I haven’t done a top 10 list for a long time and thought that I would jump in and rank my top 10 favourite series of all time. Some of these are old, some are never, some ended way to soon, and some came to a satisfying conclusion.
To make this a more difficult challenge, I thought I would ban Star Trek and Star Wars from the discussion.
I’m going to split this into 3 parts. Feel free to list your own, or debate how bad my taste is, but here we go.
Part 1 (10 to 7) – Captain Crunch’s all time favourite TV series.
10) V – 1983
A series that came from a pair of popular mini-series. V only lasted one short season as a series. The plot was based around what happens if Aliens come to earth and offer their friendship, in exchange for some simple resources like water, they’ll jump our technology, cure our diseases and end war and suffering.
Would you trust them? Or would you listen to the conspiracy nut down the street that says they’re not on the up and up. V attempts to answer those questions.
When you look back at the effects they don’t age well, but for the time they were state of the art. V was lead by a solid cast of actors including Marc Singer, Michael Ironside, a deliciously evil Jane Badlar and a pre Freddy Krueger Robert England.
This was a series that combined the best of 80’s cheese with some serious imagery and discussions. The Aliens right down to their symbols are comparable to Nazi’s, who like to eat people.
Sadly the show only lasted one season, by the end of the series the writers had written themselves into corners and the story lines became rather nonsensical. However this is a show that could go on for a few years, it did inspire a 2009 remake, that took things more seriously, but it could never match the first time series.
Best Episodes
- Liberation
- Breakout (S1E3)
- Visitors Choice (S1E6)
9) Tour of Duty – 1987-90
One of my favourite series that was created at the height of the Vietnam war movies like Full Metal Jacket, Platoon and others. The series follows a platoon of rookie soldiers in Vietnam led by veteran Sargent Zeke Anderson and Lt Myron Goldman. Tour of Duty tackled serious issues beyond the death of squad mates, as it challenged conscripted soldiers, PTSD, drug abuse, war crimes, desertion and cowardice in the field. Shot in Hawaii, it did a good job of showing the unpleasantness of the Vietnam jungle. The cast of actors was really strong, but most of the actors didn’t have stellar careers after the end. The series ended on a really satisfying note as it followed some of the soldiers home where they had to deal with their experiences in the Jungles of Vietnam.
Best Episodes
- Pilot (S1E1)
- Under Siege (S1E14)
- The Hill (S1E21)
- Terms of Enlistment (S2E9)
- Payback (S3E21)
8) Firefly 2002-03
One of the many series that was cancelled way before its time. Firefly was a great combination of science fiction and Western. What carried this show was the strong writing of the now disgraced Joss Whedon, and the cast lead by Nathon Fillion. This was a true character study, and each of the characters had different issues and secrets. The effects were good for a time, and you could almost call the ship Serenity another character on its own. The sharp dialogue and incredibly character development made this a great series that ended way too soon.
Best Episodes
- Our Mrs. Reynolds (S1E3)
- Jaynestown (S1E4)Objects in Space
- (S1E10)T
- rash (S1E13)
7) Space Above and Beyond 1995-95
A really interesting concept of Marine pilots in space fighting a war against a ruthless enemy. Another show that was cancelled after its only season, but could have been so much more. The show addressed the whole war is hell scenario, but also addressed racism, humanities really dark side, and also laid the seeds that the Humans and not the Aliens were the true villains. The series ended with serious season 1 cliff hangers that was never resolved including the possible deaths of multiple cast members. I loved the set design and effects for the time and It showcased the best spacefighter design in the Hammerhead fighter.
Best Episodes
- Mutiny (S1E4)
- Choice or Chance (S1E9)
- Tell our mom's we done our best S1E21