Editing Approved Television (section)

==Sci Fi==
*'''[[Babylon 5]]''': It's the future, after humanity narrowly escaped extermination in a war with the Minbari (bone headed guys who are like the Eldar with the dickishness dialed down to mostly manageable levels) it sets up a space station in neutral territory to act as a center of diplomacy to try to avert another war which gradually gets embroiled in an ancient conflict between two powerful alien civilizations, the Vorlons and the Shadows. While most TV Science Fiction in the day was "this week's adventure" Babylon 5 set out to tell a grand story and (mostly) succeeded.  The first space sci-fi to use CGI instead of motion control photography, so it hasn't aged that well visually.  

*'''Battlestar Galactica''': In a galaxy far, far away humanity is engaged in a war with a legion of cybernetic assholes called Cylons. In a total dick move the genocidal toasters feign a peace offering and decimate the human fleet, except for a a few starships which manage to escape. Organizing under the protection of the titular Battlestar-class ''Galactica'' this ragtag refugee fleet, assuming they are the only survivors, attempts to escape to the fabled planet called [[Earth]].
**<nowiki></nowiki>Comes in two flavors: Original 1970s (Cheesetastic, but hilarious if you're into that sort of thing) and Immediate-Post-9/11-Reboot ([[Grimdark]], and actually pretty good). Both recommended, but other than initial premise, the two are '''wildly''' different. Be aware going in that the modern version has a reputation for producing an especially terrible ending for the show(even more so in some circles then even Lost!).

*'''Dark''':  German time travel sci-fi available on Netflix.  One of the very best examples of a closed time loop, all thanks to the forgotten technique of "plan your plot ahead of filming". Thus it manages to maintain a coherent story throughout three seasons.  With typical German efficiency, everything shown is important and plot relevant, and every thread and question is tied up and answered at the end.  You may want to take notes to keep track of everything - it gets very complicated. You may also take notes on how and why to plan the structure of your campaign.

*'''[[Doctor Who]]''': The adventures of the universe's saddest time traveling bro. Absolutely ancient in canon and out (the show predates Star Trek by three years). Cheesy special effects, but it's got heart and (usually) good writing. It's bigger on the inside.
**'''Torchwood''': [[Grimderp|"Grimdark"]] spin-off of the above. Mostly just comes off as stupid, though. Notable for being the most popular (and least terrible) spin-off of the RTD era. Also notable is the [[Harkness Test|sheer amount of aliens Captain Jack fucks]]. Skip to season 3 if you want the better half of this show's run.

*'''The Expanse''': A Syfy adaptation of the novel series. Tensions are building between Earth, Mars and the Asteroid Belt when <s>[[Samus|Phazon]]</s> an unknown alien element gets discovered and throws everything out of wack. It's pretty [[grimdark]] and political, notable as one of the hardest sci-fi shows ever put on screen. The depictions of space travel are scrupulously realistic (except for the alien weirdness). The source novels were written by the assistants of [[George R. R. Martin]], so the Expanse is basically the best-case outcome for the "Game of Thrones IN SPACE" premise.

*'''Farscape''': Muppets in spaaaace! This show, produced by the Jim Henson company, is dark. Even media in self-professed [[grimdark]] settings rarely put their main characters through this much torment. You wouldn't think it when it starts out, the first half of the first season being notoriously cheesy, but the cheese you wade through at the start belies an intense series as every major military organization in the galaxy targets our hero for torture, [[rape|mindrape]], and death. Few stories to date put their heroes through such a gauntlet, but the audience follows John Crichton's journey from all-American hero to notorious interstellar terrorist from start to finish, rooting for him the entire way.

*'''[[Firefly]]:''' [[Traveller]] except about post-bellum Confederates '''IN SPAAAAAACE'''. Like most of the Whedonverse praising it on /tg/ will unleash a category 5 [[skub]]storm.

*'''For All Mankind''': Made by Ronald D. Moore (DS9, NeoBSG), For All Mankind takes place in a [[Alternate History|world where the Soviets got to the moon first kicking the space race into overdrive]]. Each season takes place in a new decade. If you like NASA and things with a hopeful tone, this is the show for you. You are free to skip first half of first season after watching the opening, as it's mostly alternate history world-building for the setting. You are free to drop it the second personal drama starts to be overbearing for you, because the dose only increases over the seasons.

*'''[[Star Wars:The Mandalorian|The Mandalorian]]''': Take Star Wars blender, throw in ''Lone Wolf and Cub'' scenario and copious amount of spaghetti western, put on high speed and you've got this show. Decent action sequences and making good use out of own universe. Plot is very "gamey" in structure, adding extra use for /tg/ purposes. See the actual article for details.

*'''The Prisoner''': A 60s classic sadly fallen into obscurity, it tells us the story of an unnamed British spy that gets kidnapped by a secret organization after resigning for motives unknown. He is moved to a place only known as "The Village", a sort of idylic place inhabited by old and brainwashed special agents of many nationalities, where noone can escape. Incredibly ambitious for its time, it tackles themes such as identity and duty, while also making the protagonist fight with his wit and smarts his captors, while at the same time they keep him trapped in The Village. If you haven't heard about it, don't worry, you've probably heard about it because it has been parodied in The Simpsons once (twice if you include Rover!).

*'''seaQuest DSV''': Basically Star Trek but on a submarine and staring that guy from Jaws.  Like Star Trek, it ran for three seasons.  Also like Star Trek, it was technically cancelled after every season. Unlike Star Trek, comes with distinctively different flavour each season: first one is almost science fantasy, second is strictly sci-fi and bordering on cyberpunk, third is military sci-fi.

*'''Spellbinder''': A two-season series, or rather two thinly connected standalone series dealing with parallel worlds. Each "season" can be seen as separate story, as they only share one character (an ''extremely'' compelling villainess) and the general concept of alternative universe(s). Despite being made for kids, it's very much watchable even two decades later - think "Sliders", but good and with plot. It also comes with few pretty interesting settings with some rich world-building. A third season has been in development hell since 1998.

*'''[[Star Trek]]''': It's Star Trek. If you<s> were born some time in the last half century you probably heard of it</s>'re not a drooling mongoloid you've heard of it.

*'''Stargate:''' At first there was a Roland Emmerich movie based around the Ancient Astronaut theory and finding a Big Ring in Egypt which can take you to another world, which was an adequate science-fiction action romp. Even so, it did well enough to get a Television series in Stargate SG-1. It changed a few things about from the movie (usually for the better) and had a rocky first season (for the worse), but after that it became one of the better science fiction series. Plenty of action, excellent characters performed by excellent actors, memorable humor and succeeds both as an episode-to-episode series as well as with long continuity arcs. The last two seasons with the Ori are not as good.

*'''The X-Files''': All possible and imaginable conspiracy theories about aliens mixed together for the show that redefined how to even make a sci-fi themed series. Plus monster of the week plots thrown in for a good measure. The show balances between being serious, self-aware, camp and horror. Following adventures of two FBI agents, both working in a sub-division dealing with "paranormal" cases, treated by rest of the Bureau as a dead-end in the career. Even if you don't have time to watch all episodes, you can pick up at any given moment and still catch up on the go with the arc story. (ProTip for new viewers: The show worked best in the stand-alone episodes. ''Most'' of the "arc" episodes are actually fairly dull and uninspired, while the arc itself is infamous for being fake and going nowhere.  This is even more apparent with the attempts at reviving the series.)