CaptainCrunch's all time top 10 favorite TV series.
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
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I was pretty young when V came out but have some memory of it. I recall Robert Englund was in it and played kind of a goofy character which I thought was funny because he was supposed to be Freddy Kruger to me.
I also remember kids at school pulling the sandwich meat from the sandwiches, and saying "mousey" and tilting their heads up before eating it. Did kids at other schools do that, or was it just kids in my weird town?
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
Exp:
I'm a huge fan of the old Sci-Fi TV series from the 60's
The Invaders:
Quote:
The Invaders is an American science-fiction television series created by Larry Cohen that aired on ABC for two seasons, from 1967 to 1968. Roy Thinnes stars as David Vincent, who after stumbling across evidence of an in-progress invasion of aliens from outer space—the aliens disguising themselves as humans and gradually infiltrating human institutions—tries to thwart the invasion despite the disbelief of officials and the general public, and the undermining of his efforts by the aliens. The series was a Quinn Martin production.
The Time Tunnel:
Quote:
About The Time Tunnel: While conducting an experiment in time travel, scientists Dr. Tony Newman and Dr. Douglas Phillips find themselves whisked from time period to time period, while their colleagues back in the present desperately struggle to retrieve the two men. The pair frequently find themselves on the brink of a major historical event, and while the scientists back home can see the action unfolding wherever Newman and Phillips are, they are helpless to offer any aid.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea:
Quote:
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is a 1960s American science fiction television series based on the 1961 film of the same name. Both were created by Irwin Allen, which enabled the movie's sets, costumes, props, special effects models, and sometimes footage, to be used in the production of the television series.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea was the first of Irwin Allen's four science fiction television series as well as the longest running. The show's main theme was underwater adventure. Voyage was broadcast on ABC from September 14, 1964 to March 31, 1968, and was the decade's longest-running American science fiction television series with continuing characters.
The 110 episodes produced included 32 shot in black and white (1964?65), and 78 filmed in color (1965?68). The first two seasons took place in the then future of the 1970s. The final two seasons took place in the 1980s. The show starred Richard Basehart and David Hedison.
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Last edited by Dion; 07-30-2024 at 01:55 AM.
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With the exception of Firefly, I can't be the only one who has never even heard of any of these shows! I'm not sure which 10 would be on my own list, but in no particular order, it would include The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Boardwalk Empire, but all of these are more recent.
Last edited by activeStick; 07-30-2024 at 09:54 AM.
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i'm trying to think back to shows that i really liked from years ago...
macgyver
chips
tour of duty
stargate (all of the different series)
24
about the only shows i watch now are the 'roadkill' ones on discovery velocity (roadkill, roadkill garage, faster with finnegan, faster with newbern & cotten) - they just crack me up with the dumb stuff they do... and well, muscle cars are awesome!
__________________ "...and there goes Finger up the middle on Luongo!" - Jim Hughson, Av's vs. 'Nucks
Eerie, Indiana was a pretty underrated show. I haven't watched it since back in the day, so I am not sure how it would hold up today. I did see it on a Watch Mojo list of shows cancelled that shouldn't have been.
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CaptainCrunch's all time top 10 favorite TV series.
