Is it just me, or is Sci-Fi experiencing a sort of cultural renaissance right now? (tucson.social)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by th3raid0r@tucson.social to c/entertainment@beehaw.org

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I just realized that every streaming platform seems to have a couple heavy-hitter big-budget sci-fi series these days. Most of them turn out to be critically acclaimed as well.

Sure, we all know that there are Star Trek fans who dislike Discovery and Picard, or Foundation fans who dislike Apple's adaptation. Even though much of what is on TV is still decades-old franchises, it seems that we're getting more original sci-fi along with it.

Scavengers Reign
For All Mankind
Invasion
Cyberpunk: Edgeruners
Tales from the Loop

I could go on...

No longer is it simply a single channel on cable tv that was also 50/50 with horror content, plus Star Trek and a handful of others that other networks syndicated.

Today there's a rich tapestry of new ideas, concepts, and just plain art in media that was normally reserved for paperbacks published by Tor and others.

Don't get me wrong, I still love me some SG1, TNG, DS9, B5, and others - all shows I grew up with; but I'm so happy that we get so much more now!

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[-] UNIX84@beehaw.org 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Don't discount new Trek. Picard (even season 3) and Discovery were trash, but Strange New Worlds is the best series since DS9 ended.

[-] cwagner@beehaw.org 3 points 2 years ago

Picard S1 was great. But then it was a character driven sci-fi drama that just happened to play in the Star Trek universe, while later seasons were essentially Star Trek. And I don’t like Star Trek (nor Wars for that matter).

[-] th3raid0r@tucson.social 3 points 2 years ago

I agree, I really preferred S1 for a lot of the "softer" aspects of character building. We really got an impressive look into a character I grew up admiring and it just made me admire Picard more. S2 and 3, while fine, definitely reverted a bit towards the "Star Trek" formula.

[-] UNIX84@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago

Maybe that season deserves another watch then. I had different expectations going in, 4 years ago when it was aired, so maybe my disappointment stems from the show being not what I wanted or expected at the time. I should take the time during the upcoming winter break and give it another watch.

I was expecting TNG but 25 years after the Dominion War. They delivered that in Season 3 and it was terrible. Thanks for your thoughts.