The Big Valley

Another show that I was first exposed to as a kid. Having seen the first season on DVD a couple of years ago, I was most impressed by the beauty of the landscapes and the visual elements of the show. Given that it ran in the 1960s, it's understandable that The Big Valley comes off as a bit contrived and predictable to modern viewers.

Still, I am a sucker for family dynamics, and the close-knit nature of the Barkleys still appeals to me as an adult. It's an enjoyable show, and even if the episodes do tend to follow a formulaic pattern, I continue to find myself drawn into the lives of this wonderful family.

My favorite characters were Victoria and Heath. Victoria appealed to me for her strength and charisma, and--predictably enough--because she was a woman who maintained her own authority and ran a large business empire in a time period when most women didn't do such things. Heath was compelling as the outsider who had to earn the respect of the Barkleys' employees and other people in the community. This aspect seemed to be played down in later seasons, but it was a prominent part of the s1 plot.

Beauty and the Beast (Fandom Listing)

I will never forget when I first discovered this show, some time late in the original run of Season 1. It's because of Beauty and The Beast that I first became interested in fandom activities as a cultural phenomenon.

Like Babylon 5, this was a show that I couldn't watch regularly when it was on television. That said, Vincent and Catherine's story was a compelling one that I took every opportunity to catch up on.

My favorite characters were Catherine and Father, so like most fans, I was unhappy with the show's final season. However, I did think that the character of Diana Bennett had a lot of potential. It was unfortunate that she had to be introduced the way she was.

I picked up the DVDs a few years ago, but I'm still waiting for an opportune time to watch the series from start to finish.

Ships

Vincent/Catherine

Bewitched (Fandom Listing)

What can I say? Who doesn't love Bewitched?

I have to admit that I don't generally enjoy sitcoms, but this was a show my family watched when I was growing up. Sam appealed to me because she wanted to do things her own way, regardless of what her mother or even--at times--Darren thought about it. Yet, she was consistently loyal to and protective of her husband. I probably also enjoyed the way that Darren was typically in need of rescue by his wife instead of being the show's hero and saving the damsel in distress.

Roddenberry's Andromeda (Fandom Listing)

I am a Roddenberry fangirl, and I won't apologize for it. So, I suppose it was inevitable that I would come to enjoy Andromeda. That said, I was a bit reticent about the show when I started watching it.

As with Star Trek, I enjoyed the ideas that the series often explored. However, I had a hard time seeing Kevin Sorbo as a starship captain. For the majority of season 1, I kept seeing and hearing Hercules when Dylan spoke. The rest of the characters were what drew me in to the show, which I ended up watching in its entirety while it was running on what is now Syfy along with my favorite show, Stargate SG-1.

My favorite characters were Beka and Rhade, but one way or another I found myself drawn into everyone's lives and the evolution of interpersonal dynamics on the show.

Ships

Dylan/Rommie
Andromeda/Balance of Judgement
Beka/Rhade

All Creatures Great and Small (Fandom Listing)

One of the few British shows I enjoy, this show is based on the novels of Alf White, who wrote under the pen name of James Herriot. The episodes can be a bit slow paced, but the characters are enjoyable and warm. At this point, I've only watched the original three seasons, which ran from 1978-1980.

The show and the novels that they were based on were based on Herriot's experience as a veterinary surgeon in a small country practice prior to the Second World War. Herriot begins as an assistant in the family practice operated by Sigfried Farnon. As the show progresses, he works his way up to being a full partner.

The show may be a bit dated since it was produced in the late 70s-early 80s. Animal lovers and anyone who appreciates character driven storylines will appreciate it.

Brooklyn South (Fandom Listing)

Brooklyn South

One of only a handful of modern police dramas I have enjoyed, this series was produced by Steven Bochco, who is more well known for his work on a similar show in the 80s: Hill Street Blues. Unfortunately however, CBS was unable to find a niche for this one. The characters were wonderfully drawn, and the show was well written, but it suffered from poor ratings and was cancelled after a single season.

I only discovered it after having watched another show with Yancy Butler, who plays Officer Anne-Marie Kersey. I had the good fortune of being able to pick up the series very cheap (about $10) and I'm glad I did!

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DCAU (Fandom Listing)

DCAU (DC Animated Universe)

I'm including all the DCAU shows that I watch in a single post because they have the same continuity, so I consider them to be a metaseries.

I will say upfront, I'm not really into comics. I gave up reading them when I was a kid because I didn't like having to wait so long between issues and when I realized that different writers have handled the same comic at various points in history, I felt like I never knew what the "real" story was.

Weird? Maybe. But that's how I felt at the time.

Out of curiosity, I have used the internet to trace the stories around particular superheroes or hero teams that I like, and usually enjoy a good superhero movie, but I can't speak to how well something does or doesn't stick to the comic plots/characterizations.

DCAU Shows I watch:

Batman: TAS/The New Batman Adventures

BTAS is my favorite. I stuck out The New Batman Adventures just to see what happened, but I wasn't thrilled.

Superman: TAS/The New Batman/Superman Adventures

This series didn't quite live up to BTAS, and I think it's gotten a worse reputation than it deserves for that reason. It was still a good show in its own right, and I enjoyed it.

Batman: Beyond

I wasn't sure how I felt about this concept when the show started, but Terry McGinnis won me over despite himself.

Static Shock

One of those shows I wish would have lasted a LOT longer.

Justice League (JLA/JLU)

Given the choice, I prefer JLA, but again, I stuck with the story and I enjoyed it.

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Battlestar Galactica 2003 (Fandom Listing)

Battlestar Galactica 2003 (BSG)

I'm including this show because my completest nature won't let me leave it out. Despite the widespread acclaim the series has received, including having been named among Time Magazine's Top 100 TV Shows of All Time, it has the dubious distinction of being one of only four shows I ever quit watching after I had watched two full seasons and become invested in the lives of the characters. This is even more remarkable because Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell are two of my favorite actors.

So, if you are a BSG fan, you can start sending me hate mail now, because if I ever post about this one, you will not like what I have to say.

Ships

(Yes, I did have some before I quit the show, and in my happy place, they still exist.)

Roslin/Adama

Kara/Lee

Saul/Ellen

Six/Gaius

Dee/Billy

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Battlestar Galactica-Original (Fandom Listing)

Battlestar Galactica

Another show that is a fondly remembered part of my childhood. My favorite character was Adama. Between this show and Bonanza, Lorne Greene became permanently embedded in my subconscious as the model for father figures. The other big draw for me was the brother dynamic between Apollo and Starbuck.

It's on the list of shows I'd like to watch again, but until I do, I'm not going to be able to offer much commentary.

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Bionic Woman-Original (Fandom Listing)

The Bionic Woman-(Original) (2)

This was my very first fandom. As most of my readers will probably know, it was a spin-off of The Six Million Dollar Man. Jaime Sommers appeared as a love interest for Steve Austin and was so well received that she was given her own series, which ran for three seasons. My affection for the show is based on a child's perspective and admiration for Jaime Sommers, so I can't offer a very balanced commentary. Hopefully, I'll get to watch the show again as an adult.

Ships

Jaime/Steve
Jaime/Chris

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Bionic Woman 2007 (Fandom Listing)

Bionic Woman 2007 (3)

This show was one of the most unfortunate casualties of the WGA strike in 2007-2008. Although it was highly anticipated, the show struggled to find an audience and was ultimately cancelled after only 8 episodes. The premise and characters deviated quite a bit from the original, which I suspect was off-putting to some fans, but it far less different in spirit an tone than the reinvisioned Battlestar Galactica is from its source material.

I fell in love with it from the outset, and I believe that if the strike hadn't blown the entire 07-08 TV season off course, it would have found its footing. The characters were rich and complex, the relationships believable, and while the plot seemed too convoluted at times, this could have been remedied if time and care had been taken.

Ships

Jaime/Antonio*

Sarah/Jae

Ruth/Jonas

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Babylon 5 (Fandom Listing)

Babylon 5 (1)

I discovered this show during its initial broadcast run on TNT. I was in my teens at the time, and since no one in my family liked it, I could only catch episodes here and there. Despite this, the show stayed with me and has become a strong influence on my science fiction. In 2010 I finally had the pleasure of seeing B5 in its entirety from start to finish. It is a remarkable experience and one that I recommend to anyone who enjoys the unfolding of a story. Season 5 has some weak spots in comparison to the other four, but from listening to the DVD commentaries, I gather that JMS was told to wrap up his storylines in s4 and subsequently got the greenlight for a final season. With that information in mind, it's pretty clear that the problem with season 5 is the loss of momentum from the previous year.

Ships

Sheridan/Delenn *

Susan/Marcus

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