Tell me what to watch on television.

[gement]

I have Netflix Streaming. I have all day. I have watched very few sci-fi serials since 1997. Whedon and Whoniverse franchises are nearly the only exceptions. Until 1997, I watched all the schlock SF I could get my mitts on, including Forever Knight and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, and a few others that were so terrible they only got three episodes.

Tell me what cultural touchstones you think I should geek out on with you, and I'll give it a shot. I'm loopy enough to mimic the receptive state of wide eyed wonder usually only conferred upon drunks and impressionable teenagers up past midnight.

Bonus if you suggest some specific touchstones that are either good summary introductions or fantastic single eps, something to narrow down from "all 20 seasons of...". For example, I'd recommend that someone in my position watch Sherlock, which has only 3 episodes available on Netflix, or Heroes, but only season 1. (That is where I stopped, and I hear I made the right call.)

Also if you know of any speculative fiction on Netflix streaming with non-crap representation of marginalized identities, I'm likely to watch that preferentially, even if it's not the format I suggested above.

Comments

[annissamazing]

I've been watching BBC's "Being Human" (not to be confused with the SyFy "original series" "Being Human," which is the American remake that I've never seen). LOVE it! Though, honestly, it took several episodes for me to get into it.

I'd recommend "Community," but it isn't on Netflix streaming, so see if you know anyone who has it on DVD.

As caladri suggested, "Futurama!" It is sooo good! It's got a fun mix of high-brow, geek, and ribald humor. It also has a series-long plot arc that is a lot of fun to go back and rewatch and find all the hints. It also has some of the most touching, heartbreaking moments in all of TV history (no joke, have tissues at-hand). While it's fantastic from Episode 1 (Space Pilot 3000), you can go straight to Godfellas. Or, better yet, watch "Roswell that Ends Well," then "Godfellas," and you've got two of the best episodes in order!

"30 Rock" is fun.

"Downton Abbey" is a must-see, though it isn't Scifi.

"Mad Men" is fantastic, and may even fit your "non-crap representation of marginalized identities" though maybe not in the way you intended.

Have you seen any of Stephen Chow's movies? "Kung Fu Hustle" is my favorite and I just rewatched "Shaolin Soccer" last night. They're hilarious! Also, sometimes he takes off his shirt. Yowza.

[tcepsa.livejournal.com]

I'll second Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle. Some of the CG effects were badly enough done to make me wince, but after I got my brain to file them as schlock instead of slop I enjoyed the actual movies immensely ^_^