Best Short-Lived Sci Fi Shows Ever
The top 3 Science Fiction television series that did not last
Author lists the top 3 best short-lived Sci Fi series and laments their early demise
Too many times I’ve looked forward to the next season of a science fiction television series only to learn it had been cancelled. No, I don’t live in my mother’s basement, wear a pocket protector and/or remain a virgin. I do however, enjoy television series with good plot and rich deep characters. Apparently in science fiction television these factors do not always carry the day. Here are the top three best sci fi series ever that ended far too soon.
On September 17, 1978 Colonial Battlestar Gallactica and her ragtag fleet of civilian space vessels began their journey in search of a shining star known as Earth. The series began well enough with a devastating sneak attack on the 12 colonies of Kobol by a clearly evil foe, the Cyclons, versus a clearly good protagonist, Commander Adama. Citing cost overruns and failing viewer ratings the show was cancelled on April 29, 1979 after the episode “the Hand of God.”
I was not yet a “pre-teen” when Battlestar Gallactica aired, but I remember being a loyal viewer. At the time we were only able to receive three channels (two Canadian stations and one public television station). When Battlestar was cancelled I learned the meaning of the word “devastated.”
2. Farscape
My experience with Battlestar Gallactica should have made me cautious, but I could not resist getting sucked into the adventures of astronaut John Crichton who himself got sucked into a wormhole and spat out on the other side of the universe. There he encounters creatures so bizarrely different than us that there seems no possible common ground. And yet, Crichton maintains his wit and wits and we find ourselves anxiously awaiting the next episode. Then, also, there is the love interest with Aeryn, a Peacekeeper, a species much like humans. Just when it seems that Crichton has battled his way through chaos and turmoil and he and Aeryn will be together forever, they are blasted to dust. Then the series is cancelled! How does it feel to treat me like you do?
1. Firefly
Take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand. I don't care I'm still free, you can't take the sky from me.” So begins the theme song from the series “Firefly.” Unfortunately they got it wrong. This series was so good that FOX would not even let it run an entire season of 14 measly episodes. The concept of Sci Fi meets the wild west frontier / carpetbaggers after the U.S. Civil War seemed impossible to succeed so the brilliant television executives did not bother to give it a fighting chance. A series with great plot, deep rich characters, a mysterious passenger (and his naked even more mysterious sister), humor and a guy named Jayne – what more could you want?
Since the cancellation of Firefly I have vowed to never get interested in another television Sci Fi series. I’ve been jilted too many times and jiltedness results in jadedness. Of course, on a happier note, Battlestar Gallactica has been “re-imagined”, Farscape was resurrected and concluded relatively satisfactorily in the “Peacekeeper Wars” mini-series and “Firefly” creator Josh Whedon had the last laugh with his movie “Serenity” that performed very well in theatres and in DVD sales. Maybe I won’t give up on Sci Fi series completely just yet.
