Top 10 TV Countdown - Recap

Thanks you for reading and commenting on my Top 10 TV Countdown series! Here is a recap of my top 10 favourite genre TV shows at this time:

1. Doctor Who

2. Firefly

3. Stargate SG-1

4. Warehouse 13

5. Chuck

6. Fringe

7. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

8. Merlin

9. Sanctuary

10. Eureka

"But why wasn't ________ on your top 10 list?" you ask? Well, I'm glad you are wondering that, because here are a few shows that didn't make it onto my list and why:

Lost

Great characters. Tantalizing and mysterious plot that kept you moving on to the next episode and the next (if you were watching it on DVD like I was, anyway.) Wonderfully entertaining. The reason it didn't make my top 10 was because I didn't like the ending, and that makes me like a show a lot less. However, that being said, if I was to re-do my Top 10 list at this time, I would probably put Lost in Sanctuary's place, because recently I stopped watching Sanctuary as it has gotten boring for me.

Battlestar Galactica

This is another show with great characters and great plot. Top notch sci-fi space journey. However, one of the things I considered in making my top 10 list was if I would recommend a show to someone else or not, and I would not recommend BSG to everyone because of the adult content. I really don't think sex scenes add anything to a show, and I think so many more people would watch them if they were left out. I also hated the ending. It got weird and didn't tie everything together like I thought it should have.

Heroes

Interesting take on superheroes in America story. I enjoyed the first two seasons, but then they just weren't as good.

Dollhouse

Unlike a lot of Joss Whedon fans who disliked this show, I really enjoyed it. I think it would probably be my #11.

Farscape

Farscape was a lot of fun too. It would be my #12.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

It was entertaining, but I don't think I'd re-watch it, possibly because I just don't connect with Buffy as a main character. She kind of annoyed me a lot (sorry, Buffy fans!).

Stargate: Atlantis and Stargate: Universe

I love both of these shows, but I already had one Stargate show in my Top 10 and wanted to leave room for variety.

Older shows like Star Trek, Lost in Space, X-Files, The Twilight Zone

I am relatively young and only started watching genre TV in my late teens. I didn't grow up on these shows like many of you; though I did grow up watching old shows my parents owned on VHS like Hogan's Heroes, Gilligan's Island, I Love Lucy, Dick Van Dyke, and Newhart (all fabulous shows, of course, but not genre). So with all the newer shows out there, I just haven't made time to go back and watch some of the old classics.

So... is there a show not on my top 10 list that you think should be? A show on my list that you think shouldn't be? Tell me about it!

TOP 10 TV Countdown - #1: DOCTOR WHO

"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect... but actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey... stuff." 

-- the 10th Doctor

You guessed it. Doctor Who gets the number 1 spot in my countdown, for oh so many reasons.

If you are not familiar with the show, Doctor Who is about a time traveler who calls himself the Doctor. He travels to different planets and times in his time machine/spaceship called the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space), watching over the time vortex and saving worlds from disaster. In his travels he has made great friends and great enemies. Though he doesn't look it, he is very old. He is also very lonely, so he brings along companions to travel with him.

I am a relatively new Doctor Who fan. I started watching the new series (the 9th Doctor) with my dad when I was still in high school and it was airing on CBC. I had never heard of the show before. I was immediately captivated by the wonderful story lines, the loveable characters, the terrifying villains, and the mysterious Doctor.

Time travel is difficult to do well, but I assert that Doctor Who does do it well. A whole race of extinct time lords whose job was to watch over the time vortex is an intriguing idea. That the Doctor is the last surviving member of this race makes him all the more special.

I love that the Doctor can regenerate. This is a neat trick thought up by the show's creators that allows it to last for years and years, as Doctor Who doesn't rely on a sole actor to carry it. Though I was a little sad about this with the passing of the 10th Doctor, who has been my favourite so far. I am enjoying the twists and turns of the new series, the Doctor's quirkiness, Amy's brashness and Rory's awesomeness, but I still miss the flavour of series 1-4, which was very different. Oh well, that's what DVD re-watching is for.

Are you a fan of Doctor Who? Who's your Doctor? Do you have a favourite companion or favourite enemy? Do share in the comments.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #2: FIREFLY

"First rule of battle, little one... don't ever let them know where you are." -- Zoe

"WOO-HOO!! I'M RIGHT HERE! YOU WANT SOME O' ME?! YEAH YOU DO! COME ON! COME ON! AAAAAH! WOO-HOO!" -- Mal

"'Course, there're other schools of thought." -- Zoe

Cowboys. In. Space. Seriously, need I say more?

This is one of my favourite shows of all time. It's hilarious. It's sad. It's got drama, action, romance, mystery. It's sci-fi. I love, love, love the characters. 

Now, I hate it when people say "What? You haven't seen _______?? Well, you're just not a sci-fi fan until you have," because come on, you can't be expected to watch every single show under the sun. However, I am sorely tempted to say exactly that about this show, because it's so good. But I'll simply say that if you haven't seen this show, check it out, and you will probably love it.

Firefly follows a crew of travelers aboard a Firefly-class ship called Serenity as they travel to unknown regions of the galaxy, running from various agents and factions out to get them. Joss Whedon, the creator of Firefly, described the show as "nine people looking into the blackness of space and seeing nine different things."

I could spend paragraphs describing each of the awesome characters, but I'll let you discover them for yourself if you haven't already. I love the chemistry between them and Captain Mal's protectiveness over them as though they were a family.

I can only complain about two things in this show: 1) That it only lasted one season, and 2) The inclusion of Inara's character. She is the only one that I don't like, and I really think the show could have done without her. Her occupation as a "dignified" prostitute just makes me uncomfortable. However, she does provide a romantic interest for Mal, which is something.

Seen Firefly? Love it? Haven't seen it but want to? Do share your thoughts and feel free to commiserate on its short-livedness and celebrate the fact that it got a movie sequel.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #3: STARGATE SG-1

"Undomesticated equines could not drag me away." -- Teal'c

If a show lasts for ten seasons, it must be doing something right. (Now go ahead, refute this, and complain in the comments about all the long-lasting shows that were terrible. haha.). But I adamantly say that SG-1 does a lot of things right, and I am ecstatic that it got a whopping ten season run that I will re-watch and re-watch because it is so entertaining.

The premise of the show is that people from Earth can travel to thousands of other worlds in the galaxy through a device called a stargate. The Americans have a secret facility where they send teams of explorers through the gate to different worlds, and the show focuses on the primary team, SG-1. On their first outing, SG-1 encounters an evil, parasitic race called the Goa'uld and inadvertently riles them up. Stargate Command finds themselves in a full out war with these creatures who want to take over Earth and the rest of the galaxy.

By now you may have noticed that it's great characters that make me love a show, and SG-1 is no exception. Jack O'Neill, the leader of SG-1, is my favourite--possibly my favourite sci-fi character of all time. Richard Dean Anderson somehow manages to act simple-minded and smart at the same time. He is sarcastic, quick-witted, and funny.

The other three main characters are also enjoyable. Teal'c is SG-1's alien team member, and it is great fun watching him adjust to the customs of Earth and seeing how different his reserved personality is from the others'. Daniel Jackson is the heart and moral voice of the team, and Samantha Carter is the brains and beauty. The characters also grow and change throughout the run of the show, and I love watching this happen. The writing never gets stale or old, as new characters are added and different events unfold.

The only negative thing I can say about this show is that there are holes in the logic at times. When I'm watching, sometimes I will say "Why wouldn't they just do this instead?" or "Well, that was pretty coincidental." Occasionally the science just doesn't add up, and occasionally they will solve a problem by having a computer genius talk techno-babble and hammer out the solution on a keyboard. But whatever, it's sci-fi, after all.

Do check out this show if you haven't already, especially if you love space-exploration sci-fi but something like Battlestar Galactica is just too dark for you. SG-1 is quite a bit lighter, though it still has serious undertones. I watched this show the first time with my parents and brother and we all enjoyed SG-1's adventures on earth, on other worlds, in space, (and sometimes even in time!) immensely.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #4: WAREHOUSE 13

"That's a nice speech. It sounds even better with the fancy accent. But it still doesn't cover the fact that you are out of your gourd, McNutty-Pants! You put a bomb in a man's mouth. Not really a great recruiting tool." -- Pete Lattimer

You want great sci-fi that you can watch with the family? Try Warehouse 13. (Though by "family," I don't mean very young kids. This is still an adult show, though I think teens will enjoy it.)

Myka Bering and Pete Lattimer are government agents recruited by Warehouse 13 to track down dangerous artifacts with magical properties. These include Beatrix Potter's tea set, which enhances the imagination of the drinker but also results in delusions; Cinderella's knife, which turns people to glass when they are stabbed with it; Rheticus's compass, which can trap people in space and time; H.G. Wells's time machine, which, incidentally, allows people to travel in time; and many more.

I love episodes that stand by themselves but are also part of a larger plot arc, and Warehouse 13 does a great job of this. Each episode focuses on the hunt of a specific artifact, but along the way we learn more about Warehouse 13 and the pasts of the eclectic set of characters. And there are, of course, some terrible love-to-hate villains that need taking care of along the way.

Myka and Pete are the perfect balance for two main characters, in my opinion. Pete is hilarious and boyish, while Myka is serious and detail-oriented. Along with Artie, the special agent in charge of Warehouse 13 who has an extensive knowledge of artifacts and is persnickity and loveable, as well as Claudia, a young woman who is sarcastic and tech-savvy, they make a highly entertaining cast.

This is another one of those shows that even people who don't like "heavy" sci fi may enjoy. It's done quite well on the SyFy channel and has been renewed for a fourth season.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #5: CHUCK

"Oh I see. You're going to shoot me to prevent me from blowing up. That's a great plan." 

-- Chuck Bartowski

Chuck's got it all: action, suspense, mystery, romance, comedy. That's why I love it so much. I know it's not technically sci-fi or fantasy, but it's got enough geek factor that I'm including it on my list anyway.

Chuck is a computer nerd who works at a Buy More, until he accidentally downloads government secrets into his brain (that's pretty much the only sci-fi element of the show). His life turns upside down as two government agents are assigned to protect him and use his knowledge for various missions.

Sarah is the sexy, mysterious agent sent by the CIA. Casey is the growling, fighting machine sent by the NSA. Together, the three have to hide Chuck's new spy status from his friends and family and complete dangerous missions for the government.

What's not to like, right?

It is Zachary Levi's stellar acting as Chuck and the phenomenal supporting cast that make this show great. Chuck's sister, Ellie, is sweet and loveable; her husband whom Chuck nicknames Captain Awesome is... well... awesome; Chuck's best friend Morgan is hilarious and geeky; the co-workers at the Buy More are appropriately annoying and bring a lot of humour to the show.

One of the other things I love most about Chuck is the bits of nerdy information dropped in everywhere. Almost anyone will like this show, but if you are a nerd familiar with Star Wars, Tron, Indiana Jones, and the like, you will enjoy it all the more.

I am sorry to say that the later seasons are not as good as the first two. I am still watching the last season, Season 5, as it airs now, but it is merely "pretty good" while the first two seasons were amazing. Go watch them if you haven't. Right now.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #6: FRINGE

"The only thing better than a cow is a human! Unless you need milk. Then you really need a cow." 

-- Walter Bishop

My first impression of this show: creepy with a boring main character. My second impression of this show: imaginative and captivating with a tough heroine who will stop at nothing to save the world.

Olivia Dunham is an FBI agent who is brought into a special division to investigate supernatural events. At first I thought she was boring, but as I continued watching and learned more about her past, I realized she was tough, driven, and pretty much awesome.

She brings Walter Bishop onto her team, a scientist that used to work in an area called "Fringe" science, though Walter has been institutionalized for the past 17 years and is quite the eccentric. Walter is the gem of this show, and John Noble does such a fantastic job playing him it is no wonder he won an award for it. His quips, jibes, and quirks bring the element of humour a serious show like this needs to succeed. He'll call for licorice or a strawberry milkshake at random moments, and has no qualms about dissecting a dead body.

Peter Bishop, Walter's son, is also brought onto the team. He is introduced as sarcastic and moody, and I wish the writers had drawn that out a bit longer so I could easier believe his transformation into a character who cares about what will happen to the world if the team doesn't stop horrible events from happening. However, he is almost as smart as his father and not as insane, so he makes a valuable team member.

Do not watch this show if you are looking for something relaxing to kick off the day with and lull you to sleep. It can be downright creepy at times, and J.J. Abrams has outdone himself with the suspense, action, and plot twists it has taken. There are people with special powers, viruses, strange deaths, advanced technologies, an alternate universe, and much, much more involved. You will also find yourself falling in love with the supporting cast as well as the three main characters, which is a good indication of a great show.

My greatest worry is that this show will get outrageous like Alias did, or that it will become packed with so many plot twists and ideas that it will become too complicated, like Lost did. But so far, so good.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #7: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD

"What, you're the Fullmetal Alchemist?! Sorry, I had no idea you'd be so..." -- Maes Hughes

"Go on, say 'little.' I dare you." -- Edward Elric

First, let me begin by writing to those of you who avoid watching anime at all costs. I used to be one of you, until I watched this show. I'm not sure if I thought that anime was mostly for kids or that the shows just weren't as interesting because they use drawing and voice acting instead of "real" sets and actors on screen. But boy, was I wrong.

"Oh, you can't really have disliked anime, not like I do," you say? Well I dare you to watch the first few episodes of this show, and then tell me you don't like it.

The show is about two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, whose father is not around and whose mother has recently died. They try to bring her back using alchemy, which is the science of changing and manipulating matter by using energy (seems like magic to me, but they call it science, and it certainly does seem to require a lot of studying and an understanding of the physical structure of whatever you are trying to manipulate). Their attempt results in disaster, as Ed loses an arm and a leg and Al loses his entire body, though Ed manages to attach his soul to a nearby suit of armour. The show centers on their journey to try and find the philosopher's stone to regain their original bodies, and the numerous adventures they have on the way.

This is one of those shows where I have trouble picking a favourite character, because they are all so awesome. Even the villains whom you are supposed to hate are fun to watch (especially Greed and Gluttony--they're my favourite bad guys). The supporting characters are incredible (and I don't mean "perfect" by any means, because that would be boring. They all have appropriate flaws along with their better traits), and I won't go into detail about them because I will get carried away and make this post way too long.

Alphonse is not my favourite because I just find him whiny sometimes, but he is sweet and a good pairing for Ed. Ed, of course, is awesome. He is a kid who is put through incredible challenges and pain at a young age and who rises to the challenge. He's smart, fiery, and easily angered. I never get tired of watching him explode when he gets called "little." This show has some hilarious moments.

Just to clarify, there is also a show called "Fullmetal Alchemist" that aired before this one which I saw first, and still have warm feelings for (especially for a couple episodes whose contents don't make it into Brotherhood but are from the manga, episodes #5 and #37), but the writers got a bit carried away and took it to strange places at the end. "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" follows the manga much more closely than the other series, the storyline is much tighter and the ending so much more wonderful, so if you're only going to watch one, I'd recommend it.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #8: MERLIN

"Could somebody tell me what happened?" -- Uther

"Well..." -- Merlin

"Someone with a brain." -- Uther

This series is a wonderful take on the Arthurian mythology, focusing on Merlin and Arthur as young men. The first season was good, and the next ones just get better and better. The interesting twist to this version is that magic is outlawed in Camelot by Arthur's father Uther, so Merlin has to hide his particular talents right under the nose of the ruler, as he is Arthur's personal servant.

This show is often funny, and the chemistry between Arthur and Merlin is entertaining to watch, as they like to insult each other frequently. Every episode is an adventure in itself, which I appreciate because I don't like cliffhangers (though there are a few two-part episodes that are the exception to this).

I do have a few problems with the show; firstly, the writers really like to drag things out. For example, Merlin's secret of being able to do magic. I can't wait until this is unveiled to everyone, particularly to Arthur, and I hope it is not at the very end of the series that they do so. Secondly, the plot is often predictable, but I can live with that.

What I love about this show is how clean it is. There's no sex or swearing. That is hard to find these days. I can watch this show with a young teenager (maybe not younger because there is a bit of violence) or my parents, and not have to zip through uncomfortable parts. And it's just so darn entertaining. BBC, you've done it again.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #9: SANCTUARY

"The guy who invented the radio just dissed Jack the Ripper." -- Will Zimmerman

I tried out this show because I am a Stargate fan, and I heard Amanda Tapping was involved. That being said, I thought the first episode was horrible. It wasn't very exciting, a little too creepy, and the premise seemed awfully similar to Warehouse 13 except it was creatures they were hunting down rather than artifacts. But I gave it a chance and watched a few more episodes. It was then that I discovered how much fun the character of Helen Magnus and her world of monsters can be.

Helen Magnus was born in 1850, and was part of a secret group known as "the Five," who injected themselves with vampire blood and received special powers; Helen's ability, of course, is longevity (the show takes place in present day). She and her team hunt down dangerous creatures that inhabit the world, or "abnormals" as they call them, and bring them to the sanctuary for safekeeping.

I am impressed with this show because it is mostly shot in green screen. The actors and production team do a marvelous job with it. There are so many places for this show to go, whether it is underwater in a submarine, inside the castle-like sanctuary, a bank vault, or an underground city. It also goes back in time to deal with Helen's history, and explores the backgrounds of the different characters. There are werewolves, vampires, time-travelers, giant spiders, and historical figures like Nichola Tesla and Jack the Ripper involved. Though I find the character of Will Zimmerman a tad boring, the rest of the interesting cast make up for him. All in all, it's a lot of fun.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #10: EUREKA

"Nothing like being chased by a killer robot to make you want your mom." -- Jack

I consumed most of the four seasons of Eureka this week while I was sick and couldn't do much of anything but watch TV. Henceforth, it has bumped the show I originally had as #10 on my list.

I want to describe this show as humorous, but when I think about it, it's actually quite serious, with life-threatening situations happening nearly every episode. But what draws me to it is that the characters are just plain fun. You've got Jack Carter, your easy-going, likeable main character; Jo Lupo, the scrappy, gun-loving deputy who will take on anything or anyone; Henry Deacon, brilliant scientist and mechanic; Nathan Stark, annoying but also brilliant head of scientific company; Douglas Fargo, the guy who always pushes the wrong button at the wrong time; and... I could go on.

At times, there was a bit too much drama for me, with couples getting together (or almost getting together) and breaking up everywhere, often using time-travel and alternate universe story lines to bring about said breakups. I mean (SPOILER WARNING), it took Jack four years to ask Allison out! But I guess drawing it out is where the fun's at. And hopefully they won't break up and get back together too many more times, since there is only one season left.

I was pleasantly surprised that they made the alternate universe work after travelling back in time to 1947 (which, by the way, is my favourite episode so far, in which five Eureka citizens get sent back to 1947, Jo charges in on a stolen motorcycle with a tank chasing her and beats up a bunch of soldiers. 'Cause she's scrappy.) I kept expecting them to get back to the original universe, but it looks like they're in the new one for good. But it seems to work, and it's been a lot of fun watching the five characters deal with their new lives.

Oh yeah, and the writers do a good job of making the science jargon sound real.

There's always something exciting happening at Eureka, whether it is a massive explosion, miniaturization, time travel, or a ship and its crew disappearing (did I mention I HATE cliffhangers! Now we have to wait til next summer to see what happens... grumble grumble). Even if you aren't generally a fan of science fiction, you might find yourself enjoying this show. I certainly did.

Top 10 Countdown - TV Shows

I'm gonna be kicking off the blog with a top 10 countdown of my favourite sci-fi/fantasy tv shows. I actually had a lot more trouble making this list than I thought I would! Stay tuned for #10--a fun and serious show with great characters that recently got cancelled, though it will have one more season.