I’ve always been a fan of TV, particularly science fiction TV and action shows. I found though with the writing of my latest book, my tastes have really changed. Things that I have liked for many years suddenly aren’t so good, while others are surprises that they’re still good. Top Five, in no particular order:
NCIS. It’s not just a crime show that sounds like CSI. The characters–and actors–are the show. The characters are who they are. I actually didn’t start really watching it until after the third season. But once I watched the characters I was hooked.
Stargate SG-1. Great stories and some wonderful characerization. I love the character of Jack O’Neill. Granted, I have a hard time believing he would be a full bird colonel (and later a general), but that’s a suspension of disbelief I can make.
Airwolf. Okay, action, helicopters, spies, and again–well done characters. One of my favorite characters was Michael Archangel, and I liked the political shenangians that went on with the Firm. It added a different element of danger and subterfuge that most shows don’t have.
The Equalizer. I was kind of expecting this one to not to be good. But Edward Woodward is a good actor, and the show had solid stories–at least so far, since only the first season is available.
Emergency! Good story, a lot of action, and solid characters. Every show you can expect a lot of rescues and a big one at the end. Some people today will find it slow because it does portray the fire department factually. You’d never see on a TV show today a fireman getting a call, and then getting the call cancelled.
Filed under: Just for Fun | Tagged: TV
I shouldn’t comment, but… No, I’m not gonna mock… I’m not gonna mock… Aw, the hell with it. I have to say something.
Airwolf? Seriously? Better than Blue Thunder? Better than Knight Rider? Granted, it had Ernest Borgnine in it, but the rest of the show seemed to be a mash-up of a dozen other shows. At least you didn’t say that you liked Automan, for which I am very grateful.
And picking Stargate SG-1 over Babylon 5 and the Battlestar Galactica remake is making my brain explode. Did they ever manage to come up with any great plot arcs that made people sit up and take notice of the shifting political and military climate a-la B5? Or do brilliant stand-alone episodes that actually mattered? I have to admit that it has been a while since I really bothered with the show, but from the episodes I’ve seen it looks like a lot of stand-alone episodes that hit the reset button as soon as the end credits began to roll.
The Equalizer was awesome (and you are forgiven for picking Airwolf on the strength of its’ inclusion) and still holds up well now. I’ll also take this opportunity to point you in the direction of Vengeance Unlimited, which hangs on a not entirely different premise. Michael Madsen is every bit as menacing (maybe even more) as Edward Woodward was.
Airwolf, though? *sigh*
Blue Thunder: Though I know I watched the show during it’s original run, it was evidently unmemorable because I don’t remember if it was good or bad. When I got it on DVD about a month ago, it get a “Meh.”
Battlestar Galactica: Can’t stand the new version. I tried watching it a few times, and it was just not something I looked forward to watching. I didn’t care much for the characters or the dark theme or the jerky filming. Like the old version, though–Lorne Greene was great.
Babylon Five: Good show, but not enough of fun action to make the list.
Knight Rider: That one would have ended up on my bottom five, but I ran out of slots. I like the car and the great stunts, but David Hasselhoff’s acting leaves a lot to be desired.
The bottom five are probably even more interesting …