I need some recommendations of good sci fi/paranormal TV shows from the 1990's and onwards, preferably from the 2000s!
Since I've gone "dry", you can imagine that I've seen a lot. So no point in recommending X-FILES, LOST or BATTLESTAR GALACTICA etc. You get the point.
I should also say that my taste runs towards SERIOUS sci fi or paranormal stuff, not quirky or comedy (although things like SUPERNATURAL is fine, where the comedy comes naturally from the characters). And except for B5, I've never really liked fantasy/"pointed ear"-type sci fi a la STAR TREK, FARSCAPE or earlier STARGATE incarnations.
Thanks!
Here's a listing of the shows mentioned in this thread.
* = completed show (*) = ongoing show I'm following # = show I've cut off because I didn't like it bold = need to start watching
12 MONKEYS # 1899 * 3% # 3 BODY PROBLEM (*) 30 COINS # AFTERMATH * AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. * ÄKTA MÄNNISKOR * ALCATRAZ * ALICE IN BORDERLAND # ALPHAS * ALTERED CARBON * AMAZING STORIES [2020 VERSION] * AMERICAN GOTHIC * AMERICAN HORROR STORY (*) -- skipping season 12, waiting for season 13 ANDOR -- returns August, 2024 (season 2) ANGEL * ANOTHER LIFE * ARCANE: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS (*) -- returns late 2024 (season 2) ARCHIVE 81 * ASCENSION * ASH VS. EVIL DEAD * AWAKE AWAY * BABYLON 5 * BATTLESTAR GALACTICA * BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: BLOOD & CHROME * BEING HUMAN * BELIEVE * BETTER THAN US * BLACK MIRROR (*) -- returns ??? (season 7) BLACK SUMMER (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) BRAINDEAD * BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER * CAPRICA * CARNIVALE * CASTLE ROCK * CHANNEL ZERO * CHARLIE JADE * CHILDHOOD'S END * COLONY * CONSTANTINE * CONSTELLATION (*) CONTINUUM * COSMOS - A SPACETIME ODYSSEY (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) COUNTERPART * DAREDEVIL * DARK * DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE * DARK ANGEL # DARK MATTER * DEBRIS # DEAD LIKE ME # DEAD SET * DEATH VALLEY * DEEPWATER BLACK * DEFIANCE * DEVS * DIG * DOLLHOUSE * DOMINION * DR. WHO (*) -- returns May 2024 (season 14) DRESDEN FILES * EUREKA * EXTANT * FALLING SKIES * FEAR THE WALKING DEAD * FINAL SPACE * FIREFLY * FLASHFORWARD * FOR ALL MANKIND (*) -- returns ?? (season 5) FOUNDATION (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) FRINGE * FROM (*) -- returns July 2, 2024 (season 3) FROM DUSK TILL DAWN: THE SERIES * GAME OF THRONES * GHOST WHISPERER # GRIMM * GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES (*) -- returns ??? (season 2) HAUNTED * HAVEN * HELIX * HEROES * HEROES: REBORN * HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (*) -- returns mid 2024 (season 2) HUMANS * HUNTERS # HYPERDRIVE * IMPACT * IMPULSE * IN THE FLESH * INTO THE BADLANDS INTO THE DARK (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) INTO THE NIGHT (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) INVASION * INVASION [2021 VERSION] (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) IRON FIST * JEKYLL * JEREMIAH * JERICHO * JOURNEYMAN * KATLA * KILLJOYS # KINGDOM KINGS * LAST MAN ON EARTH * LEGEND # LEGION * LES REVENANTS * LIFE ON MARS * LIMITLESS # LOST * LOST TAPES # LOVE, DEATH AND ROBOTS (*) -- returns ??? (season 4) LUKE CAGE * MARIANNE * MASTERS OF HORROR # MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION # MEDIUM # MIDNIGHT MASS * MILLENNIUM * MINORITY REPORT * MIRACLES * MISFITS * MONARCH - LEGACY OF MONSTERS -- returns ??? (season 2) NIGHT SKY * NIGHTFLYERS * NOEIN - TO YOUR OTHER SELF # NOW AND AGAIN # ODYSSEY 5 * ONCE UPON A TIME... # ONCE UPON A TIME: WONDERLAND # ORPHAN BLACK * OUTCAST * OUTCASTS * OUTLANDER (*) -- returns in 2024 (season 7, episode 9) PARADOX * PENNY DREADFUL * PEREVAL DYATLOVA # PERIPHERAL * PERSON OF INTEREST # PERSONS UNKNOWN # PHILIP K. DICK'S ELECTRIC DREAMS * POLTERGEIST: THE LEGACY # POWERS # PRIMEVAL * PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD * PROJECT BLUE BOOK PUSHING DAISIES * QUANTUM LEAP # RAISED BY WOLVES * REAPER REGENESIS # RESIDENT EVIL * REVOLUTION * RIGET * ROOM 104 * RUSSIAN DOLL (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) SALEM # SALVATION # SANCTUARY * SENSE8 # SERVANT * SEVEN DAYS # SEVERANCE (*) -- returns ??? (season 2) SIBERIA * SILO (*) -- returns ??? (season 2) SKULL ISLAND -- returns ??? (season 2) SLEEPY HOLLOW SLIDERS # SNOWPIERCER (*) -- returns ??? (season 4) SOUTH OF HELL # SPACE ISLAND ONE # SPACE ODYSSEY: VOYAGE TO THE PLANETS * SQUID GAME (*) -- returns 2024 (season 2) STAR TREK: DISCOVERY (*) -- returns April 2024 (season 5) STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE # STAR TREK: PICARD * STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH (*) -- returns February 21, 2024 (season 3) STARGATE UNIVERSE * STRANGE * STRANGER THINGS (*) -- returns ??? (season 5) SUPERNATURAL * SURFACE * SURVIVORS * SWEET HOME # TAKEN * TALES FROM THE LOOP * TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES * TERRA NOVA * THE 100 # THE 4400 * THE AFTER * THE ALMIGHTY JOHNSONS # THE BIBLE * THE DEAD ZONE # THE EVENT * THE EXORCIST * THE EXPANSE * THE FADES * THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER * THE HANDMAID'S TALE (*) -- returns ??? (season 6) THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE * THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR * THE HUNGER # THE LAST SHIP * THE LAZARUS PROJECT (*) -- returns ??? (season 2) THE LEFTOVERS * THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER (*) -- returns 2024 (season 2) THE LOST ROOM THE MAGICIANS # THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE * THE MANDALORIAN * THE MIDDLEMAN # THE MIST * THE OA * THE ORVILLE (*) -- returns ??? (season 4) THE OUTPOST # THE OUTSIDER * THE PURGE * THE RIG (*) -- returns ??? (season 2) THE RIVER * THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL * THE SIGNAL * THE STAND # THE STRAIN * THE TERROR (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) THE TICK # THE TOMORROW PEOPLE # THE TRIANGLE # THE WALKING DEAD * THE WALKING DEAD: WORLD BEYOND * THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD CITY (*) -- returns ??? (season 2) THE WALKING DEAD: DARYL DIXON (*) -- returns ??? (season 2) THE WALKING DEAD: TALES FROM THE WALKING DEAD * THE WHISPERS * THRESHOLD * TIMELESS # TO THE LAKE (*) -- returned April 21, 2022 (season 2), but Netflix banned it due to Ukraine war? TORCHWOOD * TOTAL RECALL 2070 # TOUCH * TRAVELERS * UNDER THE DOME * UNDONE (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) UTOPIA * V * V WARS * VIRTUALITY * WAREHOUSE 13 * WAYWARD PINES * WELCOME TO THE BLUMHOUSE WESTWORLD * WONDERFALLS # X-FILES * YAKAMOZ S-245 (*) -- returns ??? (season 2) Z NATION * ZOO #
Some good & exciting NON-paranormal shows from the period that are also worth checking out:
24 * 24: LEGACY * BATES MOTEL BETTER CALL SAUL * BLACK SAILS * BREAKING BAD * COBRA KAI (*) -- returns ??? (season 6, final season) CROSSBONES * DA VINCI'S DEMONS * DAS BOOT (*) -- returns May 14, 2022 (season 3) DEADWOOD * DESIGNATED SURVIVOR * FARGO (*) -- returns ??? (season 6) GOTHAM # HANNIBAL * HIJACK * HOMECOMING (*) -- returns ??? (season 3) HOMELAND * HOUSE OF CARDS * JUSTIFIED * LAST RESORT * MR. ROBOT * NARCOS * NARCOS: MEXICO * OZ * OZARK * SHERLOCK (*) -- returns ??? (season 5) SUCCESSION * TABOO (*) -- returns ??? (season 2) THE AMERICANS * THE WIRE * TOO OLD TO DIE YOUNG * TRUE DETECTIVE (*) VIKINGS * VIKINGS: VALHALLA #
Supernatural -- Started off strong and often quite scary. Reactions are mixed to later seasons in the first 5-year arc -- each season escalated the threat, but the escalation eventually took it in some annoying directions with unbelievable angst. Still, it's managed to keep the funny coming, the characters have great chemistry, and the intensity at the end of the first season and throughout the second is unbelievable. I'm still watching even though the current season is not so great.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles -- An uneven series that had a bit too much filler, but at its best is the best thing to happen to the Terminator franchise since James Cameron left. Far better than the other sequels and novels and so forth.
If you haven't seen it, check out American Gothic. It was ahead of its time, I think airing before or around the same time as The X-Files, and only lasted one season, but Gary Cole was simply delicious in it.
Reaper -- Another of the paranormal shows that keeps up the funny. Our hero is an ambitionless slacker when some unknown stuff from his past comes to light and he ends up reaping escaped souls for the Devil, played awesomely by Ray Wise. The protagonist is kind of dull, but his supporting cast is strong and hilarious.
Have you tried Bryan Fuller's shows? It's much more whimsical fantasy sort of stuff, kind of reminiscent in offbeat energy to Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films, and almost uniformly delightful. Dead Like Me is about a girl who dies and ends up part of a team that reaps the newly dead. Her boss is played by Mandy Patinkin. His next show, Wonderfalls, didn't even last a season but is one of my favorite shows of all time (or at least that's how I remember it, I haven't re-watched it. Pushing Daisies is his most recent show, about a guy whose touch can bring back the dead -- but if he doesn't touch them again within a minute to re-de-animate them, something else will die in their place. And then the girl he loves dies. . . Anyway, offbeat stuff and not for everyone, but I love it.
Also with the offbeat charm is Eureka, which I can only take in small doses but quite enjoy when I try it.
Thanks! Of those mentioned, I've only seen SARAH CONNOR, which I loved (and which was disappointingly cancelled, which happens with all the shows I like, while the ones I DON'T like go on forever).
One of the best series of the last decade. I picked it up on DVD on something of a whim and was AMAZED at how good it was. And it was creepy as hell a couple of times, especially the pilot episode and the one involving the doctor and the paraplegic patient.
Its basically a ballsier version of The X-Files - just replace the UFOs with "miracle" events.
Did you ever watch "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" or "Angel"?
They are both very good! Excellent I'd dare say!
Mike
Yeah, watched both. Not too hot on the whole comedy+horror idea, especially not in the high school/teenage setting like BUFFY, but I somehow returned week after week. A testament to Whedon's storywriting skills, I guess. My father watched it for 10 minutes once. He hated it.
I loved, adored, couldn't get enough of "Haunted" with Matthew Fox. It was such a strong series with great potential -- and often quite scary/creepy. Alas it tanked in the ratings:
I'll recommend "The Dead Zone" tv series (lasted for 6 seasons); great writing and story arc.
I second the recommendation, although for me the show went to hell in the sixth and final season when they killed off a main character, wrote out others, and introduced an annoying new one, basically changing almost everything that made it so good to begin with. But the first five seasons were very enjoyable.
And, personally, I loved Star Trek: Enterprise. Even though it only ran four seasons and was canceled before its time, it was my favorite show of the 2000s.
For paranormal, I also really enjoyed Ghost Whisperer, which ran for five seasons (2005-2010). It could be spooky and suspenseful, and even a little romantic (don't know it that would be a turn-off for you, though it's not really heavy-handed and all the time). It's certainly not as grisly a paranormal show as The X-Files or especially Millennium (another recommendation), but it had its dark moments, and it was nice to see a show that was generally uplifting and had a nice sense of hope, when so much else these days seems to just want to depress you.
Thor and others, is Primeval, worth the time? I just added a bunch of seasons it to my netflix instant view account -- but I've got a LOT of catching up to do -- should I go ahead and make the "commitment"?
Thor and others, is Primeval, worth the time? I just added a bunch of seasons it to my netflix instant view account -- but I've got a LOT of catching up to do -- should I go ahead and make the "commitment"?
A lot of people seem to love it, but even though I bought it blind I've been unable even to make myself finish the first 6-episode series -- I think I've gotten through 4 of them. I thought it was just ridiculously silly and amateurish, and each episode was a chore to watch, feeling more like 3 hours each than 1.
Thor, I'm guessing that you must know about the Danish miniseries Riget, a.k.a. The Kingdom, from 1994? If not, you HAVE to see this.
Oh yeah, great series, a fav of mine from the 90s. It's all in the atmosphere; there is practically NO effects or anything like it. Von Trier at his best.
Thor and others, is Primeval, worth the time? I just added a bunch of seasons it to my netflix instant view account -- but I've got a LOT of catching up to do -- should I go ahead and make the "commitment"?
I like it, although I didn't at first. Takes some time getting used to the somewhat "light" tone. The episodes with the "future creatures" are really scary, though. Loved those.
Thanks! Of those mentioned, I've only seen SARAH CONNOR, which I loved (and which was disappointingly cancelled, which happens with all the shows I like, while the ones I DON'T like go on forever).
I really wish they had not cancelled this one. It was a great show with a terrific cast. Not to mention, Bear McCreary provided the show with excellent scores.
Strictly speaking in terms of paranormal series, a great but virtually unsung here on this board would be the US series SUPERNATURAL.
The first season is more episodic and some rough going at times, but it soon found its footing and by season 3 the show is on a awesome roll. There are several things great about this series: The writing/dialogue is top notch. Sharp, witty and at times HILARIOUS one liners, mostly uttered by the older brother Dean. Sam, the younger, soon develops a serious "addiction" which is a great story arc in and of itself. The effects are good and effective, but are not the star of the show. The spark is the reparte and humor between the brothers and a friend or 2. And they bring up just about every spook, demon, monster, etc ever known and add their own creative spin. Its gloriously spooky, gory(for tv) and fun.
This years shows had the toughest rough patches at the years start and the writing and story line goes nowhere, but the 2nd half has regained its footing and creativity and spark and is fun again.
