Top 10: All Time TV
Last week I took a look at my favorite all time movies. This week I’m going go to the small screen and look at television shows. The same basic idea will apply, I reserve the right to change my mind based on any reason whatsoever. And some of these shows may not arguably be very good. But they’ve stuck with me for one reason or another. Also, in no particular order.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (Seasons 3-7)
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- Futurama
- The Office (Seasons 1-4)
- The West Wing (Season 1-4)
- Stargate SG-1 (Season 1-5)
- Stargate Atlantis (Seasons 1 & 2)
- Battlestar Galactica (Up through Exodus)
- Firefly
- Band of Brothers
You’ll notice a big genre trend. Only 3 of them aren’t space sci-fi. There’s a reason my first novel was set in that genre, you need to write what you love.
But what about these shows got them on the list? For example, I think there’s a reasonable chance I actually like Community more than the Office. What disqualified it is the fact that I haven’t rewatched Community yet. I have rewatched the first few seasons of the Office a few times. And I still enjoyed them. I don’t know how Community will hold up on a second viewing.
That’s one of the biggest deciders for me in identifying a favorite, will I rewatch it, and will I still enjoy it. That’s what held true for all of the movies. There are many things I loved while watching them the first time . But when I go to rewatch them, I don’t really get anywhere close to them same enjoyment. For example, I really got into Lost while it was live but doubt I’ll rewatch it. It’s an example of a show that suffers it was awesome, at the time.
That is also why many of the shows have season qualifiers. TNG for example, the first two seasons were just bad. They had a few good episodes (Q Who, Measure of a Man) but overall, I’m unlikely to watch them. I don’t even own seasons 1 and 2 of TNG, it wasn’t worth the money (though I have watched a view since they came onto Netflix).
Many of the longer running shows had sudden changes in how they were made (West Wing) or simply ran too long (The Office, SG-1). Sometimes the change wasn’t in production staff it just couldn’t hold onto what made it wonderful to start (Atlantis, Battlestar).
But when the shows were good, they were really good. I have rewatched everything on that list at least once, possibly twice. And i know I will rewatch all of them again at some point in the future.
5 Comments
Katje van Loon · September 28, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I agree with you on rewatchability being a huge factor in choosing favourites. I’m currently watching through TNG, which I technically grew up on, but piecemeal. After getting through the first two seasons I doubt very much I’ll watch any of them again, unless it’s to mourn the death of Riker and Yar’s fledgling bromance. All through season 2 I wanted to murder the new CMO. But the rest of the series? There are plenty of episodes I’m happy to rewatch, and will enjoy just as much the second, third, fourth time through.
I haven’t seen The Office yet, but I have watched Community several times. I think about four now. And I enjoy it just as much each time through. (Also super excited about the new season coming out. #sixseasonsandamovie) By the way, if you decide to watch it on Netflix, some of the episodes in Season 3 are out of order. Wrong titles and all.
I think Buffy would probably never make it onto my faves list, but Angel definitely would. There was so much of Buffy that was just painful to get through. I suppose it may have been different if I’d seen it before I saw Angel, and when it actually came out. As it is I didn’t actually watch all of BTVS until it was out on Netflix.
Actually, I may steal your idea here and do my own blog posts on fave movies and TV shows. Could be fun. 🙂
Wayne · September 28, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Steal away hehe. I borrowed it from a reader.
I enjoyed Buffy, and Angel, but they couldn’t make the list. Also I couldn’t finish Angel. I hear the 5th season was better, but when the suddenly grown up kid showed up it got stupid. First five of Buffy were good. And some parts of six, especially the musical episode, but overall it was bad.
JediRabbit · October 1, 2012 at 4:01 pm
How about a top ten books or video games list? Or maybe top ten albums, artists, songs etc. I’m a music geek just as much as a Sci-Fi Geek so that may only appeal to me.
Wayne · October 1, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Good ideas. I already have an author one scheduled for this week. Video games and music would be cool.
JediRabbit · October 2, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Awesome I get to see one of my favorite author’s favorite authors. I’ll give you mine when you put yours up.
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