It’s that time of year when we all look at the past, ponder the future and collect our thoughts on the best of the best. Given that, I thought I’d share some of my favorite people, ideas, moments, concepts and scenes in science fiction. Hope you find something on this list you love, or find something on this list you hadn’t seen and can now go explore. I think The Concrete World is informed by many of these great moments, faces and ideas.
11. Honorary Mention… THE LAST STARFIGHTER (I know, I know I cheated but it’s hard to cram only ten on this list) The Arcade Game in the film that I wanted to play so badly (and am still unsure if it was ever really available to play in real life) and of course The Death Blossom maneuver in the climax of the film. As a kid, I freaked out, when the hero Alex Rogan used the untested special maneuver. It doesn’t get any more 80s sci fi than that.
10. The Twilight Zone episodes “Steel” and “Midnight Sun” Steel tells the story of a robot boxer (sound familiar…) and his washed up boxer of a trainer, who, to win the big fight, will put himself in harms way. This is a fantastic episode with great acting and a thought provoking story. And Midnight Sun… one of the freakiest episodes I’ve seen. Watching it made me feel very uneasy (and entertained of course!)
9. Macross Frontier: I ignored almost everything that has been made to follow up the original and classic Macross Series… That is until Macross Frontier was made. Easily as good as the original series. It’s what Next Generation is to Star Trek. A solid storyline, with great characters and tech! The makers of the series seemed to know everything that worked with the original and placed it in this modern series. A series that compliments the original in every way, without taking away from it. For those like myself who don’t have a lot of time, it’s a great anime to get into, as it comes in at just under 30 episodes.
8. The Screwfly Solution by Raccoona Sheldon: One of the best sci fi stories I’ve ever read. A great short story, you can read it for free HERE.
7. Star Wars Micro Collection: There are many things in Star Wars to love and hate. I won’t spend too much time on it, as the current fan and pop culture acceptance of Star Wars has the property moving at light speed without my help. But I will point out one Star Wars related item worth mentioning. The Star Wars Micro Collection Toyline by Kenner. Nothing has come out since that catches the magic of the series in the way these small toys and playsets did.
6. Galactica jumping into the upper atmosphere of New Caprica and launching vipers in the episode Exodus Part 2. Sometimes a painful series to be a fan of, the modern Battlestar Galactica definitely had its ups and downs and fans needed emotional stamina just to tune in every week. This series constantly kept me on the edge of my seat. If you haven’t watched it beginning to end, you should. The mini-series that started it all is simply put, amazing television. But later in the series, there is an action sequence and military maneuver by the heroes that will blow your mind. It’s now referred to by fans as the atmospheric jump… or the Adama Maneuver.
5. The Episode “Doomsday” during the David Tennant era of Doctor Who. What can be better than earth being taken over by Daleks and Cybermen at the same time? How about the Daleks and Cybermen turning on each other in an all out battle? With The Doctor in the middle, of course, trying to save Earth and everyone he knows. There is a moment, right toward the end, as everything seems most dire, and you are about to lose one of the main characters when something epic happens. I remember cheering aloud during my first viewing of it. I don’t want to give it away, because if you haven’t seen it, you’ll enjoy it as well. I will say, for Doomsday to have the impact it did on me, you will need to watch the Entire Christopher Eccleston run and all the Tenant episodes leading up to it. You won’t be sorry.
4. Transformers The Movie (1986): When Optimus Prime sees what he has to do and does it. It’s hard to believe a cartoon show, essentially written to sell toys, could have such an impact on so many. But Transformers the movie did just that. Almost everyone in my generation (at least those fanboys that enjoy sci fi, fantasy, etc…) knew exactly where he or she was when Optimus Prime died. But it wasn’t just that he died, or how incredibly bold a choice it was for the makers of the film to make… It was how his character died. In a blaze of self sacrificing-ass kicking glory. You watch him look over the ridge, roll up his sleeves and get to work and cartoon, toy or not, you are inspired.
3. Classic Star Trek: It doesn’t matter how many times you watch each episode. They are timeless and amazing. Arguably still, the best science fiction television show made. Go watch an episode now.
2. Highlander the series: I’m going to just say this. I like the Highlander TV Series much more than the films. There, I said it. Let the fanboy powderkeg of nay-saying ignite. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the movie. Well, the original film. Everything that came after lost site of everything the TV series managed to pick up and do so well. If you sit down and watch Highlander the series from beginning to end, you are taken throughout time on an epic journey, battles of good vs evil, trials of friendships, and tales of how fragile life is whether you are mortal or immortal. The original film laid the groundwork, but this series with it’s bold choices and long form serialized content (before that was fashionable) went above and beyond. Adrian Paul and the writers and producers of the series created a timeless hero and complex character.
1. Patrick Troughton as Doctor Who: I don’t know what I like more… the era these episodes were produced in, or the sensibilities of the man himself. I absolutely love Patrick Troughton as Doctor Who. It’s an absolute shame we don’t get to watch more episodes from his run, the BBC now famously known for willingly recording over many of his episodes during the early days of Doctor Who and video/TV production. He was the “cosmic” or “space hobo” Doctor Who and arguably one of the most charming incarnations of the character. Two “complete” series available on DVD I suggest you watch are THE INVASION and TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN. There are moments in THE INVASION where Troughton and Frazer Hines display Laurel & Hardy-like masterful comic timing… all while defeating The Cybermen.
Okay, everyone, thanks for checking out this list! If there is something missing, drop by our facebook page and let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts of great moments or items from science fiction. I’m already planning an additional list for this time next year because there are clearly WAY MORE than 10 great moments in science fiction for me to talk about. Happy New Year and remember… Watch the Skies!!!
