Sci-fi shows reveal surprisingly real emotions

By Torie Jochims 2009

When you flip through the TV Guide looking for something good to watch, you might skip past the sci-fi section of the program guide thinking it has nothing to offer but things so far away in the stretches of the imagination that you couldn’t possibly get into the plot.
Oh, how wrong you could be.

If you think that sci-fi shows have nothing to offer, take a look at BattleStar Galactica.

The plot, while out there in some aspects (it has to be to be considered sci-fi) is a great show about humanity.

There are conflicts in sci-fi shows such as BattleStar Galactica just as there are in any other shows; they are just presented in a different way.

The premise of BattleStar Galactica goes something like this: nuclear fires caused the loss of billions of human lives, the only people that survived were those fortunate enough to be upon starships during the world’s untimely demise.

These survivors are led by the crew of the sole surviving battlestar Galactica.

The crew consists of Cylons, machines that look, think and feel like humans at a higher level.

Time progressed and eventually one of the main characters, Laura Roslin, went in search of the “lost 13th colony”—Earth.

As far out as this show may seem, the focus is not solely on that of the sci-fi aspects, just as crime investigation shows are not focused solely on the crime.
BattleStar Galactica is about the people in the show, their feelings, their actions, their relationships.

Just as with any show, this one has conflict, romance and, despite its otherworldly aspects, it is about the characters and their journeys.

Still not convinced?

BattleStar Galactica is starting its third season, and it is quickly becoming critically acclaimed for the large fan base and simply the show itself.

I have only just started watching this show (one episode in to be exact), but it is interesting enough to keep me watching.

The very reason that people skip over sci-fi shows is possibly the most apparent reason to watch them.

The sci-fi that is infused into the plots keeps you on your toes, keeps your mind thinking out of the box, and keeps you wondering.

Not to mention that it makes for some killer cliffhangers.

The wonderful thing about sci-fi shows is that the out there things about them keep you watching because once you give them a chance, they really aren’t that far out there.

BattleStar Galactica airs Friday nights at 8 p.m. on the SciFi channel.

If you aren’t jumping up and down at a chance to watch BattleStar Galactica, that’s understandable, so here’s a few other sci-fi shows that I recommend.

Smallville is a great show for those of you who like superheroes out there.

It’s about Clark Kent in his teenage years, discovering his powers and delving into his relationships.

Fun plot twists arise and meteor freaks are the main bad guys for Clark as he starts his heroic acts early in life and tries to keep his secret.

While I highly recommend Smallville, beware that it is starting in its sixth season and could be slightly hard to follow. Smallville airs Thursday nights at 7 p.m. on the CW network.

Another great sci-fi show is Supernatural. As the title would suggest, this show is about the supernatural. It follows two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester as they travel in Dean’s classic ’67 Impala and hunt urban legends, searching for the demon that killed their mother and Sam’s girlfriend.

The research put into this show and the detail meticulously laid out makes it an immediate obsession.

The show also puts a huge emphasis on the relationship between the brothers, making the humanity of it all the more alluring.

Supernatural is starting its sophomore season and the boys are dealing with a tragic loss.

I recommend this show because it’s like a mini-horror movie every episode.

Supernatural airs Thursday nights at 8 p.m. on the CW network.

Even if that’s not your cup of tea, pick one of them and tune in one night, you might be surprised to find yourself in a brand new fandom. Sci-fi, though it seems like an area for the stereotypical geek or nerd only, is actually a very fun, very exciting genre of television. Take a chance, try something new, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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