4. The Last Hope For Humanity Started Here
In 1995, we witnessed an epic struggle as humanity battled to survive against a superior, aggressive host determined to wipe them out. This space epic was dark and gritty. We watched week by week as a squadron of marines banded together, surviving the odds, skirmish after skirmish, knowing that the next battle might be their last. Wait
Battlestar Galactica didn't reappear onto our screens until 2003. The dark and gritty version anyway No, this was
Space Above And Beyond, from two of the leading writers of
The X Files. A short-lived show (it only lasted one season), it was none the less a sort of prototype for that bigger, bolder show that followed. It showed that space was far from safe and developed many of the themes that came with that bigger show eight years later. We got to see humanity fighting insurmountable odds, characters that were conflicted and jaded by war, the community of the star ship Saratoga and some great space battles to boot. Whether
Battlestar Galactica took inspiration from
Space Above And Beyond or not, this show showed how it was done first. Its a shame that it didn't last on our screen longer