What Makes A Good Sci-Fi Show?

I’ve been watching more and more science fiction (perhaps loosely defined, in some cases) television shows lately, something I haven’t really done much of in a while. Some have really drawn me in, while others – even though the production values are probably very similar – haven’t, but in some cases I’m having a hard time coming to grips with just why one sci-fi show appeals to me and another doesn’t

Let’s take two examples that are along similar basic lines and who seem to have significant followings: Falling Skies and Defiance. Falling Skies caught me right away and has held my attention. Defiance, on the other hand, resulted in an interest score of “meh” from the get-go, and after a few episodes my wife and I couldn’t bring ourselves to spend time watching it anymore.

 



 

The question is, what’s the difference between them? Is it just a matter of taste, or is there something deeper?

Some of my other favorite shows include Fringe (which probably ranks as my current fave overall) and – this came to me as a surprise – Grimm. Granted, Grimm isn’t exactly science fiction, but I include it because the producers took what I initially thought was a pretty silly premise and made into something exceptional. But on the “meh” side we have Warehouse 13 and Primeval (although I’ll confess that we need to watch a few more episodes of Primeval to give it a fair chance).

So, what are your favorite vs. your “meh” sci-fi shows, and why do you think one appeals and the other doesn’t?

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