Is science fiction dying?

16th December 2010 09:52 PM

No Star Trek.
No Stargate.
No Babylon 5.
No Battlestar Galactica/Caprica.

For the first time since 1988 there are no major science fiction franchises left on television. After Stargate Universe finishes it's second season in 2011, what will happen to science fiction on television? Is science fiction on TV dying? Is there simply not enough money to add? Is your average citizen too stupid to understand science fiction? Do you think the upcoming Star Wars live-action series will be enough to save science fiction?

**Dr.Knuckles** · 16th December 2010 10:03 PM

Star wars live action show? Really?

Wow. Did not know that.

Personally I think when Next Gen was still running daily reruns, and Deep Space, Voyager and Babylon were all running at the same time people were really in an orgy of TV sci-fi. It was WAY too much of a good thing. Enterprise was soon after and Stargate was on but neither of them had any broad audience outside the core young white college aged male. Battlestar was so dark and depressing even those of us who needed a diaper to watch the premiere got turned off in the second season... same for V. Only so much brooding and misery I can stand on TV. Fine for books or movies but I'm not gonna turn on suicidal alcoholic pilots torturing each other out of paranoia and sit with my wife and watch it every week. Doesn't matter how cool it looks.

BUT... don't throw away the spock ears cause I think the Star Trek re-invention was just what the doctor ordered. A Star Trek that is fun and sexy and rock'n'roll enough that I can have it on during dinner. I think there are talks about getting another Star Trek on TV and the success of the movie means it'll be a 'star wars' kind of Trek. If both that and this live action SW were on... I think that would be a pretty good decade of TV... my own self.

Patience young Padawon... mindful of the future we must be.

**Macduff** · 17th December 2010 10:04 AM

Last time Star Wars had a live tv show...

Do we really want to take a chance of reliving this?

**Seraphima** · 17th December 2010 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Inspector Gently

Battlestar was so dark and depressing even those of us who needed a diaper to watch the premiere got turned off in the second season... same for V. Only so much brooding and misery I can stand on TV. Fine for books or movies but I'm not gonna turn on suicidal alcoholic pilots torturing each other out of paranoia and sit with my wife and watch it every week. Doesn't matter how cool it looks.

I'll admit to being a Battlestar geek.... I got hooked while living in dorms. It was an interesting series because it kind of asked what people would do if their entire civilisation was destroyed - what would happen to politics, religion, relationships, etc.? For instance, there was on episode in the third season which covered unions. In one season it covered a Presidential campaign. In the final season it covered religion and freedom of assembly. Abortion was also covered at one point, (if you're entire civilisation is wiped out, should abortion still be legal?). That, to me, was what made it interesting.

**Stefan Bandera** · 17th December 2010 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Seraphima

I'll admit to being a Battlestar geek.... I got hooked while living in dorms. It was an interesting series because it kind of asked what people would do if their entire civilisation was destroyed - what would happen to politics, religion, relationships, etc.? For instance, there was on episode in the third season which covered unions. In one season it covered a Presidential campaign. In the final season it covered religion and freedom of assembly. Abortion was also covered at one point, (if you're entire civilisation is wiped out, should abortion still be legal?). That, to me, was what made it interesting.

Are you talking the original BATTLESTAR with Hoss and Little Joe's Dad ????

**Seraphima** · 17th December 2010 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Stefan Bandera

Are you talking the original BATTLESTAR with Hoss and Little Joe's Dad ????

No, I've never seen the original. I've only watched the new series which ended last year.

**Dr.Knuckles** · 17th December 2010 11:40 AM

I would have liked Battlestar if I was able to watch it alone. The reason next generation and voyager were so successful is cause mom dad and teen sister and teen brother could sit down together and all enjoy it. Or at least tollerate it.

Not the case with V, Battlestar or Stargate.

Macduff... how has that video not been tracked down and deleted? If I were Lucas I wouldn't sleep nights until I had made it clear anyone who talked about it was sued to homelessness.