I'll just get this out of the way early
Battlestar Galactica, still the undisputed champion.

That said, have been watching Babylon 5 with the missus recently and it's bloody great, if you can forgive the piss-poor special effects, laughable acting and the fact that it was obviously made for ten pence.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:44, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Ohhh, that's another one I want to see, BG.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:45, Reply)

Can't recommend it highly enough mate
Best TV programme I've ever seen
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:49, Reply)

^This
Best I've ever seen too.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:51, Reply)

You've obviously never seen 'Jersey Shore' or 'Keeping up with the Kardashians'

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:53, Reply)

*vomits*

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:53, Reply)

I always think that last one is a star trek thing
but I think I'm wrong, aren't I?
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:56, Reply)

NERDLOLS
lolololololol
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:01, Reply)

Haha, I thought that.
Kardasians are the 'bad guys' from Deep Space 9. I think they're like an off-shoot of Romulans (who are off-shoots of Vulcans).
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:02, Reply)

I've seen the Kardashians one, and this "Real housewives of orange county"
They are actually horrible human beings, I thought Katy Price was a self absorbed bitch, but she doesn't have anything on those people.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:57, Reply)

Have you only ever seen one television programme?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:56, Reply)

My god
Are you disagreeing with me about something?

*faints (camply)*
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:59, Reply)

The best you've ever seen?
Seriously?

I think perhaps the most affecting programme I've seen might be the Adam Crick Jeffrey Archer doc - to this day I am astounded by its contents. But 'How Art Changed the World' and things like Brasseye really, really impressed me.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:08, Reply)

Yes, seriously.
There's lots of fantastic fiction and non-fiction out there. Just because it's not your cup of Earl Grey doesn't mean it can't be our favourite.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:12, Reply)

Are you starting on me?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:19, Reply)

Sure, why not.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:20, Reply)

CAM ON THEN!
*rolls up sleeves, indicates toward car park*
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:22, Reply)

*rolls up trouser legs, indicates bicycle rack*

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:23, Reply)

Haven't seen the first two, as ever with your recommendations I'll give them a look
And yes, seriously. It's horses for courses - I am a massive geek - but what elevates BSG above all else, for me, is the subtext and allegory it employs. I've never seen anything like it.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:13, Reply)

Calm down.
It's a science fiction programme, not the fucking Iliad.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:19, Reply)

yeah science fiction can't have subtexts and allegories

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:20, Reply)

I t certainly can.
And in written form, very occasionally in a subtle and clever manner. On mainstream US television, however, I put it to you that such allusions etc have to be trowelled on with all the subtlety of a nuclear bomb to penetrate the mongoloid crania of the target audience.

'Eastenders in space' (c) R. Lyon 2011
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:40, Reply)

Whilst your argument holds some merit,
I put it to you that there are those who are more willing to look for such subtext and gain greater enjoyment from a programme through this patience, and there are those with mongoloid crania who are not.

'Sounds well bent' (c) M. Boyce 2011
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:45, Reply)

I agree with you both
but would point out that when subtext is barely subtext and allegory, then it's probably not subtle.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:46, Reply)

Counter-example: the batman series from the 60s
kids action show if you're a mongoloid, hilarious comedy if you aren't.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 11:03, Reply)

Your argument precludes the possibility that a sci-fi programme can be anything more than its stereotype

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:21, Reply)

a sci-fi programme you
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:22, Reply)

Well it's certainly not the Iliad

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:32, Reply)

It's not just scifi though.
It has strong political, religious and anthropological themes and looks hard at colonialism and who we are as a species.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:22, Reply)

Sounds well bent.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:35, Reply)

Not even Fireman Sam?

( Peej, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:19, Reply)

or Queer as Folk?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:20, Reply)

*moves aside, makes way*

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:21, Reply)

This will likely make me an outcast
but I couldn't get into BSG. I really tried because so many people whom I trust loved it. I watched the first season and a half before I gave up.

I still feel like I should try again
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:00, Reply)

First two seasons here I think
but it just doesn't go anywhere
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:03, Reply)

That is so far from true as to make me wonder if you're winding me up

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:14, Reply)

Seriously it's shit, it's pretty much Eastenders in Space

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:24, Reply)

Fucking hell
Apparently you aren't always wrong.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:26, Reply)

He's seldom wrong.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 10:34, Reply)

FIREFLY!
you wrong-brain
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:45, Reply)

Ah, but
Everyone knows Firefly is awesome, except Amberl who's weird, whereas B5 deserves revisiting
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:49, Reply)

I do not know that 'Firefly' is awesome
I assume it to be ghastly nerd porn
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:50, Reply)

might as well be, my friend

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:53, Reply)

I saw the movie version...it was highly generic and distinctly average in every way

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:54, Reply)

it works best whe you've watched the series
as the film is pretty much the bit of series that was cancelled
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:55, Reply)

I saw the film before seeing the series
and thought it was thoroughly enjoyable, the dialogue in particular is superb. It does make more sense after watching Firefly though.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:56, Reply)

That's a fairly accurate description
Though I found the film very enjoyable taken separately from the series
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:55, Reply)

I think you meant to type right not weird

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:50, Reply)

A FRAYED KNOT

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:57, Reply)

I have a confession
I didn't watch B5. The odd episode, yes, and I really liked it and know some characters, but I just never stuck at it due to being crap at watching series'
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:51, Reply)

One of those programmes that makes much more sense if you watch it all the way through
The first series is more episodic (and not as good) but there are plenty of references to it throughout the second, third and fourth, which are much better. It was one of the first programmes to have series-long story arcs and its influence on BSG is undeniable
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 31 Aug 2011, 9:58, Reply)