We live in crazy times. I don't watch any of these shows on television. I download them on my computer and watch them that way. Then, because I've probably missed a few episodes, I buy the entire seasons on DVD and watch the whole thing over a few days. Anyway, the current trend for top-class drama seems to be: science fiction themes; ensemble cast; an arc storyline (meaning if you miss a few episodes you might as well forget about it); in-depth analysis (including flashbacks) of the histories of all the main characters to illuminate their motivations in the present; inter alia. All of the following shows conform to all of these criteria. Maybe this means something. If it does, I can't figure it out.
Lost is one of an increasing number of shows who steal Babylon 5's groundbreaking work in showing us how story-arc shows can work. It was looking a bit weak in the middle of season three, this year, but it really picked up towards the end. It's beginning to look, unlike The X-Files, for instance, that the writers and creators really do have an overall plan for the plot.
Battlestar Galactica is a show that keeps re-inventing itself, but to great effect. The first season was mainly a paranoid and panicked escape run from almost certain annihilation. The second season suffered from some Lost-ification, with flashbacks involving the background stories of various characters, and the introduction of a mythology for the bad guys who refused to be defined. The third season, however, is like a kick in the head, with the writers taking the brave step of making us identify with terrorists, suicide bombers, and so on. In other news, Grace Park, the actress who plays Boomer, is totally hot.
Heroes is about a bunch of people who find that they have superpowers, and how they all gradually realise that they are part of some greater plan. And if there is no greater plan, some of them are determined to manufacture one of their own. It's great fun watching the characters use their powers, sometimes to get out of trouble, and sometimes walking themselves straight into it.
Firefly is a show that's so good, it got cancelled before the end of the first season. The good news is that you can see the whole series in the DVD boxed set. Letters have been written, and petitions have been signed in an attempt to secure another series. So far all those efforts have been unsuccessful. However, they did make a movie, Serenity, which took the edge off for a little while. Need more Firefly. If you have enjoyed this page, you may also like movies, books and music.
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