It led, of course, to the domination of Chris Carter in the 90s (for younger readers, he was like J J Abrams), with ‘The X-Files’, ‘Millenium’ and ‘Harsh Realm’.
But a much-overlooked (and potentially even more ambitious) series was ’Dark Skies’, with its creepy tagline "History as we know it is a lie.".
Sadly, it didn’t live up to its promise in the eyes of the Almighty Gods of The Network Ratings (perhaps because it didn't have the Chris Carter pedigree?), and it only ever saw one series out.
A pity. The original concept was for it to span the decades with each new series. I would have loved to see where it would have taken us.
Next month’s theme: Ye Olde England
DS was so promising and IMO one of the few interesting bits of TV during that period.
ReplyDeleteAlso memorable for first introducing me to a certain Jeri Ryan...
I never realised this show only lasted for one season... thought it was longer. But yes, it was very cleverly written and acted.
ReplyDeleteAnother good series that started around the same time was NBC's Profiler which spawned a whole raft of copycat shows throughout the next decade - including one by Chris Charter if I recall correctly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=payRIDd85lM
Julia , this time I fully agree with you , Dark Skies was a great series .
ReplyDeleteIt was almost believable and as Jiks says contained Jeri Ryan ; one of very few women that make me wish that I was 30 years younger .
Next month’s theme: Ye Olde England
ReplyDeleteBated breath.
Next month’s theme: Ye Olde England
ReplyDeleteBated breath.
Never watched Dark Skies - I was too busy lusting over Gillian Anderson.
ReplyDeleteAs for the X-files itself, I suspect I'd remember it more fondly if it had been curtailed after one series rather than rambling along, increasingly revealing that Chris Carter had no plan and no idea where the series was supposed to be going.
"...and IMO one of the few interesting bits of TV during that period."
ReplyDeleteYes, it was rather a decade of dud, in some respects.
"I never realised this show only lasted for one season..."
A pity indeed. But if it hadn't lived up to its initial promise, at least it saved it from going down the route of the likes of 'Lost'.
"Another good series that started around the same time was NBC's Profiler..."
I never caught that one! I'll have to see if it's available on DVD.
"... this time I fully agree with you , Dark Skies was a great series ."
It was indeed. I'd forgotten Jeri Ryan was in it until I was compiling this series of posts too.
"... increasingly revealing that Chris Carter had no plan and no idea where the series was supposed to be going."
Yes! Contrast that with, say, 'Fringe'.
"Bated breath."
ReplyDeleteAhhh, you can probably guess what it'll be... ;)
See this is why I don't watch TV anymore. You get to like a show and, bang, it's gone. Along with Dark Skies, I could cite "True Calling" an Eliza Dushku vehicle that just started to look like it might be developing a good arc at the end and "Terminator: Sarah Connor chronicles" which again was rather cut off in its prime.
ReplyDeleteI liked "Jericho", they were going to cancel that after one series but public support prevailed.
ReplyDeleteBush tucker man was another, although it had 3 series apparently, I only recall ever seeing one. It did spawn a plethora of others of the genre like Bear Grylls and survivorman, but Les Hiddens was the man.
Mmm, Eliza Dushku... I did enjoy Dollhouse too, though she'll always be Faith to me :)
ReplyDeleteYe Olde England... Sounds like Blackadder or The Six Wives of Henry VIII..
"See this is why I don't watch TV anymore. You get to like a show and, bang, it's gone."
ReplyDeleteYes, I know the feeling! I thought 'Human Target' showed great promise too. :(
"I liked "Jericho", they were going to cancel that after one series but public support prevailed."
I've never got around to that one. Must do so one day.
"Ye Olde England... Sounds like Blackadder or The Six Wives of Henry VIII.."
Not quite. Remember, it's all about the soundtrack... ;)
You mean the recorder bit here, doesn't just move you? :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O2AntQEk2c