The main criterion for this list is that the TV show has to be science fiction. No horror or fantasy shows will be listed. The show also had to begin this year or have a first-run airing in 2009. If I haven’t watched the show regularly, it’s not on this list.




15. Stargate Universe
I had a really hard time getting into this show initially. I also had a hard time accepting that this would be one incarnation of Stargate that I wouldn’t like. I kept with the show and found things to like about it. I’m willing to stick with it to see where it goes.

14. Dollhouse
I tried to like this show. Echo as the programmable hooker with a heart-of-gold that can kick butt got old. All of the actors did a good job but something never really gelled with this show for me. Dollhouse had it’s moments but overall I can live without this show. I will miss Tahmoh Penikett though.
I’m a little upset that now that the show has been officially canceled that they are stepping up their game. They should have been putting out intense episodes like the past few from the start.

13. Sanctuary
I was really happy with the direction of the show at the end of the first season. The introduction of “The Gentleman” really made me excited about the future of the show. Who doesn’t want to see what a modern Jack The Ripper, Nikola Tesla, etc would be like in a modern sci-fi/ steampunk show?
The second season saw the show get dragged down with the search of Helen’s daughter, Ashley and ultimately her death. There was one episode where they spent the whole hour in room full of water & helicopter wreckage. It was then that I got concerned about the direction of the show. I love Sanctuary because of the way the show burst on the scene starting out as a web-based show then getting actual distribution on Syfy. Currently, however, the show needs to kick it up a notch. I’m not totally bored yet but I need a little more.

12. Warehouse 13
This is another steampunk/ sci-fi show on Syfy. It started out a little shaky but ended strong. They started adding things to the show to make it more interesting. I care about these characters; Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly and Saul Rubinek have great chemistry. I have a good feeling about the future of this show. CH Pounder has an awesome character on this show. I hope Avatar doesn’t keep her from returning.

11. Doctor Who
Let’s face it; as much as it pains me to admit it, Doctor Who sucked this year. We got some filler specials that were a lot of fun but not as good as having a regular run of a proper Doctor Who series. As if not having a regular schedule wasn’t bad enough, David Tennant is leaving the show.

10. Sarah Conner Chronicles
I liked this show a lot. There weren’t enough robots and terminators but I enjoyed the introduction of Shirley Manson’s character. This show took a lot of chances and even dared to get artsy every once and awhile. If Summer Glau joins another canceled show, I’m going to start think she’s an awesome but bad luck charm. Fox should reconsider and bring this one back.

9. Chuck
It has enough science fiction jokes and geekery to go on this list. I didn’t want to watch this show. No; not even with Adam Baldwin on it. I didn’t know that Matt Bomer and Tony Todd was on the show as well. This made a HUGE difference in my enthusiasm for the show. Turns out, Chuck is a really fun show and stays fresh. I’m at the beginning of the second season and I’m not bored yet. I want to be caught up enough to watch the season three premiere live.

8. Big Bang Theory
The fact that any of those guys are getting laid is pure science fiction so Big Bang Theory goes on this list. Sheldon invented “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock”… Big Bang Theory goes on this list. Summer Glau, Wil Wheaton and Katee Sackhoff was on this show… is there any question as to why Big Bang Theory is on this list? If you aren’t watching this show, you are missing out on some really great nerd antics. This show is ALWAYS funny.

7. FlashForward
I hated the premiere episode of this series because it felt too much like a Lost rip off. I stayed with the show and it hasn’t felt like that since. It became its own entity and holds it’s own. I’m not sure how long it’s going to last but it did well for its first season. I like how the show questions fate and tackles the idea of multiple universes.

6. Defying Gravity
This show was sold to the network as “Grey’s Anatomy in space”. It was an accurate description which is why it didn’t work. It the beginning, Defying Gravity was overly dramatic and not enough science fiction. Overall, it wasn’t a perfect fit for the medical fetish community or science fiction fans.
On the other hand, the sets were the most beautiful that I’ve seen on TV in a long time. We finally got a space show with a pretty and pristine space ship.
It’s funny though; the episodes that aired after the show was officially canceled in the US were heavily sci-fi and really good. I wanted to see more but I’ve heard that they’ve already torn down the sets. Oh well…

5. Lost
I know this show shouldn’t be so low on my list of shows. The competition for my love is fierce. Lately, the shows that I prefer are the ones that make me happy. Lost is damned good but not joyful. It’s frustrating and mysterious. Lost had become a chore to watch but this latest season hit with a force unlike any season before it. It actually came out of its genre closet and shined its sci-fi star bright with time travel and the disappearing island.

4. Sarah Jane Adventures
This is the cutest show on TV right now. It’s the Doctor Who universe without all of the depression of Torchwood. Initially, I was repulsed by watching a kid’s show. Screw that. This is the best, most mature kids show on TV. While Doctor Who proper was messing around with holiday specials, Sarah Jane was saving Earth every week. The plots are simple and everything has a layer of saccharine over it but this show is damned good. You do yourself a disservice by not watching it.

3. Eureka
This show makes me happy. I don’t know if it’s the theme music or the Vancouver scenery or the actors… I’m just not sure. I’ve been less mesmerized by this show due to the death of Nathan Stark. Henry Deacon and Sheriff Jack Carter make up for it but the romance between Carter and Tess Fontana killed the momentum of the show for me. I celebrated when Tess left Eureka for Eastwick. The cruel part is that now that Allison finally gets Jack to herself, she is now a widow with a newborn baby. What happened to her adopted kid Kevin? BRING BACK STARK! Reset button! RESET! …and give Henry a lover that you’re not going to kill off. I miss his nutty professor but as opposed to his mad scientist bit.

2. V
I love this re-make. It has everything that I’m looking for in a science fiction show. It isn’t quite like the original but not bad at all. This cast is incredibly sexy and most of the acting is believable. The sets are gorgeous and the uniforms, while not as flamboyant as the original series, work. We only got to see 4 episodes this year but I’m salivating for more!

1. Fringe
I hate to call this show an X-Files replacement because it would belittle the show’s personality and originality. Fringe fills the void for us X-Philes who have been roaming the government conspiracy wilderness alone for the past few years. I didn’t think it would be possible to capture the feel of X-Files again but Fox has done with Fringe. Let’s hope they don’t cancel it like everything else. *cough* Firefly *cough* Sarah Connor *cough* I love Fringe because there are monsters-of-the-week that have to do with the overall story arc. The story arc pulls me in because anything can happen at this point. A lot of things are still unknown.
Anna Torv has really grown as an actress and it is showing. John Noble’s portrayal of Walter Bishop is entertaining every week. I look forward to the crazy things that he says. Broyles, Peter, Astrid, Nina and William Bell are key to the show’s chemistry as well. I love everything about this show. …well… I’m still mourning the loss of Charlie.