Old and New Favourite TV Series
This list gives my favourites from way back up to now. It includes Sci-Fi, Historical, Drama, Series and Serials.
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- StarsIan McDiarmidNicholas FarrellTim Pigott-SmithA TV mini-series that unveils the behind-closed-doors story of the final weeks before the outbreak of World War I.A beautifully presented and well acted replay of the 37 days prior to the breakout of WW I.
- CreatorRené EchevarriaScott PetersStarsJacqueline McKenzieJoel GretschPatrick John FluegerAs the reappearance of 4,400 missing persons on a single day confounds the global community, federal agents on the case slowly discover the ways in which the victims have been changed.Great sci-fi with some good stories and morals and some excellent acting too.
- CreatorMaurissa TancharoenJed WhedonJoss WhedonStarsClark GreggMing-Na WenBrett DaltonThe missions of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.A good spot of escapism with some good characterisations and well acted.
- CreatorJoseph WeisbergStarsKeri RussellMatthew RhysKeidrich SellatiAt the height of the Cold War, two Russian agents pose as the average American couple, complete with family.Intriguing and unsettling representation of Soviet Spies living and working as Americans in the USA during the cold war.
- CreatorGreg BerlantiMarc GuggenheimAndrew KreisbergStarsStephen AmellKatie CassidyDavid RamseySpoiled billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow.More superb comic-book escapism with delightfully larger-than-life characters and they are all well acted by excellent actors.
- CreatorJ. Michael StraczynskiStarsMira FurlanRichard BiggsStephen FurstIn the mid 23rd century, the Earth Alliance space station Babylon 5, located in neutral territory, is a major focal point for political intrigue, racial tensions and various wars over the course of five years.The greatest TV Series of all time, in my opinion.
- StarsScott GrimesDamian LewisRon LivingstonThe story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.One of the very best war-time series.
- CreatorAlfonso CuarónMark FriedmanStarsJake McLaughlinJohnny SequoyahJamie ChungA relationship forms between a gifted young girl and a man sprung from prison who has been tasked with protecting her from the evil elements that hunt her power.Outstanding acting from Jake McLaughlin and Johnny Sequoyah and some wonderful chemistry between them.
- StarsJürgen ProchnowHerbert GrönemeyerKlaus WennemannA World War II German U-Boat crew have a terrifying patrol mission in the early days of the war.A brilliant view of submarine warfare from the less commonly viewed side of the conflict.
- StarsDerek JacobiMichael CulverJulian FirthThe medieval era cases of a Crusader-turned-Monk who investigates mysteries in the Norman English town of Shrewsbury.Incredible stories, photography, scenery and acting.
- CreatorMichael BrandtDerek HaasStarsTaylor KinneyChristian StolteEamonn WalkerThe story of firefighters and paramedics in the city of Chicago, both on a personal and professional level.Great characterisation. Has to be seen alongside Chicago P.D. as many elements are shared between them.
- CreatorMichael BrandtDerek HaasMatt OlmsteadStarsJason BeghePatrick John FluegerMarina SquerciatiFollows District 21 of the Chicago Police Department, made up of two different groups: the uniformed cops and the Intelligence Unit.Same comments as Chicago Fire as the 2 are frequently interlinked.
- StarsWilliam HurtAlec NewmanGiancarlo GianniniA three-part miniseries on politics, betrayal, lust, greed and the coming of a Messiah. Based on Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel.Much better than the movie and more faithful to the letter and spirit of the book. Followed by Children of Dune.
- StarsAlec NewmanDaniela AmaviaJames McAvoyThe twins of Paul "Muad'dib" Atreides become embroiled in the political landscape of Arrakis ("Dune") and the rest of the universe.Sequel to Dune.
- CreatorBrent V. FriedmanBryce ZabelStarsEric CloseJ.T. WalshLackosIn 1960s America, a young couple struggle to expose the truth about a hidden alien invasion, while a secret government organization follows its own agenda in dealing with the threat.Outstandingly clever blend of fiction with 1960s fact. Truly great stuff.
- CreatorJames Manos Jr.StarsMichael C. HallJennifer CarpenterDavid ZayasHe's smart. He's lovable. He's Dexter Morgan, America's favorite serial killer, who spends his days solving crimes and nights committing them.How can anyone love a serial killer? I don't know but, like so many people, I just love this one!
- CreatorAndrew CosbyJaime PagliaStarsColin FergusonSalli Richardson-WhitfieldErica CerraA U.S. Marshal becomes the sheriff of Eureka, a remote, cozy little Northwestern town where the best minds in the US have secretly been tucked away to build futuristic inventions for the government which often go disastrously wrong.Highly entertaining tongue-in-cheek sci-fi. Very well done series.
- CreatorRobert RodatStarsNoah WyleDrew RoyMaxim KnightSurvivors of an alien attack on earth gather together to fight for their lives and fight back.Interesting sci-fi family drama.
- CreatorJoss WhedonStarsNathan FillionGina TorresAlan TudykFive hundred years in the future, a renegade crew aboard a small spacecraft tries to survive as they travel the unknown parts of the galaxy and evade warring factions as well as authority agents out to get them.It might only ever have had one season but it is brilliant nonetheless. Well acted and well written.
- CreatorChris BrancatoStarsSebastian SpenceRob LaBelleRoger CrossFramed for murder and on the run, a former thief struggles to expose the vanguard of an alien invasion with the help of a conspiracy theorist and newly discovered prophecies of Nostradamus.Novel series inspired by the prophecies of Nostradamus.
- CreatorMark EllisStephanie MorgensternStarsHugh DillonAmy Jo JohnsonDavid PaetkauThe missions and trials of a Toronto police tactical unit.One of the most gripping and addictive of all series. Superb situations and excellent personal relationships development drama.
- StarsAnthony PerkinsPatrick MacneeSamantha EggarIn 1830's England, a young man from a good but troubled family is unjustly convicted of stealing a watch. He's transported to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) where he suffers under the enmity of Lt. Frere while falling in love with Sylvia, the Warden's daughter. Meanwhile, back in England, an imposter lays claim to the young man's inheritance.Outstanding story of injustice in the name of the law. Much more satisfying than the book on which it is based.
- CreatorJ.J. AbramsAlex KurtzmanRoberto OrciStarsAnna TorvJoshua JacksonJohn NobleAn F.B.I. agent is forced to work with an institutionalized scientist and his son in order to rationalize a brewing storm of unexplained phenomena.Excellent acting and a great story combined in a sci-fi setting.
- CreatorDavid BenioffD.B. WeissStarsEmilia ClarkePeter DinklageKit HaringtonNine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.Highly complex. Totally absorbing but you have to do your homework to work out and remember who-is-who and what all the relationships are between the characters. Stunning series.
- CreatorJim DunnSam ErnstStarsEmily RoseLucas BryantEric BalfourMany in the coastal town of Haven, Maine have a dormant curse or "trouble" that could trigger at any time for any reason. FBI agent Audrey Parker, the sheriff and the town's black sheep must deal with the troubles' deadly effects.Full of twists and turns in the most gorgeous locations - filmed in Nova Scotia, I believe.
- CreatorPeter M. LenkovAlex KurtzmanLeonard FreemanStarsAlex O'LoughlinScott CaanTaylor WilyWhen Steve McGarrett returns home to Oahu to find his father's killer, the Governor offers him the chance to run his own task force: Five-0.Great personal interactions although one of them annoys me! Stunning Hawaiian locations and great stories.
- DirectorAndrew GrieveStarsIoan GruffuddRobert LindsayDorian HealyHoratio Hornblower begins his naval career, but a deadly feud with a despicable mate is causing complications.This is the first of the Hornblower series of TV movies. I am recommending the whole series not just this one. Outstanding action and locations.
- StarsDerek JacobiJohn HurtSiân PhillipsThe personal and governmental affairs of the Julio-Claudian dynasty at the beginning of the Roman Empire, as recalled by one of its rulers.Now an all-time classic this has lost none of its freshness or interest with time. The acting is beyond compare and the sets are superb.
- CreatorStephen ChboskyJosh SchaerJonathan E. SteinbergStarsSkeet UlrichLennie JamesAshley ScottA small town in Kansas is literally left in the dark after seeing a mushroom cloud over nearby Denver, Colorado. The townspeople struggle to find answers about the blast and solutions on how to survive.Totally engrossing series with great story and characterisation. The acting is brilliant throughout.
- CreatorAdrian HodgesStarsLuke PasqualinoTom BurkeSantiago CabreraSet on the streets of 17th-century Paris, "The Musketeers" gives a contemporary take on the classic story about a group of highly trained soldiers and bodyguards assigned to protect King and country.Totally enjoyable romp with great acting from a largely unknown group of actors. True to the book by and large.
- CreatorLawrence HertzogStarsBruce GreenwoodMegan GallagherMarvin LaRoy SandersThomas Veil is a documentary photographer who seemingly has to erase his entire existence in the course of an evening.An intriguing story not really like any other that I have seen.
- CreatorLeslie StevensStarsBob JohnsonBen WrightWilliam Douglas"The Outer Limits" was an anthology series of insightful science fiction tales.A classic spot of sci-fi.
- CreatorRonald D. MooreStarsCaitríona BalfeSam HeughanSophie SkeltonClaire Beauchamp Randall, a nurse in World War II, mysteriously goes back in time to Scotland in 1743. There, she meets a dashing Highland warrior and gets drawn into an epic rebellion.Beautifully acted and with stunning locations. True to Diana Gabaldon's book, this story is sure to grip once it gets going.
- StarsAndré MorellCec LinderAnthony BushellA team of scientists search for the origin and purpose of a mysterious capsule found on a building site.This is the version to see - not the later film. Of course it's very dated and the special effects come under the description of 'historic', but put all that aside and get on with the drama. This is one of the BBC's all-time great sci-fi productions.
- CreatorLaurie McCarthyStephanie SenguptaStarsAdelaide KaneMegan FollowsCelina SindenMary, Queen of Scots, faces political and sexual intrigue in the treacherous world of the French court.If you are to enjoy this, then you need to throw your history books away because the story here and reality bear almost no similarity. However, it's beautifully done with some excellent acting, scenes and story.
- CreatorBruno HellerWilliam J. MacDonaldJohn MiliusStarsKevin McKiddRay StevensonPolly WalkerA down-to-earth account of the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans set in the last days of the Roman Republic.Totally brilliant. Not a dull moment nor a weak character portrayal.
- StarsLeVar BurtonRobert ReedJohn AmosA dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation.Another all-time classic with characters one does not even forget decades later.
- CreatorGerard GlaisterStarsBernard HeptonAngela RichardsClifford RoseDuring World War II, a Belgian resistance movement called Lifeline, based in Brussels, organises the return of Allied airmen who have been shot down by the Luftwaffe to the United Kingdom.Very realistic WW II drama set in Belgium about an allied escape route. Magnificent acting and characterisation.
- StarsKenneth BranaghEve BestMark TandyThe true story of Shackleton's 1914 Endurance expedition to the South Pole, and his epic struggle to lead his twenty-eight man crew to safety after his ship was crushed in the pack ice.Beautifully photographed drama about the great explorer.
- DirectorTom CleggStarsSean BeanAssumpta SernaBrian CoxIn the Peninsular War, a British sergeant is field promoted to a lieutenant in charge of a disrespectful rifle company.This is the first of the many Sharpe TV movies. They are all fabulous with great acting and locations. The photography is no less superb.
- CreatorGlen MorganJames WongStarsMorgan WeisserKristen ClokeRodney RowlandThe Earth is embroiled in a desperate war against alien invaders, and this series focuses on one squadron of Marine pilots involved in it.One of the truly great sci-fi series. More about relationships and personal development than anything else but with good story threads as well this is a real winner for me.
- CreatorSteven S. DeKnightStarsAndy WhitfieldLucy LawlessManu BennettThe life of Spartacus, the gladiator who lead a rebellion against the Romans. From his time as an ally of the Romans, to his betrayal and becoming a gladiator, to the rebellion he leads and its ultimate outcome.Very bloody and full of violence and sex, this highly acclaimed series is a justifiable classic.
- CreatorRobert C. CooperBrad WrightStarsJoe FlaniganRachel LuttrellDavid HewlettAn international team of scientists and military personnel discover a Stargate network in the Pegasus Galaxy and come face-to-face with a new, powerful enemy: The Wraith.For me, this is the best of the Stargates.
- StarsPhilip WinchesterSullivan StapletonMichelle LukesFollows the actions of Section 20, a secretive unit of British military intelligence. A team of special operations personnel conduct several high risk missions across the globe.A special forces series with some fabulous actors and characterisations. The stories are totally gripping, too.
- CreatorAdrian HodgesStarsJulie GrahamMax BeesleyPaterson JosephAn unknown virus pandemic kills more than 90% of the world's population. Those immune must strive to survive and overcome the difficulties of this new world order, hoping that the virus will not mutate.interesting sci-fi with a whole range of characters but it shows that nothing is either black or white.
- StarsJames WilbyXavier DelucSerena GordonTwo men, one an aristocrat, and one a drunken lawyer, fall in love with the same woman during the early stages of the French Revolution.Brilliantly acted and true-to-the-book version of Dickens' best novel (in my opinion).
- CreatorJosh FriedmanStarsLena HeadeyThomas DekkerSummer GlauSet after the events in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Sarah Connor and her son, John, try to stay under-the-radar from the government, as they plot to destroy the computer network, Skynet, in hopes of preventing Armageddon.Essential viewing to fill in the gaps in the Terminator movies. Great acting, too, and some superb background into certain of the characters.
- CreatorBragi F. SchutStarsCarla GuginoBrian Van HoltBrent SpinerA team of experts are assembled after the U.S. Navy discovers an extra-terrestrial object briefly appeared near a ship in the Atlantic Ocean.A shame that only this first series was ever done as it is quite engrossing.
- CreatorGreg BerlantiPhil KlemmerJulie PlecStarsRobbie AmellPeyton ListLuke MitchellStephen helps genetically advanced teenagers hide from a paramilitary group hunting them down.This also 'died' after just one series. In some ways this is a great pity as the characters and actors were great, but it is also a good thing in that I feel that to have extended the story would have been to milk it for more than it was worth. Highly enjoyable series, though.
- StarsChris VanceFrançois BerléandCharly HübnerFrank Martin is an ex special ops, who now spends his life as a transporter on the other side of the law. With three rules, he always completes his contracts. One way, or the other.Forget the movies and do not attempt to compare this series with them. If you can do that then this is a really good series with different characters who have their own charm and the stories are good too.
- StarsVictor BrowneGladise JiminezMarcia StrassmanSmall town notices weird deaths in the desert. There are giant worms under the sand. They can hear the location of people through the vibration of their movement. Finally they blow them up with dynamite.This is the TV series called 'Tremors' not a movie of the same name although they are related. This is a truly classic sci-fi comedy horror series. A real must.
- CreatorRod SerlingStarsRod SerlingRobert McCordJay OverholtsOrdinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.This is the original and never-to-be-beaten series. The stories are still great.
- CreatorCharles Grant CraigStarsMichael EastonBarbara TysonLochlyn MunroGus McClain is a college professor, whose life is perfectly idyllic, he has a good job, good friends and a loving wife. One day things change for Gus when he discovers all sorts of odd things happening and his friends are telling him of his unusual behavior, which he has no idea of. At first, he attributes all this to a possible memory loss. But when his wife is killed and evidence leads to him, he is arrested. When the evidence that the police have is circumstantial, he is released, but later when FBI agent Carter has him arrested again, it appears that a lot of people have been killed all over the country including Carter's partner. Gus maintains his innocence and as he is being transported someone breaks him out and knocks him out. When he wakes up he is shocked to see someone who looks like him and he tells him that he is his twin brother, Booth. It seems that years ago when they were babies, they and their parents were in an accident; also in that accident was a woman and her baby, now her baby died, and it seems she was a little unbalanced, and being unable to bear with the loss of her baby she took one of the two babies (Booth) and her baby was believed to be Gus' twin. It seems that her husband was abusive to Booth and Booth would be become homicidal. What he really wanted was to take over Gus' life, but unfortunately he is dying, so he decides to let Gus live his life -- that of a criminal being hunted by the law. No one believes Gus' story especially agent Carter. So Gus' only hope is to try and prove that Booth exists or get him before he dies.An intriguing story in which a man discovers he has an evil twin. The two were separated as babies and the evil twin has suddenly appeared to ruin the life of his more fortunate brother.
- CreatorDavid MametStarsDennis HaysbertRegina TaylorAudrey Marie AndersonA secret US military group conducts covert operations across the world, facing several life-threatening situations during their missions.Great stories and acting.
- CreatorDennis KellyStarsAdeel AkhtarPaul HigginsNeil MaskellAfter a group of people, who meet online, discover a bizarre graphic novel which seems to hold mysterious answers, they find themselves being tracked down by a merciless organization known merely as 'The Network'.A unique story that will leave you wondering what is happening until the end of the first season and even then you will definitely wonder who are the goodies and who the baddies. Very thought-provoking.
- StarsJane BadlerMichael DurrellFaye GrantA seemingly peaceful alien race, arrives at earth and asks for help to ensure their own planets survival. However, the visitors agenda turns out be much darker.This is the first of the original V series, all the parts of which form a continuous story with brilliant acting on the whole. Jane Badler is stunning as the evil but beautiful Diana.
- CreatorMichael HirstStarsKatheryn WinnickGustaf SkarsgårdAlexander LudwigVikings transports us to the brutal and mysterious world of Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior and farmer who yearns to explore--and raid--the distant shores across the ocean.Totally engrossing and with some fair claim to historical accuracy, too. Great acting.
- StarsAneurin BarnardRebecca FergusonAmanda HaleThree different, yet equally relentless women vie for the throne in 15th-century England.Brilliantly acted, well written, scenically stunning and, I believe, historically accurate version of some Plantagenet history.