What other TV shows might I love?
October 7, 2024 12:16 PM
Looking at my all time favorite "fun" shows, I notice most of them fall into a clear archetype: SF/F where a group of friends have an epic adventure. The friends are relatable and mostly likable. See inside for examples.
The perfect exemplars:
The perfect exemplars:
- Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
- Stranger Things
- The Good Place
- Community
- Upload
Maybe try Misfits. Description sounds not great, but we've watched the first two seasons twice. Lots of laughs, a good group of people that you grow to love, and some off-the-wall adventures (though it's a more episodic show than your faves, there is an arc across the seasons).
posted by msbrauer at 12:21 PM on October 7
posted by msbrauer at 12:21 PM on October 7
I thought "Moving" from South Korea (subbed and dubbed available I think) was fun. Without going too spoilery, high school nerds discover they might be more special than they think, and it turns out they've got ties that go back well before they were born. Likable kids and adults in the cast.
"Orphan Black" was novel and fun and the lead was excellent. Group dynamics were often funny as hell. Of course, this gets lost in its own sauce somewhere downstream, but first couple seasons of the unraveling mysteries were cool.
posted by GamblingBlues at 12:29 PM on October 7
"Orphan Black" was novel and fun and the lead was excellent. Group dynamics were often funny as hell. Of course, this gets lost in its own sauce somewhere downstream, but first couple seasons of the unraveling mysteries were cool.
posted by GamblingBlues at 12:29 PM on October 7
(I loved Firefly at the time too, but it has Not Aged Well in terms of misogyny and racism.)
posted by Pallas Athena at 12:31 PM on October 7
posted by Pallas Athena at 12:31 PM on October 7
The Legend of Vox Machina on Amazon might fit. It's basically an animated dungeons and dragons campaign where a mixed group of (mostly) friendly weirdos take on big time D&D-type stuff. I like the show quite a bit, even if the podcast it is based on (Critical Role) was not for me (too long, too frequent). Season 3 of the cartoon just started as well.
posted by joelhunt at 12:36 PM on October 7
posted by joelhunt at 12:36 PM on October 7
Are you up for current Star Trek shows? Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds fit these criteria albeit with a fair bit of Trek familiarity as a background assumption, but Prodigy comes to mind especially as an entry point. It's intended for YA viewers with no Trek background, and it gets off to a slow and generic start--but starting around 6 episodes in (the seasons are long), it gets pretty good and begins to meet your criteria well.
posted by Wobbuffet at 1:02 PM on October 7
posted by Wobbuffet at 1:02 PM on October 7
Also if you want an incredibly chill adventure that's super heavy on the vibes, I'd recommend Bee and Puppycat.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:12 PM on October 7
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:12 PM on October 7
Stargate SG-1? (Too obvious?)
posted by demi-octopus at 1:14 PM on October 7
posted by demi-octopus at 1:14 PM on October 7
Over the Garden Wall. It's the perfect time of year to watch.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 1:17 PM on October 7
posted by 1970s Antihero at 1:17 PM on October 7
Our Flag Means Death sounds right up your alley. Pirates and just a bit of magic.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 1:19 PM on October 7
posted by I claim sanctuary at 1:19 PM on October 7
Shows based on a group of friends solving mysteries:
The Irregulars : A group of street urchins in Victorian England are roped into solving mysteries by Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson
Alice in Borderland : A bunch of video game kids are transported in an alternative version of Tokyo where they must face a number of challenging games
Dispatches from Elsewhere : In a surreal, San Francisco four ordinary people are led into a mysterious alternate reality game that takes place all over the city. Based on a true ARG but with supercharged quirkiness and nerd cuteness.
Runaways : YA series, a bunch of powered teens solve the mystery of their origins with magic, superpowers and a pet dinosaur
Tales from the Loop : In a town that houses a mysterious particle accelerator loop, strange phenomena take place that affect the residents. It's a retro-futuristic, very poetic and atmospheric show where people live like it's the 1950s but still use giant mechas. Great soundtrack by Phillip Glass as well....
And if you're not afraid of gruesome, but want an ensemble cast solving a mystery (still in progress and still gruesome), may I recommend From. It's like Lost, but with horror.
posted by Bigbootay. Tay! Tay! Blam! Aargh... at 1:32 PM on October 7
The Irregulars : A group of street urchins in Victorian England are roped into solving mysteries by Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson
Alice in Borderland : A bunch of video game kids are transported in an alternative version of Tokyo where they must face a number of challenging games
Dispatches from Elsewhere : In a surreal, San Francisco four ordinary people are led into a mysterious alternate reality game that takes place all over the city. Based on a true ARG but with supercharged quirkiness and nerd cuteness.
Runaways : YA series, a bunch of powered teens solve the mystery of their origins with magic, superpowers and a pet dinosaur
Tales from the Loop : In a town that houses a mysterious particle accelerator loop, strange phenomena take place that affect the residents. It's a retro-futuristic, very poetic and atmospheric show where people live like it's the 1950s but still use giant mechas. Great soundtrack by Phillip Glass as well....
And if you're not afraid of gruesome, but want an ensemble cast solving a mystery (still in progress and still gruesome), may I recommend From. It's like Lost, but with horror.
posted by Bigbootay. Tay! Tay! Blam! Aargh... at 1:32 PM on October 7
Netflix has the Korean series "The Uncanny Counter" where four people fight soul-sucking demons. The stakes get higher and higher and like most K-dramas it's a lot of different genres mixed together but mostly -- four people fighting soul-sucking demons. It's pretty great. (I always recommend watching these things in their original language audio; subtitles are your friend.)
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:37 PM on October 7
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:37 PM on October 7
Los Espookys is a small friend group and funny and a bit supernatural. Spanish language, on HBO.
I very much enjoyed Alice in Borderland but it is not always fun. You'll know if it's for you after the first couple of episodes. Punches are not pulled.
posted by Bryant at 1:50 PM on October 7
I very much enjoyed Alice in Borderland but it is not always fun. You'll know if it's for you after the first couple of episodes. Punches are not pulled.
posted by Bryant at 1:50 PM on October 7
Delicious in Dungeon
Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra
posted by chrisulonic at 1:58 PM on October 7
Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra
posted by chrisulonic at 1:58 PM on October 7
I loved Moving, and it was a lot of fun but be forewarned that some of the fight scenes are brutal.
Another Korean drama, Twinkling Watermelon, is a high school rom-com with a time travel twist. The four leads are utterly charming.
posted by plastic_animals at 2:09 PM on October 7
Another Korean drama, Twinkling Watermelon, is a high school rom-com with a time travel twist. The four leads are utterly charming.
posted by plastic_animals at 2:09 PM on October 7
How are you with animated shows? Infinity Train is a fantastic, imaginative, mysterious, and heartwarming/breaking show with tons of great characters. It’s an anthology, so each of the four seasons focuses on a different group of characters, though some show up in multiple seasons.
Unfortunately it’s hard to find, thanks to Time Warner/David Zaslav. A cursory look reveals that you can buy DVDs of seasons 1 and 2 on Amazon, or buy seasons 1, 2, and 4 digitally on Amazon Prime Video. Maybe you have a friend who has a copy they can lend you…
(It’s me, I’m the friend)
posted by ejs at 2:47 PM on October 7
Unfortunately it’s hard to find, thanks to Time Warner/David Zaslav. A cursory look reveals that you can buy DVDs of seasons 1 and 2 on Amazon, or buy seasons 1, 2, and 4 digitally on Amazon Prime Video. Maybe you have a friend who has a copy they can lend you…
(It’s me, I’m the friend)
posted by ejs at 2:47 PM on October 7
I super enjoyed The Librarians, which and these vibes.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 2:59 PM on October 7
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 2:59 PM on October 7
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Killjoys
Doctor Who
Extraordinary
MsMarvel
Spy X Family
Supernatural
The Almighty Johnsons
My Lady Jane
posted by willnot at 3:58 PM on October 7
Killjoys
Doctor Who
Extraordinary
MsMarvel
Spy X Family
Supernatural
The Almighty Johnsons
My Lady Jane
posted by willnot at 3:58 PM on October 7
Search Party
posted by DMelanogaster at 4:41 PM on October 7
posted by DMelanogaster at 4:41 PM on October 7
These all look like great suggestions, thanks! Even the ones that I tried and didn't click with mostly fit what I'm describing. Feel free to suggest more!
posted by justkevin at 5:22 PM on October 7
posted by justkevin at 5:22 PM on October 7
I thought The Dead Zone, based on Steven King's novel of the same name, was fabulously good.
The first three or four seasons are wonderful, but I have to warn you that a finale was never made.
posted by jamjam at 6:18 PM on October 7
The first three or four seasons are wonderful, but I have to warn you that a finale was never made.
posted by jamjam at 6:18 PM on October 7
It's not really SF/F (unless you consider the technology they use) but Leverage seems to fit your criteria.
posted by Constance Mirabella at 7:07 PM on October 7
posted by Constance Mirabella at 7:07 PM on October 7
omg INFINITY TRAIN!!! ejs just unlocked a memory I had buried. heartily co-sign! It may be one you’d gloss over because it will take the one extra step of obtaining it, but thankfully ejs will hook you up and it will be totally worth it.
have you already seen Over the Garden Wall? This is the PERFECT time of year for it.
Edited: hahaha didn’t catch it’d already been mentioned up thread with the exact same comment :) it’s a sign that you should definitely give OtGW a shot.
posted by seemoorglass at 7:14 PM on October 7
have you already seen Over the Garden Wall? This is the PERFECT time of year for it.
Edited: hahaha didn’t catch it’d already been mentioned up thread with the exact same comment :) it’s a sign that you should definitely give OtGW a shot.
posted by seemoorglass at 7:14 PM on October 7
I love Dirk Gently, Good Place, and Community, and it's a tricky sort of vibe to find; I myself like that slightly-wacky feel, and don't like shows that take themselves Very Seriously. Definitely seconding Legends Of Tomorrow, and The Umbrella Academy.
You might like Brooklyn 99; it reminds me a lot of Community in the stretching of reality, and the "bunch of friends having adventures" is absolutely there.
posted by The otter lady at 8:45 PM on October 7
You might like Brooklyn 99; it reminds me a lot of Community in the stretching of reality, and the "bunch of friends having adventures" is absolutely there.
posted by The otter lady at 8:45 PM on October 7
In a different way, maybe Doom Patrol? It's definitely a bunch of wacky friends solving mysteries, with an SF bent, but in a totally wacko tone of voice,several redemption arcs, and pushing against the boundaries of "good taste".
Sentient butt adversaries, anyone?
Loved Legends of Tomorrow and Ms Marvel too.....
posted by Bigbootay. Tay! Tay! Blam! Aargh... at 9:04 PM on October 7
Sentient butt adversaries, anyone?
Loved Legends of Tomorrow and Ms Marvel too.....
posted by Bigbootay. Tay! Tay! Blam! Aargh... at 9:04 PM on October 7
Sense8
Its a story about 8 strangers from all over the world who mysteriously become mentally and emotionally linked, can sense and communicate with one another, and can share their knowledge, languages, and skills.
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 2:23 AM on October 8
Its a story about 8 strangers from all over the world who mysteriously become mentally and emotionally linked, can sense and communicate with one another, and can share their knowledge, languages, and skills.
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 2:23 AM on October 8
Check out Future Man. It's raunchy in places, smart in others, silly throughout and much better than it has any right to be. The second season is the weakest of the three but it comes back strong in the last season.
posted by JaredSeth at 4:50 AM on October 8
posted by JaredSeth at 4:50 AM on October 8
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