Any show to compete with Firefly?
POSTED BY: Calhoun
UPDATED: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 14:01
VIEWED: 7296
PAGE 2 of 3
Its hard to make a fair comparison, as there havent been many sci-fi westerns that I know of, but in terms of being a good sci-fi show, well, the only one for me would be Babylon 5. There were moments in its 5 year run that still shine brightly in my memory, and I did go out and buy vids, and soon DVD's to keep memories fresh.
Its funny, you look at show that have guarenteed runs on TV (Trek) and some of the more recent ones were pants, very pants, and yet those shows threatened with being axed at any moment have done more in their few episodes than some shows do in entire series. Irony. Big-time.
Oh, and one other show that had some stirling moments, in amidst the hum-drum stuff, Space Above and Beyond (with Rod Rowland recently in Angel 5.01 !!!)
Here in the UK, they havent even shown Firefly on the normal channels that everyone gets, so those of us that knew about it, had to hunt for it, and I am so very glad that I did.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Calhoun:
But seriously, I consider myself an intelligent and discerning viewer and am hard pressed to find any show that could compete with Firefly.
Hard to say given its premature cancellation. Perhaps a fairer comparison would be how many shows had a better first half season - few, if any. West Wing is the only one that springs to mind.
"I threw up on your bed"
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show's that compete with firefly...to me
angel seasons 2+3 and the 1st part fo 4
buffy season 2+3+4
Stargate sg-1 (pilot ep then last few eps of season 1) 2+3+4+5
The X files season 2+3+4+5
Will and grace (ok but it's damned funny and has some continuity)
Quantum leap (aside from last season not including the last ep)
Star trek deep space nine
babylon 5
farscape
alias
west wing
not all sci fi i know...but sadly there's not much good sci fi or fantasy shows around...andis eeeven less being in the UK
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Alias (but only the first season)
Angel, seasons 3-4
Buffy, seasons 4-6
The West Wing
Babylon 5, seasons 3-4
Strange Luck (old spec-fic series which only went part of a season too, starring D.B. Sweeney)
The Dead Zone
X-Files, early seasons
Basically, this is just big stuff that stuck in my memory as being particularly impressive. Most of it's not anywhere near the same genre niche as Firefly.
History doesn't always repeat itself. Sometimes it merely shouts "Weren't you listening the first time?!?" and lets fly with a club.
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Quote:
as well as one Canadian series (The Newsroom)
Ah, a poster of taste. The latest episode had just ended as I read this.
Other series that if not sharing Firefly's quality, at least share some of its qualities:
Buffy, 2-6 (Never been able to get into Angel, though.)
Sliders, 1-2 (This show could have been incredible, had FOX not micromanaged the producers, screwed with the air order, mismarketed it as an action hour... sound familiar?)
Simpsons, 2-7 (It's sad how the half-dozen years of crap they've since churned out has almost drowned the memory of what was once the best TV show of all time.)
Quantum Leap (shared FF's consistency of quality and strong emphasis on characterization over technology)
Lexx, mostly 1 & 3 (Maddeningly variable in quality, but the surprise twists, atmosphere and responsible use of CGI were top-notch. The pilot alone kicks the proverbial henchman into the turbine over and over)
The Prisoner (Baffled the executives yet spawned an enduring cult with only 17 episodes.)
Trapper John, MD (I kid.)
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Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker:
Sliders, 1-2 (This show could have been incredible, had FOX not micromanaged the producers, screwed with the air order, mismarketed it as an action hour... sound familiar?)
This does bring up an interesting point. Consider what happened to Sliders after Sci-Fi got ahold of it. Maybe it is better that Firefly didn't get picked up there after all.
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In my opinion, there aren't any shows in this 'verse that can compete with the high standards in everything that Firefly has set. There are many good shows, some great shows but Firefly went beyond great and took us to the next level (whatever that might be).
Oh, and play Cantr II at www.cantr.net.
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Compete? Certainly, though a precious few. Better than? Not so much.
Alias (season one)
Made in Canada (Canadian)
The Newsroom (Canadian)
WKRP
Space: Above and Beyond
Babylon 5
Odessey 5
West Wing (pre-Sept 11)
24 (season 1 and 2)
These are just a few of the shows that spring to mind.
EDIT: Forgot a couple. Yes, Minister (UK), and Yes, Prime Minister (UK). My father was a civil servant for 30+ years and these two shows rang with a certain bit of accuracy ;)
If you can survive death, you can probably survive almost anything.
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It's hard to find any shows that compare to Firefly. Really. We're talking true brilliance here. However, I feel that a show (anime, really) that comes close is Trigun. It's a sci-fi western with good stories and characterization. And Vash the Stampede is just too cool for words. 
That's about it.
"What'd you all order a dead guy for?"
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