- last update 31 Oct 2024 -
Adding new TV shows is going to be the slowest thing next to games, because I'm not taking random screenshots from the internet, but actually watching it all - and it's hard finding time to keep up with series I'm following, watching new series I'm interested in, and rewatching old stuff just for screenshots... but anyway, the list is still small compared to amount of stuff I want to post. Although I'm more of a movie guy, there are a few series that I find really incredible, the closer to the start of the list the higher I rate them. Overall I like way more miniseries or series with closed stories that don't go on releasing more and more seasons just because there is audience, they all burn out after a few seasons and start abusing tropes or making characters go full retard as a plot device... well, I will be commenting on them, and also on series that I'm probably never posting but I find worth mentioning.
• Love Them Anthologies
• The Cool Sci-Fi Stuff
• Damn Awesome Drama and Thrillers
• Superhero and Comic Book Adaptations That Don't Suck Donkey Balls
• Pretty Good Fantasy Shows
• Awesome Comedy Shows, and Sitcoms That Aren't Complete and Utter Shit like 99% Mass-Produced Shitcoms
• Love Them Anthologies •
By Charlie Brooker. Dark, suspenseful or satirical tales, Black Mirror gotta be the best thought-provoking/mindfuck sci-fi anthology series ever made!
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams (2017-2018)
An anthology series with several directors adapting stories of the master Philip K. Dick - other of his adaptations are Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report... so, yeah, he is The Man.
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964, 1985-1989, 2002-2003, 2019-2020)
By Rod Serling. Probably the most interesting anthology series ever made, with a huge variety of themes and thought-provoking stories ranging from science fiction to the supernatural. It has had many continuations, but none comes close to the brilliance of the original, as they all suffer from very dated directing and scripts that make most episodes look like a parody of the decade they were made in. They also overly rely on cheap supernatural stories, "- You know that episode of The Twilight Zone that they were dead all along?" "- Aren't them all like that?", but there are still some episodes here and there that are very cool, though.
It also got a movie in 1983 and several comic runs and short stories. They are ok, I commented on them here.
The Outer Limits (1963-1965, 1995-2002)
By Leslie Stevens, but with tons of different writers (ranging from Harlan Ellison to George R. R. Martin). Perhaps the most classic sci-fi anthology series, and an old rival to The Twilight Zone. It got some new seasons in the 90s - although not as charming as its black and white predecessor, there are still some very interesting episodes here and there.
But I really think it suffers from using a 44min format instead of a 22min, like The Twilight Zone. Most episodes have short concepts, but to fill the whole air time they end up repeating the same tropes of love triangle, the nurturing wise man, the envious and backstabbing friend, etc, all with no relevance to the story.
It got a comic book series that ran from 1964 to 1969, the very definition of generic sci-fi pulp.
By David Weil. A thought-provoking sci-fi anthology series with a great cast. Each episode is one of them "solo" and displaying some superb acting. Gonna be honest, not all episodes are good, but the ones I post here I found great.
By Nathaniel Halpern. A whole sci-fi series based on illustrations by Simon Stålenhag, it follows several characters on a small town that is connected to the Loop, a machine that explores the mysteries of the universe. A bunch of weird technologies and mysterious stuff ends up falling all around the place but it's just another day for its residents.
• The Cool Sci-Fi Stuff •
By Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, based on the original Michael Crichton movie. Beautiful directing and scenario, stellar cast with terrific acting, a superb script, with a realistic and amazing examination of technology and humanity, and a great thrilling and complex plot.
But don't forget, it has only one season!
There was supposed to be a mobile game that looked very fun to kill time, but Bethesda killed it, claiming it stole code from Fallout Shelter.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
By Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese. A crazy and gripping science fiction thriller with a very impressive casting (you will get it when you watch it), and one the best series of the 2010's. You can't look away for a second or you will lose tons of plot relevant stuff.
By Matt and Ross Duffer. A superb mix of horror, adventure and 80s nostalgia. I admit it has a very weird third season, but recovered legendarily in the fourth. A very fun and thrilling series to binge watch and one of the reasons Netflix was so acclaimed back then.
Stranger Things has a very fun 16bit-inspired mobile games. Also a bunch of comics that I commented here.
By Laeta Kalogridis, based on the novel by Richard K. Morgan. Takeshi Kovacs, a former rebel soldier, is resurrected in a new body to solve a murder mystery.
A great cyberpunk neo-noir thriller with just fantastic visuals. Some people say this series has a second season... they must be drunk...
Altered Carbon has a few comics, I commented on them here, and also on the anime movie here.
By Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, based on the novel series by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. Believe it or not, I was never that much of a fan of space dramas, but then came The Expanse with its incredibly realistic depiction of physics and just amazingly well-written political tension between factions and some great characters. I do feel like the quality fell a lot after season three, though.
The Expanse has a few comics, I commented on them here.
By Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. This was quite surprising, a really good video game adaptation! I recommend even if you are not into zombie stuff.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
By Tony Gilroy. The most surprising entry in the universe since Rogue One - and a prequel to it, a gritty and mature story of the formative years of the rebellion, with just incredible plot and characters. If you jump on stupid internet bandwagons, you are missing on great stuff.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
By Gene Roddenberry. Star Trek has tons of series, so I won't even bother putting dates or names, and as of this moment I can't comment on all of them. Although I'm not a big fan, I find them a pretty fair watch, they have some nice characters and very well-written episodes here and there, also very iconic moments, and a few quite good movies... but I can't help finding the overall tone very silly, and laden with plot holes.
Star Trek is probably the biggest sci-fi franchise around by movies and series alone, it also has dozens of comics and games, and a few cartoons. You can check my comments on the cartoons here, and the comics here.
[I will comment on the movies and games when the sections are ready]
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008-2009)
By Josh Friedman. I don't actually recommend this series haha - I don't quite recommend any live action entry on The Terminator after the second movie. It's only here because I'm posting a single quote from one episode, else it would be on the footnote of this section. I do think the first season was fair, and if the second season was that short it wouldn't get so lost and sidetracked - and sadly, it was dropped on a big cliffhanger.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
Well, Sarah Connor Chronicles is weak, but it's like the several really bad episodes that permeate all the Star Trek series, The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone, and I still watch because I really love sci-fi. I made that comment about Westworld having only one season because that first season is superb and quality drops a lot as the series goes on, but it's still enjoyable. Same for Altered Carbon.
I'm following all the Star Wars series, and all the drama queens on the internet threw a fit because it's Disney and blah blah blah, but the only series I really found underwhelming was The Book of Boba Fett (2021-????), even then, I find them all (as of this moment, also The Mandalorian (2019-????), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), Ahsoka (2023-????) and The Acolyte (2024)) a fair and entertaining watch - but Andor the only one I really liked.
In my opinion, Halo (2022-2024) has a very solid first episode, but then developed into something that felt more like Star Wars than Halo itself. Previous miniseries Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (2012) and Halo: Nightfall (2014) are more true to the game's tense atmosphere.
If you are looking for more easy sci-fi series to binge watch, I can also mention 12 Monkeys (2015-2018), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2020), See (2019-2022) and Snowpiercer (2020-????). Terra Nova (2011) was also nice but sadly it only got one season. I won't be posting any of these series mentioned here, but I find them a fair uncompromised afternoon entertainment.
• Damn Awesome Drama and Thrillers •
By Dennis Kelly. Acid humor and ultraviolent with a beautiful directing and great characters. A series about a conspiracy that wouldn't be able to be made without amassing a legion of idiots if it wasn't released the time it was.
There was a hillariously bad timed American remake that was cancelled after the first season. I didn't dare to try it.
By Sam Esmail. A masterfully directed provocative cyber-thriller with unique storytelling. If you are looking for a great series to binge-watch look no further! Mr. Robot rocks!
The whole cast is doing great, but Rami Malek is really something else.
[I will comment on the short movie when the section is ready]
By David Nicholls, based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Edward St Aubyn. "Patrick Melrose is a scathing indictment of British high society’s inherited dysfunction, cruelty, and the wealth that enables them."
A great drama miniseries with superb acting by Benedict Cumberbatch. I can't recommend it enough! A real wild ride.
By Scott Frank and Allan Scott, based on a novel by Walter Tevis. A great, stylish, and captivating drama about an orphan girl playing chess.
By David Farr, based on a novel by John le Carré. A hotel manager is recruited to aid in an investigation of an arms dealer and becomes involved in a game of deception and betrayal. Stellar performances by Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston, and a thrilling drama, The Night Manager is a damn good and underrated series.
By Danny Brocklehurst, based on a novel by Harlan Coben. A mystery/thriller miniseries with multiple plot lines connecting, and all starts with a stranger who knows a secret.
There is a lot that I still want to add on this drama and thrillers list. But I few I know I won't be posting, but you might find interesting to watch, are Homecoming (2018-2020), Years and Years (2019) and Biohackers (2020-2021).
• Superhero and Comic Book Adaptations That Don't Suck Donkey Balls •
The End of the Fucking World (2017-2019)
Based on the comics by Charles Forsman. A thrilling and emotional dark comedy that follows two runaways. The second season is all original and also very nice.
I commented on the comics here.
Based on the comics by Garth Ennis. Witty and absurd black humor. Like The Boys, the TV series barely resembles the comics, and I don't care about what hardcore comic fans says, the show is also great and the first season is priceless.
I commented on the comics here.
Another series based on by Garth Ennis' comics. On the rare cases of actually good superhero shows, a pretty cool adaptation, although too family friendly compared to the source material. The Boys is an exploration of a lot of real world themes that you might be missing if you are thinking it's a story about superheroes... wait...
I commented on the comics here.
Based on Paul Kupperberg's Peacemaker. A spin-off of The Suicide Squad. Absurd, crazy, violent, and hell of fun.
I commented on the comics here.
Based on the comics by Grant Morrison. A little known adaptation, Happy! is a black comedy about a drunk ex-cop turned hit-man who is following a small blue winged unicorn to save a girl kidnapped by Santa, and trying to discover if he didn't go completely insane!
I found the series funnier than the comics.
The Umbrella Academy (2019-????)
Based on a comics by Gerard Way. A dysfunctional superhero family brought together by the death of their adoptive father. A mix of black humor, quirky characters and pulp action. Although I find the first season pretty solid, I feel like characters got stuck and went full retard in the following ones. Quality dropped a lot.
I commented on the comics here.
On series with a very solid first season but that derails from there, American Gods (2017-2021) is awesome, but gets so sidetracked and lost on its writing that I really think it deserved being cancelled. The reason I'm posting The Umbrella Academy and not American Gods is because at least the former is going to be finished. Sense8 (2015-2018) is not quite superhero, nor comics, but suffered from the same problem. Solid first season, but then directors lost sight of the story and indulged themselves so much on endless dance parties and orgies that I also find the cancellation well deserved. Doom Patrol (2019-2023) has a very funny first season, but also got lost, with characters stuck and going full retard, repeating the same drama every episode, kinda like The Umbrella Academy, but I don't feel like posting this one. Deadly Class (2019), on the other hand, although silly, was very entertaining, and if anything else, had the greatest soundtrack ever on TV series, and its cancellation sucks.
• Pretty Good Fantasy Shows •
Based on George R. R. Martin's novels. No series rivals the cultural phenomenon that was Game of Thrones, a brilliant epic drama with dozens of complex characters and a raw and brutal writing that had us for years dying to see the next episode. Unfortunately, producers ran out of the book material and delivered such weak writing of their own in the last seasons that all that worldwide excitement died out, and today we barely talk about what a great show it was.
It had an okay but short lived comic series, also a few games, but I never tried, or felt like trying, any.
So far, House of the Dragon (2022-????) been a nice show.
His Dark Materials (2019-2022)
By Jack Thorne and based on the Philip Pullman's novels. Remember The Golden Compass, the best fantasy adventure movie of the 00's that didn't get its deserved sequel? Fear not, His Dark Materials adapts the whole story and has that badass girl from Logan as main character!
• Awesome Comedy Shows, and Sitcoms That Aren't Complete and Utter Shit like 99% Mass-Produced Shitcoms •
By Alec Berg and Bill Hader. A professional hitman discovers his passion for acting. Barry is one of the best comedy series released lately.
By Bryan Fuller. A unique comedy drama from early 00s, a light watch that is both funny and sad.
By Andy Breckman. A mystery drama comedy from the 00s. Monk is an obsessive compulsive private detective full of phobias.
By David Shore. House is a nihilist, or just an asshole, doctor. Like all those long-ass series, it suffers from ups and downs and end up repeating plots and abusing tropes. But overall House is quite nice.
Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974)
The most iconic British comedy group, with its clever, absurd, surreal and satirical pieces.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
• I won't comment on the sitcoms. I like these, just it •
• Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006) • • Scrubs (2001-2010) • • Seinfeld (1989-1998) • • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996) •
