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Something I've been wondering for a while - which series do you consider to be the third of the "Big Three" of popular sci-fi?

Trek and Wars are obviously the "Big Two", but what's the third? BSG? B5? Doctor Who? Something else? There isn't one? Enquiring minds want to know.

I don't think there is one. Ask any non-sci fi fan to name some sci-fi series, and all they'll be able to name are Trek and Wars. All the others are pretty unknown, relatively.
Among sci-fi fans, however, I'd say that B5 would take third place. It's highly popular and well known.

I'd say Doctor Who. The original program lasted from 1963-1989. It's been able to launch it's own spin-offs after the new series began. Doctor Who has a loyal fan base across two continents. Compared to any other series, Doctor Who has longevity.

Honestly though, compared to Star Trek and Star Wars, any other Science Fiction series would be a far and away distant third.

Given the context, I have to agree.

As to which are superior, Farscape and Firefly have my vote.

A British person would probably say Doctor Who, but is it really enough in the mainstream of the US to get third place?

I would think Stargate would get it in the US.

You're right on that, Graham. At least now, with the advent of BBC America and the Sci-Fi Channel, there is some access to the new Dr. Who. Back in the day, you had to watch a UHF public station at 2:30 am for every Tuesday for a month in order to see an ep.

However, even with the relative popularity of the Stargate franchises, there is nothing in the same league as 'Trek and 'Wars. The Matrix series might even be closer right now than Stargate.

It'd be a toss up between Doctor Who and Stargate.

ChakatBlackstar wrote:It'd be a toss up between Doctor Who and Stargate.

I'd agree with you in terms of quality, but not necessarily in terms of popular appeal. Stargate seems to do well, by the number of franchises it has spawned, but the movies were nowhere near as popular as the Matrix films, and the TV series have only been long-standing on niche TV outlets.

GrahamKennedy wrote:A British person would probably say Doctor Who, but is it really enough in the mainstream of the US to get third place?

I would think Stargate would get it in the US.

Aye you're right. I hadn't even heard of Dr. Who before this forum. Which is sad cause I really like it now and feel like I missed out on a lot :p

One thing is funny from watching Dr. Who I'm kind of wondering when aliens are going to land in America What's so cool about England?

I would go with Doctor Who. I caught the Baker years on PBS here in the states way back when and enjoyed them a great deal. Sure the effects were cheesy, but the stories were fantastic. I also have to say I liked the cast a great deal; Baker's companions were all likeable, even both Romanas.

Monroe wrote:One thing is funny from watching Dr. Who I'm kind of wondering when aliens are going to land in America What's so cool about England?

England is the centre of the universe, didn't you know?

Actually it's a funny thing how each country depicts the alien invasions hitting their country. Watching Who maybe gives an American a taste of how everyone else feels watching US-centric stuff like Independence Day, Stargate, etc.

I'm going with StarGate. It has a massive world built around it with a good fan base and is still going.

GrahamKennedy wrote:

Monroe wrote:One thing is funny from watching Dr. Who I'm kind of wondering when aliens are going to land in America What's so cool about England?

England is the centre of the universe, didn't you know?

Actually it's a funny thing how each country depicts the alien invasions hitting their country. Watching Who maybe gives an American a taste of how everyone else feels watching US-centric stuff like Independence Day, Stargate, etc.

Well to be fair Independence Day is hardly US centric. They're all over the world not just at the US. Just the story follows Americans.

It's because Cardiff has some tear in space-time... Or something...
I think Doc Who kinda parodies the typical Hollywood films in that it's always the Prime Minister who makes the decisions, and everything seems to go in the UK, like how, always, whenever aliens or monsters or doomsday are coming to earth, it's always the President of the US who is declared leader of the world.

Thorin wrote:It's because Cardiff has some tear in space-time... Or something...
I think Doc Who kinda parodies the typical Hollywood films in that it's always the Prime Minister who makes the decisions, and everything seems to go in the UK, like how, always, whenever aliens or monsters or doomsday are coming to earth, it's always the President of the US who is declared leader of the world.

That's because he is the leader of the world