in!)
DeleteJim Butcher himself has said that the TV show is a different reality. (Plus, it got him a ton of interest in the books!)
I'm voting for Grimm. Cute boy Buffy destined to fight the fairy tale monsters we didn't know existed, except he's a cop with a sense of fair play that makes for a lot of tension. Plus he's cute. It's less than perfect, and there are a few episodes I could do without, but it's fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteAnd Warehouse 13 is still a fave; I think you've mentioned it before. The Warehouse and its tech is delightfully steampunky, and Alison Haislip has moments of genius. Sometimes I want to be her, sometimes I want to smack her.
Grimm has some serious dark moments, though. Just as a warning. There are moments where I am covering my eyes/ears and I'm normally OK with stuff like that.
DeleteI only made it through one disc of Grimm. The terrible special effects were too much for me.
DeleteI nearly gave up on Once Upon A Time midway through season 2 but kept going and it is worth it. Oh and I second the books about the Dresden Files, great read!!
ReplyDeleteGod, Once is ridiculously awesome right now. Peter Pan is one of my favorites and I looooove what they're doing with him. I keep trying to quit and I just cannot do it. I even started the Wonderland spinoff, almost against my will, because of the io9 recap. Oh, the glorious cheese!
DeleteI so want someone to punch Peter's nose when he gets in their face and acts all threatening. I am so ready to be finished with Neverland.
DeleteI have several (all?) of the Dresden Files books and need to make my way to reading them. Maybe I'll take a hiatus from J.D. Robb/Eve Dallas and start them.
Continuum sounds pretty cool, I'll have to check that out. I so need to start watching Sherlock. Hubs and I have seen all these shows except for The IT crowd and Haven. We LOVED the Dresden Files, and finally got used to Alphas when it stopped. Unfortunately I knew it wouldn't last. The leader was weakly written. He didn't have the presence needed. If you recall, he was the blind guy in Sneakers, which I *loved*!
ReplyDeleteO M G you need to bump Lost Girl up to the top of your list. I'm so jonesing for more episodes!!
I really loved the leader JUST for that; he won my heart in Sneakers. :D
DeleteI did too because he was awesome in Sneakers...I just think he was poorly written. Sad really... it was really beginning to get interesting.
Deleteomg, I totally love the fact that you guys recognize characters from the movie :) I LOVED Sneakers, it's one of my faves, and yet any time I mention it, I get blank looks... I was beginning to think I was the only who's seen it >.< lol And now I apparently have a new series of books to go find >.< Damn it lol
DeleteAs for TV shows, I loved 'Primeval', I OWN every episode of 'Dead Like Me',( even the oneshot that I sulked over since Mandy Patinkin wasn't in it), 'Once Upon A Time', 'Grimm', The ORIGINAL 'Beauty and the Beast' ...( not so hot on the new version, though... I bailed on it just a few episodes in). Loving 'Arrow', and right now I'm enjoying ' Marvel's :Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D' ... and yes, I know I just put a D.C. in front of a Marvel... I'm totally going to hell for that ;) Another fun one along the lines of Dead Like Me, is 'Reaper' :)
A final episode of the IT Crowd was just aired as a one-off special. Worth a watch - just as good as ever!
ReplyDeleteI would recommend skipping the Dresden Files in favor of reading the books. Jim Butcher is an amazing author, his books take about a day to read (they're a good 200 pages, but you will FLY through them, the writing is so good!), and you get so much more than what the show can offer (like you said, Jen, 12 episodes- verses what will be 15 books when the new one comes out). There's always so much more you can get from books (poor screenwriters have to cut so much out to make the plot fit an episode)! I did like the show, but it was missing a lot. So read the books, and then watch the show and rage against the fact that THEY GOT RID OF THE BLUE BEETLE IN FAVOR OF A JEEP!! (And if you want an explanation, read the books and then watch the show! (: )
ReplyDeleteLong Way Round is show to watch that isn't properly geeky in and of itself. I mean, it's about motercycles, and trip around the world from London to New York...the long way 'round. There's nifty cultural exchange, some truly breathtaking landscape, and a newfound appreciation of just how desolate far eastern Russia is.
ReplyDeleteThe redeeming grace that makes it geeky is that Ewan McGregor and his buddy, Charley Boorman, are the two motorcyclists. The show is about them doing what they love, and having a good time doing it. And there is a great moment when Ewan breaks out the Obi Wan accent, says something mysterious, and stalks out of the room, only to poke his head back in and cry, "I need my cloak!"
Agreed!! And I don't solely recommend this because Ewan is from a town about 20 minutes from me. A little bit, maybe. *g* I'm not a petrolhead either but it's an excellent, engaging, interesting programme. Like Michael Palin's travel shows but a little cooler.
DeleteOMG .... thank you for mentioning Sherlock - I am late to the madness concerning this show (and I'm embarrassed to say Doctor Who )..saw it last week on Hulu. *SWOON!*. and I'm so glad someone else loves Crowley - Mark Shepard just owns every scene he's in!
ReplyDeleteI love so many of the shows you've mentioned but I have to mention one of my fave shows ... Firefly.
British sci-fi show Misfits isn't streaming, but it is on Netflix, so there's always a possibility it will enter the stream at some point in the future. From the series description: "After being sentenced to six weeks of community service, five ne'er-do-well teens discover that a freak storm has given them superpowers. But they're not the only ones who've been given strange -- and even dangerous -- new abilities." Highly recommend it if you get the chance!
ReplyDeleteThe last series just starting showing here in the UK (the 6th, I think) and IMO the first 3 are by far the best. With Superhoody and Simon - a must see if you like Alphas!
DeleteAllison, you have a great point about watching the show first, and about the wonders of the character development. I can honestly say, (as someone who reads 8-10 books per week, pertaining to just about everything) the Dresden Files are some of my all time favorites. And Jen, can I just say thank you for a community where I can not only totally geek out about these books, but hear from others who do the same? This is completely awesome!
ReplyDeleteIt's in its first season now, but Sleepy Hollow is made of hilarity. It's everything I wanted Supernatural to be with the bonus of women (women of color no less!). The premise is the Headless Horseman is actually Death from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Ichabod almost died but instead slept for 250 years and now is awake and he and Abbie (sheriff's lieutenant) have to avert the apocalypse. And apparently their first line of defense is snark and sass, because the banter is solid gold.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the first five episodes are streaming on Hulu and Fox, and it is highly enjoyable, as long as you go into embracing the ridiculous.
Also, have you tried Elementary? Because it is AMAZING. In some ways it's actually better than Sherlock.
I wish I could quit you, Once Upon A Time. But Hook is amazing! And now they're in Neverland, and they've made Peter Pan evil, which actually makes a lot of sense if you think about the book, which is one of my favorites, and just... I love it.
ReplyDeleteI would also vote for the Vampire Diaries, which after the first few episodes gets pretty hardcore and is amazingly cheesy. But also amazing, mostly because of Damon's Snark Knight qualities. Also there is a propensity for heart-ripping, which is always fun.
I'm seconding the recs for Sleepy Hollow, as well. Racial diversity plus awesome snark plus gloriously cheesy plots? YES. Elementary also for the diversity and relationships- hopefully it will go streaming soon.
Also also I think I'm going to eat up NBC Dracula with a spoon. I am so ready.
Right now I am hooked on Grimm. You should totally give it a shot. I love all the use of old fairy tales and the lore behind it. It has everything, all sorts of supernatural beings designed as humans and mystery. It is akin to Supernatural and Angel. It isn't on Netflix stream but you can get the disks from them. My boyfriend picked up the Season One because the BluRay set was only 20 bucks. We were drawn to the concept and he was hooked. I sat in for one episode and basically told him he couldn't watch any more without me because I was hooked. It is a hard one to explain but definitely worth a look.
ReplyDeleteI've gotta recommend Elementary- I'm only four episodes in and I love it!
ReplyDeleteFinally able to watch the Torchwood Miracle Day on bbc. And can't wait for orphan black to come back.
ReplyDeleteYou might try Being Human. The premise sounds like the beginning of a joke, "A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost move into a flat together..." I've only seen the original UK version, but there's also a US remake. Both are streaming, I believe.
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly second that recommendation. Definitely watch the UK version - the US one is a pale imitation and we didn't make it past the first episode.
DeleteIt seems that everyone I've talked to about this show thinks whatever version they watched first is best. I love the UK version, as do several of my friends. The few friends and sister who watched the US version first, like that best. Either way, it is a great show!
DeleteI personally feel the UK version is much better, but then I saw that first, and both George and Mitchell are pretty cute which helps and I live just down the road from the (first) house. What I would say is if you get any of the spin-off Becoming Human I wouldn't bother with that, it really didn't work.
DeleteI'd suggest watching the UK version rather than the US. I've seen all of the UK version and a few US episodes, and much preferred the UK version (and honestly I don't know why they needed to re-make it for US audiences anyway, do they think you guys won't get British Humour?).
DeleteIf you like British humour/black humour at all then go for the UK version.
I dunno, I usually like the UK versions of things but the first episode of the UK version bored me. I LOVE the US version. And I did try the UK version first!
DeleteI was intrigued (UK version) at first, but by the time I got to the second season I felt like it just wasn't going anywhere, plot wise, and gave up.
DeleteThe lead in Dresden Files is one of the main characters on Arrow! Also, if you liked the show, definitely read the books because they are a completely different story! Although, I did think Paul Blackthorne was perfect as Dresden, even though Dresden is in his mid-twenties at the start of the books.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lost Girl is amazing!
I should also add that The Tomorrow People is awesome, but it's only 3 episodes into its first season, so it's not on Netflix yet.
DeleteMy Vulcan is an I.T. Guy, and I taught him how to do a passable Irish accent, just so that he can answer his work phone "HULLO, I.T., HAVE YOU TRIED TURNING IT OFF AND ON AGAIN?" I didn't think that Noel Fielding could be any sexier, and then they went and Gothed him up for "IT Crowd". Seriously, I love my Vulcan to bits, but Richmond is truly my Dream Man. All burgundy velvet and gloom. But I must admit, I'm kinda perplexed as to what someone could find offensive about it, other than the squirm-inducing episode where Roy pretends to be disabled... but then, I have friends who are both disabled and silly enough to say every so often in a very small voice, "Oi'm disaaaaaabled....!"
ReplyDeleteI gave up on "Primeval" in the first episode, but the Vulcan adored it. But then, he likes dinosaurs more than me.
We love us some "Lost Girl" up in this queer Pagan house! The main character is profoundly bisexual, so if you have problems with girls kissing girls, move on. We also love the BBC version of "Being Human", but merely enjoy the American version; some bad casting choices with guest stars (most non-charismatic excuses for Queen and Princess of the Vampires EVER ) and strange deviations from the original storyline.
LOVING "Sleepy Hollow", enjoying the hell outta "Supernatural" again (Yes, that 7th season sucked my will to live), looking forward to the return of "Grimm" and the premiere of "Dracula", since I'm both a Drac Freak and LONGtime adorer of Jonathan Rhys-Meyers ("Velvet Goldmine"! Nothing makes one so vain as being told one is a sinner. ;)
I might have to check out "Arrow" after all; not only did I JUST find out that I'm missing John Barrowman (the hell? Why does no one tell me these things?!), but next week they bring in Black Canary, who is one of my favourite Superchicks.
I mostly watch "Once Upon A Time" for the costumes, and that "Wonderland" spin-off better get a LOT better toot frickin' sweet, or I'm out like a Members Only jacket.
On a non-nerdgirl but Awesome British Drama tip: I am IN LOVE with the BBC cop show "Scott and Bailey" (which stars Suranne Jones (who played Idris from "The Doctor's Wife") and Lesley Sharp (Sky Silvestri from "Midnight"). It's very much like a modern day "Cagney and Lacey", both in that they are female cops (one single, one married with kids), and in that Suranne Jones and the co-creators of the show wanted there to be a show like C&L on TV again, showing strong women characters at work and home. Most of the cases they investigate are murders and some of them are pretty heinous, so I guess I can't recommend it for the easily squigged-out. But wow, the writing, the performances, the casting, all top-notch.
My other favourite BBC Drama is "Call the Midwife", based on the true story of a young woman who was a nurse and home midwife in post WW2 East End London, at the start of the National Health Service. Again, the writing and the performances are heart-wrenchingly good, and you WILL cry, unless you're made of stone (and sometimes it's tears of laughter, not just weeping; there ARE moments in every episode that are terribly funny). But oh, so good, I can't even tell you. Both "S&B" and "CtM" are definitely Women's Shows, in that they not only star women, but have women writers, producers, and directors. I don't do a whole lot of dramas, because my depression and anxiety call for me to watch things that make me laugh and/or are fantastical/non-realistic. But these shows make me SO proud to be a woman. And the Vulcan is secure enough in his masculinity to enjoy them, too. ;)
Cheers, thanks a lot,
Storm
Forgot to mention: the birth scenes on "Call the Midwife" are SO realistic, they make me thank the High Ones that I've never given birth! Holy cats! This is the ONLY show or film I can think of that has EVER told you the Grimmest Truth Of Childbirth: You WILL Poop! Profusely! With each push!
DeleteThe first time I watched it, it was like 3AM, and it was a scene with a woman delivering breech, just SCREAMING. My sleeping Vulcan had gotten up to Use It, heard all the commotion, and came wandering out all bleary-eyed to find out what I was watching, to find me crying, rocking back and forth on the couch clutching a pillow and saying "THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR NOT WANTING TO MAKE ME EVER DO *THAT*, EVEREVEREVER!" He mumbled "You're welcome?" and went back to bed.
Your Pal,
Storm
The plot holes in Teen Wolf will make you tear your hair out, be warned, that said I have still watched every episode.
ReplyDeleteIt so worth it though. I love teen wolf. I went in for the hot shirtless guys and stayed for Stiles and all the heart and great storylines
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteMy favorite US show (I'm French) is "Brooklyn 99" !!!! And I'm waiting to the new season of "House of Cards" !!!!
Cheers,
Aurore
Stick with Haven, it's a slow burner but now it's one of my favourite shows!
ReplyDeleteAlso, no idea if it's on Netflix but I highly recommend Defiance! It's my boyfriends favourite new sci fi! Orphan Black is also really amazing if you can find that! Tatiana Maslany slays every role she plays and sometimes I forget that all the clones are the same actress!
DeleteAnother seconder here for Orphan Black, love it!
DeleteOkay, this one is so not sci-fi, but I have to say that my most favorite show ever in the history of the world is Gilmore Girls. I love that show, and when I watch a lot of seasons I feel like I get funnier.
ReplyDeleteAwww, I'm sad that you and John didn't like Once Upon a Time--it's my favorite show! There are some cheesy moments and some seriously bad special effects, but I still love it. :) Hope you guys give it a second chance!
ReplyDeleteI second Sleepy Hollow. Perfect casting, excellent writing, and one heck of a set. Creepy to the extreme when they venture out into the woods from time to time. The writers did a good job on the character's background stories.
ReplyDeleteBeen hooked on Haven since season one. It's worth hanging in there. But I would not recommend watching the episodes back to back. Give yourself a little time between each viewing. The main story device (the "Troubles") can seem repetitive and tad tedious if you don't. The cliff hanger from week to week is what keeps my daughter and I coming back to this show.
ReplyDeleteAnd Alphas broke my heart.(NO SPOILERS) when it ended so abruptly.
I had just become a bit fixated on the show and then the last episode's huge cliffhanger left me desperate to know what would happen next. Alas, I will never really know.
My daughter says that I should resort to reading fan fiction "endings" to Alphas to ease the pain. Sigh. I just can't bring myself to do it.
I decided to just believe that cliff-hanger ended the way *I* wanted it to - meaning of course that all my favorites lived happily ever after. :D I'll take that over a definite BAD ending, at least - although John feels the same as you, and just WANTS TO KNOW. Ha!
DeleteWe LOVE Continuim and can't wait for it to come back next season. I liked the Dresden Files but I've read the books and as usual, it really doesn't do the books justice. I've seen a few others of these (I too like Sci Fi and while I don't watch a lot of live TV do catch series on DVD or DVR now.)
ReplyDeleteMy husband worked in IT for a year while we were dating, which was when we discovered The IT Crowd. Hysterical. "I'm feeling delicate" is a regularly used phrase now.
ReplyDelete(sorry to be all anonymous, but my google account won't let me post :/ )
I'd like to add my two cents with a series that is more off-the-beaten-path - Wilfred. It's a very quirky series from Australia remade in the US with Elijah Wood (Frodo from Rings) about a depressed guy who starts seeing his neighbor's dog as a man in a fur suit. It talks about depression and social anxiety but in a very funny and caring way. Give it a go, you'll either love it or hate it right away. I also watch House of Cards and Homeland right now, but I don't think you'd enjoy those. Also yeah, Dresden books are great :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and we watched Hemlock Grove here but it's NOT for the faint of heart, it can be VERY graphic - still, watching Famke someth (Phoenix from the X-men films) strut around as some kind of she-devil IS fun. Lastly, we plan on re-watching Buffy and Xena for some classic campy fun.
DeleteHow are you not watching Arrow? It has Captain Jack on it. How I miss him. And I do enjoy Lost Girl. Another you might want to try and download is Orphan Black. It's fantastic, but not on Netflix unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThanks for listing all of these. I'm always looking for some good sci-fi to what!
I desperately want to see Orphan Black! Waiting for it to crop up somewhere (legitimate) online so we can see it.
DeleteOkay - I have to second Arrow!! Please make sure you watch it. I'm not a big superhero tv show person but I am in LOVE with this show! (Of course, it was John Barrowman's appearance that got me to try it out)
DeleteStephen Amell (Oliver/Arrow) does his own facebook and is SO amazing with the fans. The fight scenes are worthy of Joss Whedon and though there aren't a plethora of butt-kicking girls in the first season, this season has already introduced Sin, Black Canary (with an awesome take on the sonic scream) & China White. It also has Speedy (different take) and Laurel Lance can kick some butt herself. I'm sure you know that the guy from Dresden Files (who's a Brit but does the best US accent ever) plays Detective Lance.
Please give it a try - I totally agree on the whole list and would add Orphan Black as well. Tatiana should win EVERY award for acting because every character she plays in the show is SO different.
My husband actually got me to finally like Supernatural and I've really come to love the camp and geek references!
If you can handle some morgue scenes, Ripper Street from BBC was quite well done. The clothes are wonderfully Victorian (just think of the Steampunking you could do!) and the characters are amazing. Flawed, deep, real people who happen to work on the wrong side of London. I'm eagerly awaiting the second season in January.
ReplyDelete"Ripper Street" IS awesome, SO much better than "Copper", which was SO grim and SO graphic, I hated everyone on it, including the main character. And yeah, their costuming is spot-on!
DeleteYour Pal,
Storm
I'd never heard of Ripper Street before, but OH MY GOSH MR. DARCY! Adding it to my to-watch list RIGHT NOW.
DeleteSpaced! I'm sure you've already watched it, but it's awesome. Wait, maybe it doesn't quite qualify as sci-fi/fantasy...but it is.
ReplyDeleteSweet Mother of Bowie, how did I forget "Spaced"?! It must be that it's been so long since I've seen it. JEN! If you want a comedy about nerds, forget "The Big Bang Theory" (those fools aren't even REAL nerds IRL; that guy that plays Sheldon pointed at the TARDIS on Craig Ferguson's desk and said "What's that?" MY HEAD NEARLY EXPLODED), and check out "Spaced"! SO FUNNY!
DeleteYour Pal,
Storm
Just added it to the list! Thanks!
DeleteI was just scrolling through to see if anyone recommended Spaced and here it is! We adore this show, my hubby and I both, and seem to enjoy it more with each time we watch it through. I'm sure you guys would love it too.
DeleteI am a huge fan of Jim Butcher and the Dresden Files. I actually didn't hate the TV series as several commenters apparently did, but yes, as usual, the books are much richer than a TV series could ever be.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to Dresden, Butcher has another series based on his true love, sword & board fantasy, called the Codex Alera, very different genre from Dresden. I love this series, feel it is compelling and well rounded and wish SOMEONE would turn it into a MMORPG because it is a lush world full of amazing characters and magic, ripe for us vid addicts.
I read an interview with Butcher where he said that the furies in Codex Alera are basically Pokemon. Blew my mind.
DeleteYou listed so many of my favorites that I'm definitely gonna take your recommendation on the others!
ReplyDeleteI was so excited that season 8 of Supernatural was added just before season 9 started, so I crammed that into a weekend and now I'm all caught up for real-time viewing! I squeal excitedly every Tuesday night because of S.H.I.E.L.D. followed by Supernatural! And next week is more Felicia Day!
If you haven't watched Charmed I'd recommend it. I caught it occasionally back when it was new, but never watched religiously. Just this week I finished the series on Netflix. Loved it so much. Honestly, the last season sort of just repeats several previous stories with minor changes, but I think they were so focused on building to the big final battle they lost track of what had already been done. It was a good series, tho. I cried through a few episodes. There's some great guest appearances from Mark Shepard, Jon Hamm, Norman Reedus, super young Misha Collins, Charisma Carpenter, etc. I love it when my fandoms cross over!
Recently, my husband and I have gotten completely hooked on the show "White Collar" - the first three seasons are on Netflix streaming and season 5 is currently starting to air (so here's hoping season 4 shows up on Netflix soon!). The characters are wonderful and the writing is hilarious! The main character is an FBI agent in charge of the white collar crime unit, who drafts an art forger he's caught twice to help solve crimes while serving the rest of his prison sentence (on a tracking anklet). It's a little bit Sneakers and a little bit Catch Me If You Can.
ReplyDeleteOmigosh, we LOVE White Collar. LOVE. IT. I didn't mention it since it's not terribly geeky, but yes, everyone should be watching that show! (We're a bit behind - right there with you hoping season 4 hits Netfix soon!)
DeleteWhen I have internet connection and can watch stuff, i am hung up on CSI NY I love the crime dramas. As for Geeky (not sure if it is or not) I love the X Files, out of all the seasons there has only truly been on to scare my pants off (the one with the bendy guy). I wanted to get into Once upon a time but never got the chance (1 tv in my house.. four people.. one grumpy remote hog=Not worth the fight to watch dorky fun television)
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I watched the first season of Alphas. I loved Gary! He was pretty much the reason I watched it. Unfortunately we can't stream shows and didn't love it enough to buy the second season.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on Once Upon a Time. The premise is good (and by the way kind of similar to Enchanted) but it's just sooo bad. We keep giving it more chances but honestly, as they've introduced more characters and the plot has gotten more convoluted and been stretched thinner and thinner... it's just gotten worse.
Stick with Haven, I went back and forth on if I liked it for most of the first season, but now it one of my favorite shows.
ReplyDeleteAnd there are not enough words for me to express my adoration for Warehouse 13, yes it has grown darker and more angsty but it has such creative props and amazing guest stars that I highly recommend it to anyone with a sci-fi bone in their body.
I also enjoy both versions of Being Human, I came in for the last three season's of the BBC version and was able to figure out what I missed.
If anyone just wants a comedy I suggest the dearly departed My Boys, that is always my go to when I'm home sick and need a pick me up.
Sanctuary! Sanctuary! Sanctuary! One of those good shows cancelled too soon, although the 4th season was a bit off, I'm sure a 5th season would have redeemed it. :P But the first three seasons were amazing. 'Normandy' is probably my all-time favourite tv episode ever.
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched Primeval: New World, but I've heard good things about it - and it's filmed in Vancouver, as sort of a companion series to the original Primeval. And you know the old Stargate fandom joke about every planet looking like BC? Well, apparently they embrace that in New World...
If you're not watching Castle, and you're a Firefly fan, what are you waiting for? Castle (the show) isn't really geeky, but Castle (the character) is an unashamed geek, and there's a nod to some kind of fandom in almost every episode. I loves eeeet!!!!
And last but not least, Falling Skies. It's going into its, um...4th? season. I'm a bit behind...but I loved season 1. It's about the Boston-based survivors of an alien invasion. The main character is a history professor who becomes the reluctant military leader. It's REALLY good - a bit cheezy rah rah 'Merica sometimes for this Canadian, but I don't hold that against it. :) Filmed in Vancouver too, and I really like supporting Hollywood North!
10,000 Days is a post-apocalyptic series starring Peter Wingfield and the dad from Smallville who's name escapes me...oh, John Schneider, and it's premiering on metacafe on October 29th. They had released a series of 5-10 minute episodes on YouTube a couple of years ago to drum up interest, and I was hooked. I'm really looking forward to the launch and hoping for more seasons, so it would be great if y'all checked it out. :)
Please let me second the recommendation for Sanctuary! (Well, at least the first 2-3 seasons.) The back stories involving Nicolae Tesla, The Ripper, and the others is amazing. Well worth the watch. I truly love The Big Guy.
DeleteSorry, 10,000 Days in on metacafe on October 28th, not 29th!
ReplyDeletehttp://10kdays.tv/
The only one on this list that I am currently watching is Supernatural, so I'll have to give these others a look-see! (I'm only in season 5 of Supernatural right now, though, because....life...and reading too many books...and taking pictures of too many people in my "spare time" for extra cash! So I guess I could have just left it at 'life,' huh)
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I am still working on Eureka, too (LOVE that show). And since I've loved a lot of the same books and shows as you already, I will be bookmarking this post to come back to when I've finished the series that I'm working on. Thanks Jen!!!!!!!!
Wait...actually, I got so sidetracked by thinking about Supernatural, that I forgot you mentioned OuaT, which I love and watch with my kids. And I've seen a few episodes of the IT Crowd (hilarious), but need to go back and watch them all sometime.
DeleteGlad to see I'm not the only one who thinks the characters on Primeval are idiots. It drives me nuts when these supposed geniuses do such stupid things.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I keep watching because I think the premise is nifty.
I second the New Girl recommendation. It's completely typical sitcom plotting, but the characters and writing are so freaking funny.
I've watched Continuum as it's aired on SciFi from the beginning. I really enjoyed the first season, but I felt like the second season kind of lost me with the way-too-complicated plot and felt like it got a little melodrama-y. I'll be back for the next season, but I'm kinda hanging on by a thread.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally a Supernatural fan. That poster isn't the best. I saw one that has been revised. [SPOILER ALERT]
ReplyDeletehttp://www.btvguide.net/news/New-Angelic-Supernatural-Poster-Showcases-Sam-s-SPOILER-6984
I took a break from Once Upon a Time but then got back into it and I'm glad I did. The Belle episode in Season 1 actually made me cry.
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying the current season of Once Upon a Time- partially because I love Peter Pan, both the book and what they've done with him.
DeleteI LOVE Continuum. It started off a little cheesy, but I think the second season got so much better, and I can't wait for the third season.
ReplyDelete(And don't watch the American version of Primeval. Just... don't. Trust me.)
I recommend BBC's Merlin. It's definitely campy, and don't expect it to be period accurate or follow the myths AT ALL. It's charm lies in the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously, and it just has some really top-notch writing and acting. Though be prepared for some heartbreak. Similarly, The Legend of the Seeker is just that kind of sword-and-sorcery, campy-yet-overly-dramatic fun comparable to Hercules or Xena. There were only two seasons of that, but I really enjoyed it.
A show I recently binge-watched, not TECHNICALLY geeky, is Leverage. It's a show about former criminals and conmen deciding to Robin Hood it for the little guy. Jonathan Frakes directed a chunk of episodes, and a lot of Star Trek actors found their way on the show (most notably Wil Wheaton and Jeri Ryan had recurring storylines). Great writing, and a lot of fun to watch
Dude, Leverage make an AMAZING campaign setting for non-D&D, tabletop, RPG. Hubby and I shipped this show so hard, we put together a primer on how to run it in a GURPS, FATE and White Wolf setting. Working on a Shadowrun. It's totally for geek (Age of!)
DeleteJohn actually fanboyed pretty hard on Merlin, watching the whole thing WITHOUT ME. Then the last episode made him so mad/sad he chucked the remote across the remote and refuses to talk about it anymore. o.0 (I know the last episode was true to the legend, but like you said most of the rest of the show wasn't, so why not give it a happier ending?) Poor guy. ;)
DeleteLegend of the Seeker is based on the Sword of Truth books by Terry Goodkind. I only watched a few episodes of the show, but the books are AMAZING.
DeleteGlad someone mentioned Leverage. The show-runner, John Rogers is a *huge* geek, so there are tons of geeky references! Also, if you have *any* interest in how a TV show is written and filmed, watch the commentaries on each episode. By around season three, Rogers starts to refer to them as TV 101... you will literally never look at TV or movies the same way! (And the first published novel was set at San Diego Comic Con!)
Delete@Microbial Tea - there's actually a licensed Leverage RPG (for the Cortex system - great system if you're really into character interaction rather than "kill the monster and take it's stuff") Check out the Margaret Weiss Productions website for more info (she also has the license for the Firefly RPG... and if the name sounds familiar, it's because she's one of the authors of Dragonlance!)
http://www.margaretweis.com/
Full disclosure: my husband is the author of Leverage Noir, Kryptos, and The Rich and Powerful sourcebooks, all collected in the Leverage Companion Volume 2
OMG! Jen! It's like you took the words right out of my mouth about Supernatural. I have been a big time fan of the show since day one back in Sept of '05 and season 7 just about had me on my knees in tears. I was wondering if my show was done. Just gotta say thank god for Jeremy Carver who returned to the show in season 8! Awesome post, I was looking for news things on Netflix to watch.
ReplyDelete"New Girl" is shockingly awesome and has quite a few geek references throughout it. I love the Dresden files book series. I'm sad the show didn't last longer.
ReplyDeleteHaven gets gloriously twisty soon but honestly, I would watch just to see Eric Balfour ;) And your comparison to Eureka is *verrrry interesting* given the start of the current season. Pretty much anything with Mark Sheppard is on my "watch" list - he's such fun to watch (Leverage? Please tell me you've watched Leverage....).
ReplyDeleteI will second the Castle (Nathan! Swoon!) and White Collar recommendations.
I wish they'd add Leverage to Streaming! From the few episodes I've caught it seems like a great show. (And rest assured, we LOVE Castle & White Collar. :))
DeleteEric Balfour, swoon.
DeleteIsn't Colin Ferguson from Eureka going to be on this year's season of Haven? If so, nice.
Oh I loved the Dresden series! The books are much grittier (and have a lot more sex in them. something to keep in mind). They are good though and a nice easy fun read. :)
ReplyDeleteOrphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black, Orphan Black. Not on Netflix (yet) but if it does find its way there, watch it for sure!
ReplyDeleteWarning with Supernatural, though. AVOID THE FANGIRLS AT ALL COSTS. Do not, I repeat DO NOT look up anything remotely related to Supernatural on Tumblr *stares into the distance intensely*. But yeah, great list. Crowley and Castiel are my favorite Supernatural characters, but I also have a sweet spot for Lucifer (still feels weird to say that). And I know you like Felicia Day, but her character annoys me to no end in SPN. Gonna stop there. This series is rant inducing.
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to believe only one other person has mentioned Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.! It's only 5 episodes into its first season, but I'm loving it! Be forewarned, the show is not about superheroes, but as its name implies, an actual team of SHIELD agents lead by Agent Coulson. Some people are totally complaining about that, but Joss Whedon told us from the beginning that is what the show would be. Yes, there is cheesy dialogue, some of the stuff is rather unbelievable, it's got its share of Whedonisms (duh!), but it's a great show. I'm anxiously looking forward to each week!
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying SHIELD, although not on the level of some of the others on this list. The Whedonverse cameos are no small part of what keeps me coming back.
DeleteI am REALLY enjoying S.H.I.E.L.D.! It's still getting into it's groove, but I'm liking it each week even more. Plus, it's not all Joss - his brother Jed and his wife Marissa are actually writing it - but still has that feeling to it!
DeleteI think Once Upon A Time gets better. At first, I had a really hard time ignore the bad special effects, but overall the characters and retelling of the fairy tales have been very thoughtful so I kept refocusing on that and pushed through it. Totally worth it!
ReplyDeleteOff to start Alphas.
If you like Teen wolf you should check out the Not Another Teen Wolf Podacst over on Hypable. The girls who host the show are awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion of skipping through season seven of Supernatural. I loved the show, but this season (also watching in Netflix) is making me want to stop watching despite having a yummy crush on Jensen Ackles. I will also be checking out the Eureka-esque show...
ReplyDeleteIt's great how the Supernatural writers can troll their fans. I love/love Mark Shepard but I have the tiniest of problems(?) with him - on this and Battlestar and really anything...the man's head NEEDS a bowler. all the time. Supernatural. D*Con, showering, ALL.THE.TIME.
ReplyDeleteI go caught in the grips of Alias a few months back. Victor Garber as Jack is my spirit animal..the way he can sneer over his coffee at someone is genius. Psych is weird and wonderful- though tiring after a while.
Not on Netflix, but I think on Amazon Prime is Community.
You made me LOL about Mark Shepard in a bowler - clearly, I need to google this.
DeleteI remember my Alias obsession way back when it first aired. The first few seasons of that show are PURE GOLD. Then it became obvious the writers never expected it to last that long, and just started making stuff up as they went along. But those first few seasons..!! (Also agree about Psych; we can take it in very small doses, properly spaced out.)
Once Upon A Time is much better, in my opinion, in the second season than the first. I've watched most of these, but will have to check out Alphas. Thanks. As much as I enjoy your book posts, I also appreciate your TV recommendations.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! Once Upon a Time has gotten better with every season!
DeleteI don't know if it's on Netflix, since I don't have it, but I'd like to recommend Murdoch Mysteries. It's Canadian, set in Toronto at the turn of the century and follows the title character in his job as detective. I think it should appeal to most geeky folk since he tends to solve things in a very science-based way, in contrast to many of his contemporaries, and there's plenty of focus on important changes at the time and it's kind of neat to catch the little (or sometimes quite central) mentions of something just in it's infancy then that we find important now, such as microwave radiation. And of course the occasional appearances of historical figures is fun, too. They sometimes fudge the history a bit, as I found when I decided to look up a potentially historical character mentioned in one episode and discovered the government position he apparently occupied did not exist at the time. But it's fun, and I enjoy it, and maybe you will, too.
ReplyDeleteMurdoch Mysteries is the perfect tv show. Ever. It is nothing but delightful.
DeleteThe first season was on netflix for a while, and I know you can buy it streaming on amazon (it is SO worth it).
You really need to give Once Upon a Time another shot. It gets better as it goes along. Try watching it as a serial drama rather than as sci-fi; because that's really more what it is like.
ReplyDeleteDresen Files! Seriously! The books are 100 times better! When I pick one up I can't put it down. (And I struggle with being a slow reader most of the time unless it's a gem than really grabs me. Dresden Files can do that for me)
ReplyDeleteI read some of the books first then tried to watch the show. Was way too different. They took too many creative liberties for my taste. Their Murphy looks like his Susanne in the book. And his apartment is supposed to be in a tiny basement. The way they interpreted Bob was interesting and though it still rubbed me the wrong way I can understand budget wise (instead of risking poor CG/SFX) why they went that route. Seriously, the book was better. (speaking of, have you seen Axis of Awesome.'s Rage of Thrones on youtube? :)
That said, I adore supernatural. Did you know both actors of Sam and Dean are over 6' tall? I'm enjoying Haven, really liked Once Upon A Time. Have you seen Grimm?
LOVE supernatural! although i think doctor who should have been added as all the contemporary seasons are available on netflix as well. that got me through MANY weekends spent crocheting! also torchwood which is a doctor who spin off. i just finished american horror story on netflix streaming and am waiting for the american horror story "asylum" episodes to hit so then i can watch the "coven" episodes which started. in the future i'm thinking sherlock or merlin or some of the more "period" shows like mad men or the tudors...
ReplyDeleteDisclaimer: I use the Internet as my tv source, so I can't vouch for weather any of these are on netflix or not.
ReplyDeleteThe people who made the IT crowd also made another show, called Black Books, that is similarly outlandishly, offensively funny, about a grumpy drunken Irishman who owns a bookshop in London. It's not quite as geeky, but just as amazing.
Eureka was good, but I actually liked it's sister show, Warehouse 13, even better. A team of wacky, mostly ex law enforcement people, working to hunt down magical objects that are wreaking havoc on unsuspecting civilians.
I haven't gotten very far in Fringe yet, but what I have seen is pretty amazing. It reminds me a little of the x-files, but with less aliens and possibly even more brain-crushingly complicated conspiracies. And Leonard Nimoy!
I haven't seen it, but my geeky coworker has recommended Misfits. It's about British juvenile delinquents who develop superpowers, I believe? He says it's very rude, but also very good.
Oooh, and the Dresden Files books are loads better than the tv show, although that was pretty fun too. One can't really use the books to pick up where the show cuts off though, because the show took so many liberties with the plot that it no longer has many parallels.
We watched Blacks Books in Netflix, but that doesn't mean they still carry it :( Definitely worth watching a few episodes to see if you like the humor!
DeleteI know this isn't sci-fi or anything, but if we're talking Netflix shows you MUST watch I just have to throw in 'Arrested Development'--its one of my favorite shows EVER. So clever, so witty, such dry humor. Its the best. You will go around trying to do a chicken dance and saying "Bob Loblaw" all the time after! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you mentioned Supernatural! It gets overlooked so often and it really is a great show. Death is my favorite character. He's just so perfect! And I get annoyed at Castiel and want him to tell Dean to stop being a whiny baby all the time!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSliders! It's an oldie but a goodie (Jerry O'Connell and John Rhys-Davies!). I also liked Primeval: New World, Endgame (both Canadian so I don't know if you'd find them on Netflicks in the US), Jericho, Terra Nova and a host of other shows that got cancelled too soon. I'm terrified to like new shows for fear they end too soon. Lie to me, Human Target... the list goes on.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently hooked on Supernatural, Grimm, Elementary, Haven, Covert Affairs, S.H.I.E.L.D and Arrow (and Survivor... it's my guilty pleasure). It's a good thing I've got a TIVO. I don't think I'd have time otherwise. Needless to say there's never nothing on between TIVO and Netflicks!
TiVO is a necessity for us, too! My son got me hooked on Supernatural. I love me some Crowley. I've heard they're considering a spinoff with Crowley and Castiel. Anyone else heard that rumor?
DeleteI also found Grimm on Amazon, and I highly recommend the British version of Being Human. I'm getting into S.H.I.E.L.D., although I don't think the hubs is. Yet. I love Revenge, which is my guilty pleasure. It's soapy and sleazy and awful.
Also? Farscape! Haven't seen it mentioned here, but wow! The characterizations and plotlines and Jim Henson connection :^) OH, and Firefly, of course.
I STILL miss Human Target- I maintain that Guerrero is the best bad ass character ever written for TV. He stole the show every week, in my opinion. Plus, Mark Valley is total man candy. :)
DeleteLove love LOVE Lie to Me. Tried a couple episodes of Jericho, it looked promising but I wasn't immediately hooked.
DeleteAnother good one is Warehouse 13!
ReplyDeleteI second that! Warehouse 13 is what I scrolled all the way through the comments to recommend.
DeleteI need more!
ReplyDeleteIT Crowd is one of my all-time favs. I've been reading a ton about Orphan Black so I'm adding that to the list. You just might convince me to switch to Netflix streaming!
ReplyDeleteSherlock is an amazing show! The writing and the casting are wonderful. I have fallen absolutely in love with Martin Freeman in is portrayal of John Watson. He is like an adorably sad puppy that needs a hug.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this list. I have been looking for some new shows to watch.
Oh, please, if you watch the Dresden Files, keep in mind that the show is ENTIRELY different than the books and the books are SO much better. Pretend like they're not even related. And please do read the books. Harry Dresden is like a cross between a grown up Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. ♥ With a little film noir mixed in.
ReplyDeleteThe IT Crowd is a Channel 4 series, not BBC!
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for Sleepy Hollow here! It's not particularly graphic but it is quite jumpy (demons suddenly appearing and disappearing in the background etc) so be aware.
The original UK Being Human is excellent, very highly recommended. Not many series would survive a complete main character refresh!
And finally.... The Walking Dead. Based on a series of graphic novels, it has been adapted beautifully for TV. The special effects are very convincing though, so it's pretty gory at times.
Thanks for the recommendations & reviews :)
Walking Dead...yeahNOPE. One episode, couldn't do it. Good to know that Sleepy Hollow is more suspense and less gore - I love the Tim Burton version, but couldn't do it in a recurring show.
DeleteOHMIGOD. You just listed almost every TV show I love. Kudos. Also, I totally get what you mean by Sam looking too twiggy. They call him "Moose", not "Twig" : ) Also, the books by Jim Butcher are kick a##, but they are indescribably gory in certain places, and there are some graphic sex scenes in some parts, but the storylines and comedy are totally worth it all. I mean, he yells "MEEP MEEP!" at the queen of faeries and then runs off with her property in the middle of a huge battle. My favorite scene. Also, "Quantum Leap" is a great show from the 70-80s range. It is about this guy transporting through time but he is seen by everyone else as the person whose life he took over- women, black people, prisoners, everyone. It's hilarious. And extremely thought-provoking at times.
ReplyDeleteOMG - you just made me feel SO old! haha I watched Quantum Leap during it's original run (yep, we had to record it on VHS tape if we didn't watch it live) from the late 80s/early 90s. I'm so glad you found it and enjoyed it!
DeleteI just rewatched QL for the first time in years a few months ago. Great show, well written (every Leap put you right with him "in the skin" of the person he's become, so you really think about what it would be like to face their lives in their eras) and their chemistry is fantastic. And, of course, THAT BAKULA BOOTY. Still a fine looking man, to be sure, but oh my giddy aunt, the profile of some young, pert Bakula Booty can get me through just about anything. YES, LORD.
DeleteYour Pal,
Storm
I LOVE Haven and look forward to watching it every Friday. Actually I love most of the shows on Syfy: Lost Girl (definitely for mature viewers but worth it for Kenzie and Dyson), Eureka (I still miss it), Warehouse 13 (oh Claudia), Being Human (one of the few vampire things I'll watch), and Alphas (gone too soon). Arrow is another love; it's not your typical superhero show and Felicity is my absolute favorite character. Plus the guy from The Dresden Files is in it. I haven't checked out The Tomorrow People yet, which is on after Arrow (and stars the cousin of the star of Arrow) but it looks interesting. Once Upon a Time, well I love it. Season 2 was a bit all over the place but so far season 3 is awesome. What is it that kept you from finishing season 1? My beef with the show is EVERYTHING circles back to Rumplestiltskin and it gets tiring after a while.That and they have dropped a few storylines without a reason why and treated a few characters not so nicely last season (Ruby/Red Riding Hood, Mulan, Robin Hood). But my all time favorite of what you mentioned will always be Supernatural. I do miss the old days of "hunting things, saving people, the family business" but I love the evolution of the show as well. And how can you not love Mark Shepard?? I LOVE that he pops up in soooo much sci-fi stuff along with Mark Pelligrino.
ReplyDeleteAs for some others, Grimm is pretty cool. I was expecting a more cop hunts down fairytale killers sort of thing thanks to how they promoted it, especially with the Little Red Riding Hood premiere epsiode, but I'm not disapointed in the direction it has gone. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is great, with bits of the Marvel movies thrown in to the stories of science giving people powers. Sleepy Hollow on Fox is twisting the tale around and it's awesome. And there is Falling Skies (alien invasion!) and Defiance (another alien invasion!). It's interesting to see how both shows deal with an alien invasion; in Falling Skies they fight back, in Defiance they co-exist. I'm looking forward to watching Almost Human on FOX when it premieres in November. Karl Urban is always good and I loved Michael Ealy in Common Law on USA (Side note, I highly recommend basically everything on USA. White Collar, Necessary Roughness, Burn Notice, Graceland, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains, Psych.)
As for shows no longer on the air, I second Sliders It's a show my sister used to watch and I remember it being very entertaining. Same with SeaQuest DSV and Quantum Leap. SeaQuest (which apparently has been retitled SeaQuest 2032) is basically Star Trek under water. We make cities under water and the crew of the ship keep the peace. Quantum Leap has Scott Bakula leaping through time into other people's bodies. As a kid I always giggled when he jumped into a woman's body. Oh and then there's The Lost World! A tv series loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's book The Lost World. Dinosaurs and natives and British accents abound. And I personally loved Terra Nova; I feel people expected Jurrasic Park every week but that wasn't what the show was about.
And of course there will always be Firefly.
OH! One more thing! It isn't a tv show and it's on YouTube, not Netflix, but the musical Starship by Team Starkid is delightfully geeky and sci-fi. It's by a group of college friends (the creators of A Very Potter Musical and Darren Criss is a member) and is basically The Little Mermaid in space. With bugs. It's goofy and I do admit to rolling my eyes at some parts, but overall I love it. But it's a musical so if you aren't into musicals then I don't suggest checking it out. But if you do like it then watch Holy Musical Batman! too. And soon they're posting their new musical Twisted; it's the tale of Aladdin told from Jafar's point of view.
The actress who plays Ruby moved on to another show. Mulan and Robin Hood get picked up again (at least briefly) in the 3rd season.
DeleteOMG I was OBSESSED with Sea Quest DSV back in the day.
DeleteI make drag costumes for a living and co-teach a Drag 101 course, and every time they put Bakula in drag to "be" a woman, I feel so bad for the costumer, having to fit all those shoulders and all that booty into ladieswear from the 1950's and 60's! Putting a Manly Man-type body into very fitted and "feminine" clothes is difficult to pull off convincingly if you're going for Fishy Realness, so I love that they didn't even try to cover his hairy arms and chest. Nobody can see it but Sam, Al, and You The Viewer, so why bother?
DeleteSeeing him sing "Great Balls of Fire" while dressed as Carmen Miranda left me feeling very... conflicted. ;)
Your Pal,
Storm
It took me a while to warm up to Haven, too, but now I absolutely adore it. I hope you give it a good shot. :)
ReplyDeleteTORCHWOOD!
ReplyDeleteYesssssssssssss. The first episode was way more graphic than I expected for a Doctor Who "spinoff," but once I wrapped my head around that, it became a favorite.
DeleteOkay, it's so silly but I love it: My Baby-Sitter's a Vampire. Yes, it's for the teenset, no that doesn't matter. Start with the movie, and then watch the show. Unfortunately, there are only two seasons and it ends on a cliffhanger. But it's still hilarious. Not only is it all supernaturally, but the main characters are bigtime geeks.
ReplyDeleteok, i have no idea at all what is on netflix and what isn't as we don't have it where i live, but those series have been favourites of mine and might be worth looking for (some of them are older, i have no idea if that makes it more likely to be available or not).
ReplyDeletethe one i haven't yet seen in the comments is DARK ANGEL - in my opinion the only really good acting that jessica alba ever did. she looks seriously hot as a black haired girl, and "eyes only" logan is eye candy for the ladies. plus he is a hero in a wheel chair. love.
and then there are the ones others have mentioned before but i'm going to add just to give them my vote too:
firefly
FRINGE
warehouse 13 (although i got fed up with it somewhere in season three. i have yet to pick up again from there. and someday i will, because it is a really great show)
Oh, I forgot about Dark Angel. Agree on Jessica Alba looking best with dark hair. Must go find out if it's streaming anywhere...
DeleteI don't know if you've seen Blood Ties but it's great, I really enjoy Teen Wolf, Lost Girl is a lot of fun, I love Once Upon a time, Haven is great, Vampire Diaries and now the Originals are my guilty pleasures. If you aren't watching Castle even though it's not strictly geeky it's fabulous and very aware that a large portion of their audience is geeky. There is the Halloween episode where Castle is dressed as Mal, the steampunk episode, the comiccon episode, etc.
ReplyDeleteLove all of these. And Sanctuary. And Grimm. Haven took me about 4 episodes and now I'm addicted and in love. If you love The IT Crowd, as I did (and have watched the entire series 3 times now), you might like Miranda. It's on Hulu. The show is hilarious and made my day on really bad/sad days/ You should also read her book "Is It Just Me?" I think it's the only book that I truly, literally, laughed out loud. She's hilarious. And have you watched Leverage? Cause it's awesome.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Haven, Once Upon a Time, Nikita and My Cat From Hell- they are all programmed into my DVR. They are all great shows. Hang in there with Haven, it takes a while to "get" it. :) Nicole S.
ReplyDeleteStick with Haven a little bit longer. It is currently in season 4. Seasons 1 and 2 are kind of like the X-Files with more humor with that monster a week format and a background plot line that gets touched on every once in a while. However, things really pick up in season 3 and the new trouble that is introduced every week starts to take a backstage role while the background plot line assumes the forefront.
ReplyDeleteAt first I found it kind of goofy, but still fun and entertaining, but now the mystery and intrigue has me waiting anxiously every week for the next episode.
Teen Wolf is WONDERFUL.
ReplyDeleteIt's all the things it needs to be to succeed without being one single thing more. It doesn't try to be too funny, or too quirky, or too modern, or too scary or moralistic. It just IS. And it's beautiful. You have to shut your brain off a bit, but not as much as Once Upon A Time (which does improve a lot, by the way) but you don't have to be actually scared or pay attention to a back story as much as Supernatural. Watch it, watch it now.
I'm kind of in love with Harry Dresden. Just had to say that. (We just went through all the episodes of it...and the IT Crowd. Mad love.)
ReplyDeleteNow, for my geeky addition to "what's cool on streaming"? "Better Off Ted." It may be the funniest comedy of our generation. Hence, it lasted two seasons. It also has the handsomest TV single dad since...well...ever. Also, "Arrow" is streaming on Netflix. It's cheesy, but give it a go. Best. Girl. Geek. Ever.
(And we made it through all of Primeval. Really, though, after the main guy left, I was only watching it for Andrew Lee Potts. Also the reason I've tried to watch the Canadian version, though he only shows up in the first and last episodes. There's this feeling that the show doesn't know what it wants to be.)
Not a TV series, but Australian comedy band Tripod did a whole show based on Dungeons and Dragons. Available to watch on youtube (search Tripod vs the Dragon) and hilariously funny with some awesome songs (although there is a bit of swearing). You don't have to know about D&D to get the jokes either.
ReplyDeleteHere's the link
DeleteThis is a much older one, but sci-fi geeks should all give Red Dwarf a try. It's a British space comedy and it's HILARIOUS!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes! Holly is the best--"Wot's happening' dudes?"
DeleteWe tried it because, hello, British space comedy. But I read the book(s) aaaaaages ago, and character interpretations and the 80s special effects just didn't live up to how it looked in my head (although I do really want to reread it and give them all British accents).
DeleteI really am slipping in my old age, since I forgot all about "Red Dwarf" as well as "Spaced". I hang my head in smeggy shame. JEN! WATCH "RED DWARF"!
DeleteThe entire show is worth it to me just for Cat. The very idea that a common housecat's offspring could evolve over generations into James Brown with fur and fangs is nothing short of genius.
FUN FACT: The actor who played Cat, Danny John Jules, was the voice of one of The Fierys in "Labrynth" ("Hey, lady, where you goin' with a HEAD LIKE THAT?!")
Your Pal,
Storm
There are also wonderful science programs (science fiction...without the fiction--!) for streaming on netflix, such as How the Universe Works (from the Discovery channel). There's an absolutely adorable quote in the first show about planets from a scientist about how 'you can keep planets, I am all for the moons' or something like that because he is so fascinated about moons.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the suggestions, I'm scurrying over to netflix to add, add, and add some more!
~ Jan
I haven't seen anyone mention Beauty and the Beast. It doesn't really have much to do with the fairytale, but it's an interesting take on your average cop show, at least. I loved the first season on Netflix but the second that I'm watching through the CW app makes me want to throw things.
ReplyDeleteI have to second all the recommendations for Sanctuary - such a great show - and Haven. It took me longer than I expected, but I'm glad that I stuck with Haven. It's one of my favorite shows now and I thought season 3 was really quite good. I also have to beg you to give Primeval another chance. I got sick of the silliness too, but the last season really brought it back together for me, so try 5. And I adore Primeval: New World. A bit more serious than the original, and it has Eureka's Zane - Niall Matter as the male lead. He does a great job. I'm eagerly waiting for season 2. --Liz
ReplyDeleteI am surprised I haven't seen Dollhouse mentioned here...I loved it.
ReplyDeletekeep it up with Haven... i felt the same, it starts slow (and kind of repetitive) but it gets WAY better (i love season 2 and 3). a few people have mentioned Grimm... i would support that and sleepy hollow looks like it will be good too. some good suggestions... will have to chase some down.
ReplyDeleteJEN GO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTERS AND READ THE DRESDEN FILES. Drop everything you're doing and go. Read them now. DO IT. We'll wait patiently.
ReplyDeleteAlso I'm trying to remember if there are any triggers/things you've specifically identified as no-nos in the books.. pretty sure they're mostly rape-free, there's some small mind-screwery going on though and the occasional slavery of sorts. A fair amount of violence, gore, and some swearing, but it's not gratuitous and logically contributes to the plot. One possible problem is that a lot of the villains are honestly terrifying; some more so than others. But then Dresden makes some snarky remark and it's all ok. Plus one of the main characters is a short badass lady cop. Character development is superb, and unlike in many long book series, you don't have the horrible chunky paragraphs thrown in to explain something. There are the explanations, but they're differently written in each book. Interesting takes on religion and Chicago.
You don't want to know how many times I've watched Sherlock all the way through...I think I'm on my fifth time now. I've never watched any of the other shows you mentioned, other than the first couple seasons of Supernatural. Great list, I'll have to hold on to it for the off season.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Sherlock...JANUARY 19, U.S. PEOPLE!!
ReplyDeleteGonna have to try Haven and Supernaturals, just based on the comments.
It's not sci-fi geeky at all, but I seriously love Downton Abbey. The costuming is fantastic, Maggie Smith is a treasure, and the whole interplay of abovestairs/belowstairs relations is just fascinating to me.
Too lazy to sign in, (tal) but I highly recommend at least the first season or two of The 4400.
ReplyDeleteDon't know if it's still on Netflix, but Pushing Daisies was a terrific mix of quirky characters, solid writing and creative plots. It's dark humor, but not violent or scary. Visually stunning and lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteone of my faves! Thanks for mentioning it! (Lee Pace is adorable and a villain in the new Guardians of the galaxy movie)
DeleteJericho. Watch Jericho. It is AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteI cant find The IT Crowd on my netflix-do I have to have a different version?
ReplyDeleteNevermind-I found it-sorry :)
Delete