Over the years, we’ve seen many different actors and artists join OnlyFans. From Carmen Electra apparently wearing her ‘90s clothes on OF to Harry Potter’s Lavender Brown actress starting an account, there is a wide variety of celebrities on the platform. Now, Battlestar Galactica’s Tricia Helfer has joined, and she’s explained both why she chose to and what she plans to do on it.

About a month after she soft-launched her OnlyFans account, Helfer spoke to People about her choice. This decision comes on the heels of many other famous folks joining OF over the years. It also comes around the same time the platform has become a big part of the pop culture conversation because of how it's being represented in Euphoria and Margo's Got Money Troubles, both of which are airing on the 2026 TV schedule. So, why did the actress decide to join the platform now? Well, part of it is because she’s trying to “take the stigma off a little bit.” She also said that at this stage in her life, she is going to “do what I want.” Further explaining that point, she said:

Considering OnlyFans is known for its sexual content, Helfer did explain that her account will be the “sexier side” of her “brand.” She said she plans to post professional photoshoots, self-shot photos and videos. She also said she’d be doing some livestreamed Q&As.

Along with a general description of what she’ll post, Helfer provided some examples of what she’s done so far. While she does plan to do bigger and professionally shot content, she also said she keeps things fun and casual:

OnlyFans does have a reputation for its sexual content. However, that does not bother Helfer. She said she likes to shock, and she also explained that she’s fine with people like her parents seeing this content:

Along with shooting for Playboy in 2007, Helfer has also been a model for Victoria’s Secret, and she said she has a nude in the Leica Gallery in LA. Speaking specifically about her experience with Playboy, the actress said she got to pick her photographer and had photo approval. She “chose to keep it higher end in keeping with my brand,” and that’s what she wants to do with OnlyFans:

Overall, she’s very positive about this choice, and said most people have been “very supportive” of it too. However, she is aware that some might be concerned about it.

OnlyFans is a double-edged sword when it comes to the benefits and repercussions of the attention people get from it. The Sopranos’ Drea De Matteo has said OnlyFans changed her life, specifically noting that it helped her save her house. Meanwhile, Jessie Cave has said that while it’s helped her financially, she has gotten “unsolicited” messages from people. So, there are pros and cons to being on the platform.

When it comes to the Battlestar Galactica star’s content, she said people don’t need to be worried about her. She’s “in control of it” and said she does not have to post anything she doesn’t want to.

In the end, Helfer seems excited about the opportunity and its potential (as she plans to donate some of her profits to animal charities), and she is going to use it as an “extension of [her] creative, fun and flirty side.”

2003's Battlestar Galactica may have had a rocky start, but, today, (17 years after its conclusion), the show has a devoted fanbase that loves it. The revival, which is part of a much bigger larger Battlestar Galactica franchise, includes a pretty great cast, and most of them are still close with one another. On that note, Starbuck actress Katee Sackhoff just reunited with some former co-stars, and her post evoked some serious feelings within this fan's heart.

Over the weekend, Sackhoff attended Comic Con Revolution in Ontario, and she was not the only BSG guest. James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Mary McDonnell, Edward James Olmos and Grace Park were also at the convention, and Sackhoff couldn’t help but document the fun meetup. She posted some sweet pictures to her Instagram on Monday that were taken in between photo ops, noting in the caption that trauma bonding in space “really is forever.” Check it out:

I always love seeing a cast get together years after the end of their show, especially considering that not every troupe of actors remains close after a gig is done. Based on what's known about the BSG crew, they've long seemed to be tight, and I love Sackhoff's quip about bonding over "trauma." Of course, it feels like the actress is simply referring to the fictional exploits that their characters experienced on the show. Nevertheless, I can still imagine the cast pulling together throughout any theoretical hurdles they may have experienced amidst filming.

Throughout the years, it's felt like Katee Sackhoff hasn't missed any kind of opportunity to show love to her comrades. For example, a few years ago, Sackhoff posted a reunion photo from yet another convention, which showed her and several co-stars beaming while being in each other's presence.

Based on the behind-the-scenes tidbits that have been shared about the show, the stars really did help each other. A great example of that would be Olmos, who stars as William Adama in the reboot, givng Sackhoff a note about playing Kara “Starbuck” Thrace. What Sackhoff received was intense, constructive criticism that, with Olmos telling her to listen to other people while doing her work. Per Sackhoff, that piece of advice really stuck with her.

Considering the continued love for this sci-fi franchise and the fact that the Battlestar Galactica finale is open-ended, it's hard not to wonder if Starbuck and co. may return in some form. Peacock was developing a continuation of the 2004 series in 2019, but it was reported in 2024 that it was no longer happening.

That doesn’t necessarily mean a follow-up won’t ever happen, of course, but we'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, though, I look forward to seeing more potential reunion photos shared by Katee Sackhoff or any of her colleagues in the near future. In the meantime, fans can stream all seasons of Battlestar Galactica with a Paramount+ subscription or for free on Pluto TV.

Although Katee Sackhoff has been professionally acting since 1997, she scored her breakthrough role when she was cast as Kara “Starbuck” Thrace in the Battlestar Galactica reimagining in 2003. Originally conceived as a miniseries, it evolved into a four-season series (plus two tie-in movies) boasting an ensemble cast anchored by Edward James Olmos as William Adama. Battlestar Galactica ended in 2009, but there was an acting note that Olmos gave Sackhoff early into its run that has stuck with her through her career.

The actress shared this note during an episode of Back to Battlestar: Katee's First Watch, where she watches Battlestar Galactica episodes for the first time alongside her husband, Robin Gadsby. For this installment, the duo watched Season 1’s “Act of Contrition,” in which Kara reveals to Adama that his late son Zack failed basic training, but she passed him anyway because they were engaged, which paved the way for him to die in a flying accident. Ahead of starting “Act of Contrition,” Sackhoff recalled the following to Gadsby about when she and Olmos were filming this:

Ouch! Talk about coming in hot with the constructive criticism. At this point, Katee Sackhoff and Edward James Olmos had been working with each other on Battlestar Galactica for roughly a year, so it’s not like they were still strangers to one another. Maybe that’s why Olmos felt the need to give her that piece of advice, as he was legitimately interested in seeing her succeed, whereas he might not have made that same effort with someone with whom he just started working. Whatever his reasoning, Sackhoff took this note to heart because it was the first time she’d ever heard something like this:

Katee Sackhoff later pointed out the moment when Kara is telling Adama the truth about Zack’s death about what prompted Edward James Olmos to speak with her in between takes and advised her to listen. It’s served her well since then, and it’s advice that all actors should take to heart. Memorizing lines is obviously important, but you also still need to be absorbing the dialogue your scene partner is delivering rather than just waiting for your next cue to speak. I’d like to think Sackhoff was doing this without second thought by the time she shot Season 3’s “Unfinished Business.”

Unfortunately, Battlestar Galactica is not streaming on any platform at the time of this writing. So if you’d like to go through the series again to follow along with Katee Sackhoff and Robin Gadsby, you’ll need your own physical or digital copy. Otherwise, you can see Sackhoff next in the Prime Video subscription-exclusive Carrie, though this TV adaptation of the Stephen King novel doesn’t have a release date yet.

Katee Sackhoff is well known within the sci-fi/fantasy/superhero sphere, but not just for one particular character. For Battlestar Galactica fans, she may always be Kara "Starbuck" Thrace. For the Star Wars faithful, she's been playing Bo-Katan Kryze since before the character even emerged from animation to appear in live-action. Sackhoff even dabbled in the world of DC Comics adaptations as Amunet Black on The CW's The Flash. By this point in the 2025 TV schedule, fans have plenty of characters played by Sackhoff to choose from to pick a favorite.

The actress leaned into all those roles to celebrate Halloween this year, posting photos of all the times she wore clothes for work that could double as costumes fit for the spooky season. For me, she'll always be Starbuck first and foremost, so I had no idea just how many photos she'd be able to include! Take a look:

For anybody who wants to channel their inner Katee Sackhoff character for Halloween one of these years, some of the options are pretty elaborate, although her look for Longmire might not be too hard to recreate on short notice. The dress from Oculus might not be difficult to dupe, but the evil glowing eyes would be a little complicated.

Some other actors who have been all over the sci-fi sphere hit up her comment section to weigh in with some pretty endearing messages. Ming-Na Wen, another Mandalorian (and later Book of Boba Fett) alum, wrote in the comments:

Honestly, Ming-Na Wen is another actor who probably has a closet full of outfits worthy of Halloween, if she got take home her wardrobe for her Star Wars work and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Throw in a white coat and set of scrubs for longtime ER fans like me, and there are lots of options out of her list of credits. (Thankfully, she didn't end up quitting action roles despite being tempted.)

Star Trek legend Jonathan Frakes had a pitch for her that would lead to another outfit worthy of Halloween:

If anybody could arrange for a Star Trek gig, Jonathan Frakes would probably be the guy! Not only is he known for playing Commander Riker in The Next Generation, but he has directed episodes all across the franchise.

Fans also had comments on the photos, and I was surprised to see how much love Longmire got. I knew the show (which is available streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription) has its fair share of fans, but always assumed that she'd be most appreciated for her sci-fi work.

All in all, Katee Sackhoff found a fun way to wish a happy Halloween to her social media followers, and I'm guessing that there will be a fair number of people all over the country dressed like her various characters to celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year.

The Battlestar Galactica franchise has been around for decades and it's one of the best sci-fi TV shows from the '70s and '80s. Fans old and new were reintroduced to its sci-fi world in 2003 by way of Battlestar Galactica on Syfy, which ran for a total of four seasons, plus a miniseries and two made-for-TV movies. Despite being wildly different from the original, the series earned critical acclaim throughout its run. However, the classic favorite actually started off on the wrong foot, according to star Katee Sackhoff.

Sackhoff starred as Kara “Starbuck” Thrace, the Viper pilot of Galactica, and quickly became a TV fan-favorite. That being said, not every big show kicks off on a high note, or at least, not every character kicks off on a high note. Sackhoff was a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, telling the podcast host that there was backlash after she was cast spearheaded by fans who wanted Starbuck to be played by a male as it went in the original series. She said:

Since Battlestar Galactica originally aired for one season from 1978 to 1979 on ABC, followed by Galactica 1980 the following year for 10 episodes, the show had already built up a fanbase, and some dedicated fans, at that. Sackhoff recalled how she saw the hate she was getting on a thread and tried her hardest to not search herself to make things even worse. But San Diego Comic-Con did that for her, because she experienced the hate firsthand. Luckily, the actress handled it like a pro:

It’s not easy taking up the mantle of a character that has been loved for decades, no matter how long they were initially around for. But Sackhoff didn’t seem to mind it so much back then, and it sounds like as the panel went on, fans started to come around. She went on to explain that as she started doing more conventions, the line would get longer and longer, and people would even tell her they didn’t want to like the show, but they love it.

Sci-fi fans are certainly a dedicated bunch, and it’s not surprising that they would be on the fence with a new Battlestar Galactica series. At least;, a lot of them gave the show and Sackhoff a chance, otherwise, who knows what could have happened. Of course, Battlestar Galactica was not like its predecessor, and it was a darker reboot, but one that ultimately won over some passionate fans.

There was supposed to be another Battlestar Galactica revival a few years ago on Peacock from NBCUniversal, but as of July 2024, that is no longer happening. Whether the franchise will make another comeback is unknown, but at the very least, fans may be a bit more open-minded following the early 2000s reboot, which is still a favorite today.

Even as Katee Sackhoff’s popularity increases thanks to projects like The Mandalorian (which, unfortunately, messed with her confidence), the 2025 movie Fight or Flight and the upcoming Carrie miniseries, Battlestar Galactica continues to be an important part of her life. The actress played Kara “Starbuck” Thrace in then-Sci-Fi Channel series that reimagined Glen A. Larson’s same-named sci-fi show from the late ‘70s. And yet, Sackhoff evidently wasn’t in the loop on everything that happened on the 2000s Battlestar Galactica, because she missed out on one of the show’s wilder plotlines.

This came to light on The Sackhoff Show when she was talking with Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. As Carpenter started to talk about she never knew that Buffy’s mom died, Sackhoff said:

Considering Starbuck wasn’t involved with this plotline at all, I’m not terribly surprised Katee Sackhoff didn’t know about it if she’s never gone back to watch Battlestar Galactica from start to finish. And honestly, this was one of the weirder story beats from the series.

It saw Colonel Saul Tigh sleeping with Caprica Six, who was unaware at the time he was one of the Final Five Cylons. However, she learned the truth upon getting pregnant, and not only did they grow closer from there, but her baby would have been the first to be born from two procreating human Cylon models. However, once Saul’s wife Ellen, another one of the Final Five, returned, Tigh and Caprica’s relationship started to deteriorate, and then Caprica lost the baby.

Now all of that is wild enough on its own, but then you have to remember how the Final Five (which also included Galen Tyrol, Sam Anders and Tory Foster) were the last survivors of the humanoid Cylon race on the first Earth. Not only did they arrange the truce between the humans and Centurions created by the Twelve Colonies, they also created the eight humanoid models of this era and gave them resurrection technology. So in a sense, Tigh was the “father” who was sleeping with his “daughter,” Six.

Yeah, I don’t particularly care to get more into the weeds with that aspect of Battlestar Galactica, but I do like how Katee Sackhoff learned about this while on stage in front of a crowd of people from Tricia Helfer, who played the various Six models. Now I wonder if there are any other plotlines she doesn’t know about. If there are, I hope she learns about them from other cast Battlestar Galactica cast members, as I doubt she has the time to watch the series in its entirety.

Believe it or not, more than two decades have passed since Battlestar Galactica premiered on the The Sci-FI Channel, and the show has bounced around different streaming services in the years since its four-season run ended in 2009. The legacy is strong, however, and not because Katee Sackhoff is one of the most memorable Big Bang Theory guest stars. Sackhoff and her BSG costar, Tahmoh Penikett, have opened up about the show's lasting impact that Edward James Olmos predicted... even though they didn't believe him at the time.

Sackhoff and Penikett were in their early 20s when they debuted as Kara "Starbuck" Thrace and Karl "Helo" Agathon, respectively. Both had some TV credits to their name at the time, but no breakout hits and certainly nothing that shot them to pop culture fame like BSG would starting in 2004. In contrast, Edward James Olmos was in his late 50s and had a long list of film and television credits to his name before he debuted as Bill Adama on BSG.

Looking back while speaking to Katee Sackhoff on her The Sackhoff Show podcast, Tahmoh Penikett said:

If anybody in the cast would have known about about what works and what doesn't in showbiz, I definitely would have named Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell even before hearing Tahmoh Penikett's comments. Of course, at the time, shows from The Sci-Fi Channel (now known as Syfy) weren't really known for lasting legacies and reaching broad audiences, so the young stars didn't totally appreciate Olmos' comments. Sackhoff shared:

Both actors have certainly accumulated their own long lists of credits in the years since Battlestar Galactica, with Katee Sackhoff even jumping from a TV show about the military set in the future to a TV show about the military set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away thanks to her role as Bo-Katan in The Mandalorian. One of my personal favorite roles of Penikett's has to be his recurring role as Gadreel in Supernatural Season 9. Suffice it to say that they now know that Edward James Olmos knew what he was talking about!

Tahmoh Penikett went on to confirm that they now understand that Olmos "wasn't trying to demean or sabotage the rest of our careers or saying we wouldn't amount to more." The Dollhouse vet said:

While Olmos' wisdom about the legacy of the show may seem supernatural a la Nostradamus, there's a reason why he joined Battlestar Galactica after turning down Star Trek, and it wasn't because he suddenly came around to starring in a show set in space. He clarified to The A.V. Club that he didn't want to be part of sci-fi in the sense of "four-eyed people, or weird jellyfish people, or weird outer-space people" or "Creature From The Black Lagoon-ish type of people," but was won over by the "writing," the "storytelling," and the "originality of the story itself."

Despite his version of BSG technically being a reboot, the remake is wildly different from the original to the point that I don't think anybody could argue that the 2004 series didn't have plenty of originality. There have also been rumblings of another reboot in recent years, with executive producer Ronald D. Moore having one stipulation. No reboot or sequel has been produced at the time of writing, but at least Katee Sackhoff and Tahmoh Penikett have come around on Battlestar Galactica being the "most important" thing they'd ever do.

It has often been said that a story, typically of the thriller variety, can live or die by the strength of its villain. However, there are many films and TV shows that like to keep the suspense high by keeping the antagonist a secret until later.

Unfortunately, this does not always result in the most satisfying or logical outcome, as the following examples will show. Also, keep in mind that there will be SPOILERS.

Aldrich Killian (Iron Man 3)

A key reason why many fans do not like Iron Man 3 is that the apparent main antagonist, The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), is revealed to be a scapegoat imposter named Trevor Slattery. However, there are also many people, myself included, who feel the disappointing twist pales in comparison to the pitifully petty motivations of the true villain, Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), who invents a terrorist persona to get back at Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) for ignoring him at a New Year's Eve party once. I mean, is that not the plot of The Incredibles?

The Final Five Cylons (Battlestar Galactica)

Ronald D. Moore's SyFy original version of Battlestar Galactica is considered one of the most refreshing TV reboots of all time, in spite of its lackluster finale. The sci-fi drama's long-awaited reveal that the Final Five Cylons are Saul (Michael Hogan) and Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon), Galen Tyrol (Aaron Douglas), Samuel Anders (Michael Trucco), and Tory Foster (Rekha Sharma), who also had no recollection of their origins, left many fans disheartened.

Blofeld (Spectre)

Director Sam Mendes' second 007 adventure, 2015's Spectre, was already slightly tainted by the reveal that the events of the previous Daniel Craig-led James Bond movies were quietly orchestrated by the character's historical archenemy, Blofeld (Christoph Waltz). The absurdity only grew when the villain unveils a twist right out of the spy movie spoof, Austin Powers in Goldmember: he and Bond are half-brothers.

Colleen Wing (Iron Fist)

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe-canon series, Iron Fist, it is revealed that Danny Rand's (Finn Jones) ally, Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick), is associated with the evil organization, The Hand. However, this twist was largely ignored very shortly afterward, making it ultimately underwhelming.

Roman Bridger (Scream 3)

Scream 3 is widely considered to be the weakest of the self-aware slasher movie franchise, and much of the concern is tied to the person behind the Ghostface mask this time, Roman Bridger (Scott Foley). Not only does the director of Stab 3 turn out to be the unknown half-brother of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), but he claims to have been orchestrating the kills in the first two installments out of revenge against their mother, who rejected him years earlier.

Flint Marko (Spider-Man 3)

Just like in the comics, Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man movie establishes a random burglar as the one who killed Peter Parker's (Tobey Maguire) uncle, Ben (Cliff Robertson). However, Spider-Man 3 lazily retcons the incident as the fault of the otherwise sympathetic superhero movie villain, Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), who also happens to get thrown in a particle accelerator that turns him into Sandman.

John Connor (Terminator Genisys)

The idea of humanity's destined defender, John Connor (Jason Clarke), being turned into a cyborg was widely deemed a cheap stunt that was stupidly given away in the marketing for 2015's Terminator Genisys. However, what really makes this an objectively dumb movie twist is that, early on in the film, John's biological parents, Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney), irreversibly transport themselves from 1984 to 2017, meaning that, based on the Terminator movies' rules of time travel, John should have never been born.

Khan (Star Trek Into Darkness)

Admittedly, the reveal in 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness that Commander John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) is really Khan (the iconic villain originated by Ricardo Montalban) is not exactly nonsensical. However, fans of the franchise saw it coming from a mile away, so it wound up being deeply unsatisfying.

Walter Sparrow (The Number 23)

In Joel Schumacher's 2007 psychological thriller, The Number 23, family man Walter Sparrow (Jim Carrey) becomes obsessed with a disturbing book about a killer that turns out to be his own memoir, which he wrote and forgot all about after a stint in a mental institution. That is already a little far-fetched, but the most flabbergasting aspect of the twist is that his wife, Agatha (Virginia Madsen), who is fully aware of his past, is the one who buys him the book in the first place. Why would she want to conjure up those kinds of memories?

Dylan Rhodes-Shrike (Now You See Me)

One of the most notoriously illogical "the hero was the bad guy the whole time" twists comes from 2013's Now You See Me, which stars Mark Ruffalo as FBI agent Dylan Rhodes, who obsessively pursues a group of illusionist thieves who call themselves The Four Horsemen. By the end, it is revealed that he is actually part of their group and orchestrated the entire ordeal to avenge the death of his father, a magician named Lionel Shrike.

The Plants (The Happening)

Considered one of the weakest M. Night Shyamalan movie twists is the reveal that the mysterious, deadly event at the center of 2008's The Happening is being caused by a hypnotic pheromone vengefully released by the Earth's vegetation. Then again, the ridiculous plot point is among the key reasons the thriller is considered a classic of so-bad-it's-good cinema.

Alchemy (The Flash)

Tom Felton was cast as Dr. Julian Albert on The Flash at the same time the mysterious Alchemy was introduced on the Arrow-verse series. Considering the actor's reputation for villainous roles, especially Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter movies, it quickly became apparent to viewers that the historian and the masked villain (an avatar for the evil Speedster, Savitar) were one in the same.

Will Benson (I Still Know What You Did Last Summer)

In I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Julie James' (Jennifer Love Hewitt) classmate, calling himself Will Benson (Matthew Settle), confesses that he is "Ben's son" and orchestrated this Bahamian bloodbath with his father, Ben Willis, who targeted her and her friends just a year earlier. This punny twist is exactly why I can't help but enjoy the absurd 1998 slasher sequel.

Olly (Game Of Thrones)

While the determination to avenge his parents' death was cited as a motivation, Olly's (Brenock O'Connor) villainous turn ultimately feels forced, especially when you consider how loyal and good-natured he was when first introduced on Game of Thrones.

Mac (Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull)

In 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Mac (Ray Winstone), reveals himself to be a collaborator with the bad guys, then claims to be a double agent really on the side of Indy (Harrison Ford), and then, at the end, says he actually lied about being a double agent. I am honestly more disappointed by this lazy double-twist than any of the other reasons most fans don't care for the fourth Indiana Jones film.

Gabriel (Malignant)

I think the crazy twist from the Malignant ending –Gabriel is Madison's (Annabelle Wallis) parasitic twin and has been possessing her body to commit vengeful murders – is actually pretty awesome. However, one thing I have never understood about James Wan's 2021 Giallo tribute is how Gabriel can control electricity or make telepathic phone calls.

Marie (High Tension)

With heart-stopping suspense and some unforgettable kills, High Tension is a great breakout feature from writer and director Alexandre Aja... up until the end. The 2003 French-language horror flick stabs itself in the foot by revealing that the crazed killer (Philippe Nahon) whom Marie (Cécile de France) has been trying to save her friend, Alexia (Maïwenn), from is her own dissociative identity, which feels lazily tacked on and contradictory to the entire plot.

Christina Scofield (Prison Break)

In Season 4 of Prison Break, it is revealed that Michael Scofield's (Wentworth Miller) mother, Christina (Kathleen Quinlan), is a high-ranking member of the conspiratorial society called "The Company." This entire subplot actually left critics and fans underwhelmed, believing it was a desperate attempt to keep the show going after the eponymous escape had already been achieved.

William Schenk (Spiral)

The key to a great Saw movie is not how cool the torturous traps are, but a suspenseful aura that keeps audiences on their toes, complemented by a killer twist ending. Unfortunately, most viewers were able to guess that the mysterious main villain from the franchise's ninth installment, Spiral, was the seemingly slain Det. William Schenk (Max Minghella) pretty early on.

Silas (The Vampire Diaries)

On The Vampire Diaries, when the shapeshifting Silas reveals that his true face is identical to Stefan's (Paul Wesley), fans of the CW series were not too amused.

Dr. David Callaway (Hide And Seek)

In 2005's Hide and Seek, widowed psychologist David Callaway (Robert De Niro) comes to the horrifying realization that a series of murders that his daughter, Emily (Dakota Fanning), claims are the work of her imaginary friend, Charlie, were actually committed by his own dissociative identity. No matter how well this thriller may have attempted to cover its tracks, the whole Fight Club-style, "I had no idea it was me the whole time" reveal had grown into a tired cliché by then.

Dan Humphrey (Gossip Girl)

I have a theory that the people behind Gossip Girl never had any idea what the true identity of the eponymous blogger (voiced by Kristen Bell) was going to be. So, they just said, "You know what would be crazy? What if it was Dan Humphrey?" because that would be the biggest surprise. Indeed, it was, but only because it makes absolutely no sense, given how shocked and angry Penn Badgley's character was by many of Gossip Girl's posts about him.

Yuri Komarov (A Good Day To Die Hard)

I could go on and on about why fans and critics alike despise 2013's A Good Day to Die Hard, but let's just focus on one reason for now. In a cheap plot twist, John McClane (Bruce Willis) and his CIA operative son, Jack (Jai Courtney), discover that the man they have been protecting, Yuri Komarov (Sebastian Koch), is the true enemy.

Nathan Shelley (Ted Lasso)

In the Apple TV+ original series, Ted Lasso, reporter Trent Crimm (James Lance) tells the titular character (played by Jason Sudeikis) that it was Nate Shelley (Nick Mohammed) who shared confidential information about his panic attack with him. Apparently, Nate sells Ted out and goes on to coach the rival team because he felt like Richmond's head coach abandoned him, for reasons that still feel vague and inexplicable to me.

Tom Watson (The Girl On The Train)

At first, The Girl on the Train convinces you to suspect that the main character, Rachel (Emily Blunt), accidentally murdered Megan (Haley Bennett) while under the influence. As it turns out, in a twist ripped from an episode of Dateline, the true culprit was Rachel's abusive, gaslighting former husband, Tom (Justin Theroux).

Brahms (Brahms: The Boy II)

The 2016 thriller The Boy leads you to believe that a porcelain doll is possessed by the spirit of a deceased child named Brahms, only to show that the strange happenings were done by the real Brahms, who is alive, grown-up, and living in the walls of his parents' estate. However, the sequel, Brahms: The Boy II, retcons that ending, revealing that the doll is, indeed, sentient and has been manipulating children, including the real Brahms, into committing horrific acts for years.

Ares (Wonder Woman)

While widely considered to be one of the better DCEU movies, many also feel that Wonder Woman suffers from a lackluster ending, in which it is revealed that Sir Patrick (David Thewlis) is Ares in disguise. Let alone the underwhelming execution of the twist, the emergence of the true God of War deprives the comic book film of a more potent message about humanity's flaws and contradicts the motivations of Gal Gadot's Amazonian warrior in other films.

Ian Buckells (Line Of Duty)

When the British cop drama, Line of Duty, ended with the reveal that "H" is Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle), fans theorized this was a red herring that would be resolved in a subsequent season. That is the only way they could reconcile with such a foolish character being identified as the corrupt criminal mastermind.

Detective David "Rooster" Fisk (Righteous Kill)

The 2008 cop thriller Righteous Kill is widely considered to be a low point in both Robert De Niro and Al Pacino's careers, especially because of the twist. It turns out that Pacino's character, Rooster, is the vigilante killer whom he and his partner, Turk (De Niro), have been pursuing all along.

Owen Carver (Fountain Of Youth)

By the end of Apple TV+'s Fountain of Youth, archaeologist Luke Purdue (John Krasinski) discovers his wealthy financier, Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson), is actually a corrupt liar who greedily wants the titular mystical artifact all for himself. While quite nonsensical, this deeply uninspired twist is just one of many ways the adventure film's ending rips off Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Aliens (The Forgotten)

In the 2004 thriller, The Forgotten, Julianne Moore's character, Telly, just kind of randomly assumes that the mysteriously lost memory of her deceased son, among other children, could be the work of extraterrestrials. She just so happens to be right.

Ray Bronson And Stevie Ward (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

In the 2025 legacyquel, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Stevie (Sara Pidgeon) decides to kill her friends, believing they are responsible for the accidental death of her boyfriend, even though they tried to save his life. However, her murder streak also includes people who had nothing to do with the incident. Even more absurd is that original survivor Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr) helps with the scheme, believing the world forgot about what happened to him and his friends in 1997. However, this begs the question of why he decided to kill a popular true crime podcast host who was preparing to do an episode on that very ordeal.

I'm a big fan of Sci Fi movies, and I'm a huge fan of great war movies. Sometimes, those two genres meet. It's not always with spectacular results, if I'm honest, but I still end up looking forward to movies and shows that bring them together. I'm talking about movies like Dune and Starship Troopers, and TV shows like Battlestar Galactica and Silo. This is a list dedicated to movies like that. So grab your gear and let's get into the action.

Dune

There are a lot of things that make Dune one of the best science fiction stories of all time. War is a major theme throughout the whole series and certainly something the recent movies have focused on. The politics of war and various armies across the universe feature heavily.

Ender's Game

Despite a stellar cast, including Hailee Steinfeld, Harrison Ford, and Viola Davis, and rich source material from the original novel to draw on, Ender's Game was a critical and box office disappointment, some of which is because of some controversy surrounding the book's author. However, if you're like me and enjoy this kind of movie, about the young trainees in a futuristic army, you will certainly find things to like about the movie.

Avatar

I'll be the first to say that while many love Avatar, I am not among them. That said, it's a movie that definitely belongs on this list. It's about a military mission, though the critiques of the military are a little heavy-handed, and it's one of the biggest box office draws of all time, so whether I like it or not, I'm including it.

Star Trek

This one is a little tricky, as I'm sure fans of Star Trek will be immediately noting in their heads. The United Federation of Planets, and by extension the crew of the USS Enterprise, are primarily a political organization with a mission to promote peace. That said, the ship has a military-like hierarchy, and the crew often finds themselves battling hostile elements in the galaxy. So there are heavy military overtones in every Star Trek series and movie.

Firefly

Like some others on this list, Firefly is a bit of an edge case. While most of the crew of the spaceship Serenity are ex-military, the show itself doesn't have many of the elements of a futuristic army, more a rag-tag crew of space explorers. It's as much a space western in the style of Star Wars as anything else.

Halo

You knew this one had to be here. Halo, based on the video game of the same name, ran for two seasons on Paramount+ and was a moderate success, though it never reached the same popularity as the game it was based on.

Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1, which was a show that was born on the heals of the movie Stargate. It ran for 10 seasons, first on Showtime and later on Syfy.

Aliens

One of the most beloved sci-fi movies of all time, Aliens has some of the coolest military scenes featuring the crew of Marines on the mission with Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). One of the most iconic moments in the movie comes when the Marines all wake up from their long trip and Sgt. Apone says. "Another day in the core!"

Battlestar Galactica

The classic sci-fi show Battlestar Galactica is one of the best examples of a futuristic military, even if it's really just a small piece of what its space force used to be. Led by Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos), the military members run the ship, and by default, the last of humankind, in partnership with civilian leadership.

Starship Troopers

Are you doing your part? There may be no more obvious movie to include on this list than the cult favorite Starship Troopers. The recruiting video alone puts it near the top of the list of movies about the military in the future, to say nothing of the political overtones and satire of the rest of the movie.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 And 2

The Hunger Games didn't start with a military of the future as a key component, but it certainly ends with two militaries, both the revolutionaries and the army from The Capitol, in the final two movies of the original franchise. It's a great example of two different kinds of armies, as well.

Pacific Rim

I'm not the biggest fan of Kaiju movies, but I absolutely love Pacific Rim from director Guillermo del Toro. This is a bit of an edge case, because it's not really set in the distant future (the 2013 movie was actually set in 2020), the presence of a great military leader like Marshal Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) means it absolutely demands to be on this list. It's not like we have technology like the Mechas in the movie anyway, so it feels very futuristic.

The Terminator Franshise

Throughout the entire Terminator franchise, even when the movies aren't about the coming war between humans and machines, there are heavy military overtones, to say nothing of when we do see the actual war in some of the latter movies. The fourth movie, Terminator Salvation, is especially militaristic.

Doom

When I first saw 2005's Doom, based on the notorious video game from the '90s, I couldn't help but be reminded of Aliens in the way the futuristic Marines are portrayed as they travel to Mars to assist the UAC scientist after the attack. John "Reaper" Grimm and Sgt. Mahonin (Karl Urban and Dwyane Johnson, respectively) ooze the same kind of energy that Hicks and the other Marines in Aliens have.

Edge Of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow seems to either be revered or ignored by film fans, but include me in the former. It's such a great sci-fi war movie. Led by Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, the movie, though not set in the distant future, sees humanity's military come together to fight off invading aliens.

Star Wars

Obviously I had to include Star Wars here. Not only do we get to see the military apparatus of the Empire (and its successor) in all ten of the movies thus far released, but we also see the hierarchy of the Rebel Alliance. The scene at the end of the first movie, when Chewie doesn't get the medal that Han and Luke receive, but that he also deserves, is very much a military-looking ceremony as well.

And yeah, I will acknowledge that technically the movies are "a long time ago" and not in the future...but....c'mon.

Stargate

I'm a huge Kurt Russell fan, and while I loved Stargate when I first saw it, I did not expect it to spawn a franchise. Director and writer Roland Emmerich loves to make movies about futuristic armies, and Stargate is a perfect example of when he is at his best. It's a little cheesy, sure, but that's part of the charm of a good Emmerich popcorn flick.

Babylon 5

Set about 250 years in the future, Babylon 5 is one of those classic '90s TV shows that feels like it's adjacent to the Star Trek universe, but in this case, much more directly military-related. The titular space station is filled with both military personnel and civilians, but it was always the military plotlines that grabbed me the most.

Jupiter Ascending

2015's Jupiter Ascending, from writers and directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski, is a wild movie. It's kind of hard to explain, except to say that the protagonist, a soldier played by Channing Tatum, is part man and part...dog... is a great military character from the future.

Soldier

Kurt Russell and director Paul W. S. Anderson teamed up for 1998's Soldier, about a dystopian military project that turns orphans into killers for the military until things get really weird in the future. Yeah, it's a wild movie, and it was written by David Peoples, who also wrote Blade Runner and considered Soldier to be in the same universe. Yikes

Terra Nova

Terra Nova is a show that got canceled way too soon. It was a big-budget show that looked fantastic and told a super interesting story about a dystopian future that led humanity to open up a portal to another Earth. The military in the show, led by Commander Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang) wasn't the focus, but played a huge role. It's just too bad we didn't get to see more, as the show was canceled after just 13 episodes.

Universal Soldier

Roland Emmerich's first big-budget Hollywood movie, Universal Soldier, has a ton of the DNA that the polarizing director would be known for throughout his career. It's a pretty ridiculous, over-the-top movie about soldiers in the future, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as the primary soldiers.

SeaQuest DSV

The simplest way to describe SeaQuest DSV is to say it's Star Trek in a submarine. The cast was led by Jaws star Roy Scheider, and the show ran for three seasons in the mid-90s. It was a fun NBC show, and like Star Trek, it was exactly military, but the organization the sub crew represented was similar to the U.N. and acted in a very militaristic way. Though it took place in 2020, that was 25 years in the future when the show aired.

The Matrix Revolutions

The final Matrix movie in the original trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions, is when things really got militaristic. Throughout the whole series, there were always some aspects of a futuristic military, but the series really leans in with what I would consider the weakest movie of the franchise, but still a really fun movie.

Snowpiercer

Imagine living your whole life in the back of an endless train trip as 5th-class "citizens" of the last people on Earth. That's where we find our heroes in Snowpiercer, who are finally forced to take on the train's military when the horrible conditions bring them to a breaking point.

Andromeda

Set hundreds of years in the future, Andromeda was loosely based on work from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, so as you would expect, it feels like his most famous show, but it also feels a little cheap. Like many shows about spaceships, it's not exactly military, but has a militaristic hierarchy..

The Tomorrow War

The Tomorrow War is a little tricky for this list. It's set in 2022, but it tells the story of time-traveling soldiers from the future. So it kinda counts, right? Sure, why not!

Silo

This is another tricky one, but it's such a great show, I had to include it. Common plays the head of security in Silo, and while they aren't strictly a military organization, they operate very much like one. They are also oppressive and scary, as the military is often shown to be in dystopian futures, like the one in Silo. So it works for me.

Farscape

Farscape is another example of a wild show that was born in the '90s. Though it was canceled after four seasons, cutting short the story, it had legions of fans who still love it today. The story was finally wrapped with a three-hour made-for-TV movie in 2007, called Farscape: Peacekeeper Wars.

The Chronicles of Riddick

Though The Chronicles of Riddick is actually a sequel to Pitch Black, it is far more militaristic in its style than the first movie in the series, which was more of a horror flick. Vin Diesel plays a former bounty hunter on the run from a crew of other hunters who operate very much like a military unit.

The Creator

2023's The Creator is a movie that not enough people have seen. Set in a near-ish future (2065), it stars John David Washington as Sergeant Joshua Taylor, who is part of a force helping to shut down all AI, which has turned against humanity. It's a complicated movie, but it looks amazing, and you should see it just for that.

Defiance

Dystopian futures are always a popular way for shows and movies to show what the future of the military looks like, and sometimes those shows feature rag-tag groups of veterans of a past war just trying to survive, as in Defiance. It's another show that didn't seem to get the kind of attention it deserved from the general public when it ran from 2013 to 2015 on Syfy.

Some moviegoers are absolutely against, or simply exhausted by, the idea of remaking a classic film or rebooting a hit TV show, and I absolutely sympathize with that, given how many lackluster remakes Hollywood has delivered. However, I am open to the idea of reimagining a beloved title, as long as the new version offers some reason to justify its existence by not simply hitting "copy, paste" and calling it a day. See what I mean by taking a look at some of these cinematic remakes and TV reboots that either surprised audiences with something or at least managed to stand on their own.

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

The Rat Pack-led original Ocean's 11 from 1960, which sees a group of World War II veterans reuniting to rob five Las Vegas casinos in one night, just for fun. Steven Soderbergh's remake reimagines the heist (involving only three casinos in one vault) as Danny Ocean's (George Clooney) act of revenge against casino magnate Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), who is dating his ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts).

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

Instead of following a high school student who inherits a family curse that makes him half-man, half-animal like the 1985 comedy, Teen Wolf, MTV's more earnest series adaptation starred Tyler Posey as a wolf bite victim who ends up using his lycanthropic abilities to protect his community from supernatural forces with the help of his friends, Buffy style

The Invisible Man (2020)

Considered one of the best horror movie remakes ever made is writer and director Leigh Whannell's reinterpretation of the classic Universal Monster Movie, The Invisible Man. The acclaimed Blumhouse thriller introduces a more plausible explanation for the eponymous villain's transparency and tells the story from the perspective of the victim, his tormented wife (played by Elisabeth Moss), resulting in a powerful and frightening commentary on gaslit abuse victims.

Westworld (2016-2022)

Michael Crichton's 1973 film Westworld was almost a precursor to Jurassic Park, taking place at a high-tech tourist attraction with an Old West aesthetic and highly realistic androids that go haywire. Decades later, an acclaimed HBO drama of the same name would expand on the concept in much darker, timely, and thought-provoking ways.

Scarface (1983)

Howard Hawks' 1932 gangster drama Scarface follows an Italian immigrant (played by Paul Muni) who rises to power in Chicago's criminal underworld. Director Brian DePalma's 1983 classic, which many may not realize is a remake, follows a Cuban immigrant (played by Al Pacino) and his rise to power in Miami's criminal underworld.

War Of The Worlds (2005)

There has never been a truly faithful adaptation of H.G. Wells' seminal novel, but the two best-known alien invasion movies it inspired could not be more different from one another. The 1953 version follows various residents of a California town and shows things from a governmental perspective, while Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds is told entirely from the point of view of a divorced father (played by Tom Cruise) and his two children as they travel the country searching for sanctuary. The remake even subverts expectations by having the evil extraterrestrials rise from the ground as opposed to coming down from the sky.

The Mummy (1999)

Universal's 1932 monster movie, The Mummy, starring Boris Karloff, is an undisputed classic of the studio's seminal creature feature era. When the story was updated in the late '90s, it took a more action-adventure approach, with Brendan Fraser leading the cast as a stand-in for Indiana Jones.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Joss Whedon took the basic premise of his screenplay for the 1992 Kristy Swanson-led horror-comedy movie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and revamped it (no pun intended) as a more earnest monster-of-the-week thriller, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as the teen monster hunter, that became a cultural phenomenon.

A Star Is Born (1976)

Bradley Cooper's Oscar-winning 2018 directorial debut, A Star is Born, is a wonderful achievement in spite of its many similarities to the late '70s hit of the same name starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. However, that film is a wholly original take on two other synonymous dramas that came before it in 1937 and 1954, both of which revolve around the movie business instead of the music industry.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

The main differentiator between Glen A. Larson's classic '70s sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica, and Ronald D. Moore's SyFy original reimagining is how it drops the campy tone. However, the contrast is unquestionably dramatic, resulting in one of the most celebrated cosmic TV shows of its time, or any time, and a benchmark for reboots done right.

The Thing (1982)

It is almost cheating to refer to John Carpenter's classic horror movie, The Thing, about an Arctic research crew that can't tell who among them is a shapeshifting alien, as a remake. It could more accurately be described as a far more faithful adaptation of its source material, a novella called "Who Goes There?" than producer Howard Hawks' 1951 thriller, The Thing from Another World, which is a relatively by-the-numbers creature feature.

Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018-2020)

Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman became a household name when Melissa Joan Hart portrayed her on the very lighthearted ABC sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Years later, Netflix released Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, in which star Kiernan Shipka's iteration faces mystical situations of a far graver matter.

The Nutty Professor (1996)

In the original The Nutty Professor from 1963, Jerry Lewis plays the clumsy, unsophisticated, but brilliant Julius Kelp, who develops a serum that alters his personality, creating a more suave and well-kept alter ego he calls Buddy Love. In director Tom Shadyac's remake, Eddie Murphy plays the perfectly sophisticated, but vastly overweight Sherman Klump, whose revolutionary serum initially serves as a temporary, instant weight loss solution, and his thinner self, also named Buddy Love, eventually begins to take on his own persona over time.

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Many of the best Western movies are reimaginings of classic Japanese action films. One of the best-known examples of this is The Magnificent Seven, which is merely an Americanized update of Seven Samurai, which trades swordfights for gunfights.

Pete’s Dragon (2015)

Co-writer and director David Lowery did not bother rewatching 1977's Pete's Dragon, which follows the friendship between an orphaned boy and a mystical creature that can turn itself invisible. He updated the Disney film into something that is not a musical nor a broad comedy, and goes for a more dramatic, atmospheric fantasy adventure for all ages, with great results.

Bel-Air (2022)

The classic NBC comedy The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air stars Will Smith as a young man taken out of his Philadelphia neighborhood to live with his wealthy California relatives after a violent encounter. This premise worked well as the set-up for a sitcom, but is also well-suited for a drama, as demonstrated in Morgan Cooper's 2019 short film that became the basis for Peacock's darker reimagining, Bel-Air, from producer Smith and starring Jabari Banks.

The Fly (1986)

The original 1958 adaptation of George Langelaan's short story, The Fly, involves an instantaneous transportation experiment gone wrong when an insect gets in the machine, causing a scientist (played by David Hedison) to come out the other end with a fly's head and arm. David Cronenberg's reimagining takes that same transportation device setup, but Jeff Goldblum's Seth Brundle comes out the other end seemingly fine, before his body slowly begins to deteriorate as a result of his DNA being fused with the fly.

Beetlejuice (1989-1991)

The animated series adaptation of 1988's beloved Tim Burton movie, Beetlejuice, is still a story told from a ghost's perspective and retains the same one-of-a-kind, maniacally macabre aesthetic. However, it reimagines the title character as a lovably goofy ghoul who, instead of manipulating Lydia Deetz into marriage, makes friends with her and takes her on various wondrous adventures in the afterlife.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

Jack Finney's classic alien invasion story has been adapted into multiple Invasion of the Body Snatchers movies, all of which are really no different in concept, but differ from each other in various stylistic and thematic ways. For instance, the original 1956 film is a commentary on fears of McCarthyism, while director Philip Kaufman's adaptation instead comments on blind consumerism and boasts not just a bleaker ending, but one of the most devastating endings in horror history.

A Fistful Of Dollars (1964)

At the time A Fistful of Dollars was released, few people realized the first installment of director Sergio Leone and star Clint Eastwood's "Man with No Name Trilogy" was a remake. That is because, while the film is a Western-style, beat-for-beat reimagining of the 1961 samurai classic Yojimbo, which is also about a drifter who protects a village by playing two oppressive gangs against each other, Akira Kurosawa never received any credit for inspiring the story, leading production company Toho to file a lawsuit.

RoboCop (2014)

While some might say that José Padilha's RoboCop is a remake that should have never been made, it at least tried to be different in some respects. In particular, Peter Weller's Alex Murphy from the original has almost no memory of his life before becoming a hybrid of man and machine, but the version played by Joel Kinnaman is fully aware of the person he was before and forced to undergo his unusual procedure against his will, which is quite a bit darker.

Dragnet (1987)

One of the first films to honor the bewildering tradition of adapting earnest TV crime dramas into feature-length comedies was director Tom Mankiewicz's Dragnet. This slapstick parody of detective stories is set in the world of Jack Webb's seminal police procedural, featuring Dan Aykroyd as the nephew of Sgt. Joe Friday (who is also named Joe Friday) and Tom Hanks as his partner, Det. Pep Streebek.

Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans (2009)

Director Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, starring Nicolas Cage, boasts an entirely different story from Abel Ferrara's 1992 crime drama, Bad Lieutenant, starring Harvey Keitel, despite also focusing on the exploits of a corrupt cop.

Disturbia (2007)

Director D.J. Caruso's Disturbia is recognized as an unofficial reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. It stars Shia LaBeouf as a teenage boy who suspects his neighbor is a murderer while confined to his home under house arrest, as opposed to a grown man (played by Jimmy Stewart) recovering from an injury.

Suspiria (2018)

Luca Guadagnino's reimagining of Dario Argento's 1977 Giallo-style supernatural thriller, Suspiria, has the same setting (a German ballet studio run by witches), but has none of the same eye-popping production design, incorporates a tangentially connected detective story B plot, and boasts a bleak twist ending.

Dawn Of The Dead (2004)

While also set in a mall this time, writer James Gunn and director Zack Snyder's take on the second installment of George Romero's revolutionary zombie movie franchise from 1978, Dawn of the Dead, makes the cast bigger, the zombies faster, the comedy more overt, and the subtle satirical nuances non-existent.

Death Race (2008)

Producer Roger Corman's 1975 B-movie Death Race 2000 takes place in a futuristic, totalitarian United States that holds an annual cross-country racing competition in which the object is to run over as many random pedestrians as possible. Paul W.S. Anderson's reimagining softens the dystopian angle, makes the race exclusive to incarcerated convicts on a single island, and challenges the racers to only kill each other, crowning the last person standing.

Velma (2023-2024)

In the HBO Max original animated prequel series, Velma, starring Mindy Kaling in the title role, the meddling kids from Mystery Inc. are nothing like who they used to be. There is also no Scooby-Doo, which was probably the last straw for all the haters.

When A Stranger Calls (2006)

The Camilla Belle-led update of When a Stranger Calls takes the first 20 minutes of the original 1979 suspense thriller, in which a babysitter discovers her unsettling phone calls are coming from inside the house, and extends that to its own 90-minute feature.

Beauty And The Beast (2012-2016)

From 1987 to 1990, CBS aired a modernized, crime drama-style take on the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, depicting a romance between a lion-man living underneath New York City (played by Ron Perlman) and a beautiful ADA (played by Linda Hamilton). When The CW developed its own version, the series dropped the mystical half-man, half-animal creature aspect in favor of making the Beast a normal man who goes feral when angered after being subjected to a government experiment.

Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank (2022)

The original title of the animated comedy Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, about a dog who becomes an unlikely hero to a village of cats, was Blazing Samurai, to reflect how Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles served as its structural inspiration.

Mockingbird Lane (2012)

Mockingbird Lane, which aired on NBC as a Halloween special, was developer Bryan Fuller's failed attempt at reimagining the spooky, silly sitcom The Munsters into a modern supernatural dramedy.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the Battlestar Galactica series that aired on the then-Sci-Fi network from 2003 to 2009 (counting the opening miniseries) was a reboot of the original that aired for just one season on ABC in the late ‘70s. And like was frequently said in the 2000s series, which was created by Ronald D. Moore, “All of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again.” Meaning, there will come a day when Battlestar Galactica is rebooted again, and apparently Moore has a “stipulation” for the new version that, if you think about it, makes a lot of sense.

Granted, a Battlestar Galactica reboot is a long ways off, as last summer, Peacock scrapped the one it was putting together. However, while appearing on a “Hindsight” episode of The Sackhoff Show looking at Katee Sackhoff’s recent interview with Ronald D. Moore, Tricia Helfer, who played the various versions of Six on Battlestar, recalled her own conversation with Moore years back when the streaming series was still in development. She told the Starbuck actress and The Sackhoff Show producer Jeff Porter:

Moore told Helfer this off the record when he was done recording an appearance on Battlestar Galacticast, the rewatch podcast which she hosted with Marc Bernardin and concluded in 2020. At that time, Moore had already spoken with Sam Esmail, who was producing Peacock’s Battlestar Galactica reboot, and given his blessing. The only thing he stayed firm on what that Esmail’s take on the source material couldn’t include the human-looking Cylons, a concept he introduced in the 2000s Battlestar.

Within the mythology of Ronald D. Moore’s Battlestar Galactica, the robotic Cylons were led by a group of synthetic humanoid Cylons that had infiltrated human society in the Twelve Colonies. There were seven biological models (originally eight) initially introduced of which there were multiple copies, and then the existence of the Final Five was revealed, with these biological Cylons being the descendants of the Thirteenth Tribe of Kobol that has resided on the first Earth. This concept was one of the many ways that the 2000s Battlestar Galactica stood out from its predecessor, but it would have been off limits had the Peacock series moved forward, leading Katee Sackhoff to say:

To be fair, I get it. At its core, Battlestar Galactica requires the robotic Cylons to work, otherwise it strays too far from its roots. But the human-looking Cylons are a distinct feature of the 2000s series, and Ronald D. Moore undoubtedly feels like using them again in a reboot treads over too much of the same territory that his team covered. Like Sackhoff said, if you take them away, the reboot looks a lot different, but that’s for the better. It requires whomever is crafting the new version to get extra creative, just like Moore did over two decades ago.

Peacock’s Battlestar Galactica may have been shelved, but again, that doesn’t mean the franchise will never be rebooted. For a while, there was also a Battlestar movie in development, but there’s been no update on its status for several years. For now, remember that the 2000s series can be streamed with a Prime Video subscription.

When Battlestar Galactica ended in 2009, there was a major question lingering: what was Kara “Starbuck” Thrace? At the start of the dark TV reboot, which can be streamed with a Prime Video subscription, that was an easy enough answer: Katee Sackhoff’s character was a human pilot for the Colonial fleet. But Battlestar’s final season made it abundantly clear she’d become something more, yet never provided a definitive answer for this mystery. Show creator Ronald D. Moore finally opened up about why he left this ending so open ended, while speaking with Sackhoff herself.

It was clear something was amiss in the final moments of the Battlestar Galactica Season 3 finale when Kara, who was thought to have died in “Maelstrom,” suddenly reemerged in a brand-new Viper and knew the location of Earth (the first one). But then in Season 4’s “Sometimes a Great Notion,” Kara discovered her own corpse on the planet where the Thirteenth Tribe once resided. During his visit to The Sackhoff Show, Moore talked about how they’d planted the seeds for Kara to have a greater destiny through her interactions with Leoben, as well as how the “concept of God” was baked into the show stretching back to when it launched with the miniseries. He then explained:

While Head Six and Head Baltar were eventually revealed to be angels sent by God, the Starbuck we followed along with in Season 4 was apparently something else entirely, yet undefinable. Somehow she was a corporeal being, and yet there was her body in the Viper wreckage on that radioactive landscape. Things got even weirder when Kara learned how to play “All Along the Watchtower,” the same song that Tory, Anders, Tigh and Tyrol heard in their heads when they discovered they were four of the Final Five. Oh, and let’s not forget how she just disappeared while talking with Lee Adama on our Earth.

And yet, whatever explanation Ronald D. Moore and the writers came up with just wasn’t good enough in their minds. So instead, they decided to just leave it unresolved, which made him think of one of HBO’s most popular shows while he was talking with Katie Sackhoff. In his words:

When Sackhoff further questioned Moore on if it’s the ambiguity that’s been unsatisfying for these people more than a decade and a half after the three-part “Daybreak” aired, he acknowledged that’s probably the case, which is why the actress is asked by Battlestar fans so frequently about this topic. As he put it:

Moore added that ultimately, he still feels “glad” that he didn’t provide a definitive answer, noting that he likes the moment when Kara disappears on Lee. So while Battlestar Galactica will continue to collect fans and draw old ones back to rewatch the series, don’t ever expect an answer to the mystery of Kara Thrace’s existence in Season 4. That’s something you’ll just have to craft your own head canon for or leave it alone.

As of last July, Peacock axed its plans to launch a new Battlestar Galactica series set in the same continuity as the 2004 series. There’s also been a Battlestar Galactica movie in development that, as of 2020, was being written by Simon Kinberg, but there’s been no update on its status for a long time. As for Ronald D. Moore, you can see his writing skills being put to good use on Outlander and For All Mankind, which can be respectively streamed on Starz and with an Apple TV+ subscription.

For every movie that did not need a remake and for all of the TV shows with unneeded reboots, there are a few that have managed to surpass their predecessors... or, at least, justify their existence. In most cases, the secret to their success is to reimagine a beloved pop culture property into something, not just bigger, but darker, just like these flicks and TV series did.

Batman Begins (2005)

The last time we saw The Dark Knight on the big screen was in the very lighthearted and campy Batman & Robin, which killed the live-action Batman movie franchise at the time. Christopher Nolan revived Bruce Wayne’s alter ego on the big screen, and in pop culture in general, in his proper form with an acclaimed and earnestly told origin story called Batman Begins – the first installment of his phenomenal Dark Knight Trilogy.

The Addams Family (1991)

Charles' Addams original comic, The Addams Family, inspired a hit live-action sitcom and a couple of animated series that certainly maintained the same "kooky" tone. However, director Barry Sonnenfeld’s film adaptation and its 1993 sequel, Addams Family Values, would up the ante on its "creepy" appeal, especially with Christina Ricci’s now definitive performance as a morbidly deadpan Wednesday.

Riverdale (2017-2023)

Any adaptation of the Archie comic books, whether animated or produced in live-action, was intended to be a comedy, with the closest thing to a drama being Archie's Weird Mysteries in the late 1990s. That all changed when The CW began airing Riverdale, which depicted the misadventures of Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica as an earnest coming-of-age soap opera.

It And It Chapter Two (2017-2019)

We recognize that the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's It left an entire generation in fear of clowns. However, from the opening scene of Andy Muschietti’s feature-length version of It (the first of two creepy clown movies), in which Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise bites off little Georgie's arm before pulling him into the sewer, it was clear this was a more unforgiving version of the shape-shifting, fear-feeding demon than Tim Curry's portrayal.

Casino Royale (2006)

Every cinematic iteration of author Ian Fleming's MI6 agent, from Sean Connery's portrayal to Pierce Brosnan's, was a suave gentleman who typically put brains over brawn. That was until Casino Royale introduced a 007, played by Daniel Craig, who is both brainy and brawny and not above taking out his enemies with brutal hand-to-hand combat. Since then, the James Bond movies have never been grittier.

Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018-2020)

For years, the best-known adaptation of the enchanted Archie Comics character, Sabrina Spellman, was the hit ABC sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. That was until Netflix released the Kiernan Shipka-led Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which is more comparative to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in tone.

The Fly (1986)

Director Kurt Neumann's 1958 adaptation of George Langelaan's short story, The Fly, was a creepy little creature feature, including horror movie icon Vincent Price in a memorable supporting role. However, David Cronenberg’s version, starring Jeff Goldblum as a scientist transforming into a half-man, half-insect and Geena Davis as his new lover, is the quintessential cinematic body horror nightmare and a devastating romantic tragedy.

Man Of Steel (2013)

In the film that kicked off the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, director Zack Snyder introduced a less optimistic take on Clark Kent's alter ego, who resorts to murder to defend Metropolis in a controversial moment from Man of Steel. Even Henry Cavill's Superman costume boasts a darker color scheme than any live-action iteration to come before.

Bel-Air (2022)

Hip-hop artist Will Smith proved he had the chops to be a charismatic actor in the early 1990s when he led the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as a young Philadelphia man sent to live with his wealthy California relatives after getting in a fight. Years later, the Oscar winner returned to produce Bel-Air – a Peacock-exclusive series that reimagines the hit sitcom as a grounded coming-of-age drama.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

One of the most essential examples of a TV reboot done right is developer Ronald D. Moore's reimagining of Glen A. Larson's classic '70s sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. The Emmy-winning, SyFy original version of the story of a crew searching for a long-lost planet Earth in a wartorn future went on to become one of the genre's most celebrated TV shows.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

The 1985 comedy, Teen Wolf, in which Michael J. Fox's character inherits his family's lycanthropic curse, is really a metaphor for self-discovery. MTV's hit series adaptation starring Tyler Posey, in addition to making the protagonist a wolf bite victim who uses his abilities to fight evil, throws humor and symbolism almost completely out the window.

Dredd (2012)

The first film featuring Judge Dredd, who was introduced in the U.K. anthology comic, 2000 AD, saw Sylvester Stallone take on the title role and make the fatal flaw of removing his signature helmet. Even taking that controversial detail out of the equation, many believe the Alex Garland-penned Dredd, starring Karl Urban, was a step up for its dead-serious approach to the source material’s vision of a dystopian world ordered by officers who serve as judge, jury, and executioner.

Goosebumps (2023-2024)

Following the '90s anthology horror TV show based on R.L. Stine's creepy but kid-friendly book series, Goosebumps, there were two film adaptations that seemed to go in a more kid-friendly and less creepy direction. However, Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller's seasonal anthology series released on Hulu and Disney+ aimed to up the ante on its thrills by making it a teen drama.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

The first alien invasion movie based on Jack Finney’s largely influential novel about humans replaced with emotionless extraterrestrial replicas, released in 1956, ended on a more hopeful note. However, director Philip Kaufman's remake, starring Donald Sutherland, maintains a bleak and hopeless tone throughout, which is why it is still considered the best Invasion of the Body Snatchers movie out of the many Hollywood has released.

Maleficent (2014)

Some of the most amusing live-action Disney animated movie remakes have opted to reexamine the source material from another perspective. For instance, the Academy Award-nominated Maleficent reimagines the story of Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of the eponymous antagonist, played by Angelina Jolie.

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)

The original Planet of the Apes movies are fun sci-fi classics set in a future in which primates have become Earth's dominant species. Director Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Matt Reeves' two sequels (Dawn and War), and Wes Ball's Kingdom explore the devastating origins of that dystopian society, due to an ill-fated attempt to cure Alzheimer’s and a global virus causing human evolutionary regression.

Evil Dead (2013)

Sam Raimi’s 1981 classic, The Evil Dead, was already a nearly unparalleled experience in grueling terror but the second and third installments, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, were fun horror-comedy movies boasting a far lighter tone. With his 2013 installment, director Fede Álvarez went back to basics and amplified what made the original possession thriller iconic with some unbelievably brutal sequences and a more earnest plot set-up involving an addict attempting a woodland cabin detox.

Cruella (2021)

There are few villainous characters in Disney history more despicable than Cruella de Vil from 1961's One Hundred and One Dalmatians. However, director Craig Gillespie's live-action Cruella successfully makes the title character (played by Academy Award winner Emma Stone) sympathetic by employing a depressing origin story that sees her forced to turned crime as a child after witnessing her mother's murder.

Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey (2023)

Just a year after author A.A. Milne and illustrator E.H. Shepard's Winnie the Pooh entered the public domain, the beloved children’s book character was reimagined as a killer who goes on a vengeful rampage after grown-up Christopher Robin abandons the Hundred Acre Wood. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey and its 2024 sequel are not regarded as some of the best slasher movies of their time but they certainly got people talking.

Mockingbird Lane (2012)

Many assumed that Rob Zombie'sThe Munsters movie would be a darker reinterpretation of the "monstrous" family until it was revealed to be a thoroughly faithful adaptation. However, there was an attempt at a somewhat more earnest and macabre take on the 1960s sitcom in the form of developer Bryan Fuller's Mockingbird Lane – a failed pilot that aired as a Halloween special on NBC.

Titans (2018-2023)

The Teen Titans series, following the DC Universe's most powerful underage heroes, was already dark enough to satisfy young audiences craving a cartoon with an edge, but it was later rebooted as the absurdly comedic Teen Titans GO! Thus, many fans were thankful for the live-action Titans, which proved to be the most mature adaptation of the original comic yet.

The Banana Splits Movie (2019)

There was a made-for-TV feature-length spin-off from the Saturday morning children's program, The Banana Splits, in which Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky must take on an evil witch. However, Danishka Esterhazy's The Banana Splits Movie is a bloody slasher that makes the rock band of happy animal mascots the villains.

Mulan (2020)

The beloved 1998 film Mulan is – despite following many of the same traditions of a Disney animated feature, such as supernatural twists and musical interludes – still regarded as an important tale of female empowerment. Disney's live-action version, starring Yifei Liu as the title hero, is a more earnest war drama devoid of humor, show tunes, magic, and, most notably, Eddie Murphy's Mushu.

Mortal Kombat (2021)

The Mortal Kombat films from the 1990s could have been considered some of the most faithful video game movies of all time if it were not for the limitations of the PG-13 rating. Thus, director Simon McQuoid's R-rated adaptation is revered as the first to more accurately capture the violence of the one-on-one fighting game series.

Halloween (2007)

No one would have believed that co-writer and director John Carpenter’s 1978 horror movie classic, Halloween, could be remade into anything darker. Yet, Rob Zombie made it happen with a divisive reboot that gives masked murderer Michael Myers (played by Tyler Mane) an origin story involving child abuse, a higher body count, and a far more sadistic MO.

Beauty And The Beast (2017)

Disney's live-action adaptation of the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, is noted for being a relatively faithful rendition of its beloved animated iteration from 1991. However, Bill Condon's film, which stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, does darken the material, mostly by giving its characters more tragic backstories.

Power Rangers (2017)

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is, technically, an Americanized reboot of Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger and would edit battle scenes from the original Japanese show into its episodes. Director Dean Israelite's Power Rangers movie attempted to appeal to modern audiences seeking grimmer storytelling by raising the stakes and giving the young warriors more grounded backstories.

The Phantom Of The Opera (1989)

Freddy Krueger from the A Nightmare on Elm Street movies was not the only iconic horror movie villain whom Robert Englund portrayed. He also took on the esteemed mantle of the title role from Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel, The Phantom of the Opera, in a much more violent and viscerally gory interpretation.

Hellboy (2019)

Director Rob Marshall’s adaptation of Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse comic book, Hellboy, was a critical and commercial failure that also deeply pales in comparison to Guillermo del Toro’s movies. However, it does boast a charming performance by David Harbour as the titular kindhearted demon and earns its R rating with some gloriously blood-soaked action sequences.

Fantastic Four (2015)

The first attempt to bring the Fantastic Four to the big screen (or, the first one to get released, that is) from Tim Story was high in camp and struggled to impress critics as a result. For his reboot, director Josh Trank attempted to reimagine the origins of Marvel’s first superhero family as a body horror flick and still failed to make a decent impression on critics and audiences alike.

The Mean One (2022)

Audrey Geisel banned live-action Dr. Seuss movies because, to her, 2003's The Cat and the Hat was no fun, but just imagine how the good doctor's widow would have reacted to The Mean One. Terrifier star David Howard Thornton, an actor who knows how to thrill, stars in this cheesy slasher as a Grinch naughty enough to kill.

Snow White And The Huntsman (2012)

Instead of seven dwarfs, Kristen Stewart’s version of a famous fairytale hero teams up with a capable hunter (Chris Hemsworth) to take down an evil queen (Charlize Theron) in the action-packed Snow White and the Huntsman.

Katee Sackhoff worked for years to get in shape after her stint as resident badass Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica, and she showed off the results of her hard work in the gym (and in the ice bath) this week with a truly artsy photoshoot. Of course, her sci-fi fanbase had a lot of thoughts, but her celebrity pals and acquaintances came out to comment on her vigorous new post, too.

The photo comes from professional photographer Denny Denn, who also housed the pic on his own Instagram. (And please note it's pretty NSFW.) The artsy photo shows Sackhoff mooning the camera, thus her “full moon tonight” caption, and I love how it highlights her cool side tattoo, which I’ve always thought was awesome body art. (If you haven't seen it before, it reads “You are not here by chance.”)

Sackhoff has spent a good chunk of her career appearing in great sci-fi projects, including Battlestar Galactica, varying Star Wars projects, Another Life, the Riddick franchise, and even a memorable bathtub cameo on The Big Bang Theory. So, of course a lot of the comments on the post were from fans who come from that devoted fanbase, with many, many of them using “this is the way” as there take on the post. You can see some other Star Wars-related comments below.

• This is the way
• Disney isn’t gonna like this lmao
• So this is what mandalorians hide under all those beskar armour
• For Mandalore

Of course, as a huge sci-fi fan myself, I was also interested to see what some of Katee Sackhoff's other fans had to say, and the BSG comments did not disappoint, either.

• So say we all.
• Frakkin’ Hell! 🔥
• Damn Starbuck! Gotta warn a guy first!

Sackhoff's been in the industry for a long time, and some famous names were also very generous with the emojis on the post.

• Firefly star Jewel Staite: “🙌😍”
• Grimm’s Bitsie Tullock “🔥🔥🔥🔥”
• Ian Bohen: 🥵🥵

Sackhoff is someone who is mostly known for playing varying badasses on TV, and I really enjoy when she gets to do something fun and flirty. She's also in a Hallmark movie that's quite enjoyable if you want to see her doing something else that's quite different from what we typically see her doing. It's called Christmas Sail, and you can stream it with a Hulu subscription.

Almost every show that goes for multiple seasons eventually does the thing fans dread the most: the jump the shark. Not every show jumps the shark, but it's usually inevitable for long-running shows.

Jumping the shark can mean a few different things. Sometimes, it's the creative pinnacle of the show and everything that comes after feels like coasting. Sometimes it's a moment so absurd, that there is simply no way for the show to ever recover from it. Here is our list of some of the best shows and the moment they jumped the shark.

The Principal And The Pauper - The Simpsons

When a show has been on the air as long as The Simpsons, it wouldn't be surprising to see fans arguing over when it actually jumped the shark. However, for The Simpsons, it's usually agreed upon that "The Principal And The Pauper" is the moment all was lost. Fans hate it, cast members hate it... it's just... hated. It's hated for ruining the canon of the show and creating a fake Skinner.

Cousin Oliver Joins The Bradys - The Brady Bunch

Another way people sometimes refer to the jump-the-shark moment is by calling it the "Cousin Oliver" moment. That's when a new, younger, and cuter cast member is added to a family sitcom when the original kids get too old. It's easy to point to the Cousin Oliver moment on The Brady Bunch since it's the genesis of the term.

The Connors Win The Lottery - Roseanne

The charm of the Connors on Roseanne is their working-class family dynamics. It was something that was rarely seen on TV in those days and it made the "real" to fans of the show. Then they won the lottery and all of a sudden everything that made them real was gone. Womp womp.

Joey And Rachel - Friends

Friends really started getting ridiculous when Rachel and Joy started hooking up behind Ross' back. Two couples within the group of six was enough, no one needed a third. Luckily it didn't last long and the show recovered a little from it, but it was definitely the beginning of the end.

Matthew Crawley's Death - Downton Abbey

One of the things that made Downton Abbey so interesting in the beginning was the dynamic between the established family at Downton with the heir they never knew in Matthew Crawley. When things were finally getting resolved, Matthew was suddenly killed off in a car crash and we had to start all over again. The show never recovered to its early heights.

Jim And Pam Get Married - The Office

It was the moment everyone was waiting for. Jim and Pam finally got married! We all laughed and cried tears of joy. The problem? Where does The Office from there? Yeah, it seems no one really knew and even though the show soldiered on, it never quite regained the magic it had before that wonderful moment.

Season Nine Was A Dream - Dallas

Not only was the big reveal at the end of Season 9 that Bobby Ewing was alive and the whole season had been a dream the moment that Dallas jumped the shark, it made fans furious. Everyone felt cheated and in a way, they were. It's always a mistake to pretend to kill off a character.

Jefferson D'Arcy Moves In - Married... With Children

Ted McGinley is a great actor with an unfortunate reputation of being one reason shows jump the shark. TV fans point to shows like Magnum PI and The Love Boat as examples, but the most famous example is when he joined the cast as D'Arcy's new husband on Married... With Children. For lack of any better moment, we'll go with this one.

Sam Sells The Bar - Cheers

A show jumping the shark in the first episode of a season is very rare, but that's what Cheers did. Season 5 of Cheers ends with Diane (Shelley Long) leaving Boston, never to return. Season 6 opens with Sam having sold the bar to sail around the world. The show might not have gone off the rails with Diane leaving, but Sam selling the bar ended the golden age of the show.

Zoey Barlett Getting Kidnapped - The West Wing

One of the best cliffhangers in TV history comes at the end of Season 4 of The West Wing when Zoey Bartlett (Elisabeth Moss) is kidnapped. It's a moment that writer Aaron Sorkin set up way back in Season 1. It was the pinnacle of the show and after Sorkin left at the end of the season, the show really struggled to reach its early heights. IT never really did.

Negan Kills Glenn And Abraham - The Walking Dead

Negan is the ultimate baddie in The Walking Dead and once he was introduced and he murdered Glenn and Abraham, there was simply nowhere for the show to go to reach a more emotional peak. That was it. The show continued on, but it never came close to that moment ever again.

McNulty's Serial Killer - The Wire

The Wire didn't jump the shark until its final system, but when McNulty invents the serial killer, suddenly a show famous for being grounded in reality went way off the rails. It's still a point of contention with fans of the show and it always will be. It's not one of McNulty's best moments, that's for sure.

West Beverly Grads Go to College - Beverly Hills, 90210

A show about high school, even a classic like Beverly Hills, 90210 is always going to struggle when the main cast graduate. 90210 did an okay job making the transition and it had more seasons after high school than before, but it was never as good as it was in the first three seasons. Donna Martin Graduates!

Fonzi Jumping The Shark - Happy Days

You knew this one had to be on the list, right? The Fonz jumping the shark while wearing his leather jacket in Happy Days is the origin of the term and one of the most infamous moments in all of TV history.

Not Penny's Boat - Lost

Lost is one of the most controversial shows in history. Fans love it, and those same fans also hate it. Almost no one thinks the show ended well, but everyone agrees that the moment we learn that the boat supposedly coming to save the castaways isn't what they think it is is the creative peak of the show.

Sam Joins The Drummonds - Diff'rent Strokes

In one of the most famous examples of the "Cousin Oliver Effect," Diff'rent Strokes introduced Sam, a new kid living with the Drummonds. The show was simply never the same again.

John Dutton Becomes Governor - Yellowstone

Yellowstone was never a show that was grounded in much reality, but when a sociopath and criminal like John Dutton (Kevin Costner) gets elected governor, it's a bridge too far. Everyone's favorite TV anti-hero was halfway believable as a rich guy fighting off everyone from his land, but the governor? Come on. Making his first speech with a black hat on is a little on the nose, too.

The Cylon Reveal - Battlestar Galactica

Make no mistake, the moment of the Cylon reveal on Battlestar Galactica is an all-time great TV moment. The problem is, the show lost its way a little as so much had been building for that moment.

Spock's Brain - Star Trek (TOS)

There honestly might not be a moment when the original series of Star Trek jumped the shark, but if you have to pick one, it's probably the "Spock's Brain" episode. It's a favorite for some, but it's not without its detractors, who call it the cheesiest episode of the show.

Leaving Westworld - Westworld

This may be the most devastating jump-the-shark moment on this list. Westworld's first season is universally praised. In the end, when the show "leaves" Westworld it goes off the rails and the next two seasons are a disaster. It truly never recovered.

House Destroys Cuddy's House - House

The balance between genius and chaos is what made House a great show. Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) was on the edge. It's when he went over the edge by crashing a car into Dr. Cuddy's house, the show never got back to where it was before, when it was truly great.

The Gang Goes To Ireland - Sons Of Anarchy

Sons Of Anarchy was always a show that was over-the-top and ridiculous. It was part of the Charm of the motorcycle gang from Charming. About halfway through Season 3, a bunch of the gang takes off for Northern Ireland for... some reason. It feels like such a desperate attempt to breathe life into the show when it didn't really need it yet.

Frank Underwood Becomes President - House Of Cards

The best thing about House Of Cards is watching Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his desperate craving for power. When he finally reaches the pinnacle, the motivation is lost and that is reflected. Spacey's legal problems ultimately spelled the end of the show, for all intents and purposes, but it jumped the shark long before that.

A Different Darren - Bewitched

Replacing a popular actor is difficult, especially if it's in an existing role. Dick York, the original Darren on Bewitched was forced to leave the show because of medical issues, and a new actor, Dick Sergeant stepped in. Sergeant was great in the role, and it's not his fault the show faltered, but it just never regained the steam it had before York got sick.

Laverne and Shirley Move To LA - Laverne & Shirley

There are a ton of TV sitcoms set in Los Angeles, but very few are set in Milwaukee. What made Laverne & Shirley so charming was that midwest vibe it had when the two titular characters worked in a brewery. In Season 6, everyone ups and moves to LA and the show's charm was sucked out of it almost immediately. It stumbled along for another few seasons, but it was never the same.

Topher Grace Leaving - That '70s Show

Some shows can survive the main character leaving, but some just can't. That '70s Show is an example of the latter when Topher Grace, who played Eric Foreman, left the show. Though it was an ensemble cast, Eric was really the core of the whole friend group and they just never found the chemistry the earlier seasons had.

Victorian Sherlock - Sherlock

It was a bold decision by the creators of Sherlock to set an episode in Victorian London, the true time period for Sherlock Holmes. It's a decent episode, but the problem was that what made the show great was that it was a very modern and very contemporary take on the Sherlock Holmes stories. By setting it in the late 19th Century it was more like every other adaption of the Holmes stories, and the show lost some of its charm.

The Elevator Drop - LA Law

Rosalind Shays (Diana Muldaur) on L.A. Law was one of the great TV villains of the 1980s. Still, her ridiculous death by falling down an empty elevator shaft was so silly that it spelled the end of the show. The show wouldn't end for another few seasons, it felt like such a cheap end after she had started a relationship with another character, softening her character.

Leo Joins The Cast - Growing Pains

Usually, the actor in a "Cousin Oliver" moment ends up living in obscurity. That is not what happened with the Growing Pains Cousin Oliver moment when the family invited a homeless kid named Luke Brower to live with them. Bower was played by none other than Leonardo DiCaprio. Wow. Still, it didn't save the show from getting canceled soon after.

Song Beneath the Song - Grey's Anatomy

The 18th episode of Season 7 of Grey's Anatomy was... a musical. There are a lot of ways of looking at the episode, called "Song Beneath the Song." Some love and some loathe it. Either way, it's a classic jump-the-shark moment, even for a show that used music brilliantly.

Has there ever been a better time for the science fiction genre than the 1970s and the 1980s? We are not just referring to the now classic sci-fi movies of the time, but especially the series that transported us to new worlds from the comfort of our own homes week after week. Let's take another journey back in time by celebrating some of the best sci-fi TV shows from the era.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

A prime example of a spin-off as good as the original is Star Trek: The Next Generation, which might even be the finest iteration of Gene Roddenberry’s widely celebrated franchise. Sir Patrick Stewart's Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard especially brings this Emmy-winning hit chronicling the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D crew into masterful territory.

The Six Million Dollar Man (1974-1978)

Some characters are known for their classic TV catchphrases, but Steve Austin from The Six Million Dollar Man is one of the few who is, instead, known for an iconic sound effect: na na na na na na na. Based on Martin Caidin's novel Cyborg, the series starred Lee Majors as Austin — a pilot who is made "better, faster, and stronger" with mechanical enhancements after suffering a near-fatal test flight crash.

V (1984-1985)

In NBC's hit, Emmy-nominated miniseries V from 1983, the Earth becomes infiltrated by lizard-like extra-terrestrials who pretend to come in peace before their intentions of exterminating the human race and harnessing all of the planet's most valuable resources are discovered. The alien invasion story continued in the 1984 miniseries V: The Final Battle and this traditional series that lasted one season and saw more of one of Robert Englund's best performances as one of the few friendly "Visitors," Willie.   

Mork And Mindy (1978-1982)

One of Robin Williams' greatest TV performances originated in a Season 5 episode of Happy Days, in which Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) is visited by an eccentric alien named Mork, who's from the planet Ork. Soon after, the character landed his own spin-off called Mork & Mindy, in which he moves in with a human woman named Mindy McConnell, played by Pam Dawber, in 1970s Colorado. 

Knight Rider (1982-1986)

One of the most charming unlikely duos in TV history comes from creator Glen A. Larson's Knight Rider — a classic TV show that might be due for a movie reboot. It stars David Hasselhoff as a skilled lawman who, after a failed attempt to kill him, is given a new face and the new name Michael Knight. He is partnered with a high-tech, unusually powerful car equipped with an advanced AI called KITT (voiced by William Daniels).

Buck Rogers In The 25th Century (1979-1981)

One of comic book fiction's most influential cosmic heroes was brought to the small screen in developers Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens' NBC hit, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Gil Gerard starred as the Emmy-winning drama's titular hero: a modern-day astronaut who finds himself accidentally sent hundreds of years into the future, where Earth has fallen under totalitarian rule after a devastating nuclear war.

The Hitchhikers's Guide To The Galaxy (1981)

A story often referred to as "Monty Python in space" is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which creator Douglas Adams originally wrote as a radio play before adapting it into a now-celebrated novel. Also celebrated is the 1981, six-episode TV adaptation which beautifully brought to life the story of a human's post-Earth adventures with a whacky group of space travelers.

Space: 1999 (1975-1977)

The mid-to-late 1970s' answer to Lost in Space was the U.K.-produced Space: 1999. Starring Academy Award winner Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, the cosmic adventure drama followed the crew of Moonbase Alpha, who struggle to find stability when they are accidently sent hurtling out of the Earth's orbit. 

Voltron (1984-1985)

Before there was the live-action Power Rangers franchise, there was the animated Voltron series, which was later rebooted for Netflix as Voltron: Legendary Defender. The American-Japanese production boasted a similar plot involving young heroes defending evil by piloting robots that can combine into one giant mechanical warrior.

Battlestar Galactica (1978-1979)

Glen A. Larson's most celebrated creation might be Battlestar Galactica, which follows a crew searching for the long-lost planet Earth in a dystopian future. The short-lived, Emmy-winning cult favorite was rebooted into an even more acclaimed drama for Syfy, which featured a new Battlestar Galactica cast not just replacing, but redefining, beloved characters like Dirk Benedict's "Starbuck," who was later played by Katee Sackhoff.

Quantum Leap (1989-1993)

Creator Donald P. Bellisario crafted one of the most inventive time travel story concepts with Quantum Leap. Following an accident with his groundbreaking tech, Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), with help from the holographic Al (Dean Stockwell in one of his best TV shows), is forced to jump from person to person and era to era righting wrongs of the past and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home

Doomwatch (1970-1972)

Few science-fiction TV shows from the 1970s (or 1980s) are more thematically relevant in modern times as Doomwatch. The British drama followed a group of biological researchers keeping tabs on strange biological and technological disasters.

The Transformers (1984-1987)

Long before Michael Bay revamped their popularity with the live-action Transformers movies, the Autobots and the Decepticons were really in their prime when they starred in their own TV show. The animated series, which premiered the same year as the original action figures' initial "rollout," notably starred legendary voice actor Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime.

Sapphire & Steel (1979-1982)

Joanna Lumley and David McCallum actually play the eponymous elements in Sapphire & Steel, respectively. In the British series from creator Peter J. Hammond, the interdimensional agents materialize into human form on Earth to investigate unusual cases.

Red Dwarf (1988-Present)

If you are looking for a show like The Orville, the British cult favorite Red Dwarf is a perfect match. Boasting the look of a cosmic B-movie epic but the tone and laugh track of a quirky sitcom, the British cult favorite has endured several cancellations and lasted decades after its late '80s debut, thanks to its devoted fanbase.

Blake's 7 (1978–1981)

Fans of sci-fi stories about ragtag groups of unlikely heroes taking on corruption and evil should seek out the U.K.-based thriller, Blake's 7. Airing for four seasons on the BBC, it stars Gareth Thomas as the leader of a crew made up of convicts and outcasts who unite to fight a tyrannical regime.

Amazing Stories (1985-1987)

From executive producer Steven Spielberg, Amazing Stories is a collection of wondrous tales exploring the greatest depth of the imagination, such as a school custodian who inexplicably absorbs knowledge from the classrooms he cleans up. Admittedly, however, the series veers away from sci-fi and often feels like a fantasy or even a horror anthology TV show in some episodes, such as one in which a movie nerd gets to live the plot of Psycho for real.

The Incredible Hulk (1977-1982)

Decades before Marvel's famous big, green superhero was a role shared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies by Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo, it was a role shared by Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno on The Incredible Hulk. Developed by Kenneth Johnson, the Emmy-winning series remains one of the most iconic and entertaining Marvel TV shows of all time.

ALF (1986-1990)

ALF (the title character of the hit NBC sitcom) is known for his sarcastic quips and hunger for felines. However, when you compare him to most other extra-terrestrial characters introduced at the time (on TV and in classic '80s movies alike), the way he treated his adoptive human family was endearing.

The Tomorrow People (1973-1979)

Creator Roger Price's The Tomorrow People is a British drama following a group of teens who represent the next steps in human evolution with enhanced cognitive abilities such as telepathy and teleportation. The coming-of-age series has been reimagined twice since its initial run — first in the early 1990s and more recently for the The CW.

Max Headroom (1987-1988)

One of the oddest pop culture sensations of the 1980s was a stuttering computer-generated TV presenter called Max Headroom, who was really actor Matt Frewer in heavy prosthetics. After debuting in a British made-for-TV cyberpunk satire film, the character hosted a music video compilation and later became the star of a short-lived dramatic series set in a dystopian future run by television networks.

UFO (1970-1971)

Unidentified flying objects are not only real but a prevalent threat in creators
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's British drama, UFO. Set 10 years in the future, the series follows the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organization (otherwise referred to as SHADO for short) and their effort to defend the Earth from insidious extra-terrestrial activity.

The Highwayman (1987-1988)

The closest we came to getting a TV series based on the post-apocalyptic movie classic, Mad Max, in the 1980s was creators Glen A. Larson and Douglas Heyes' The Highwayman. Flash Gordon's Sam Jones starred in the title role of the leader of a team of federal marshals who travel the country in a high-tech 18-wheeler righting wrongs in a nearly lawless near future.

Land Of The Lost (1974-1977)

An earthquake during a rafting trip sends Rick Marshall (Welsey Eure), his son Will (Wesley Eure), and daughter Holly (Kathy Coleman) into a world inhabited by dinosaurs and even stranger creatures in Land of the Lost. Producers Sid and Marty Krofft's cult favorite was later reimagined as a short-lived ABC series in the early '90s and again as a feature film starring Will Ferrell.

Terrahawks (1983-1986)

The U.K. drama Terrawhawks followed the heroic efforts of an organization sworn to protect the Earth from a malicious enemy based on Mars. Like the majority of producer Gerry Anderson and Christopher Burr's most famous series (such as Thunderbirds), the production was told with the use of puppets and miniatures, making for a visually unique experience in science fiction storytelling.

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1975)

While many of the most acclaimed new Star Trek TV shows are animated these days, the first series from Gene Roddenberry's space exploration saga to adopt the medium was Star Trek: The Animated Series. William Shatner came to back to voice Captain James T. Kirk, along with many of his co-stars from the original live-action show, which was cancelled before the end of the 1960s.

Small Wonder (1985-1989)

At a time when family sitcoms with a sci-fi twist were increasingly popular, Small Wonder managed to stand out and last nearly 100 episodes in syndication — perhaps because the main focus of the series was an adorable little girl named Vicki, played by Tiffany Brisette. In the series, Vicki is a robot designed by inventor Ted Lawson (Richard Christie) who, along with his wife and son, is trying to keep her true identity a secret while she poses as his daughter. 

Timeslip (1970-1971)

Cheryl Burfield and Spencer Banks star on Timeslip as Liz Skinner and Simon Randall, who are a couple of regular English children who make an astonishing discovery that changes their lives forever. After falling through a portal, they become trapped on a journey through various eras of the 20th Century, all the while frequently coming at odds with a menacing fellow time-traveler named Commander Charles Traynor (Dennis Quilley).

Alien Nation (1989-1990)

A classic sci-fi TV show due for a remake (especially with how relevant its adversarial themes are these days) is Alien Nation, which an adaptation of the 1988 film of the same name starring James Caan and Mandy Patinkin. The series puts Gary Graham and Eric Pierpoint in the roles of a human police officer and his partner, who is part of an extra-terrestrial race that has integrated itself into society after becoming stranded on Earth.

The Bionic Woman (1976-1978)

Steve Austin from The Six Million Dollar Man was not the only mechanically enhanced hero on TV in the 1970s. Creator Kenneth Johnson developed a spin-off called The Bionic Woman, which starred Lindsay Wagner in an Emmy-winning performance of the first female cyborg, who would also team up with Lee Majors in crossover episodes and, later, a series of made-for-TV features that explored their further adventures together.

War Of The Worlds (1988-1990)

Just like the seminal H.G. Wells novel that inspired it, 1953's The War of the Worlds ended with the Martian visitors being defeated by the common cold. Creator Greg Strangis' series acts as a continuation of the alien invasion movie classic, positing that the bacterial infection only put the extra-terrestrial enemy in a state of hibernation, only to awaken as an even worse threat to humanity.

Logan's Run (1977-1978)

Based on the 1976 feature adaptation of William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson's novel, Logan's Run is set in a dystopian society in which all citizens are put to death once they reach the age of 30. A police officer (played by Gregory Harrison) wishes to continue living and takes a woman named Jessica 6 (Heather Menzies-Urich) on a search for a fabled sanctuary.

From creator Jason Rothenberg, The 100 is considered today to be one of the best dystopian TV shows of its time. It follows a large group of juvenile delinquents who are sent to Earth nearly a century after nuclear war drove humanity away, only for them to discover the planet is not completely desolate.

After seven seasons on The CW, the Emmy-winning series had its final curtain call, but it remains a hit on Netflix (one of the best streaming services to subscribe to) today. If you are instead looking for something else to binge that is similar in plot and tone, perhaps our recommendations for other great sci-fi TV shows like The 100 might be just what you are looking for.

Fallout (2024-Present)

A, literally, sheltered young woman (played by Ella Purnell), a young man who aspires to be a knight (played by Aaron Molen), and an ageless bounty hunter (played by Walton Goggins) search for a coveted possession in a war-torn dystopia.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: In Amazon Prime's series adaptation of the popular video game franchise, Fallout — which has a second season in the works — the central character, Purnell's Lucy, is a young woman exploring the remnants of an Earth decimated by nuclear war for the first time, much like our central characters on The 100.

Stream Fallout on Amazon Prime.

3% (2016-2020)

Years in the future when Earth has become an uninhabitable wasteland, impoverished youths fiercely compete to be one of the few allowed entry to the “better side.”

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: Another dystopian series following a group of young people struggling to navigate their harsh environment (and one of the best sci-fi TV shows on Netflix) is the Brazillan import, 3%, which also boasts themes and elements that call to mind the Hunger Games movies.

Stream 3% on Netflix.

The Society (2019)

Teenage Allie Pressman (Kathryn Newton, giving one of her best performances) and other people her age suddenly find themselves mysteriously trapped inside their small town without the adults and cut off from the rest of the world.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: Another one of the best TV shows on Netflix with connections to The 100 is The Society, both for the way it follows a young cast of characters left to their own devices to create stability in an increasingly dangerous environment and in that it was also prematurely cancelled during COVID.

Stream The Society on Netflix. 

Terra Nova (2011)

As the planet becomes increasingly less homey, an average man (played by Jason O'Mara) and his family find a new place to call home by traveling to the prehistoric age.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: In The 100, the last of humanity seeks refuge from an uninhabitable Earth by living on a space station, while Terra Nova — a show Fox should feel embarrassed about canceling — follows a group of people trying a different method: time travel.

Buy Terra Nova on Amazon.
Buy Terra Nova on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Lost (2004-2010) 

After suffering a horrific plane crash, a group of strangers must band together to survive on a desert island where nothing is quite what it seems.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: The 100 is certainly a TV show like Lost, since it also follows a crew of survivalists who must endure harsh terrain, mysterious research labs, and conflicts with enemy tribes.

Stream Lost on Netflix.
Stream Lost on Hulu.
Buy Lost on Amazon. 

The Wilds (2020-2022)

A group of teenage girls must work together to create stability on a deserted island after a near-fatal plane crash leaves them stranded.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: Another great Amazon Prime TV show like The 100 (and, admittedly, a lot like Lost, too) is The Wilds, which is especially similar to the show of honor as it also involves teenagers thrown into the unknown where brewing conflicts lead them to split into warring factions.

Stream The Wilds on Amazon.

12 Monkeys (2015-2018)

A scavenger (played by Aaron Stanford) from a futuristic world ravaged by a disastrous epidemic is sent back in time on a mission to prevent the spread.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: Later seasons of The 100 heavily involve a bid to save humanity from a deadly plague, which is also the central plot of 12 Monkeys, an acclaimed Syfy series inspired by director Terry Gilliam's classic time travel movie from 1996.

Buy 12 Monkeys on Amazon.
Buy 12 Monkeys on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

After an extraterrestrial enemy wipes out most of humanity, the surviving people aboard the sole remaining warship travel through outer space in search of sanctuary.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: Similar to The 100, Battlestar Galactica — the acclaimed, Emmy-winning reboot to a cult favorite sci-fi series from the 1970s — is set after their civilization's downfall and follows a group of protagonists looking for a new home...on the fabled planet of Earth.

Stream Battlestar Galactica on Amazon Prime.
Buy Battlestar Galactica on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Magicians (2015-2020)

A group of students are recruited into a secret society from which they learn that magic is real and very dangerous if used by the wrong people.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: While it may not be a sci-fi dystopian thriller or a survivalist drama, The Magicians is a compelling fantasy with a few similar character arcs, and epic twists and turns galore.

Stream The Magicians on Netflix.
Buy The Magicians on Amazon.
Buy The Magicians on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Shadowhunters (2016-2019)

Following the disappearance of her mother, teenager Clary (Kat McNamara) discovers that she is a descendant of a long line of demon hunters and must accept her destiny to join the fight.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of The 100: Spun off from the movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (also an adaptation of Cassandra Clare's popular series of novels), Shadowhunters is another popular drama about a group young people with the weight of humanity's fate on their shoulders.

Stream Shadowhunters on Hulu.
Buy Shadowhunters on Amazon. 

If you have already seen all of these shows, go ahead and log into your Netflix subscription and see The CW's The 100 cast in action again.

When it comes to TV shows, character deaths are relatively common, as plenty of shows have axed main or supporting players throughout their runs. Feelings over such casualties can vary, with some eliciting waves of tears and others causing people to celebrate. What we’re going to discuss here are the fictional fatalities that fall into that first category. So break out the tissues as we discuss the notable demises that still break our hearts.

Joyce Summers (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

To say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer features its fair share of brutal and otherworldly deaths would be an understatement. Yet it’s the natural passing of Buffy’s mom, Joyce Summers, that arguably still hurts fans the most today. The matriarch dies in Season 5 due to a brain aneurysm, and her body is ultimately found by her daughter. Joyce’s death shakes Buffy and her friends to their cores, but it also prompts them to grow up and take a greater step towards adulthood.

Nate Fisher (Six Feet Under)

Mortality is a major theme of Six Feet Under and, while every main character’s demise is chronicled by the end of the show, one that really sticks out is the passing of lead character Nate Fisher. Diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, Nate dies of a brain hemorrhage in a hospital with his brother, David, by his side. While Nate’s death prompts his family to cope with their grief and ultimately move forward with their lives amid the series’ final episodes, it’s a gut-wrenching development nonetheless.

Glenn Rhee (The Walking Dead)

The Walking Dead’s heartbreaking deaths are all painful in some way or another, but few can hold a candle to the moment Glenn Rhee is killed off. In Season 7, the thoughtful young man dies at the hands of the Saviors’ leader, Negan, who beats him to death with his barbed wire baseball bat, Lucille. Glenn’s death itself is sad, but it’s even more unfortunate considering that he leaves behind his wife, Maggie, and their unborn child.

Prue Halliwell (Charmed)

Drama between Charmed cast members Alyssa Milano and Shannen Doherty is said to be a contributing factor to the death of the latter actress’ character, Prue Halliwell. At the end of Season 3, Prue is murdered by a demon named Shax. In addition to marking the end of the character, this event also serves as a turning point for the remaining Halliwell sisters.

Hank Schrader (Breaking Bad)

Special Agent Hank Schrader is one of the best Breaking Bad characters and arguably has one of the most distressing deaths in the franchise’s history. Following a shootout, Hank is killed by neo-Nazi leader Jack Welker in the acclaimed episode “Ozymandias.” Schraeder’s drug-dealing brother-in-law, Walter White, witnesses the event and is left distraught. The loss of Hank is tremendous, and the only point of comfort is that Walt later avenges him by killing Jack.

Bill McNeal (NewsRadio)

The passing of comedian Phil Hartman in 1998 is what prompted the producers of the hit NBC sitcom NewsRadio to kill off his character, Bill McNeal, ahead of the fifth and final season. It’s explained in the premiere that Bill died (off-screen) from a heart attack, and his co-workers mourn him heavily. The episode is an emotional tribute to the character and the work of the great Hartman.

Dr. Mark Greene (ER)

One of the key storylines from ER Season 8 involves Dr. Mark Greene dealing with a serious brain cancer diagnosis. His health sadly declines as the season goes on and, in the penultimate episode, Greene dies. The situation is truly bittersweet as, before he passes on Greene, he’s able to spend time with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughters, Rachel and Ella.

Ned Stark (Game Of Thrones)

Game of Thrones killed off Eddard “Ned” Stark in truly Shakespearean fashion. Joffrey Baratheon goads Stark into admitting to “treason” in order to save his children’s lives and his own. Stark eventually makes that declaration during a public hearing, though Joffrey orders him to be killed anyway, in what’s truly a devastating turn of events.

Caitlin Todd (NCIS)

Caitlin Todd’s death at the tail end of NCIS Season 2 might be one of the most tragic moments in the history of TV. The character is murdered via a sniper attack by Mossad double-agent Ari Haswari, who later reveals that he only did it to hurt Todd’s colleague, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Caitlin’s demise is only made worse by the fact that her final words are “Wow, I thought I'd die before I ever heard a complim…”

Mark Sloan (Grey's Anatomy)

Mark Sloan’s death can be attributed to injuries sustained during a plane crash in Grey’s Anatomy’s eighth season finale. Mark is taken off life support in the Season 9 premiere after being in a coma. And that tragic event only adds to the sadness that his co-workers feel after Sloan’s lover, Lexie Grey, succumbed to injuries from the crash in the Season 8 finale.

Adriana La Cerva (The Sopranos)

It’s honestly hard to feel sympathy for a lot of the characters on The Sopranos, but Adriana La Cerva deserves some. La Cerva, who’s aware of fiancée Christopher Moltisanti’s mob dealings, eventually becomes a mole for the feds after being busted for drug possession. After she tells Chris about this and tries to convince him to disappear with her, he tells his uncle, Tony Soprano, who has Adriana killed.

Jonathan Kent (Smallville)

DC Comics fans surely know that there are many continuities in which Clark Kent’s adopted father, Jonathan Kent, dies. However, that doesn’t make seeing him die from a heart attack – while surrounded by Clark and Martha Kent – in the 100th episode of Smallville any easier.

Mrs. Dolores Landingham (The West Wing)

A character as endearing as The West Wing’s Mrs. Dolores Landingham doesn’t deserve to die at all. With that, many would surely agree that she didn’t deserve to be killed by a drunk driver near the end of Season 2. Landingham’s death still marks one of the most shocking moments in TV history.

Charlie Pace (Lost)

Of the various deaths that occurred on Lost, Charlie Pace’s passing still arguably hurts more than others. The fan-favorite character was killed off during the events of the third season’s finale. It’s in that installment that Charlie is doomed to drown after Mikhail Bakunin blows a hole in the underwater Looking Glass Station, though he dies a hero due to the fact that he saves some of his comrades.

Chet Hunter (Boy Meets World)

The father of Shawn and Jack Hunter, Chet died suddenly during Boy Meets World’s sixth season after suffering from two heart attacks. While the patriarch passes on before being able to formally reconcile with Shawn, the two do so when the younger Hunter later encounters his father’s ghost.

Mr. Hooper (Sesame Street)

Many members of Generation X surely remember one of the most emotional moments in Sesame Street’s illustrious history – the death of Will Lee’s Mr. Hooper, which occurred after Lee himself passed on in 1982. The episode that tackles Hooper’s passing is a truly emotional episode that sees the members of the community paying tribute to the late store proprietor. The installment also remains a groundbreaking piece of work for its exploration of death and grief in a children’s show.

Wallace (The Wire)

16-year-old Wallace possesses one of the most heartbreaking storylines ever presented by The Wire. During the first season, the young drug dealer finds himself in a tough spot after he chooses to cooperate with authorities and provide information on the local drug trade. Ahead of a trial, Wallace is found and killed by former associates, and the sight of the teen begging for his life before the trigger is pulled is still affecting.

Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad)

The wise and stoic Mike Ehrmantraut is murdered by Walter White, following an argument, amid the final season of Breaking Bad. After being shot by Walt, Mike sits by a riverbank, where he finally passes on. Ehrmantraut’s demise is made sadder due to the fact that Walt and his associate, Todd, later dissolve his body using acid.

Tara Maclay (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

It’s during the sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that Tara Maclay is sadly killed by a stray bullet to the heart. Tara’s passing ultimately plunges her girlfriend, Willow Rosenberg, into grief and pushes her towards her darker magical impulses. Willow’s rage is intense – but arguably not as explosive as the fan responses to Tara’s passing were at the time.

Henry Blake (MASH)

As humorous as MASH is, it also features some legitimately heartbreaking moments, and the death of Henry Blake at the end of Season 3 is certainly one of them. Blake is set to be discharged from military service and sent home. But, shockingly, it’s revealed at the end of “Abyssinia, Henry” that Blake’s plane has been shot down over the Sea of Japan and there are no survivors. At the time, this was a shock to viewers and to the actors involved in the scene, as it was a last-minute addition.

James Evans (Good Times)

Those who avidly watched sitcoms during the ‘70s can probably remember the night Good Times killed off family patriarch James Evans Sr. James dies off-screen at the start of Season 4, with his family receiving word of his death from a car accident in Mississippi via a telegram. In the years since that development occurred, fans have argued that James’ death marked a serious shift in quality for the Norman Lear-produced show.

Lawrence Kutner (House)

A TV character death that still hits incredibly hard is that of Lawrence Kutner, who is killed off after two seasons of House. Kutner dies by suicide, in what is an absolutely earth-shattering turn of events. What really makes this development so heartbreaking is that the exact reasons for Kutner’s decision to shoot himself are never made clear.

Edith Bunker (Archie Bunker’s Place)

Edith Bunker, one of the most iconic characters in TV history, dies in her sleep from a stroke in between the first and second seasons of All in the Family spinoff Archie Bunker’s Place. The mere notion of such a lovable character like Edith dying is sad enough, but watching her usually. boisterous husband, Archie, come to terms with her passing really tugs at the heartstrings.

Margaery Tyrell (Game Of Thrones)

Like so many Game of Thrones characters before her, Margaery Tyrell meets a brutal end. Tyrell’s death is due to the machinations of Cersei Lannister, who arranges for the Sept by Qyburn to be burned – with Margaery and many more inside of it.

Ben Sullivan (Scrubs)

Ben Sullivan doesn’t appear in many episodes of Scrubs, but he manages to leave a serious impression through his kindness and very mellow demeanor. So it’s understandable why his eventual death from leukemia is so affecting.

Poussey Washington (Orange Is The New Black)

Orange is the New Black sadly kills off Poussey Washington by having her unintentionally die by suffocation at the hands of Baxter Bayley. Her passing has a profound impact on the other residents at Litchfield Penitentiary. And, while her absence is felt as the show progresses, she at least returns via occasional flashbacks.

Anastasia "Dee" Dualla (Battlestar Galactica)

On the list of Battlestar Galactica’s most shocking deaths is that of Anastasia “Dee” Dualla, Dee dies by suicide by shooting herself in the head – a move that’s slightly prompted by her depression over seeing how ravaged Earth (now a nuclear wasteland) is. And, if that’s not sad enough, the final motivating factor in Dee’s suicide is her reconciliation with estranged husband Lee Adoma, which happens moments before she shoots herself. Dee ultimately wants to hold on to one final moment of happiness, so she ends her life.

Fred Andrews (Riverdale)

Beloved Riverdale character Fred Andrews dies as the result of a hit-and-run incident, leaving his son, Archie, and just about everyone in their eponymous town saddened. His sendoff episode is truly beautiful, as it not only honors Fred but also his portrayer, Luke Perry, whose death necessitated Andrews’ passing.

Lincoln Campbell (Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

At the end of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Season 3, the titular team is forced to say goodbye to another one of its own – Lincoln Campbell. The young Inhuman sacrifices himself by flying the villainous Hive and a nuclear warhead into space, where they can detonate. While Lincoln’s death hits hard, he goes out like a true hero. 

Teri Bauer (24)

A number of people meet their maker over the course of 24’s nine-season run, and one of the major characters to die early on is Teri Bauer. She loses her life to corrupt CTU operative Nina Meyers, as Nina shoots (the pregnant) Teri to cover her own tracks. Even now, it’s tough to shake the image of Jack Bauer cradling his wife’s body.

J.T. Yorke (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

Degrassi: The Next Generation fans are probably still shaken by the moment that beloved character J.T. Yorke was stabbed to death by Drake Lempkey. J.T.’s passing serves as a “loss-of-innocence” moment for his friends, who continue to cherish his memory. 

Howard Hamlin (Better Call Saul)

If any TV character has ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time, it’s Better Call Saul’s Howard Hamlin. The occasionally smug – but mostly well-meaning – lawyer is savagely killed by drug dealer Lalo Salamanca at Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler’s apartment. What’s sadly ironic is that Howard goes there to tell off Jimmy and Kim for secretly sabotaging him and is merely killed by Lalo to keep his issues with Wexler and McGill quiet.

Some TV shows stumble their way to the finish line, such as these series that went on way too long. But others end the race cruising to victory, with final seasons and series finales that satisfyingly wrap up the journey their characters were on over the years. From classic comedies like Cheers to acclaimed dramas like The Americans to sci-fi standouts like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, here are TV 32 shows that absolutely nailed their farewells. (WARNING! Obviously there are spoilers ahead!)

Succession

Succession creator Jesse Armstrong could have milked all of that Shakespearean family drama for one or two more seasons but smartly decided to end the hit HBO drama after four seasons because "this was simply how this story had to go," Armstrong told Vulture. And it ended in brutally brilliant fashion, with outsider Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) sniveling his way to the top of Waystar Royco over Roy siblings Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall (Jeremy Armstrong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook). 

Breaking Bad

It was inevitable: after five seasons of greed and ruthlessness, chemistry teacher-turned-meth cooker Walter White (Bryan Cranston) had to die. But what a way to go, with an explosive, critically acclaimed final run — both halves of season five won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013 and 2014 — that not only offered up some of the drama's greatest episodes ("Ozymandias" is one for the history books) but cemented the TV series as one of the best ever.

Newhart

Nowadays, the "it was all a dream" twist has become a cliché but when the CBS sitcom Newhart pulled that very move back in 1990, it cemented itself as one of the most memorable moments in pop culture history. In the final minutes of the comedy's series finale, lead character Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) woke up after getting knocked out by a golf ball in Vermont — the surprise was that he was now in a Chicago bedroom as Bob Hartley, his famous The Bob Newhart Show character, with TV wife Emily (special guest Suzanne Pleshette) by his side.

Mad Men

Fitting for an iconic and complicated character like Don Draper (Jon Hamm) — and finally earning the actor that much-deserved Emmy for Best Actor — Mad Men left viewers with quite an ambiguous conclusion when it ended in 2015 after seven seasons. The existential finale saw the advertising executive searching for inner peace at a meditation retreat, or was he really just tapping into some Zen as inspiration for that famous Coca-Cola advert? We'll never know!

The Leftovers

Grounded by a standout performance by Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, the conclusion of HBO's The Leftovers was ambiguous yet sentimental, a gratifying and thematically fitting send-off for the complex drama. Following Nora in her decision to enter a radioactive machine that could reunite her with her husband and children who vanished in the "Sudden Departure," the series finale didn't so much answer all of our questions about all the ones who left — we still don't entirely understand the quantum mechanics of it all — as it did give hope to the ones left behind. 

30 Rock

The seventh and final season of 30 Rock said goodbye to Liz (Tina Fey), Jack (Alec Baldwin), Tracy (Tracy Morgan), Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) in equal parts hilarious and heartfelt fashion, with all of the nostalgic callbacks, witty one-liners and delightful absurdism that fans have come to know and love from the NBC sitcom. The series finale also movingly said farewell to the real-life behind-the-scenes folks from 30 Rock by casting them as the TGS crew. 

Parks And Recreation

Co-written by lead Amy Poehler, the series finale of Parks and Recreation warmly said goodbye to both beloved characters and the city of Pawnee. The sweet two-parter took place mostly in the future, with happy endings for all: Garry (Jim O'Heir) being elected mayor (with Christie Brinkley as his wife, no less); Andy (Chris Pratt) and April (Aubrey Plaza) becoming parents; Ron (Nick Offerman) taking over as superintendent of the Pawnee National Park; and Leslie (Poehler) continuing her life of political service...potentially all the way to the White House?

Fringe

The final episode of the Fox sci-fi drama Fringe was a bittersweet one for Olivia (Anna Torv), Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Walter (John Noble). The fifth season had jumped far into the dystopian future overtaken by the Observers. Walter sacrificed himself and took Michael (Rowan Longworth) into a wormhole even farther into the future to stop the Observer invasion from ever happening in the first place. In the process, the story reset back to 2015, where Walter sadly no longer existed, but through time-travel magic, he still managed to send his son a drawing of a white tulip.

Justified

The story of Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) continued with the sequel series Justified: City Primeval, but the end of its predecessor Justified was a more than satisfactory closing chapter in and of itself, especially in wrapping up Raylan's rivalry with friend-turned-foe Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins). The Harlan County criminal was an endlessly quotable character across all six seasons of the FX drama, but his final words — “We dug coal together" — prove he saved the best line for last.

The Shield

One of the most gripping crime dramas of the 2000s, The Shield lived up to its own reputation with its bold finish, which saw Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) trying so hard to stay out of prison that he got a fate worse than incarceration: with blood on his hands, his family running from him, and him banished to a desk job. With police sirens blaring in the distance, Vic grabbed the gun from his desk drawer and left the ICE building. Where he went, we'll never know, but it surely can't be good. 

Cheers

It can be hard to leave those special places where everybody knows your name, but if you have to, at least take "One for the Road." Such is the title of Cheers' standout series finale, which poured one out for all of our beloved barflies: Woody (Woody Harrelson) was elected Boston councilman; Norm (George Wendt) finally got his coveted city job; Cliff (John Ratzenberger) was promoted at the Post Office; and Sam (Ted Danson) chose between reconciliation with the one who got away, Diane (Shelley Long), and the real love of his life, the bar itself. 

MASH

It's the most-watched finale of all time for a reason: seen by a TV audience of 121.6 million, the 1983 end of MASH beautifully brought closure to the dysfunctional members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. With the Korean War coming to a close, the camp had to go their separate ways, but no departure tugged at our hearts quite like the one between Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell), which saw the former leave on a helicopter only to spot the latter's parting message: the word "GOODBYE" spelled out with rocks on the ground below.

The Sopranos

One of the most polarizing TV finales of all time was also one of the most powerful. That shocking The Sopranos ending was a masterclass in embracing ambiguity and racking up tension, with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) seemingly enjoying a simple diner meal and some Journey tunes with his wife (Edie Falco) and son (Robert Iler) while keeping an eye on every patron entering the establishment. As the diner door opened and the bell rang, Tony looked up — and the screen cut to black. Was it Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), who finally found a parking spot? Or was it someone far more nefarious? Frustratingly and fantastically, we will never know. 

Six Feet Under

It seems so obvious now to end a series about a family that owns a funeral home by fast-forwarding into the future to see how each character dies, but the laying to rest of the HBO drama Six Feet Under felt clever and emotional when it aired back in 2005. An episode of television dominated by death doesn't sound all that cheerful, but getting to see the Fishers years down the line — particularly Claire (Lauren Ambrose), the last one standing at 102 — felt as right and cyclical as life itself. 

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose." Such was the motto of football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and the showrunners of Friday Night Lights took it to heart when it came to graduating the high school-set drama series. Despite the gleam of game glory blurring his vision — the East Dillon Lions happily won that tense match-up against the Dillon Panthers — Coach Taylor clearly saw that it was only right for him to leave Texas behind by the series' end, moving to Philadelphia to support his beloved wife Tami (Connie Britton) and her new job as dean of admissions at Braemore College. Couple's goals, much?

The Wire

One of the best episodes of The Wire is its last, which managed to wrap everything up while also leaving things intriguingly open. It showed that Baltimore and all of its complexities would continue long after the credits roll. Things could change — Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) could become governor, Templeton (Tom McCarthy) could win a Pulitzer, Michael (Tristan Wilds) could become the new Omar, McNulty (Dominic West) could leave the police department — but, devastatingly, many things would always stay the same. 

The West Wing

The end of The West Wing was the end of an era — literally, as the seventh and final season chronicled the last weeks of President Jed Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) administration. The series finale was a heartfelt farewell to the former POTUS as well as all of the government employees and officials in his orbit, including C.J. (Allison Janney), Leo (John Spencer), Josh (Bradley Whitford) and Donna (Janel Moloney). But it didn't languish in nostalgia: "What are you thinking about?" Stockard Channing's Abbey asked Jed at the show's end. "Tomorrow," he replied. 

ER

The medical drama came full circle for its grand finale, which echoed its premiere episode 15 years prior by taking place over the course of 24 hours in the emergency room of Cook County General Hospital. The cases are dramatic and dizzyingly varied, from emergency cesarean sections to terminal cancer diagnoses to triage patients from an industrial explosion. As the theme music played, the camera pulled out for ER's final, effective shot: the entire exterior of the hospital, seen for the first and only time in the show's history, with all of that curative frenzy happening within. 

Battlestar Galactica

After years spent traversing the stars and avoiding being blown to smithereens by enemy Cylons, the Battlestar Galactica crew and the last remaining humans finally made it to Earth — well, the Earth of the distant past — at the end of the Sci-Fi Channel series. That primitive planet eventually evolves into modern-day civilization and the epilogue picks up 150,000 years in the future, where half-human, half-Cylon Hera has been announced as a "Mitochondrial Eve," the progenitor of modern-day humanity. Leaving us with Jimi Hendrix's warning cry "All Along the Watchtower," the finale chillingly questioned whether humans are doomed to repeat themselves. 

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

There's a lot of pressure with being the "Chosen One," as Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) no doubt learned through seven seasons of the iconic fantasy series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But after 140-plus episodes of single-handedly saving Sunnydale and suffering greatly in the process, Buffy recognizes that she doesn't have to do it all alone. In the series finale, the Hellmouth crumbles and Sunnydale is destroyed but Buffy has the Scooby Gang and a new crop of Slayers by her side, and a whole future ahead of her.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

"We kept putting off writing that last show," said executive producer Allan Burns as he accepted The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1977. "I think it said what we wanted it to say. It was poignant." Poignant, yes, but also plenty funny, with Mary (TV icon Mary Tyler Moore), Lou (Edward Asner), Murray (Gavin MacLeod) and Sue Ann (Betty White) ultimately getting fired from WJM-TV. From that group shuffle to the tissue box to the swan song of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," the finale had us laughing and crying in equal turns.  

The Americans

With a high-stakes show like The Americans, it seemed only inevitable for Russian spies Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) to be exposed and have to flee the United States for Mother Russia. Despite that eventuality, the FX drama still managed to end on a tensely unexpected and devastating note, with both their American-born children Paige staying behind. That shot of Paige (Holly Taylor) standing on the platform as Philip and Elizabeth's train pulled away will haunt us for years to come.

Parenthood

Over six seasons, Parenthood fans came to love the Braverman clan like their own family, which made it all the harder to say goodbye when the show ended in 2015. But even though the series finale was a tearjerking one, with patriarch Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) dying peacefully in his sleep, a hopeful time-jump showed that all would be well with the Bravermans, with weddings, pregnancies, graduations, vacations and puppies at Christmas all happily in their futures. 

Better Call Saul

It's hard enough to make a great spin-off of an already great show. But to end that spin-off with as much acclaim as its predecessor is a whole other thing entirely. Better Call Saul, part of the Breaking Bad universe, did just that with its sixth season, which saw Jimmy McGill-turned-Saul Goodman-turned-Gene Takavic (Bob Odenkirk) finally facing the consequences of his choices. However, as co-creator Peter Gould told AMC, Saul's end can actually be seen as hopeful: "In spite of the fact that he's in prison, which is terrible, Jimmy is Jimmy again. He's recovered his soul."

The Good Place

Though diehards of The Good Place would have wanted to spend eternity with all of its beloved characters, the NBC afterlife comedy did come to an end in 2020 after four seasons and 53 episodes. But it did so with a characteristically funny and cathartic conclusion, which saw Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper) and Jason (Manny Jacinto) ready to step through the door and move on from the Good Place, and Michael (Ted Danson) made human and allowed to live out a normal life down on Earth. 

Angel

Trying to save the world from evil forces is a nearly impossible but always worthwhile task, as the Angel series finale "Not Fade Away" powerfully showed. After a season of loss, including the deaths of both Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Fred (Amy Acker), it would have been very easy for Angel (David Boreanaz) and the rest of the Angel Investigations team to wallow in their grief and raise a white flag. But, even knowing that it would likely end in their own demise, Angel, Spike (James Marsters), Gunn (J August Richards) and Illyria (Acker) chose to go into battle against the supernatural baddies and fight for good.

Friends

What Friends got so right in its tenth and final season was showing how transient of a town New York City is, especially when you grow from those lively twentysomething years to your more settled thirties. "The Last One" saw Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) adopt twins and move out of that famously purple-walled West Village apartment for the suburbs. After Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and the recently reunited Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer) returned their keys, Chandler landed one final hilarious quote before they went — where else? — to Central Perk one last time.

The Office

Sure, there's an argument to be made that The Office should have ended after Steve Carrell's Michael Scott left Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and Scranton, PA, at the end of season seven. But though the show was shaky in the years following that character's exit, if it had ended years earlier, fans wouldn't have gotten that sentimental happy ending, with Michael pulling off the perfect surprise at the wedding of Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) to serve as best man and drop the final "That's what she said." 

Star Trek: The Next Generation

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In the farewell to sci-fi favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard mentally jumps around in time: from the present, then back to the ship's first mission seven years ago and then 25 years into the future. In each era, Picard makes it so that the Enterprise stops a temporal anomaly, which destroys the ship but saves humanity. It all ends up being a test from Q (John de Lancie) but Picard passes, and in the present, he finally joins the crew's poker game.

Fleabag

After the brilliance of Fleabag's first season, it seemed impossible that Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Co. could match the sharp wit and gut-punching emotion with a season 2 of the BBC One dramedy. But PWB managed to prove every naysayer wrong with that devastatingly romantic and electrifyingly funny second — and, judging by that fourth-wall-breaking final scene, last — season, which famously saw our nameless heroine meet and fall for a "quite hot" priest, played by Andrew Scott. 

Veep

The end of Veep, one of the most consistently hilarious shows in all of television, saw Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) get everything that she always wanted: namely, the Oval Office. Yes, the seemingly perpetual Vice President became POTUS by the series finale, a ruthless political rise that saw her betray those closest to her, especially her loyal aide Gary (Tony Hale). But Selina gets a viciously hilarious comeuppance when, 24 years in the future, coverage of her funeral is interrupted by the breaking news that American icon and "Philadelphia 2 star" Tom Hanks has died. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The epic four-part finale of Avatar: The Last Airbender not only gave every major character their chance to shine but also cemented it as one of the best-animated shows of the 21st century. In his spectacular final face-off against Ozai, Aang stays dedicated to pacifism and decides not to kill Fire Lord Ozai, instead using energy bending to remove his firepower as punishment for his crimes. In doing so, the final installments offer up a philosophical exercise that's far more mature and sophisticated than anyone would expect from a "kiddie" show. 

What’s harder to land than a hit movie? Try a hit series of movies. This list of titles is full of movies that, through one reason or another, we’re shocked haven’t become bigger franchises in the Hollywood landscape.

Master and Commander: Far Side of the World

Director Peter Weir’s seafaring epic starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany has become a fan favorite over time but somehow didn’t catch fire upon initial release. A Master and Commander reboot is in the works, but missing out on more of this pair is still a tragedy. 

Battlestar Galactica

How in the Frak did Caprica not catch on with people? We could have had even more answers into Ronald D. Moore’s reimagining of Battlestar Galactica, and yet people didn’t seem ready for it. Even with the defunct Peacock reboot and an attempted movie adaptation proposed in the past, this sci-fi landmark can’t seem to catch a break, which makes you wonder just what went wrong.

John Carter

The world failed John Carter, but somehow dug straight into Avatar without a question. Holding the record for the longest period of book-to-film adaptation, the legendary Edgar Rice Burroughs’ space opera of Mars finally found itself adapted into a 2012 cult favorite, but failed to turn into a franchise for director Andrew Stanton to call his own. 

Dredd

It’s a shame that Dredd’s story of going from a beleaguered production to a fan favorite never paid off with sequels or spin-off series capitalizing on Karl Urban’s time in the role. Even with streaming success boosting the picture’s profile, there’s still no sign of anyone following this 2000 A.D. comic’s second cinematic adaptation with another turn at bat. 

Mortal Engines

With the YA adaptation market being what it is, it’s rather surprising that Mortal Engines couldn’t capture the same readers and viewers who made The Hunger Games an enduring success. Even having the pedigree of producer Peter Jackson flexing his post-Lord of the Rings muscles wasn’t enough to lift this inventive dystopian tale into the consciousness. 

Akira

There have been several efforts to create a live-action adaptation of author Katsuhiro Otomo’s iconic manga Akira, stretching back for almost as long as the 1988 anime film brought the books to the world’s attention. With major directors like Stephen Norrington, Albert Hughes, and Taika Waititi being drafted over the decades to try and make it so, the reasons for its failure are just as frustrating as not seeing a more accurate portrayal of the manga’s extensive story. 

The Nice Guys

You’d think someone would slip writer/director Shane Black a Christmas present by putting The Nice Guys back on the board as a potential franchise. Alas, not even Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe’s comedic chemistry has made it easy to revisit this fan favorite. Plus, a potential female-led TV reboot has also gone MIA, depriving us all of more clever mysteries punctuated by witty, R-rated punchlines.

Warcraft

Much like Pacific Rim, Legendary co-production Warcraft was a long-legged box office success with modest enough results to keep people asking for a sequel. While one could understand why it never happened, it’s baffling that a reboot or even an adaptation of other Blizzard franchises like Starcraft weren’t attempted to try and get people revved up all over again. 

Sahara

Even Matthew McConaughey understood that Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels could have been something truly cinematic. With follow-ups intended to continue past Sahara’s 2006 theatrical release, that was indeed a possibility. But even with that film failing to catch fire, how has someone not tried to get this potential American James Bond competitor back on the market? 

Alita: Battle Angel

With solid box office at its back, a vocal fanbase still pulling for a sequel, and the likes of James Cameron producing, Alita: Battle Angel was always born to be a franchise. Sadly, despite Cameron seeming to confirm an Alita sequel in development, nothing has been set in stone. 

Eragon

YA and Fantasy are two realms that always seem to be fresh for mining in show business. Author Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle, kicked off by the novel Eragon, is one such property that touches both of those bases; seemingly destined for future greatness. At least, that seemed to be the case before the 2006 movie adaptation was released, much to the chagrin of fans of the text. 

Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

The Fast Saga has never been quiet about its aspirations to become a huge and healthy franchise. That’s practically why Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw was greenlit in the first place. But somehow the Dwayne Johnson/Jason Statham spin-off hasn’t been given much priority, even with its main-line franchise due to say its last farewell at some point. 

Tron

While a Tron threequel is in motion, and with a clear finish line in sight, the failure to see this saga entrench itself further in pop culture is a crying shame. Considering how well Tron: Legacy did at the box office, and how Tron: Uprising’s ambitious storyline still remains unfinished, we should have returned to the grid a long time ago. 

Bridesmaids

Admittedly, director Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids wasn’t built for a sequel. That hasn’t stopped lightning-hot comedies in the past, and considering this movie was a lightning bolt hit akin to The Hangover films, one wouldn’t be mistaken in thinking that we missed out by not spending more time with Kristen Wiig and the rest of the insanely stacked ensemble from this laugh riot. 

Interview With The Vampire

Writer Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles novels eventually saw justice done by them with the start of the AMC series adaptation of Interview with the Vampire. Tom Cruise’s shock at the lack of a sequel proves that he would have been up for more madness as Lestat, and knowing that someone prevented this from happening in the decision-making process really bites. 

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Considering Ferris Bueller’s Day Off actually landed a TV series that went beyond its source material, you’d think that the John Hughes/Matthew Broderick hit could have secured at least one more movie in its canon. Alas, the closest we’ve ever gotten to such a prospect is a Paramount+ spin-off film, and the Honda Super Bowl ad that returned Broderick to the role in 2012. 

Fear Street

Saved from the clutches of non-existence, Netflix snagged director Leigh Janiak’s Fear Street trilogy after the Fox/Disney merger, making the films a streaming hit. And yet, only one follow-up seems to be on the books at the time, even in a world where author R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps saga has turned into a streaming TV hit. 

The Baby-Sitter’s Club

Whether you’re thinking of the 1995 film adaptation or either of the TV projects that author Ann M. Martin’s iconic book series spawned, the fact that The Baby-Sitter’s Club never caught on is something that’s perplexing. With the popularity of the long-running series’ literary incarnation as its foundation, there’s still a potential for someone to figure out how to keep Dawn, Mallory, and the rest of the girls telling their stories for generations to come.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is more than likely the movie that’s helped actor Henry Cavill continue to associate his name as adjacent to the James Bond franchise. This light-hearted and funny action crusher could have been a competition to 007 himself, and still could be if the right studio executives set their minds to making it happen.

The Last Starfighter

It’s almost amazing how The Last Starfighter’s long developing legacy-quel, with Rogue One writer Gary Whitta attached, can’t seem to escape the atmosphere of development hell. If you ask us, we blame the Ko-Dan Empire for this serious lack of progress. 

The Mummy

“Lack of effort” isn’t the primary cause that killed The Mummy’s potential third sequel. But at the same time, it doesn’t feel like there was never enough hustle to try and get the series back on the rails with Brendan Fraser and company involved. At best, all Universal has to show for things is a failed reboot with Tom Cruise, and a lot of fans hoping Rick O’Connell and his family will return. 

Wanted

Director Timur Bekmambetov still likes to talk about the potential sequel to his 2008 hit Wanted, but that talk seems to be going nowhere. This James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie starring hit still has its fans, but apparently none of them are in positions of power to get a second picture into the works. 

District 9

One of Neill Blomkamp’s most promising sequel pitches has to be the follow-up he was planning to continue the story of his breakout hit District 9. As the 2009 sci-fi movie left off on a huge cliffhanger, further exploration of the worlds occupied by Wikus (Shartlo Copley) and “Prawn” Christopher (Jason Cope) just might have expanded this hard-hitting story across the galaxy. 

Edge of Tomorrow

If Tom Cruise wants to do something, he tends to get his way on the matter at hand. A potential Edge of Tomorrow sequel is one of the rare cases that, at the moment, proves this isn’t always the case. Perhaps it’s just a matter of time before Tom makes this seemingly impossible feat a reality. 

Galaxy Quest

Across the spectrum of movies and TV, the potential continuation of 1999’s Galaxy Quest has been a subject of great work and much promise. While potential successor efforts seem to have mostly halted after the death of Alan Rickman, it’s still somewhat surprising that there weren’t more attempts made closer to the release of the original. 

The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy

While there’s not a “definitive” version of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the places the 2005 cinematic incarnation could have gone were numerous. That unfulfilled promise could have been realized through the more recent Hulu series that was pitched, but the radio silence on that front speaks volumes about the possibility. 

The Rocketeer

Despite its initial box office troubles, The Rocketeer has continued to thrill audiences young and old. There’s been quite a bit of talk over the years involving legacy-quels pitches, but as it currently stands all that’s actually happened is a Disney Junior series that ran between 2019 and 2020.

James Bond

Over 60 years of history is pretty amazing with any film franchise, especially the James Bond series of movies. But with so many potentials for spin-offs and book-accurate adaptations, the most the powers that be have done to branch out this particular brand is the Prime Video exclusive reality series 007: Road to a Million.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington’s exploits in trying to take over Christmas are legendary, even with The Nightmare Before Christmas’ rocky start in theaters. While there is a video game sequel, as well as adjacent adventures in sagas like Kingdom Hearts, no cinematic continuation to Tim Burton and Henry Selick’s perennial favorite has been made.

National Treasure

What’s tougher than stealing the Declaration of Independence? Try making a theatrical sequel to the National Treasure movies. Ending on a cliffhanger that seemed to set up a natural continuation with a third movie, the short-lived Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History is the closest we’ve gotten to re-entering the world of Nicholas Cage’s iconic treasure hunter Benjamin Gates. 

Sherlock Holmes

There could be hope for a third Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes movie, especially with his Young Sherlock series potentially reinvigorating interest in the IP. The wait for such a prospect has certainly been a killer, but fans of Steven Moffat’s modern adaptation of Sherlock would probably fight for the title of “most disappointed fans on Baker Street,” as that BBC series stopped after four rounds of adventure. 

Hocus Pocus

We understand that Hocus Pocus has a sequel movie, and there’s another round that’s looking to get underway. But to be completely honest, it’s surprising that there wasn’t a larger scrum to dig up the Sanderson Sisters a lot earlier, especially when the old days of Disney direct-to-video sequels would have eaten this prospect up, and asked for more.

Just days after Ronald D. Moore himself weighed in on Peacock’s Battlestar Galactica reboot from creator Sam Esmail, some bad news broke about the project: the NBCUniversal streamer is no longer moving forward with the science fiction series. This may not seem like the biggest shocker in TV history after relatively few updates over the years since the project was first announced in 2019, but with how passionate of a fanbase there is for the 2004 version of the series, I feel like any show under the BSG banner could have at least started strong.

Read on for the details of the new Battlestar getting the axe as well as why the news started flashing me back to my favorite episode of the 2004 series with Katee Sackhoff as Kara “Starbuck” Thrace.

What Happened To Peacock’s Battlestar Galactica Reboot

The update that the new take on Battlestar Galactica is no longer happening comes courtesy of Variety, but production company Universal Content Productions is reportedly looking to shop the series around to find a home elsewhere than Peacock. No details are currently available about what that will entail and which platforms are being targeted, but Netflix has rescued genre shows before like Manifest and Lucifer. I could see a home for Battlestar Galactica there. Then again, BSG is currently available streaming with Amazon Prime Video subscriptions.

The reboot was said to take place within the same continuity as Ronald D. Moore’s 2004 take on BSG, which itself was a reboot of the original series from the late ‘70s, but stars from the Sci-Fi series weren’t expected to be part of the cast. Still, Peacock’s Battlestar getting cancelled before it’s even produced reminds me of my favorite episode from Moore’s era that proved Battlestar doesn’t have to stick to a familiar format to create something great, and that could have been true for streamers with Peacock Premium subscriptions as well.

My Favorite Episode Of Battlestar Galactica: “Unfinished Business”

From what I’ve heard from other BSG fans, the Season 3 episode “Unfinished Business” is far from a universal favorite, and it truly is a departure from the show’s usual format. As the members of the crew blew off steam by fighting each other in a ring – and fighting dirty, in the case of Starbuck vs. Apollo – the episode took viewers through a series of flashbacks that finally answered some big questions.

The focus was much more on character than plot, and I’m sure that anybody who despises the Lee/Kara pairing would happily skip this episode in a rewatch, but I appreciated seeing all the messiness play out on screen with some strong performances from Katee Sackhoff and Jamie Bamber, among others. Plus, Bear McCreary was in fine form in “Unfinished Business,” with the song “Violence and Variations” ranking as one of his best of the series in my estimation. (Seriously, check it out.)

This was an atypical episode of Battlestar Galactica that arguably was barely even science fiction, but the emphasis on character was fantastic for me and really set the stage for how Starbuck and Apollo would somehow manage to get even messier in the coming episodes.

And dang it, if the 2004 version of Battlestar Galactica could produce something so great and so different by pushing its own boundaries, I would have loved to see what Sam Esmail and a whole new team could do with the world of BSG that was built by Ron Moore and his crew in the early aughts.

Of course, it is still possible that this new version of Battlestar Galactica will be produced, depending on whether or not UCP is successful in shopping it around. For now, you can always revisit the 2004 version of BSG streaming on Amazon Prime Video, including the excellent "Unfinished Business" as Episode 8 of Season 3. You can also find more recent and/or upcoming viewing options in our 2024 TV schedule now.

Although the original Battlestar Galactica developed a cult following after it aired for just one season on ABC in the late ‘70s, the franchise skyrocketed in popularity in the 2000s thanks to the reimagining developed by Ronald D. Moore. That show, which launched with a TV movie in 2003 and wrapped up in 2009 after four seasons, earned critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including winning a Peabody, and it’s certainly one of the best sci-fi TV shows available to stream. Now there’s a new Battlestar Galactica series in the works that will be accessible to people with a Peacock subscription, and in addition to sharing his thoughts about the reboot with CinemaBlend, Moore mentioned how its creator, Sam Esmail, reached out to him about the project.

Our own Mick Joest had the opportunity to speak with Moore at San Diego Comic-Con about his body of work, including other long-concluded shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as current programming like Starz’s Outlander and Apple TV+’s For All Mankind. On the subject of Battlestar Galactica, Moore had this to say when Mick asked him if he felt over “ownership” over the property as this Peacock reboot that was announced in 2019 continues to be developed:

It’s important to note that unlike Ronald Moore’s Battlestar Galactica, which was set in a separate universe from the original Battlestar Galactica, the new show coming from Sam Esmail, whose TV credits include Mr. Robot and Angelyne, will take place in the same continuity as Moore’s show, which also includes the prequel Caprica and Blood & Chrome. Nevertheless, Moore is fine with someone else playing around with this sci-fi property, and he told Esmail that much when they spoke on the phone. So now we wait for another question to be answered: what will Moore think of the new Battletsar Galactica once it starts airing, assuming he watches it?

Moore’s comments follows three months after Callum Keith Rennie, who played the Number Two-model Cylon known as Leoben, told CinemaBlend that if someone’s going to reboot a property like Battlestar Galactica, “it has to be better than the one prior.” However, five years after the public learned about this new Battlestar series, there still haven’t been any specific plot details revealed, so it’s anyone’s guess what we can expect from it besides robots targeting humanity. In addition to Esmail producing through his company Esmail Corps, it was reported in January that The Sinner’s Derek Simonds came aboard as writer, executive producer and showrunner.

While we wait for any major updates on how Peacock’s Battlestar Galactica is coming along, Ronald D. Moore’s version can currently be streamed with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. There’s also a Battlestar Galactica movie in development, but there’s been no word on its progress since 2020, when it was reported that Simon Kinberg was writing the script and producing.

I adore when fan-favorite actors known for one fictional franchise take on iconic roles within other beloved universes, with Katee Sackhoff being a prime example of someone who regularly takes on playing beloved characters. Some of Sackhoff’s best performances are within the worlds of Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and DC Comics, and it’s the latter she returned to for one of the most exciting superhero projects of 2024: WB’s animated and R-rated Watchmen adaptation.

That’s right, one of sci-fi television’s most celebrated heroines will now take on a hugely popular character in the first full-length animated iteration of arguably the greatest complete work in comic book history. Though casting news was initially non-existent regarding Warner Bros. Animation’s highly anticipated new feature — or pair of features, to be more accurate — the release of the striking first trailer unearthed the full lineup of actors bringing their voices to the iconic characters created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

But now we know Katee Sackhoff will be lending her recognizable vocal chops to the role of Laurie Juspeczyk / Jupiter, the second generation to take on the vigilante persona of Silk Spectre. Laurie is one of the most important catalyst characters in the story, largely for Doctor Manhattan’s story, but also where The Comedian is concerned.

Sackhoff is definitely one highlight within the cast of Watchmen: Chapter 1, but is by no means the only highlight. That lineup also includes Titus Welliver as Rorschach, Matthew Rhys as Nite Owl, Troy Baker as Ozymandias, Adrienne Barbeau as Silk Spectre I, Jeffrey Combs as Moloch, Rick D. Wasserman as The Comedian, and quite a few other big talents.

Silk Spectre II marks the DC role that Sackhoff has portrayed in her career, both for animated and live-action projects. Her first was voicing Dectective Essen in 2011's Batman: Year One adaptation, followed by taking on the arguably problematic accent for The Flash villain Amunet Black, and then embodying the animated take on Poison Ivy for the two-part feature Batman: The Long Halloween. Having voiced her desire to play a live-action Poison Ivy, Sackhoff will be reprising the alluring villainous role for the upcoming final chapter Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three.

Take a look at the first full preview for the upcoming DC Comics movie below to hear her in action!

Star Wars fans will hopefully be seeing Katee Sackhoff back as Bo-Katan, whether it's leading her own Mandalorian spinoff or as part of the upcoming Mandalorian and Grogu crossover feature that's on the way. Of course, BSG fans are also hopeful that she'll have some kind of role to play in the long-gestating Battlestar quasi-reboot for Peacock, though it remains to be seen whether that project will come to fruition or not.

Only the first half of this expansive tale will be part of the 2024 movie release schedule, as Watchmen: Chapter 1 will be streaming via digital release on August 13, with physical releases hitting shelves on August 27. Unless someone secretly released it 35 minutes ago...

Nearly four years ago, we learned that Battlestar Galactica star Michael Hogan had dealt with a slip and fall incident that led to his partial paralysis. He had a long battle on the road to strengthening his left side, but his wife Susan Hogan has been faithfully sharing updates in the time since. Now, after having to quit his day job as an actor and focus on long hours of physio, Mr. Hogan made his first appearance in public since the incident. 

His partner shared the news on a Go Fund Me page dedicated to his recovery efforts (which have been expensive and, again, he has been unable to work). She noted she was given an award from the Actors Union and that her husband was feeling up to going out enough to attend the event. It would mark his first public appearance since his accident following a Battlestar Galactica fan convention.  

As the star of one of the best sci-fi shows to date, interest from the fanbase about how “Saul Tigh’s” recovery had been going was great. His former BSG castmates even rallied around him after news of the accident broke, with Katee Sackhoff writing at the time, “This man and his family are so incredibly special.” (Sackhoff has previously called her BSG family "the family we choose" and seems to get along with the cast of the show well.) 

Now, Susan has also shared an update about where Michael is at in terms of what he is and isn't able to do post stroke and it seems as if things have taken a step forward… quite literally.

She also thanked fans who have been continuing to donate during Michael’s journey. So far the family has raised a whopping $461,700 toward a $600,000 goal to aid in Hogan’s continued recovery, including physical therapy and other major medical expenses.  Susan had said previously that it will be unlikely the Battlestar Galactica actor, who is also known for roles in projects like Teen Wolf, 12 Monkeys and Fargo, would be able to work in a high volume capacity again. 

It does seem he recently landed a 2024 role doing voice work for the animated project Sonya From Toastville. Plus, she mentioned in the post he has also been keeping his creative spirit alive by working on a one-man show, as well. Clearly, nearly four years is a long time on anyone's road to recovery, but I'm just grateful things seem to be looking brighter for the actor every day. 

Meanwhile, for those who know him most from his sci-fi work, a Battlestar Galactica revival series will also be heading to streaming for those with a Peacock subscription.

For many years now, there have been two attempts to revive the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The first has been through a movie that, as of 2020, is set to be written by Simon Kinberg, who will also co-produce with Dylan Clark. The second is through a Peacock subscription-exclusive TV show that will connect to the reimagined series that ran from 2004-2009. Its lineup of characters included Callum Keith Rennie’s Number Two-model Cylon, better known as Leoben Conoy, and while speaking with CinemaBlend, the actor explained why he wants this upcoming revival to outdo even the critically-acclaimed show he participated in.

In addition to Rennie comparing his time on Battlestar Galactica to his latest gig on Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 (which is now streaming to Paramount+ subscribers) playing Rayner, the new first officer on the title ship, he also told me the following when I asked him for his thoughts on Peacock’s Battlestar revival, namely if he welcome that specific continuity being expanded or if it would be better off left alone:

Battlestar Galactica was originally a one-season sci-fi TV series that ran from 1978 to 1979 on ABC and developed a cult following, although the follow-up series Galactica 1980 was poorly received. Then in 2003, after various attempts to revive Battlestar either on TV or as a movie failed, the then-Sci-Fi Network released a three-hour miniseries reimagining that served as a backdoor pilot for the main show. Running for four seasons and including the tie-in movies Razor and The Plan, this version of Battlestar Galactica’ popularity arguably surpassed its predecessor and earned numerous accolades, including a Peabody Award. This continuity was later expanded in the prequels Caprica, which lasted one season, and the web series Blood & Chrome.

So for Callum Keith Rennie to hope that Peacock’s take on Battlestar Galactica is even better than the show was on is a high bar to clear. If the 2004 series is exceptional, then this new version would have to practically be perfect. Still, it’s important to measure a project on its own merits rather than just compare it to what came before, so if/when this show comes out, let’s keep that in mind as this latest Cylon-centric story unfolds.

In January, Deadline reported that The Sinner’s Derek Simonds joined the new Battlestar Galactica TV show as writer, executive producer and showrunner, and Mr. Robot’s Sam Esmail is still producing though his company Esmail Corps. It remains to be seen exactly how this series will connect to its 2004 predecessor, but once concrete details start trickling in, we’ll pass them along. Until then, browse through our 2024 TV schedule to see what else is currently on besides Star Trek: Discovery.

Star Trek: Discovery’s final season is finally underway on the 2024 TV schedule, and there’s a newcomer who’d come aboard the main cast for this last hurrah. Callum Keith Rennie is starring as Rayner, a Kellerun Starfleet officer who thrived during wartime, but is having trouble adjusting to peace. Of course, Battlestar Galactica fans know Rennie well from having played Leoben, the #2 model Cylon, so with another major sci-fi credit on his resume, I was curious to learn how his experiences on the two shows compared to one another when I spoke to him for CinemaBlend. He described Discovery as having a “different energy” from Battlestar, and I see where he’s coming from.

Ahead of the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5’s third episode, titled “Jinaal,” to Paramount+ subscribers, I had the pleasure of chatting with Callum Keith Rennie about his experience in this massive corner of the sci-fi genre. The actor clarified what he meant by “different energy,” as well as shared what was similar about these professional experiences for him, with these words:

While Battlestar Galactica certainly had its fair share of fantastical elements, Callum Keith Rennie’s use of the term “earthy” is pretty apt. The show may have followed the remnants of humanity trying to follow a new home on Earth as the Cylons hunted them down across the galaxy, but revival of the same-named 1978 series was definitely more grounded compared to a lot of other sci-fi projects. This included through the dialogue, and I can understand why Rennie brought that up, because with Star Trek, there’s a lot more technobabble thrown in.

That aside, Rennie also noticed that camaraderie between the starring characters as a big similarity between Star Trek: Discovery and Battlestar Galactica. The circumstances and challenges these respective crews have to face out in space are quite different, but in the midst of that, they’re all there to support one another through these difficult times. As far as Discovery goes, here’s hoping that Rayner gets on board with that particular program soon now that he’s Michael Burnham’s first officer. Things run a lot differently there compared to when he was captaining the Antares, and as seen in “Jinaal,” Rayner’s going to have to adjust the way he interacts with those he commands in order to be an effective leader on this title ship.

There are now seven episodes left to go until Star Trek: Discovery is over, so keep visiting CinemaBlend for more coverage on this series and the upcoming Star Trek TV shows. Unfortunately, if you’re looking to revisit Callum Keith Rennie’s time as Leoben in Battlestar Galactica, that show currently isn’t streaming anywhere, so you’ll either need to purchase your own physical or digital copy of it.

A good plot twist can send shivers down your spine and give you a nice hit of dopamine as it changes everything you thought about a movie or TV show. Here is our list of some of favorite mind-blowing plot twists that shook us to our core. 

WARNING: MAJOR Spoilers ahead!! 

Vader Is Luke’s Dad - Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Darth Vader telling Luke that he is Luke’s father is maybe the #1 most mind-blowing plot twist in film history. It seems quaint to many of us now because it’s always been a part of our lives, but think back to what it was like when you first saw the revelation. It was crazy, no one saw it coming. The Empire Strikes Back had a few surprises, including the bad guy winning in the end, but this moment tops them all. 

The First Flashforward - Lost

The final two episodes of Season 3 of Lost were intense, and when they got to the end, audiences were treated to one of the most “what the!” moments in TV history when they realized what they thought was one of Jack’s flashbacks was actually a flashforward when he tells Kate they “have to go back” to the island. It changed the show forever and it's hands down the best episode of Lost.

It Was Earth All Along - Planet Of The Apes

The original Planet of the Apes from 1968 started with Charlton Heston’s character, George Taylor awakening from hibernation after a long space journey when he and his fellow astronauts crashed into an unknown planet. Apes of different kinds rule the planet and humans are treated more or less like animals. The shock comes in the last show when Taylor discovers he traveled through time, not space, and awoke on Earth many years in the future. 

Off With The Main Character’s Head - Game of Thrones

For fans of Game of Thrones, the penultimate episode of Season 1 proved anything in the show was possible and it would be smart not to get too attached to any one character. In the episode, the hero of the story, Ned Stark (Sean Bean) is executed and nothing would be the same for the rest of the show’s epic run. 

The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled - The Usual Suspects

It’s true that some viewers latched on to the idea that Verbal Kint (Keven Spacey) is an unreliable narrator, but very few anticipated the twist at the end revealing Verbal to be the mysterious Keyser Soze. Just when everyone puts it together, poof…he’s gone. Brilliant. 

He’s Been Dead This Whole TIme - The Sixth Sense

Director M. Night Shyamalan has made an entire career out of twists and turns and last-minute revelations. It’s a formula that goes way back in his filmography, most notably with the film that established him as a big-time director, The Sixth Sense. The twist, of course, is learning Bruce Willis’ character, Malcolm Crowe, is one of the dead people who Cole (Haley Joel Osment) sees. 

The Unexpected Mole - 24

Nina (Sarah Clarke) was a fan favorite in the first season of 24. She helped Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) get out of a lot of tight spots as his eyes and ears at CSU’s headquarters. A fan favorite, that is, until it turns out she’s been a mole along. It only gets worse when she kills Teri Bauer, Jack’s wife. Nina goes from a hero to a villain in a matter of minutes. 

She’s Safe! - Gone Girl

Gone Girl smartly hides its first twist, that Amy (Rosamund Pike) was not kidnapped or killed, but set the whole thing up herself. That’s not the only turn the movie takes though. Later, Amy also framed Desi (Neil Patrick Harris) for her kidnapping, clearing Nick of suspicion. The twists don’t end there, either. As Nick prepared to expose Amy’s crime, she told him she was pregnant with their first child. Nick changes his mind, keeping Amy’s secret, and staying in their marriage. It’s dark, but it’s a heck of a ride. 

Surprise, They Are Triplets - This Is Us

The pilot episode of This Is Us sets up its twist brilliantly with an interstitial explaining how many people are born on the same day, right before meeting Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) when Rebecca goes into labor with triplets on Jack’s birthday in 1980. In the present day, audiences meet Randall (Sterling K. Brown), Kate (Chrissy Metz), and Kevin (Justin Hartley), but it’s not until the final scene of the episode that it all comes together that Rebecca lost one of the triplets, but she and Jack adopted Randall the same day after he was abandoned at a fire station. 

Rosebud - Citizen Kane

One of the most famous twists in cinema history is also one of the earliest. In 1941, Citizen Kane tricked audiences into wondering for the entire movie what Charles Foster Kane’s (Orson Welles) final word, “Rosebud,” meant. At the end of the movie, they learn it was a beloved sled from his innocent youth, things he had lost a long time ago. 

Bernard Is A Host - Westworld

Jeffery Wright’s performance as Bernard in Westworld was one of the brightest spots on an uneven show. Audiences loved him and when it turned out he was a “host”, it was mindblowing for many. As is the nature of shows like Westworld plenty of people “called it” in online discussions, and there were clues to Bernard’s true nature, but for the rest of us, it was a real “wow” moment. 

Who Exactly Is Norman Bates? - Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho created a template for modern horror movies that directors are still following today, to great success. One of the most influential moments in the movie is the reveal at the end just who is Norman Bates’ (Anthony Perkins) mother. Before the end, we just see glimpses of her in windows, and comments by Norman. It’s not until the final scenes that we learn she’s been dead for years and Norman has been dressing like her, or even becoming her? 

Agatha All Along - WandaVision

Another TV show that drops plenty of hints for the big twist is Marvel’s WandaVision. As audiences were left wondering who was behind all the weird things happening in Westview. It turns out, it was Wanda’s neighbor Agnes – or Agnes (Kathryn Hahn) all along. It’s one of the most fun reveals on this list as well. 

The Wizard Is A Conman - ​​The Wizard Of Oz

When Dorothy (Judy Garland) finds herself transported to Oz in The Wizard Of Oz, the only way home, as she understands it, is to visit the Wizard, who can help. Along the way, she meets some friends who all need something from the power Wizard. Of course, when they arrive in the Emerald City, they learn the truth, the Wizard is just a conman. What a nightmare! 

The Bad Place - The Good Place

The reveal at the end of Season 1 of The Good Place is just a lot of fun. It’s not so much of a “holy cow” moment as it is an “I love it! moment. Instead of being in the “good” place, aka Heaven, it turns out Eleanor (Kristen Bell) is in the other place, the “bad” place. 

The Big Reveal - The Crying Game

The Crying Game is an emotional movie that takes place during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, but it’s the reveal that Dil (Jaye Davidson) is transgender. Davidson, who retired after only acting in two movies, won all kinds of awards for the role that shocked audiences everywhere, but in retrospect, opened up a new, better, more honest understanding of transgender people. 

Sharon Lives - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

It’s pure Quentin Tarantino to reveal a twist that not only changes the movie, but history itself. He did in Inglourious Basterds with the death of Hitler and he does it again, perhaps to better effect, in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Instead of Charlie Manson and his crazy followers killing Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), Dalton, and Booth unwittingly save her by distracting the family. 

Waking Up In A Different Show - Newhart

Newhart in the ‘80s was Bob Newhart’s second sitcom that hit big, after The Bob Newhart Show in the ‘70s. Although neither show was connected at all, with Newhart playing completely different characters, in a different place, they both came together in the final episode when Bob Newhart awakens in bed, on his old show, revealing the second show was all just a dream of his first character. People talked about it for weeks. 

John Doe’s Plan Is Revealed - Se7en

Se7en is a movie that sticks with you long after the credits roll. Kevin Spacey’s performance as the serial killer John Doe is perfect, and it all comes together in the end when he finally reveals his grand plan. Audiences never expected David’s (Brad Pitt) wife, Tracy (Gwenyth Paltrow) to be as involved as she was and what a tragedy it is, setting in motion the end of Doe’s plan, to make David “wrath” and himself as “envy.”

The Whole Family Is In On It - Get Out

Jordan Peele got everyone talking about his directorial debut Get Out when it was revealed to the audience that not only were Rose’s (Allison Williams) parents performing twisted experiments on African-Americans, but Rose herself was involved, tricking her boyfriend Chis (Daniel Kaluuya) into going home with her to be a victim. Always question things when they seem off.

Helly’s Outie Is An Insider - Severance

One of the most talked about shows of 2022 was Apple TV+’s Severance. Questions abound throughout the first season, but what makes the twist so good is that it’s a huge reveal, that viewers didn’t even know they needed to know. Helly’s (Britt Lower) “outie” is in fact part of the family that is responsible for the twisted company’s project in the basement. 

The Narrator Is Tyler Durden - Fight Club

David Fincher is a master of late reveals and his movie Fight Club, based on the book by Chuck Palahniuk, is no exception. Though the movie was a box office disappointment it’s since become a quintessential cult film. It’s a mindblowing moment when you put together that Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) is just an alter-ego of The Narrator (Edward Norton).

Dan Is Blogger - Gossip Girl

For six seasons, fans wondered who was behind the Gossip Girl blog in Gossip Girl. Finally, after years of speculation, it’s revealed that Dan (Penn Badgley) is actually the voice behind the screen, despite being voiced by Kristen Bell throughout the show. Of course, other characters filled the role of the Gossip Girl, but Dan was the man, it turned out. 

Leland Palmer Killed Laura - Twin Peaks

The central mystery of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks is the murder of Laura Palmer. For one and a half seasons, it’s all the fans talked about it. When it was finally revealed in Season 2 that it was Laura’s father, Leland who did the deed. David Lynch wasn't happy with Season 2, but audiences loved it. 

It’s All In The Title - The Game

The Game is not one of David Fincher’s most talked about movies, but it should be. It has a fantastic, mindblowing reveal at the end when Nicholas (Michael Douglas) learns that all the craziness that he’s been through is all part of an elaborate game set up by his brother (Sean Penn). The rush for the characters and fans of the movies is intense when we learn the truth together. 

It’s People - Soylent Green

Soylent Green is a movie that is almost exclusively known for its plot twist. In a dystopian future, people subsist on a food called Soylent Green. It’s a mysterious food that in the end, is revealed to be human. Soylent Green is people! It’s become part of pop culture, but it’s a movie few people have actually watched. 

Parasite

The South Korean drama Parasite took the world by storm upon its release and a big reason why is the fantastic twist. On its surface (literally) the movie is a comment on the class struggle in South Korea, but below, it's a wild story about a poor family literally living in the basement of a wealthy family's house. The reveal is truly mindblowing and what sets it apart from other films dealing with the struggle. 

Earth Isn’t All That - Battlestar Galactica

For the first three seasons of Battlestar Galactica, the last remaining humans searched for their home Earth while battling the Cylons along the way. In the final episode of the penultimate season, they finally arrive home, ending their journey. When a group from the Galactica travel down, however, they find the planet in ruins, and uninhabitable due to nuclear radiation from a war centuries earlier. It’s a devastating moment, but in the end, they do find a home. 

The Deed Was Done - Memento

Director Christopher Nolan’s Momento has a lot of twists and turns, given the nature of the film, as Leonard (Guy Pearce) searches for his wife’s killer and the structure of the film's forward and backward timeline. When Leonard finally puts the pieces together, he finds that he got vengeance a year early and had been manipulated by Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) to do dirty work for him. Teddy becomes Leonard’s next target. 

Irene Is Moriarty - Elementary

In Elementary, Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) has an ongoing battle with Jane Moriarty (Natalie Dormer) and often feels the pain of his lost love with Irene Adler. The twist is that Irene and Jane are, in fact, the same person. The relationship between them is very complicated and continues through the run of the show to present problems for Sherlock. 

Modern Times - The Village

M. Night Shyamalan's The Village has one of the better twists in the director’s filmography. The movie is set in 19th-century America, or so we think. The elders of the titular village do everything they can to keep the people in the village because only they know that it’s actually the 21st Century.

Jason’s Mom - Friday The 13th

In one of the all-time great plot twists in horror movie history, Jason Vorhees, the killer of summer campers is not actually Jason, but his mother. She is bent on murdering the campers to avenge her son’s death years earlier. 

If you’re an avid TV watcher, then you probably know the pain that comes with a favorite show being canceled. Though that crushing feeling is even greater when the program has only been on the air for a single season. This happens quite often and, while you can argue that it’s warranted in many situations, there are plenty of excellent series that shouldn’t have been canned after just one season. With that, we’re going to discuss a handful of them.

Battlestar Galactica

Decades before the 2004-2009 reboot of Battlestar Galactica with Edward James Olmos, self-proclaimed “frakin weirdo” Katee Sackhoff and more debuted, the original show premiered in 1978 on ABC. Glen A. Larson’s intriguing sci-fi series focused on a group of humans – including Captain Apollo and Lt. Starbuck – hurtling through space in the eponymous starship, searching for a new place to call home and dodging the villainous Cylons. It was a ratings hit, but it was ultimately axed in 1979, with execs chalking it up to high production costs. 

Pitch

Pitch, which launched in 2016, should’ve been a home run. Centered around a young pitcher who became the first woman to play baseball in the Major Leagues, it featured a strong cast and producing team. (The latter included eventual This is Us creator Dan Fogelman.) Alas, despite strong reviews, it sustained low ratings and was canceled by Fox after 10 episodes. Despite that, a small-screen offering like this deserved more time to show its stuff.

Stumptown

Few shows are as charming as Stumptown – a crime drama that saw Cobie Smulders playing a military vet-turned-private eye struggling with PTSD and financial hardships. The comic book adaptation earned solid ratings after its debut on ABC in the fall of 2019, which is why it was greenlit for Season 2 in the spring of 2020. However, the renewal was reserved due to COVID-related delays. I still believe another network should’ve given it a shot at new life.

The Flash (1990)

You can’t talk about entertaining DC Comics adaptations without mentioning the ‘90s-era classic that is The Flash. John Wesley Shipp famously played the titular Scarlet Speedster taking on the likes of The Trickster and Mirror Master in Central City. After premiering on CBS in the fall of 1990, the superhero series shifted between time slots before it was canceled in the spring of 1991. While fans still enjoy it today and Shipp even reprised his role for Arrowverse crossovers years later, another season of the show would’ve been great.

Emerald City

There have been more than a few Wizard of Oz offshoots over the years, and Emerald City is arguably one of the more entertaining ones. NBC’s 2017 fantasy series about Dorothy Gale’s epic adventures in Oz just couldn’t draw a crowd, leading to its demise after only 10 episodes. It’s not a perfect show, even upon a rewatch, but it arguably could’ve improved with time.

My So-Called Life

My So-Called Life was ahead of its time, as it provided a realistic look at adolescence, using the character of Angela Chase (Claire Danes) as the conduit through which to present such growing pains. The teen drama didn’t earn massive ratings during its sole season on ABC during the 1994-1995 broadcast season but did amass a strong fanbase. But not even an online fan campaign (amid the early years of the Internet) could save the cultural touchstone from the chopping block.

The Rookie: Feds

When it comes to procedurals, it’s not unusual for a hit TV show to spawn a spinoff. That was the case when ABC’s The Rookie spawned The Rookie: Feds, which premiered in 2022. The incomparable Niecy Nash-Betts led the proceedings as Simone Clark, a former school counselor who fulfilled her dream of becoming an FBI special agent. There was a lot of promise with this production, though it was unfortunately axed in November 2023, with the SAG-AFTRA and WGA writers' strikes reportedly playing roles in its demise.

I Am Not Okay with This

Netflix has had a lot of great one-season shows, and I’d count 2020’s I Am Not Okay with This among them. An adaptation of Charles Forsman’s graphic novel of the same name, it told the story of awkward teenager Sydney Novak, who grappled with the discovery of her telekinetic abilities. An entertaining superhero-esque dramedy,  it was canceled after only seven episodes due to the COVID pandemic. What’s worse is that it ended on a cliffhanger and, if you haven’t guessed yet, I am not okay with this.

Swamp Thing (2019)

Although there have been a few TV shows to bear the title of Swamp Thing, the 2019 iteration that aired on the DC Universe streaming platform may be the best. The Protector of the Green was brought to stunning life (via an excellent practical costume) for the thrillingly scary series. Sadly, the faithful comic book adaptation was axed with only 10 episodes under its belt due to creative issues between the producers and execs.

Freaks And Geeks

Few one-season shows manage to become cult classics like Freaks and Geeks, which aired on NBC from 1999 to 2000. The Paul Feig-created and Judd Apatow-produced ensemble teen dramedy focused on eclectic teens navigating various facets of the social scene in 1980s Michigan. It famously launched the careers of Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, Jason Segel, and more and provided a nuanced look at the high school experience. While it’s been widely appreciated since its demise decades ago, it’s sad that it didn’t get to live longer than it did. 

The Get Down

The ‘70s-set coming-of-age drama The Get Down provided a burst of nostalgia and compelling storytelling when it grooved onto Netflix in 2016. This two-part, single season was about the exploits of an aspiring musician who sought to make a name for himself in New York alongside his buddy and girlfriend. It was announced in 2017 that the Baz Luhrmann-co-produced show had reached its end, with its high budget being cited as a reason for the decision.

Firefly

With Firefly, Joss Whedon spun a space western yarn about the rogues that make up the crew of the Serenity starship and their exploits in the year 2517. Critics mostly shared positive sentiments about the program ahead of its demise after 14 episodes in 2002. After Fox decided to cancel Firefly, it spawned comic books, novels, and even a follow-up movie. Despite all of that, many still lament the fact that additional seasons didn’t happen.

Wolverine And The X-Men

After X-Men: Evolution in 2003, Nicktoons delivered the stellar Wolverine and the X-Men in 2009. The show saw Wolvie reuniting his former colleagues after an accident caused the disappearances of Jean Grey and Professor X. A second season was ordered but ultimately scrapped amid The Walt Disney Company’s purchase of Marvel. And, to add insult to injury, scripts, and concept art were already completed at the time.

Lovecraft Country

Bringing the scares and drama in 2020 was Lovecraft Country, which earned critical acclaim for HBO upon its debut. The 10-episode show saw a young Black man travel across the 1950s Jim Crow south with his friend and uncle to locate his father. And, along the way, they encountered monsters inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s work and the horrors of racism. This one had a lot of potential and could’ve branched out in some intriguing ways had it not been canceled.

Good Morning, Miss Bliss

It was in 1988 that Good Morning, Miss Bliss debuted on the Disney Channel. Hayley Mills played the eponymous school teacher, who taught an impressionable group of youngsters at an Indiana-based junior high school. Only 13 episodes were produced before the network pulled the plug. Another season would’ve been great but, at the very least, the characters of Zack Morris, Lisa Turtle, Samuel “Screech” Powers, and Mr. Belding moved to Saved by the Bell in the fall of 1989.

No Ordinary Family

Just ahead of the glut of superhero shows that filled the mid-2010s, No Ordinary Family soared onto ABC in 2010. It was co-created by future Arrowverse godfather Greg Berlanti and tracked the Powell family – a seemingly normal brood that gained superhuman abilities after a plane crash. Light on its feet and filled with endearing characters, the series started with strong viewership and earned solid reviews but ultimately hit the chopping block in 2011.

Gidget

Before she headlined The Flying Nun, the iconic Sally Field was tapped to play the lead role on Gidget in 1965. Not to be confused with the 1959 movie of the same name, the sitcom followed the adventures of Fields’ fourth wall-breaking character, who had a strong bond with her widowed father. The studio canned the show after 32 episodes in 1966, just as it was starting to resonate with younger audiences.

The Chicago Code

One could definitely argue that The Chicago Code is an underrated gem. Developed by The Shield's Shawn Ryan, this Fox crime drama chronicled the exploits of the officers of the Chicago Police Department, as they sought to prevent crime in their town. The well-reviewed show only aired 13 episodes in 2011 before the network shut it down.

Constantine

DC Comics and NBC gave fans a nice dose of horror in 2014 with Constantine, which saw Matt Ryan play the fan-favorite demon hunter. Sadly, despite good reviews and Ryan’s winning performance as John Constantine, the series was axed after one 13-episode season. At the very least, it was retroactively added to the Arrowverse and Ryan reprised his role in that continuity.

FlashForward

Based on Robert J. Sawyer’s 1999 novel of the same name, FlashForward focused on individuals in the aftermath of an event that caused everyone on Earth to lose consciousness for a fixed period of time. The show, which debuted in 2009 on ABC, earned mostly positive reviews but was cleared out in 2010 due to dwindling ratings.

Saved By The Bell: The College Years

The cast of teens from Bayside High graduated to Saved by the Bell: The College Years in the fall of 1993 on NBC. This spinoff/sequel series didn’t have all the charm of its predecessor, though it was still a hoot to see Zack, Kelly, Screech, and co. navigate college. After it ended it was sacked in 1994, and the TV movie Wedding in Las Vegas wrapped its storylines up, yet more seasons would’ve been nice.

Willow

Premiering in 2022, Disney+’s magical and epic Willow effectively expanded upon the world established in Ron Howard’s 1988 fantasy flick Despite strong reviews and a passionate group of fans, the streamer canceled it in 2023 and, even worse, it was dropped from the platform entirely in 2023 as part of cost-cutting measures. Warwick Davis and the cast deserved way better.

Undeclared

After working on Freaks and Geeks, Judd Apatow created Undeclared, a comedy about a group of college freshmen balancing academia and their social lives at a California-based university. It was critically acclaimed after debuting in 2001 but met its end in 2002 after just 17 installments. While it's been gone for a while, it maintains a heavy cult status.

Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation

1997’s Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation didn’t reach the heights of the live-action TMNT movies, but it was still plenty of fun. It saw the totally tubular turtles – along with new ally Venus de Milo – battling Shredder and the Foot along with various other baddies. They even teamed up with the Power Rangers at one point. Ultimately though, Fox Kids scraped it from its schedule in 1998.

1899

It’s sad to say that 1899 was canceled by Netflix after a sole season that streamed in 2022, and that batch of eight episodes was truly intriguing. The show depicted a group of European immigrants making their way to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. However, there’s more to the situation than meets the eye, and a key twist in the finale set the stage for what might’ve been a wild second season.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip shed light on the behind-the-scenes personalities that helped keep a fictional sketch comedy show running. Marked by Sorkin’s signature writing style and led by the late Matthew Perry, the dramedy was a fun piece of work from NBC, which ultimately axed it after its run during the 2006-2007 TV season. 

Terra Nova

Fox’s 2011 sci-fi drama Terra Nova has also gained a cult following since it was canceled in 2012. Set in 2149 at which point the Earth is dying, the Steven Spielberg-produced series followed the Shannon family and their attempts to live life in a Cretaceous “time stream.” Dinosaurs and family drama were in ample supply.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

It still boggles the mind that The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance – a prequel to Jim Henson and Frank Oz’s 1982 dark fantasy film – was shuttered at Netflix after only one go-around in 2019. Considering the compelling story, stellar cast, and high production values, the loss of this Emmy-winning show still stings.

Forever

The notion of Ioan Gruffudd playing an immortal medical examiner who solved crimes and sought to become mortal may sound wild. However, that’s what Forever offered on ABC during the 2014-2015 TV season. While conventional in several respects, this was a fun show that had plenty more to say.

The Grinder

In 2015, Rob Lowe took on the role of an actor-turned-lawyer working for his family’s law firm on The Grinder. The Fox legal comedy earned strong reviews, and Lowe put on a strong show along with the rest of the cast. Despite that though, the show was dismissed in 2016 due to low ratings.

M.O.D.O.K.

It’s likely that even Marvel fans didn’t expect Hulu’s M.O.D.O.K. to be a stop-motion series, but the Patton Oswalt-led family romp proved to be a breath of fresh air when it dropped in 2021. The comedy ended far too soon and left a void as big as the main character’s head.

Drive

Drive came and went faster than the cars it featured when it premiered on Fox in 2007. Starring Nathan Fillion, an up-and-coming Emma Stone, and more, it focused on the competitors of an illegal cross-country race. It only aired four episodes before it was sent to the scrapyard, but it left an impression on a portion of viewers. 

Fans will likely continue to miss these TV shows and more as time goes on. Although they ended prematurely, I suppose it’s better to have had them than to have never had them at all.

There’s an old saying that states you should never meet your heroes, as conventional wisdom has suggested it’s one of the most upsetting moments a fan can experience. However, like any good adage worth its salt, that phrase has been dismantled and disproven quite a bit. With that in mind, I love how excited Battlestar Galactica’s Katee Sackhoff was to meet sci-fi movie icon Linda Hamilton, and how far it goes to proving why you should meet your heroes. 

Sackhoff herself enthusiastically agreed with that point, in a heartfelt social media post showing off this beautiful photo. Take a look at that time Sarah Connor met Starbuck at the FanExpo New Orleans convention, along with Katee Sackhoff’s sweet message explaining why this is so awesome, below: 

Seriously, how does one not derive joy from those times Katee Sackhoff’s inner “frakking weirdo” gets to shine? Watching her hang out on convention floors and making Mandalorian puns while hanging out in a DeLorean is just one of the qualities that makes Sackhoff so much fun to follow. And now that she’s met Linda Hamilton, that happiness has only seemed to grow. 

Even Sackhoff's hashtag, “#musclesarebeautiful,” is a beautiful tribute to the inspiration that Hamilton’s Terminator 2 performance gave her as a child. That only makes the story about that time Linda Hamilton surprised Arnold Schwarzenegger with her muscles at the beginning of shooting James Cameron’s legendary film all the more rewarding.

Katee Sackhoff's post also mentions Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley; as for whether or not she would ever be able to work with either of her idols, there’s still a chance it could happen. With Weaver still active in the Avatar franchise, and Hamilton cast in Stranger Things Season 5, both icons are still making a name for themselves in pop culture. 

All that has to happen is for the right project to come along, and for the representatives of Katee Sackhoff, Linda Hamilton, and Sigourney Weaver to get together to land the deal. Katee’s pure joy in meeting Linda feels like proof that this absolutely needs to happen. Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese were right to teach us all that there's no fate but what we make for ourselves! Provided, of course, scheduling and other considerations align to allow fate the easiest window of opportunity to seize.

In the meantime, you’re probably hoping to do what Katee Sackhoff may have done after meeting Linda Hamilton, which is watch Terminator 2: Judgement Day all over again. That’s perfectly natural, and if you’re looking to catch one of the best action movies, you only need a Netflix subscription to do just that. You can also see Sackhoff in the sci-fi sphere with The Mandalorian streaming via a Disney+ subscription now! Sadly, Battlestar Galactica is no longer streaming on Peacock.

There are a wide variety of ways to celebrate the dawn of a new year. A lot of people like to get gussied up in fancy duds, put on silly glasses styled like the coming year and dance/drink the night away. Some of us stay home to watch the ball drop and write fanfic about one TV host snubbing another during their separate New Year’s Eve broadcasts. But, I can bet most celebrants don’t think of ringing in the new year like Battlestar Galactica alum Katee Sackhoff, who wished fans happy new year from a “frakin weirdo” in the best way.

How Did Katee Sackhoff Wish Battlestar Galactica Fans Happy New Year?

Those who follow The Mandalorian star Katee Sackhoff on Instagram will know that the DCU Poison Ivy wannabe is a sporty and very outdoorsy lass, and she helped her followers get their 2024 on by posting a very apropos Happy New Year clip. Observe:

Well, well, well! Leave it to the Kara “Starbuck” Thrace/Bo-Katan Kryze actress to find a cool way to merge the Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars fandoms, right? While calling herself a “frakin weirdo” is an obvious shoutout to fans of that old, still very much beloved, sci-fi series, the clip itself gives a nod to both her ‘let's get out in nature’ nature and fans who adore watching her not get romantic with Din Djarin on The Mandalorian. I’m not even sure if she was purposely attempting to goofily mimic the Tusken Raider who attacked Luke Skywalker in A New Hope, but she sure did a good job of it. Sackhoff’s new “walking stick” will even be a dead ringer for his gaderffii stick when she files one end to a lethal point. But, I digress…

When she isn’t hosting a podcast that reunites her with Six actress Tricia Helfer or shooting down rumors about taking over as the lead of one of the top Disney+ Star Wars shows, the mom to little Ginevra Gadsby (whom she shares with husband Robin Gadsby) has been spending a lot of time fixing up her home in Oregon. This includes lots of yard work that has led the Another Life star to showing off more than one shot of her covered in mud before, during, or after said physical labor, something she says the couple really does “love” to do.

Even if you, somehow, aren’t a member of one of the fandoms that Sackhoff’s characters are adored by, it’s hard not to like someone who chooses to show their silly side on social media. Now, if we could just get even more sweet throwback photos of her with her BSG family, it would be even better.

When your favorite TV show is said and done, it’s kind of hard to pick which episode is the best of the bunch. But that’s exactly what we’re here to discuss, as according to the voters at IMDb, there’s a definitive answer for the highest rated episodes for 32 of beloved TV series like Star Trek: The Next Generation and Friends. Prepare to be amazed by these potential conversation/argument starters! 

“Ozymandias” - Breaking Bad - Season 5

In Breaking Bad’s five seasons of TV, the Rian Johnson directed “Ozymandias” is easily the victor. A perfect 10/10 in its IMDb vote, many have heralded this chapter of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his crime saga as the finest. Which is probably because of all the acclaim spotlighting one word that this installment seems to embody: “payoff.”

“Plan And Execution” - Better Call Saul - Season 6

Much like its predecessor Breaking Bad, it’s the setup to the punchline that made Better Call Saul’s crown jewel a fan favorite. “Plan and Execution” is so close to the finale that you can feel the series’ finality, but at the same time you might be surprised to know that the climactic betrayal and death of Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) was actually the mid-season finale of Bob Odenkirk’s swan song.

“Connor’s Wedding” - Succession - Season 4

How was Succession ever going to send out Logan Roy (Brian Cox) with a bang? Well, in the episode “Connor’s Wedding,” the answer was simple: you kill him by surprise, and early on in the final season. Stuff the episode with the sort of tragically awkward Succession moments that we all know and love, and you’ve got a recipe for a story that brings down the house.

“Finale” - The Office - Season 9

The Office’s series finale, aptly titled “Finale,” tied things up with a beautiful knot, which just happened to include Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) tying the knot. Also, Steve Carell’s big return as Michael Scott still circulates online as a true moment of joy from this landmark chapter. 

“Pine Barrens” - The Sopranos - Season 3

Even after The Sopranos pretty much answered the pressing question of whether or not Tony Soprano was wacked, Season 3’s “Pine Barrens” still contains an unsolved mystery. So on top of Steve Buscemi’s directorial chops, and watching Paulie (Tony Sirico) and Chris (Michael Imperioli) spend some time in those Jersey woods, people are probably still watching this episode in hopes of answering, “Is Valery dead, or not?” The world may never know.

“Modern Warfare” - Community - Season 1

What happens when a mile-a-minute pop culture joke machine like Community dedicates an entire episode to some of the best action movies of all time? Well, you’d get the Justin Lin directed “Modern Warfare,” an all-time heater that sees Jeff (Joel McHale) battling it out for priority registration. It’s an episode that blew people away so hard, that much like Die Hard, it got a couple sequels. 

“The Constant” - Lost - Season 4

Through Lost's best episodes, it was a series that bent people’s minds in all sorts of directions, and left them wanting more. “The Constant” is a firm example of that, as the time travel-centric episode went down the usual rabbit holes the show was known for. However, throwing in that romantic plot line between Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) and Penny (Sonya Walger) probably stuck the landing for this one in the hearts of fans. 

“The One Where Everybody Finds Out” - Friends - Season 5

It’s not hard to see why “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” is Friends’ highest-rated episode on IMDb. With Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica (Courteney Cox) finally seeing their clandestine love affair outed to their whole group, it's a watershed moment for the pair. It's also considered one of Matthew Perry's best Friends episodes, so there's something else to consider.

“Everyone’s Waiting” - Six Feet Under

Would anyone be surprised to learn that Six Feet Under’s series finale “Everyone’s Waiting” is the highest rated entry? Alan Ball’s darkly comic dramedy about death went out on a fitting note, showing the entire Fisher family’s final fates. Sia’s “Breathe Me” still brings people to tears when thinking about it.

“How Your Mother Met Me” - How I Met Your Mother - Season 9

Getting the answer to who “The Mother” was in How I Met Your Mother was only the beginning of the road for the series’ endgame. With Season 9 bringing fans closer to Tracy (Cristin Milioti) and her marriage to Ted (Josh Radnor), “How Your Mother Met Me” took the time to fill us in on every hysterical and heartbreaking moment that led these two to each other.  

“Once More, With Feeling” - Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Season 6

There are several reasons “Once More, With Feeling” probably topped the list of Buffy the Vampire Slayer favorites. Known forever as “the musical episode,” the keen gimmick introduced us all to the silky smooth singing of Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) just as he was heading out the door. Also, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Spike (James Marsters) had their first actual, non-magically influenced kiss. 

“The Stockholm Syndrome” - The Big Bang Theory - Season 12

Sitcom characters are a good example of systems so delicate that the wrong type of change could sink them rather quickly. The Big Bang Theory managed to seemingly avoid that with its series finale “The Stockholm Syndrome,” which both gave Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) everything he wanted, and the audience an ending they didn’t know they needed. Seeing a very married, and very loving Sheldon is the ingredient that more than likely made this curtain closer one fans still remember.

“The Contest” - Seinfeld - Season 4

When an episode of a sitcom happens to be so good it invents pop culture slang that still lands to this day, as well as finds itself referenced in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you know its done the trick. One of Seinfeld’s best episodes, “The Contest,” fits both of those bills, as the New York gang of idiots challenge each other in a very personal way. 

“Connection Lost” - Modern Family - Season 6

Sometimes, you need a good format breaker to keep things fresh. In the sixth season of Modern Family, the powers that be recognized that and gave us “Connection Lost,” a story where Claire (Julie Bowen) plays a literal game of telephone to investigate what may or may not be happening with daughter Haley (Sarah Hyland). 

"The Inner Light" - Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 5

"The Inner Light" is an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation that's so popular, all you need is music to spark its memory within the fandom. A touching story of bittersweet devastation and empathy, this could be the episode that epitomizes who Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) is, and what he's always stood for in this landmark sci-fi franchise.

“Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” - The X-Files - Season 3

Story driven series like The X-Files sometimes strike it big with the occasional one-off episode. In the case of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson’s third season of action, “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” was one such episode, following the case of an insurance salesman (Peter Boyle) who knows when people are going to die. Properly spooky, but also slyly witty, it may be Mulder and Scully’s greatest victory against the show’s shadowy conspiracy. 

“Middle Ground” - The Wire - Season 3

“Middle Ground” is the type of episode that shows like The Wire live for. Well regarded by fans and critics alike, the Season 3 heater saw Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) ringing on the streets of Baltimore for the last time. With Omar (Michael K. Williams) helping punch his ticket, this endgame between these legendary characters is still the episode to beat.  

“The Suitcase” - Mad Men - Season 4

“THAT’S WHAT THE MONEY’S FOR!” You could probably hear a pin drop after Don (Jon Hamm) and Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) had their infamous argument over who deserved the true credit for the Glo Coat ad. “The Suitcase” saw perhaps the greatest fracture between this mentor/mentee team, and its effects would reverberate through to the series’ finale. Also, that quote did become one hell of a meme; so that helped in the longevity department of this Mad Men champion.

“Eye Of The Beholder” - The Twilight Zone - Season 2

Technically, The Twilight Zone has two episodes tied for the highest rating in its iconic collection of episodes. If you guessed Nightmare at 20,000 Feet as the technical tie, you’re absolutely correct. However it’s Season 2’s  “Eye of the Beholder” that still wins out, based on a higher volume of votes. And if you want to guess why that is, it’s probably because this episode has one of the biggest twist endings in Twilight Zone history, complete with truly frightening prosthetics.

“One Last Ride” - Parks and Recreation - Season 7

Sorry Parks and Rec fans, even with Chris Pratt’s legendary improv “Flu Season” isn’t the NBC series’ highest rated episode. Rather, the series finale “One Last Ride” is the best regarded installment of the pop culture hit. Though if you’re a true fan of the Amy Poehler-led ensemble series, you’re probably not sorry, as this is the episode that gave everyone a pretty happy ending.

“Two Cathedrals” - The West Wing - Season 2

“Two Cathedrals” is both one of the darkest hours and finest moments of President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen). The episode where he ponders running for another term, in light of an MS diagnosis and the loss of close friend and colleague Mrs. Landingham (Kathryn Joosten). The reason this episode is the top of the class is, unquestionably, Sheen’s enraged monologue in discussion with God; which became a real bilingual tongue lashing of fury.

“Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse” - The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air - Season 4

If you ever need inspiration to cry in a rush, put on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s Season 4 episode “Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse.” When you get to the end, in which Will (Will Smith) expresses his heartbreak of being abandoned by his father again, you’ll understand why this is the episode that still has fans singing its praises.

“11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.” - 24 - Season 1

24 was a massive cultural hit when it first premiered, and eventually spawned the story of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and the worst days in his life. The best rated episode of his adventures, “11:00 pm - 12:00 am” saw Jack’s deadly battle with the Drazen family come to an explosive conclusion; but at a cost. With the loss of his wife Teri (Leslie Hope) and the escape of traitor Nina Meyers (Sarah Clarke), the path of his life would be set for years to come.

“Crossroads: Part 2” - Battlestar Galactica - Season 3

Talk about a “payoff” episode, as Battlestar Galactica's "Crossroads: Part 2" not only brought Starbuck (Katee Sackoff) back from the dead, it also revealed the Final Five Cylons hiding among the Galactica’s crew.  So depending on where your head is at as a fan, you’ve got two different reasons to choose from, and both lead to Earth! 

“Happy Ending” - Schitt’s Creek - Season 6

When a comedy can make you laugh as much as Schitt’s Creek has, the ability to make the audience cry in-between laughing fits is seen as a bit of a superpower. “Happy Ending” closed out the ensemble series with tears of joy and sadness, as David (Dan Levy) and Patrick (Noah Reid) finally got married. With the Rose family splitting off for fates unknown, a truly happy ending was had as all of our favorite characters grew into the beautiful beings we saw in this final frame.

“On The Beach” - ER - Season 8

Good luck talking about this episode of ER without breaking into tears. Serving as the tearful goodbye to Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards), watching a dear friend make peace with his mistakes before his death was a heart smasher. To this day, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s cover of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” is an easy emotional trigger. 

“Abyssinia, Henry” - M*A*S*H - Season 3

M*A*S*H is a unique animal. “Abyssinia, Henry” proves that point rather well, as the departure of Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) went from bittersweet to downright devastating. With the series regular dying in a finale that even surprised the cast, you could imagine how fans felt when they first saw it.

“Raincoats And Recipes” - Gilmore Girls - Season 4

Gilmore Girls fans, you know exactly why you voted “Raincoats and Recipes” as the top rated episode on IMDb. If you’re a fan of Lorelai (Lauren Graham), you love this episode because it’s her first kiss with Luke (Scott Patterson). If you’re on Team Rory (Alexis Bledel), then the rather complicated moment of her and Dean (Jared Padalecki) trying to “salvage their friendship” is probably the high point.

“An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux” - Sex and the City - Season 6

Before both movies and the formation of the legacy-quel And Just LIke That would change history, Sex and the City landed its grand finale with “An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux” as Carrie's (Sarah Jessica Parker) fairy tale reunion with Mr. Big (Chris Noth) seemed like the happy ending fated from square one.

“Always” - Friday Night Lights - Season 5

The last dance with Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his East Dillon Lions resulted in “Always,” the series finale to the ever popular Friday Night Lights. With a State Championship on the line, as well as Coach’s own future in football, the results weren’t the draw for those who followed the show. It was, as always, about clear eyes and full hearts. 

“Lucy Does A TV Commercial” - I Love Lucy - Season 1

Legendary sitcoms like I Love Lucy have those gags that always land on t-shirts, trivia questions, and fan favorite roundups. “Lucy Does A TV Commercial” gave the world one such moment, as Lucy (Lucile Ball) talks her way into a medicine commercial for Vitameatavegamin. Let’s just say the side effects of that elixir are what make this episode very “poopular.”  

“One For The Road” - Cheers - Season 11

There is no Cheers without Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Full stop, no exceptions. The series finale “One For The Road” got that right out of the gate, and seeing Sam realize it in the closing moments is probably why fans love it so much. It’s good to know that there’s always somewhere where everybody knows your name.

Fans know what they love from their favorite series, and the episodes that top the charts only prove it. So remember that whenever your favorite show takes its final bow, it'll eventually be contributing to the history of moments and plotlines like the ones shown above.

One thing I love about following Katee Sackhoff is the fact the actress has so many touchstones in different fandom communities. Most people know her right now for The Mandalorian, or for her recent work on Hallmark’s movies schedule, but back in the day she appeared on a little show called Battlestar Galactica, which has stayed relevant in the cultural lexicon over the year. Which means fans like me were very here for her reunion photo this weekend. 

The actress had a chance to meet fellow blonde BSG alum Tricia Helfer, who played Six on the Syfy series. Helfer also posted a photo to explain why the two were hanging out, and it turns out she was a guest on her former co-star’s podcast, “Blah Blah Blah with Katee Sackhoff.” Of course, they took a photo to commemorate the occasion as well. 

The only thing that might have made this reunion sweeter might have been if the Starbuck actress had rocked a black and grey tank and the Six actress had worn her character’s signature red look. I get it; they weren’t cosplaying, but a girl can dream!

I’m not the one who was – and sorry for the crass phrase – but happy as a pig in shit about this reunion. Other Battlestar Galactica fans also commented and the enthusiasm is palpable.

• BSG reunion!!! Frack yes!!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥
• Yes! So say we all! 👏🙌
• This makes me happy. Rewatching BSG currently for the first time in a while, as my wife has never seen all of it, and it's still gold! Big love for you both 💕✨
• Caprica 6 & Starbuck reunited!!
• Battlestar Legends ! ❤️
• That’s awesome to see you two together:)

It’s clear that a lot of fans still have fond feelings about Ron Moore’s version of Battlestar Galactica, and I can see why. The original show was excellent (though some fans have beef with the BSG ending) and it was just such a wonderfully thought out universe that I thought would have sparked additionally popular spinoffs, sort of a la Stargate. However, Caprica was quickly canceled after it didn’t find an audience and Blood & Chrome also fizzled, making BSG the property fans still really remember and talk about. (Still, I’d argue at least one of those shows was a sci-fi series that was canceled too soon.) 

While the show may be over, perhaps there will be an opportunity for another sort of reunion in the future? The Battlestar Galactica cast have moved on to different projects in the years since, but moments like these make it clear fan interest is still quite high. In this post, for example, some of my favorite fan comments had to be the ones where people suggested Tricia Helfer for The Mandalorian. I don’t hate it, like, at all.

• Can you snag her a role in Star Wars, please? Maybe Duchess Satine?!?!
• Oh, mamma mia! @officialtriciahelfer (SIX!) would make another amazing STAR WARS character...😍

Earlier in 2023 Sackhoff reunited with more of her BSG family, including Jamie Bamber, Michael Trucco, and Mary McDonnell. In addition, Sackhoff’s other recent sci-fi show Another Life also featured a BSG reunion when Kate Vernon (who played Ellen Tigh on the Syfy show) also joined the Netflix series in Season 2. What I guess I’m saying is I miss the show, fans miss the show, and clearly the cast even misses the show. Let’s find more ways to bring them together again. 

For about as long as there has been television, there have been spin-offs — TV shows that exist in the same continuity as one popular series, typically focusing on a side character made into the central protagonist. Some have proven to be very successful (such as when Kelsey Grammer’s Cheers character became the title role of the Frasier cast) while others are remembered today as a notorious failure (such as when Friends cast member Matt LeBlanc led Joey for two seasons — a season too long for some).

Then, there are some series spun-off from hits that exist in-between, neither achieving success, nor going on to be remembered for their short-lived run. We thought it would be fun to jog your memory (or inform you for the first time) about those shows by looking back at some our favorite TV shows and their forgotten spin-offs.

21 Jump Street (Booker)

While the breakout star of 21 Jump Street was obviously Johnny Depp — who would cameo in the 2012 movie adaptation as Tom Hanson — it was Richard Grieco — who appeared in the 2014 sequel, 22 Jump Street — who got to lead his own show as recurring character, Dennis Booker. However, Booker, which followed the rebellious, youthful-looking cop as an insurance investigator, only lasted one season from 1989 to 1990.

The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (Planet Sheen)

Most fans might consider The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius to be one of the rare TV shows that surpassed the movies they were based on, but would not say the same about Planet Sheen. In fact, the series — which follows the adventures of Jimmy’s hyperactive best friend (Jeffrey Garcia) while stuck on an alien planet — managed to last three seasons, but has an IMDb rating of 2.9.

All In The Family (Archie Bunker's Place)

Creator Norman Lear’s groundbreaking comedy, All in the Family, was the parent series of several other successful sitcoms, including Maude and The Jeffersons, with one of its lesser-known spin-offs being Archie Bunker’s Place. Starring Carroll O’Connor reprising his Emmy-winning role as the owner of his own bar and restaurant, the series actually had a good four-year-run, but now lives in obscurity.

Alice (Flo)

The series adaptation of Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore promptly steered clear of becoming a forgotten TV show based on a movie, but its sole attempt at a spin-off was not as successful as its parent series. Her scene-stealing, Emmy-nominated performance on Alice as outspoken server Flo earned Polly Holliday her own eponymous series set at her own diner in her Texan hometown, but after one season, viewers told the show it could kiss their grits.

American Idol (American Juniors)

There have actually been multiple times when popular reality TV shows attempted a version that featured underage participants, including American Idol. Airing on Fox in 2003 (just a year after its predecessor’s debut), American Juniors featured host Ryan Seacrest, according to EW, and Season 1 runner-up Justin Guarini as a judge, but did not generate quite the same buzz — despite launching Lucy Hale’s career, which Jimmy Kimmel Live! unearthed.

Barney Miller (Fish)

One of the reasons why Barney Miller is remembered as one of the funniest and best mystery TV shows of its time is its hilarious supporting cast, which included the late Abe Vigoda in the Emmy-nominated role, Phil Fish. ABC greenlit a sitcom that would follow the New York detective outside of the precinct, but — as USA Today recalls — it was cancelled after one-and-one-half seasons in mid-1978, less than a year after Fish’s retirement episode of Barney Miller aired.

Battlestar Galactica (Galactica 1980)

Years before the 2000s-era reboot of Battlestar Galactica became one of the most beloved sci-fi TV shows of its time, the first reboot of Glen A. Larson’s cult favorite series was greenlit pretty quickly after it ended. However, Galactica 1980, which brought the action to modern day Earth, would also end very quickly after 10 episodes, due to poor reviews and was later edited into the TV movie, Conquest of the Earth. 

Baywatch (Baywatch Nights)

In 1995, while Baywatch was still in its prime, David Hasselhoff reprised his Baywatch cast role of Mitch Buchannon on a series that saw the lifeguard moonlighting as a private investigator. As ratings declined, the writers opted to turn Baywatch Nights into an X-Files-style paranormal investigation drama for its second season, which would also be its last.

Bewitched (Tabitha)

In 1977, just five years after the end of Bewitched, an attempt to continue its magical legacy was made in the form of Tabitha. Following Samantha and Darrin’s eponymous daughter (Lisa Hartman) as an adult, the show failed to cast a spell on viewers and was cancelled after 11 episodes.

Bones (The Finder)

A Season 6 episode of Bones called “The Finder” — in which Brennan and Booth call upon the help of eccentric, but inquisitive, Army veteran Walter Sherman (Geoff Stults) — served as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off of the same name. Also starring the late Michael Clarke Duncan, The Finder, unfortunately, could not find an audience and did not make it past its 13-episode run in 2012. 

Cheers (The Tortellis)

While Frasier would find great success in its 11 seasons, it is not the only spin-off from Cheers, let alone the first, which would be The Tortellis. This sitcom put Dan Hedaya’s recurring role as Carla’s ex-husband, Nick, and his own family at the forefront, but was met with criticism for its stereotypical depiction of Italian-Americans (according to ScreenRant) and low ratings, sealing its early downfall.

Columbo (Mrs. Columbo)

If you want to see a good whodunit TV show in the style of Columbo but with a female lead, I would recommend checking out Peacock’s Poker Face with Natasha Lyonne, instead of Mrs. Columbo. This mystery series starring fellow Orange is the New Black cast veteran Kate Mulgrew as the never-before-seen wife of Peter Falk’s iconic lieutenant was not so well-liked by audiences, or the producers of the parent series, and was taken off the air after 13 episodes, as Slash Film recalled.

Dawson's Creek (Young Americans)

In the same year he was introduced on Dawson’s Creek for a three-episode stint, Rodney Scott’s Will Krudski went on to be the lead character of Young Americans, which aired on The CW when it was still called the The WB. Despite being ahead of its time for its commentary on themes like gender roles and starring Kate Bosworth and Ian Somerhalder, the absence of anyone from the Dawson’s Creek cast may have deterred viewers from tuning into its summer 2000 run.

Doctor Who (K-9 And Company)

In its 60 years of existence, the British sci-fi staple, Doctor Who, has inspired multiple spin-offs, with Torchwood being a successful example, but we cannot quite say the same about K-9 and Company. The series never continued past its 1981 pilot, but a more successful team-up of Elisabeth Sladen’s Sarah Jane Smith with the robotic dog called K9 would happen years later in the form of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The Dukes Of Hazzard (Enos)

Bumbling Hazzard County cop Enos Strate (Sonny Shroyer) had the honor of leading his own self-titled series that followed his adventures fighting crime in L.A. with his partner, Turk Adams (the late Samuel Wright). However, he would return to his original role on The Dukes of Hazzard after Enos faced cancellation after a single, 18-episode season in 1981.

Dynasty (The Colbys)

The primetime soap opera Dynasty — the most popular show of the 1984-1985 season — focused on the personal struggles of the wealthy Carrington family. In 1985, ABC debuted a spin-off centered on the rival family, the Colbys, which would earn an Emmy nomination for its cinematography, but was cut short after just two seasons.

Fame (Fame L.A.)

More than a decade after the end of Fame — which was loosely based on 1980 movie of the same name — a new series emerged that was set on the other side of the country. Yet, despite earning Emmy Awards wins for its opening title music and choreography, Fame L.A. did not live forever, and was cancelled after one season in 1998.

Family Ties (Day By Day)

There are some spin-offs that really try to stretch the connective tissue between to their parent series, such as Day by Day, which starred Douglas Sheehan as Brian Harper, who was written as an old college roommate of Steven Keaton (Michael Gross) from Family Ties. That tie was, apparently, not strong enough for this NBC family sitcom to last longer than two seasons, but  — on the bright side — it would allow series regulars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Courtney Thorne-Smith to go on to star on Seinfeld and Melrose Place, respectively.

The Golden Girls (The Golden Palace)

After The Golden Girls ended with Dorothy (Bea Arthur) moving away with her new husband (Leslie Nielsen), Rose (Betty White), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia (Estelle Getty) would invest in a very understaffed Miami hotel. Also starring Don Cheadle in one of his earliest roles and Cheech Marin, The Golden Palace was actually the third spin-off of The Golden Girls (after Empty Nest and Nurses) but the first to last only one season.

Growing Pains (Just The Ten Of Us)

Even if you have never seen Just the Ten of Us — for which Bill Kirchenbauer reprised his recurring Growing Pains character, Coach Graham T. Lubbock, from 1988-1990 — you might recognize a few of its key actors. Namely, A Nightmare on Elm Street cast lead Heather Lengegnkamp and Matt Shakman (director of WandaVision and the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot) played two of Graham’s eight children and Dennis Haysbert played his assistant coach, Duane Johnson.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.)

Most modern day audiences had never even heard of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. before Guy Ritchie’s movie adaptation of the 1960s spy series came out in 2015. Therefore, we would certainly forgive anyone for forgetting (or never knowing about) The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., which followed the assignments of another agent from the titular organization, played by Stefanie Powers, for 29 episodes from 1966 to 1967.

Once Upon A Time (Once Upon A Time In Wonderland) 

Just a couple years after the debut of Once Upon a Time, ABC introduced another story of fairytale characters struggling to find an escape from the real world which looked directly toward the seminal work of Lewis Carroll for inspiration. Yet, critics and audiences were more impressed with the visual aesthetic than anything else about Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, which went off with its head after one 13-episode season.

Party Of Five (Time Of Your Life)

Acclaimed family drama Party of Five was a breakout hit for rising stars Matthew Fox, Neve Campbell, Lacey Chabert, and Jennifer Love Hewitt — the latter of whom would reprise her role as Sarah Reeves Merrin as the lead of Time of Your Life. Also starring Jennifer Garner, the series — in which Sarah moves to New York to learn more about her biological parents — suffered from low ratings during its sole season, which was split in half by a five-month hiatus before Fox’s failed attempt to bring it back for Summer 2000.

Pretty Little Liars (Ravenswood)

It is funny to think of how many somewhat ordinary dramas take place in the same universe as another series that is complete fantasy, such as Ravenswood. In 2013, Pretty Little Liars cast member Ashley Benson appeared as Hanna Marin to establish her hit series’ connection to this show — about five strangers embroiled in a curse plaguing the titular town — which lasted one season on Freeform when it was still called ABC Family.

Rugrats (Rugrats Pre-School Daze)

A special episode of Rugrats — which Paramount+ recently rebooted — that imagined the babies as preteens would inspire a successful series called All Grown Up!, which was the first spin-off to the long-running Nicktoon, but that was not always the case. According to Variety, Nickelodeon had originally been developing a series focused on Angelica Pickles and Susie Carmichael that would be shelved for years and eventually be released in 2005 as Rugrats Pre-School Daze, which only had a total of four episodes.

Sanford And Son (Sanford Arms)

Despite a few exceptions on this list alone, spin-offs tend to be most successful when a popular and recognizable character is given the lead role and not an entirely new character, like what they did with Sanford Arms. This continuation of Sanford & Son saw widowed father Phil Wheeler (Teddy Wilson) take over Fred (Redd Foxx) and Lamont’s (Demond Wilson) rooming house — a change of pace that did not seem to resonate with viewers and resulted in a very quick cancellation in 1977.

That's So Raven (Cory In The House)

Raven-Symoné would reprise her role as a psychic of the same name as an adult on Raven’s Home, which was not the first time Disney Channel debuted a That’s So Raven spin-off. In 2007, Kyle Massey came back to play Cory Baxter on Cory in the House, in which he moves into the White House after his father (Rondell Sheridan) becomes the President’s personal chef. Also starring Madison Pettis, you could say the sitcom lasted a fitting two terms (seasons) after 34 episodes. 

Three's Company (The Ropers, Three's A Crowd)

The original Three’s Company landlords were Stanley (Norman Fell) and Helen Roper (Audra Lindley), until they left in 1979 to lead their own self-titled sitcom that was cancelled after two seasons in 1980. In 1984, the parent series’ finale served as a sort of backdoor pilot to a new show called Three’s a Crowd — centered on Emmy winner John Ritter’s character, Jack Tripper, his new girlfriend, Vicky (Mary Cadorette), and her father, James (Robert Mandan), who becomes their landlord — which only lasted one season.

Walker, Texas Ranger (Sons Of Thunder)

Years before The CW rebooted Walker, Texas Ranger with Jared Padalecki in the title role (and also greenlit a short-lived prequel set in the old West called Walker: Independence), Chuck Norris and his younger brother, Aaron, had their own idea for a spin-off. After introducing Dallas detective Carlos Sandoval (James Wlcek) in Season 4, he was given his own series in 1999 called Sons of Thunder — in which he becomes a private investigator — that ran for six episodes on CBS.

The X-Files (The Lone Gunmen)

There are three TV shows that exist in Chris Carter’s X-Files universe: the iconic original (which was brought back for two more seasons in 2016), the marginally successful Millennium (which was retroactively confirmed as a spin-off), and The Lone Gunmen, which some say Fox should be embarrassed about cancelling after one 13-episode season. 

Focusing on the titular trio of eccentric conspiracy theorists (Bruce Harwood, Tom Braidwood, and Dean Haglund) who previously aided Mulder and Scully, the pilot episode of the spin-off, which aired in March 2001, is eerily similar to the tragic events of September 11th that year — as Journal News Online recalls — which is not why it was cancelled, but why it is somewhat infamous to fans who may remember it.

How many of these spin-off series do you actually remember? How many would you like to see brought back? And how many of these do you think never should have seen the light of day?

Battlestar Galactica may have ended after its four-season run back in 2009, but the BSG family evidently has a bond that has lasted to this day. Katee Sackhoff clearly hasn't forgotten her days as Starbuck even as she moved on to Star Wars and portraying Bo-Katan Kryze, as she recently shared a reunion photo that was a throwback to Battlestar in the best way. After all, family – found and otherwise – was an important theme of the series! 

Of course, in the universe of Battlestar Galactica, forming a found family could also involve humans accepting Cylons as friends and loved ones. Take a look at Katee Sackhoff's touching photo and message about "the family we choose" with her fellow BSG alums:

While this certainly isn't the entire crew of the Galactica from the four seasons of the show (all of which are available streaming via Peacock Premium subscription and certain other streaming options), it's lovely to see Jamie Bamber, Michael Trucco, and Mary McDonnell together with Katee Sackhoff, along with Sandra Hess, who seems to be an honorary member of the team as Trucco's wife! 

The members of the cast are all smiles in Katee Sackhoff's post, which is certainly a sign that they're posing for a photo between friends rather than trying to channel their characters, and not just because most of their characters were no longer among the living by the end of Season 4. Would Apollo and Anders ever look that happy in each other's company? 

In all seriousness, this isn't the first time that members of the cast have demonstrated their bond, as many of them showed their support for Michael Hogan (who played Saul Tigh on BSG) when he suffered a tragic accident, and subsequent updates on his health were promising. 

On the whole, I love to see that members of the cast still embrace the show, the roles that made them famous in the sci-fi sphere, and their chosen family. Plus, as a fan who's still not entirely over how Battlestar Galactica ended (despite what stars have since said about Starbuck's infamous farewell), it's fun to get reminders of what made the show so addictive back in the day. 

The conflict between Cylons and humankind may eventually return to television with a Battlestar Galactica reboot, although the project hit a big BTS setback after going into development to become a Peacock original series. Katee Sackhoff previously said that she hadn't been contacted about participating in the reboot, but also that she'd consider a role if one was a good fit. 

Of course, that was before she became a central character in a Star Wars TV show, and there's no saying if she'll be back as Bo-Katan Kryze in a project other than The Mandalorian in the galaxy far, far away. For now, though, Battlestar Galactica fans can always revisit the 2004 - 2009 version of the series streaming on Peacock to see the "family we choose" in action together again. 

For over five decades audiences have enjoyed the work of Edward James Olmos on the stage and screen in roles such as William Adama on Battlestar Galactica, Felipe Reyes on Mayans M.C. and Selena’s father Abraham Quintanilla in the biopic of the Tejano music star played by Jennifer Lopez. But behind the scenes, Olmos was fighting a battle his fans didn’t know about. The science fiction show alum recently revealed undergoing a harrowing battle with throat cancer that he said nearly killed him and which has left him totally changed.

The 76-year-old actor, who won a Primetime Emmy for Miami Vice in 1985, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1988 for Stand and Deliver and  earned a Tony Award nom in 1979 for Zoot Suit, spoke for the first time about his fight with cancer. And he didn't hold back (via the Mando & Friends podcast YouTube page): 

Edward James Olmos, who played one of the best POC sci-fi characters, recalled extensive chemo and radiation on his throat, pointing out that the part of his body that was getting battered by the aggressive cancer and subsequent treatment was where you eat, swallow, breathe and talk. He was shocked when the doctors told him they didn’t know what his voice would sound like afterward, which is understandable for an actor whose career has included plenty of voice work. 

However, that was the course of action he had to take to save his life, as he said friends of his have not survived their own battles with cancer. He continued:

What he went through sounds frankly awful, as he apparently lost the ability to swallow. Doctors wanted to put feeding tubes in to get him nutrients, and he had to take water intravenously because he couldn’t drink. He said it was “ridiculous” and “so hard,” recalling that there were times his body gave up. 

In the months since his last treatment, the Battlestar Galactica star said he’s been working out — swimming and rowing — to regain his muscle and some of the 55 pounds he lost through treatment. He said the ordeal has altered how he sees life, telling the podcaster: 

What a scary and painful experience that must have been for Edward James Olmos. We at CinemaBlend wish the actor the best in his continued recovery, and if you’d like to see more of him in what is arguably his most famous role, you can check out Battlestar Galactica, available to stream with a Peacock subscription.  

The term “Geek Goddess” — used to describe a female actor who has been involved in many popular or cult genre movie and TV shows — is one practically synonymous with Katee Sackhoff, who has certainly come a long way from her major motion picture debut in the most critically reviled of the Halloween movies, 2002’s Halloween: Resurrection. At this point in her career, the simple announcement of her casting in a project is enough to get a rise out of legions of fans, which is why it is hard to believe that she has not played a Marvel character (at least in a live-action title) yet. 

The most recent example of her mastery in genre acting can be seen in how she plays Bo-Katan Kryze on the hit Disney+ original TV show, The Mandalorian, which is actually not the only series spun-off from the Star Wars franchise on which she has portrayed the resident, intergalactic bounty hunter. The role is also merely the latest example of the many great performances Sackhoff has given in the more two decades she has been acting, but Bo-Katan is where we shall start.

Bo-Katan Kryze (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Mandalorian)

The character of Bo-Katan Kryze — a character very important to the history of Mandalorian culture — was first introduced during the fourth season of the hit animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and was voiced by Katee Sackhoff. In the same year the George Lucas-created show had its final season, the actor became one of the first (and few) actors to reprise their animated Star Wars character in a live-action setting in the second season of The Mandalorian, for which she would don a red wig and add another layer of complexity and grit to the role, especially when she became a series regular in Season 3. 

Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Battlestar Galactica)

One of Sackhoff’s earliest and most esteemed trips into space is also the site of one of her most complex, grittiest, and most iconic roles yet — and one she fought hard for. On Ronald D. Moore’s reimagining of Glen A. Larson’s short-lived, cult favorite sci-fi series from the 1970s, the actor gives one of her most acclaimed performances as Lt. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace — a gender-swapped reinterpretation of Dirk Benedict’s character from the original. While mirroring the rebellious and cocky nature of Benedict’s portrayal, Sackhoff’s Starbuck would grow to be an even more popular figure of the franchise who is defined more for her resilience in the face of chaos and for her own flaws.

Dahl (Riddick)

A few years after the end of Battlestar Galactica, Sackhoff returned to outer space, but in a much different corner of the galaxy and for a role that is easily a standout in 2013’s Riddick — and not just because she is the only female character with a major speaking part. You can actually see a lot of Starbuck in the actor’s performance as Dahl — yet another outer space bounty hunter role on her resume — with her short-temper and impressive skills in hand-to-hand combat. She is one of the main reasons why the third installment of the Vin Diesel-led sci-fi franchise is my personal favorite… so far, until Riddick 4, anyway.

Niko Breckenridge (Another Life)

Just a year before reprising Bo-Katan on The Mandalorian, Katee Sackhoff made yet another return to space, but in a whole new kind of role unlike her previous characters away from earth. She leads the cast of the Netflix original sci-fi TV show, Another Life, as Niko Breckenridge — an astronaut forced to leave her husband and daughter behind when she is enlisted to lead a mission to investigate the origin of an alien artifact that recently made contact with the planet. While this would mark a slight turning point for Sackhoff in terms of her character’s overall demeanor, Niko is nonetheless the Number One reason to watch the series.

Victoria "Vic" Moretti (Longmire)

Sackhoff’s first Netflix exclusive series saw her invoke many of the same gritty, heroic sensibilities of her sci-fi characters, but while keeping her feet planted firmly on the ground. In Longmire, one of the best Neo-Western TV shows in recent memory, she plays Victoria “Vic” Moretti — a Philadelphia detective who, after following her husband to Wyoming, becomes deputy to Robert Taylor’s titular sheriff. Vic’s street smarts come in handy when dealing with some of the harsher crimes that she and Longmire face, but she also proves to be vulnerable when her personal life gets in the way.

Marie Russell (Oculus)

I mentioned at the top how Sackhoff’s first break in the horror genre with a role in Halloween: Resurrection did not result in the best movie on her resume, but her luck would change when she collaborated with Mike Flanagan. The writer and director’s first mainstream hit one, and of his best movies, 2013’s Oculus, is the story of a brother and sister (Brenton Thwaites and Karen Gillan) and their investigation into a mysterious mirror that they believe is responsible for their traumatic childhood. In flashbacks, we learn that their mother, played Sackhoff, fell prey to the insidious supernatural artifact, evolving her from the loving woman she once was into a violent murderer.

Amunet Black (The Flash)

Marie Russell is far from Sackhoff’s most iconic villainous character. That easily goes to her recurring role on The CW’s hit DC Comics-based TV show, The Flash, as Amunet Black — a meta human otherwise known as Leslie Jocoy who uses her power of magnetokinesis (which allows her to manipulate metallic substances) to develop a reputation as one of Crystal City’s most ruthless crime bosses. However, what makes this recurring role such a standout on the Arrow-verse set series and in the actor’s career in general is her deliciously scenery-chewing portrayal, complete with a hilariously over-the-top British accent.

BONUS: Kimberly (Power Rangers)

I could not complete this list without at least a mention of Sackhoff’s striking and even heartbreaking performance in a role originated by Amy Jo Johnson on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. This 15-minute short film by acclaimed music video director Joseph Kahn reimagines the ‘90s childhood favorite as gritty, graphically violent dystopian drama that I wish we could one day see adapted as a feature-length film, especially with Sackhoff as the grown-up pink ranger, Kimblerly — a character she now owns, as far as I am concerned, for the way she redefines it with such a refreshing believability.

Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to see what Katee Sackhoff brings us next, whether that means seeing more of Bo-Katan Kryze or something entirely new.

What do Britney Spears, American Pickers star Danielle Colby and Battlestar Galactica and The Big Bang Theory guest star Katee Sackhoff all have in common? Well, they’ve each recently dropped trou and hopped into the bathtub for a fun photoshoot in recent weeks (though Spears was posting for her haters and Colby was posting for herself). Sackhoff made the move in order to draw attention to and raise money for a "good cause," as she put it. 

Apparently, Katee Sackhoff is pals with Chris Salgardo, the head honcho behind Atwater Skincare. At least they like one another well enough that she was willing to not only put out a non-ad in support of the brand, but she also went naked for it. She explained that Chris and his team were creating a body scrub and cleansing bar in order to raise $10,000 for nonprofit RxArt  helping “children heal through the power of visual art.”

Pretty cool, but cool enough to hop into a bathtub for? It would seem so. 

Katee Sackhoff loves to have fun on her socials and has never been a woman to shy away from conversations about fitness and loving her body, and I can’t say that going naked for a good cause was a total surprise. In fact, she did it once before. 

However, my favorite part of this post just happens to be the fan response to the post. A bunch of Big Bang Theory fans caught wind of Sackhoff's tub pic, and remembered that time she hopped into a bathtub with Simon Helberg for a very memorable role on the CBS sitcom more than a decade ago. A slew of Big Bang fans commented, proving they have very long memories about Sackhoff's guest appearance.

• "Surely Howard should be the other end?" 
• "This is one of Simon Hellberg’s dreams again isn’t it?"
• "I guess I wasn’t the only one thinking about Howard from The Big Bang Theory for this photoshoot."
• "Why is it I am envisioning Howard Wolowitz at the other end of the tub now 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ "
• "Howard must be very good at holding his breath 😉"

Chris Salgardo thanked the Battlestar Galactica lead and frequent sci-fi star for her efforts, writing on the Instagram post:

It's unclear if this will be the last of the tub photos for a good cause, but if Katee Sackhoff was hoping to get my (and all the Big Bang Theory fans') attention before the weekend she certainly has it. It's a good thing I already needed some soap...

As one of Hollywood’s resident badasses, Katee Sackhoff has spent her more recent career getting extremely fit. She often shares diet and fitness tips on her social media channels, and recently showed off her incredible fitness in a throwback post from the filming of her Netflix series Another Life. Though it’s worth noting she was simply following some funny signage on set at the time. 

Hey, when a sign says “hot set, booties plz” one must always comply!  In the Instagram photo, Sackhoff cheekily follows the directions in front of her, though one assumes the “booties” in question were probably of the variety they make you put on in hospitals and other situations and not how the actress took it. You can see the super amusing post below. 

If you have ever had the privilege of seeing a project while it films, you may already know that a “hot set” refers to a soundstage that’s in active use, with props are in place and filming ready to roll. Of course, Sackhoff was having a little fun with the wordplay on the sign. Gotta be willing to have a little fun and spice things up  when one is working such long hours. And if you have the sort of fitness level the actress does, well, might as well show it off every now and again. 

Interestingly, while the actress has been an onscreen badass ever since she starred as Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica,  she was not always in the incredible shape she is in now. The mom of baby Ginevra has said previously that she drank a lot, smoked and ate unhealthily during the time she was filming BSG. Sure, she looked bulky, but years later Katee Sackhoff revealed her Starbuck look wasn’t necessarily the result of her putting a ton of extra work in. 

After BSG ended in 2009, she  continued her streak of badass roles. She appeared in the Chronicles of Riddick sequel Riddick, played a badass Sheriff in Longmire and appeared in The Flash as a villain. Then she landed even more high-profile roles playing Bo-Katan in several Star Wars projects for Disney, including The Mandalorian and starrin in another sci-fi series on Netflix, the aforementioned Another Life. (She's been open in the past about wanting to join the MCU as well.) 

Of course, Sackhoff doesn’t only take badass roles. One of my favorite things she’s done over the past few years was when she pivoted to Hallmark for one of its Christmas movies in 2021. That’s something I hope she’ll periodically continue to do to round out her resume in the coming years. 

For now, she’s busy splitting time between Disney+ work and spending time with her husband and little one, Ginevra.  I’m sure we’ll see her on a “hot set” again sometime in the new year.   

While the majority of well-known sci-fi characters might not translate super-accurately if they transitioned to real life, including Battlestar Galactica’s fan-beloved Captain Starbuck, the character played by Katee Sackhoff actually DID make it to space in our reality. At least, sort of. Not long after Sackhoff was thrilled to see another one of her characters referenced on Jeopardy, she got to witness a legitimate astronaut dressing up as her iconic Battlestar Galactica character while on board the International Space Station.

Katee Sackhoff left the role of Captain Starbuck behind more than ten years ago, and has moved on to other sci-fi endeavors, but fans will forever be lovingly stuck on her iconic Battlestar Galactica character. Such admirers apparently include astronaut and space-farer Samantha Cristoforetti, as the space station visitor donned a Starbuck costume in a recent transmission to planet Earth. Sackhoff was clearly thrilled enough to drop a “frak” over the tribute to sci-fi badass, and retweeted the video of Samatha Cristoforetti's Starbuck while expressing how awesome it really is. 

You can see the video along with Sackhoff’s response in her Twitter post below:

As you can see from the video, this is not the first time astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has shown off her pop culture prowess by dressing as a fictional space voyager while miles above the Earth. A few years ago, she sent out a transmission while dressed as Star Trek’s Captain Kirk — William Shatner technically did go to space as well, though not in costume — and I cannot get over her dedication to sending thrills to fellow sci-fi lovers from such a specifically suitable setting.

It is a whole different kind of fan dedication than the norm, too. Just think about it: Samantha Cristoforetti obviously can’t just drop by a costume shop or order these costumes from Amazon. (Though Jeff Bezos does probably have the means to ship things to the ISS.) She has to think far enough ahead to bring those kinds of getups with her when she is gearing up to go to space. Not to mention the fact that astronauts can only take limited luggage and supplies with them, for weight-based reasons, so the costumes are technically taking up room that she could have used for other things that wouldn't necessarily catch Katee Sackhoff's attention.

Of course, I’d like to imagine that they aren’t just a one-off, and that the entirety of Samantha Cristoforetti's wardrobe is made up of sci-fi costumes that she casually dons while relaxing and working in the International Space Station. Even if she doesn’t, it really seems like she is living her best geeky life hundreds of miles above our heads. 

Now that Katee Sackhoff’s Captain Starbuck has actually gone to space, or at least as close as anyone could hope for, there are plenty of other of her sci-fi characters for Samantha Cristoforetti to choose from next time, Or maybe she already has a second Sackhoff costume in the space station. I’ve got to say, my vote is for Star Wars franchise’s Bo-Katan, which Sackhoff will continue to explore in Season 3 of The Mandalorian. 

While it might be a little less exciting that real-life space living, everyone with a Disney+ subscription will be able to catch Katee Sackhoff and the rest of The Mandalorian cast when Season 3 begins in February of next year, while we're still waiting on more updates from Peacock's impending BSG quasi-reboot.

Battlestar Galactica icon Katee Sackhoff, through her latest baby update, basically proved that she is every mom ever. The Mandalorian actress had a baby girl with her husband this past December and is now sharing the very real struggles that people face when putting their little ones to sleep. While parents can certainly relate to the situation, Sackhoff didn't leave out fans of her classic sci-fi show, as she also snuck in another A+ BSG reference!

Having a new baby can be pretty rough, especially when they aren’t sleeping. An overtired infant mixed with a sleep-deprived parent is usually no good. Luckily, Katee Sackhoff and hubby Robin Gadsby appear to be a great team, even when put in a stressful situation like being on a plane with a baby.

In a recent Instagram story, the actress shared a photo of her husband napping while she holds the sleeping baby on board an airplane. The Star Wars alum looks reasonably tired, but content, as she explains that she and her spouse had taken turns trying to put the baby to sleep for hours! Check it out for yourself in the photo below:

Many will probably be reminded of their own parenting journeys when they see Katee Sackhoff’s photo, yet those who are Battlestar Galactica fans will probably be drawn to the not-so-subtle Easter egg! Sackhoff is a pro at using the term “frack,” which is a throwback to her BSG days of playing the role of Captain Starbuck on the iconic sci-fi series. I'd say that the sleep deprivation she was certainly feeling at the time this photo was taken was the perfect occasion for the expletive.

The term “frack” was introduced in the OG Battlestar Galactica series and essentially serves as a replacement for the word “fuck” in the fictional universe. While it is a great way for characters to express themselves, it’s also a pretty ingenious way for writers to get around that pesky f-bomb allowance (or lack thereof) instituted by some networks. 

I’d imagine that “frack” is a pretty common thing that comes out of Katee Sackhoff’s mouth now that she's a working mom. Her baby is only around 6 months old, and Sackhoff has still kept pretty busy professionally while fulfilling her duties as a parent. Though she has been the target of some criticism for her “privileged” working parent posts, I’d say that the challenges she's facing are pretty comprehensive of the working-parent experience. It’s not easy, but she appears to be fracking good at it.

If you're like Katee Sackhoff and have a hectic and sleepless schedule as a parent, might I suggest binging streaming episodes of Battlestar Galactica with Peacock Premium during your downtime? Sackhoff fans can also look forward to seeing her reprise the role of Bo-Katan Kryze when the third season of The Mandalorian (streamable with a Disney+ subscription) arrives in 2023.

To many, Katee Sackhoff is known as the skilled actor who’s helped bring some iconic characters to life on screen. But in recent years, she’s also taken on two additional roles: wife and mother. Sackhoff seems to be mostly relishing her new titles and what comes with them, based on the lovely social media posts she’s shared over the past few months. Her most recent one may be the sweetest, though, as she uses it to pay tribute to her husband, Robin Gadsby. And if that weren’t enough, the post includes some sweet tidbits that are sure to make Battlestar Galactica fans happy. 

In celebration of her husband’s birthday, Katee Sackhoff dropped a precious photo of him on her Instagram. The image shows him cradling their young daughter while their two dogs chill alongside them. In her caption, the actress lauded her husband as a partner and cheekily coined a term from Battlestar Galactica while pondering how she was able to land her beau:

Fans surely caught the pitch-perfect use of the word “frak” in there. Longtime devotees likely know how deeply embedded the word is within the history of the science fiction franchise. The term, which was first introduced in the original ‘70s iteration of BSG is a word that doubles for the almighty f-bomb. It’s been used quite frequently over the years, and Katee Sackhoff’s Starbuck certainly used it on more than one occasion. Many fans would probably agree with me, though, when I say that this may be Sackhoff’s best use of the faux expletive yet!

And if that weren’t enough, the post was also injected with some more Battlestar Galactica love, as the actress tagged fellow co-star Tricia Helfer. The star’s name was invoked when the Mandalorian alum was joking about how her husband is a Canada native like Helfer. Well, Helfer spotted the post and responded with an on-brand message of her own, saying, “As Sian said, You’re welcome! And happy birthday”. You can see the original post down below:

These intergalactic ties have definitely remained strong in the years since the modern iteration of BSG finished its run. While this is nice to see, it’s also great to see that stars like Katee Sackhoff have had big things happen in their personal lives since the show went off the air. She and Robin Gadsby made the walk down the aisle in October 2021 in what appeared to be a beautiful ceremony. And if that wasn’t enough of a surprise, by December, Sackhoff revealed that she’d given birth to their child, whom they also spent New Year’s with. 

Since then, the star has been candid about getting back to work while maintaining her maternal duties. The star has voiced some of the challenges she has faced, though some of the messages have garnered backlash. Though after one troll accused her of exuding “privilege,” she clapped back with some honest thoughts of her own.. 

While things may not be so easy for her right now, Katee Sackhoff’s post would seem to indicate that her husband is supporting her every step of the way. And that kind of synergy is something that anyone, Battlestar Galactica fan or not, can truly appreciate.

Many different celebrities have been open about having to deal with trolls online, but BSG alum and Another Life star Katee Sackhoff wasn’t it having it recently when a troll came after her regarding feelings she’s had about going back to work when she has a young baby at home. Sackhoff has been open about her feelings related to work-life balance of late, but she was also equally open when she clapped back at said troll, who didn’t seem too happy with what the sci-fi actress had to say. 

If you’ve kept tabs on Sackhoff, the actress has had a bit of a tough time adjusting to her new work schedule. She’s been honest about this, sharing that it’s been “hard” and that she’s even “contemplating early retirement.”  In another more recent post, she was candid about feeling “over it.” 

I think most people, particularly those who have children at home, should have a lot of empathy for the star. How do you give 100% of your work energy to the job when you are missing a little one at home and how do you feel about having to sacrifice time at home with your little one to get the work done? These are questions without easy answers, but according to one Internet troll, Katee Sackhoff shouldn’t get to have these feelings because she’s famous. In a post, the Battlestar Galactica star shared to her Instagram Story, she shared what the troll had to say about her feelings. According to her critic:

Believe it or not, but celebrities do often see these sorts of comments from people online. I’d have to assume most of the time they simply ignore the haters and move on – or as was the case with actresses like Kelly Marie Tran, simply leave social completely–but in Katee Sackhoff’s case she didn’t want to let the matter go. While most of her fans have seemingly rallied around the star given she referred to the unknown commenter as the  “one asshole in the bunch,” she also clarified her feelings via Instagram Stories.

She's handled trolls asking her to "send nudes" similarly in the past and it's a strategy that seems to work for the actress. In this case the story does have a positive ending to it, as well. She was able to wrap early on her workload this week and made it home in time to share snuggles with her little one, a daughter she and partner Robin Gadsby named Ginevra Grace Gadsby. 

Previously, Katee Sackhoff did reveal she had some time off with little Ginevra before she got back to work, but the change of pace and the loss of time with your child can be hard on any mom, no matter their societal circumstances. It’s worth noting that Sackhoff has kept a busy working schedule for years, hopping from BSG to 24 to Longmire to The Flash and more recently Another Life and to the popular Disney+ series The Mandalorian. And that list of Sackhoff's great roles doesn't even include other work, like that time she starred in a Hallmark movie. 

Suffice to say, if she does ultimately decide to take a bit of a break, it will be well-deserved. And if she decides to keep up with the work, I hope she continues to share her feelings about it. 

It was in February of 2020 that Battlestar Galactica actor Michael Hogan was involved in a slip and fall accident at a dinner event following a BSG fan convention. The incident left the popular sci-fi actor paralyzed on one side, as well as dealing with cognitive impairments ranging from memory loss to trouble swallowing. In the months since, Hogan’s former co-stars have rallied around him in support and his wife, Susan, has given the occasionally update about the actor. 

The accident initially occurred in February of 2020, so it’s been a long, uphill battle for Michael Hogan and his family. It’s not been easy after the slip and fall, but Susan Hogan revealed things are looking up for the family in a message over the holiday season. She noted that her husband is finally working to move around on his own again, noting,

It wasn’t just good news on the movement front, as Susan also said that her partner’s spirits are lifting as he works on a one-man show. He’s also excited about the newest addition to the family, baby Hazel, whom the family welcomed five months ago. But possibly the best piece of news is that the actor, known for playing Saul Tigh on the Peacock streaming series, is finally back to being able to eat regular food. 

Susan wrote the holiday update on the Battlestar Galactica actor’s still active GoFundMe page. While there does seem to be a lot of positivity surrounding what is happening with the star, he still is very much under medical care and in need. The family is still trying to reach a goal of $450,000 for ongoing expenses and if you’d like to contribute to his recovery you can do so here.

The year has already been a tough one on the TV landscape, with omicron delaying productions and fans having to say goodbye to some beloved TV personalities. But it’s nice that in this case the Hogan family was able to spread news of positivity and good cheer. Our thoughts are with Michael and his loved ones as they continue on their journey in the coming months. Here’s hoping 2022 ends on another good note.  

It’s been just a few days since Katee Sackhoff dropped the surprise news that she had a little one with her husband Robin Gadsby. Their baby, Ginevra Grace Gadsby, came into the world earlier in December, but the BSG and Another Life actress waited until the holiday season to charm her fans with the news. Unfortunately, shortly after she shared the reveal, the frequent sci-fi star had to get back to work. It’s never an easy thing the first few times a parent leaves their little one at home, and Sackhoff shared her candid feelings on the matter. 

As often happens following the holidays, both TV and movie productions are getting back into gear this month. It’s unclear what work Katee Sackhoff was sitting around in a trailer for – though she does have The Last Transport with her Battlestar Galactica co-star Michael Trucco on the docket. However, while having some downtime during the workday may be nice, Sackhoff was honest about how those moments feel when you are a new parent away from your baby for the first time. She said on her Instagram Story: 

It’s amazing how quickly parenthood can shift a person’s outlook, as it sounds like if the actress can find a way to slow down a little she just might. The TV star has had a prolific resumé since she landed the role of Starbuck in Ron Moore’s popular Battlestar Galactica series. She played a well-liked character on Yellowstone. She’s Bo-Katan in the live-action Star Wars Universe. She leads Netflix’s Another Life.  Heck, she even found the time to film a Hallmark Christmas movie this season.

All of these notable roles have helped her to gain an avid fanbase, a lot of whom are parents themselves. After her Story post broke wide, a lot of fans reached out about their own going back to work feelings, and she shouted out those other working parents as well:

It may be hard to leave a little tyke at home as a new parent, but this is one story with a very happy ending. After working earlier this week, yesterday Katee Sackhoff also shared an adorable look at some mommy and me time with little Ginevra. 

While working away from home can be a hard prospect, Sackhoff has joined a club that includes a lot of wonderful moms and dads, and some majorly famous names, including the likes of Jennifer Garner and many more. Here's a shoutout to all the parents out their pulling double duty at home and at work. 

Although Battlestar Galactica has never truly gone away thanks to the enduring popularity of the original series and its 2000s reboot, the sci-fi franchise is definitely getting ready to turn a new chapter. In addition to a new series being developed for Peacock by Mr. Robot showrunner Sam Esmail, the Battlestar Galactica movie that’s been in the works since 2009 is slowly making progress. As it turns out though, these two Battlestar projects are closely connected rather than being separate takes on the same mythology.

This information comes from producer Simon Kinberg, who’s producing and co-writing the Battlestar Galactica movie with Dylan Clark. In an interview with Collider, Kinberg said with the second draft of the script finished, the search is underway for a director to helm the feature, with shooting expected to begin either towards the end of this year or in early 2023. Kinberg also said the following about the movie’s ties with Peacock’s forthcoming Battlestar Galactica series:

It would have been easy enough to develop these two Battlestar Galactica projects on independent tracks, but now we know Simon Kinberg and Sam Esmail have been collaborating on them. Kinberg didn’t elaborate on how tightly these Battlestar narratives will be weaved together, though I imagine they’ll be standalone enough that if someone decides to just watch the TV show or movie, it’ll still be easy to follow along with what’s going on. 

It’s also worth remembering that rather than being a straightforward reboot, Peacock’s Battlestar Galactica series was previously revealed to exist in the same continuity as the 2000s series. So by Simon Kinberg mentioning a “shared universe,” evidently that also applies to the Battlestar Galactica movie. Here’s what Kinberg had to say about that:

So just like with Peacock’s Battlestar Galactica series, don’t expect the Battlestar Galactica movie to simply retell the core story of the remnants of humanity fleeing from the Cylons. Following the conclusion of the 2000s Battlestar Galactica series, a prequel called Caprica aired for one season, and the web series Blood & Chrome was intended to launch a TV series, but it wasn’t picked up. With both of these new projects still in the early developmental stages, it’ll likely be a while until we learn just how they specifically fit into the Battlestar Galactica tapestry.

Rest assured though, CinemaBlend will keep you apprised on major updates about the Battlestar Galactica movie and the companion Peacock series. For now, you can see Simon Kinberg’s latest movie, The 355, in theaters starting tomorrow, January 7. 

New Year’s Eve can be a date for staying up late and celebrating into the early hours of the morning for some, but Battlestar Galactica and The Flash veteran Katee Sackhoff went in a different direction on December 31. The actress revealed that instead of staying up past midnight to ring in the new year, she went to bed early after spending the night with her newborn daughter with husband Robin Gadsby. And as you might expect, the proof is downright adorable.

Katee Sackhoff shared how she ended 2021 with a photo on Instagram, and her big smile while cuddling her little daughter (who is just under a month old) indicates that she has no regrets about the early bedtime. Take a look: 

Based on the photo, she and husband Robin Gadsby had a nice meal with little Ginevra Grace Gadsby looking positively adorable in a pink tutu… before hitting the sack by 9 p.m. Considering Sackhoff and her husband were out on the town with their little one for at least a little bit of time, I’d say that they earned an early bedtime! 

Katee Sackhoff’s baby girl was born on December 6, although she didn’t publicly announce the birth until December 24, and said that she and her husband are “just going to keep” her birth story for themselves for now. In a very cute set of photos posted by husband Robin Gadsby that showed some wedding pictures as well as baby Ginevra, he commented that she “robs us of sleep every night, but makes every day a thousand times more meaningful.” 

2021 was a very big year for the couple, as Katee Sackhoff confirmed via social media back in October that she and Gadsby had tied the knot, just a couple of months before the birth of their daughter. Plus, it was a big year for the actress professionally, with the release of the long-awaited second season of Netflix’s Another Life, which marked a return to sci-fi years after Battlestar Galactica ended, although the Netflix series certainly isn’t just Battlestar 2.0.

The actress – who became a sci-fi icon thanks to her role as Starbuck over the four seasons of Battlestar Galactica – has used social media to interact with fans over the years, including some masks that were absolutely ideal for any BSG fans. 

She has also posted workout photos that are more than a little impressive, and she even shared a look at her latest workout via Instagram Story in early January, less than a month after the birth of her daughter. It seems to be a good thing that she hit the sack early to rest up on New Year’s Eve! 

If you want to check out Katee Sackhoff on the small screen (or revisit some of her projects), you can head to streaming services! Battlestar Galactica is available on NBCUniversal's Peacock, while Another Life is of course on Netflix. If you want to see Sackhoff bringing an animated character to live action, you can find her as Bo-Katan in The Mandalorian on Disney+. 

It’s been a big year for Battlestar Galactica, Another Life and The Mandalorian actress Katee Sackhoff. The sci-fi star shared a glimpse at her nuptials with Robin Gadsby back in October. Now, she’s shared a little holiday cheer with her fanbase, announcing she and her partner had a baby girl, Ginevra Grace Gadsby earlier this month. They welcomed their little bundle of joy on December 6th. 

The actress took to Instagram to share the first look at baby Ginvera, noting “Christmas came early this year.” She also mentioned her husband looks really hunky with a baby “strapped to his chest” and shared a series of images including one of her partner with the little one. You can see her full post, below.  

Katee Sackhoff is an avid sharer on social media, so it’s a little amazing to me that she and her new husband (but not her "first and best" husband Anders) were able to keep the impending birth of their baby secret over the last several months. The good news for Sackhoff is that her TV projects film well in advance. So, stuff that her fans recently saw, including the Hallmark holiday movie Christmas Sail, were filmed well before their release date on TV. She's been busy promoting stuff that came out recently without us being any the wiser. 

It is worth noting that Sackhoff is not a same-day sharer. She gave fans a look at her nuptials a few weeks after they happened earlier this year. She's also not the first celebrity to have a baby privately, as Mindy Kaling shared a similar story after keeping the birth of her kid private in 2020. 

Going back to the point that Katee Sackhoff does share a lot of her life on social media, the BSG actress was point-blank asked if she was pregnant thanks to a post about geriatric millennials earlier this year and responded. That post came in May and Sackhoff mentioned to the fans she would not be sharing something “private” like that on a social media platform like Twitter. But who would want to keep such an adorable addition secret long-term? It's no wonder she finally let the cat out of the bag.

After posting the baby announcement, Katee Sackhoff also took to her Instagram Stories to note, "You guys, now you know why I've been so tired lately," also mentioning she was currently in line at Starbucks while filming the Story post. (Starbuck at Starbucks? Ha!) 

As far as surprises go, this is a pretty good -- and stealthy -- one. CinemaBlend wishes Sackhoff and Ryan Gadsby well-wishes and much rest as they move forward as new parents. What a holiday surprise, indeed. 

Netflix has been coming out with some awesome originals, and one of those is the amazing sci-fi drama, Lost in Space. A remake of the classic sci-fi TV show from the 1960s, this Netflix original tells the story of humans who are, as you would guess, lost in space, and struggle with a strange alien universe as they try to overcome issues as they arise. 

With fun effects, a great story, cool-makeup and much more, Lost in Space was one of Netflix’s best shows, in my opinion. But, with all these episodes coming out all at once, one might wonder what to watch once they’re done binging the latest season. Look no further, because we have some awesome shows that are like Lost in Space that you just might want to see next. 

Firefly (Hulu)

In this one-season sci-fi show, Firefly tells the story of a group of humans who are a part of a crew aboard a Firefly-class ship, showing their adventures in a different solar system, far away from the world we know now. 

Firefly is one of those shows where I will never forgive the network for cancelling it. While I was too young at the time of its original airing, watching it now makes me so mad because this could have been great. Firefly could have been the Star Wars saga of television for its effects, the Firefly cast, and more. For fans of Lost in Space, this show is perfect, as it not only has the space adventures you would expect, but a great cast as well. I want it to come back so badly. 

Stream Firefly on Hulu.

The Mandalorian (Disney+)

Disney+ has a runaway hit with this one. The Mandalorian, taking place after Return of the Jedi, follows Din Djarin, a lone Mandalorian bounty hunter, whose life is turned upside down when he encounters a strange alien creature (who looks like a little baby Yoda), and takes it upon himself to try and return it to its home. 

The Mandalorian has become immensely popular for a reason. Jon Favreau created a masterpiece with this show, with not only a talented cast but an essential story that feels like it’s ripped right out of the Star Wars movies. For fans of Lost in Space, you’ll love the story of Din Djarin and his space travels, but what really makes this show so good is the relationship he has with Grogu - otherwise known as baby Yoda. With plenty of jaw-dropping moments, this is one you can’t miss.

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Battlestar Galactica (Peacock)

Another classic sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica is a re-imagining of the '70s series of the same name. In this world, humanity is in another star system, where humans are settled on planets, called colonies. However, their homes are attacked by Cylons, humanoid machines that wish to take over. The last of humanity escape and are led by the Battlestar Galactica, one of the last battleships, as they try to survive constant attacks, while looking for a new home. This is their story of survival.

For a long time, I only ever really knew this show from that The Office quote (“Bears, beats, Battlestar Galactica”), but after actually giving it a watch, it’s such an entertaining series. For fans of Lost in Space, you’ll love the human connections that are formed here. It’s all about survival and trying to make sure that their loved ones are okay, something that fans of the Netflix series can relate to. Plus, the visual effects are really cool. There just might be a new series coming soon, so keep an eye out for it. 

Stream Battlestar Galactica on Peacock.

The First (Hulu)

Ever wondered what it will be like when humans make it to Mars? The First explores that, telling the story of how humans are trying to settle the planet, and the trials and tribulations it takes to do it. 

To me, The First feels like a much more grounded look into space travel. It’s not the most edgy or action-filled show, like Lost in Space is, as it focuses on that human connection at a more naturalistic level. It shows the stresses of trying to do what is best for humanity, while moving forward with innovation rather than letting setbacks continuously stop them. Sean Penn gives a great performance as the lead character, along with the rest of the cast. It’s a shame it only last for one season. 

Stream The First on Hulu.

The Expanse (Amazon Prime)

One of my favorites on the list. The Expanse is an Amazon Prime original series, telling the story of humans hundreds years in the future, where we've colonized our solar system. But, as a strange disappearance arises and unlikely allies have to come together to solve the issue, the threat of interplanetary civil war rises, exposing more dark secrets that could threaten everyone's very lives. 

This is one of those shows I don’t want to say too much about before you watch it. For fans of Lost in Space, The Expanse has plenty of awesome space travel, cool set designs, and everything else you would expect, but what I really love about it is the story. From the first episode on, there’s so much to love, and you’ll want to watch the next episode every time. 

Stream The Expanse on Amazon Prime. 

Futurama (Hulu)

You gotta love Futurama. In this hilarious sci-fi sitcom, Futurama tells the story of Fry, a normal pizza delivery boy who is accidentally frozen, and then reawakens in the year 2999. Now, he must adapt to working in a new place, living in a new world, and having new friends. 

When I think of adult animated shows, Futurama is one of the first that comes to mind. It’s so funny and features such fun stories that you can’t help but love it. For fans of Lost in Space, there are plenty of great moments that scream sci-fi that you’ll enjoy, but it’s all about that human connection again, and creating valuable relationships that you’ll want to root for until the very end. I mean, you even learn to love a wise-cracking robot. It’s such a fun show. 

Stream Futurama on Hulu.

For All Mankind (Apple TV+)

If you ever wanted a cool alternate-reality show, For All Mankind is the way to go. This Apple TV+ original series asks this question: what if the Soviet Union had beaten the U.S. to the moon in the 1960s? But, instead of the space race dying down, the discovery of water leads to it being more high stakes than ever. 

Apple TV+ has been knocking it out of the park with their original series, from the beloved Ted Lasso, to its animated shows like Central Park. However, For All Mankind is such an interesting one to watch. I’ve always been a huge fan of alternative histories and this one takes it to another level with the amount of detail, lore, and effects it uses. For fans of Lost in Space, I think you’ll enjoy the exploration and the stories about the missions to the moon. But, you should watch it regardless. Such a cool, interesting take. 

Stream For All Mankind on Apple TV+.

Steven Universe (HBO Max)

This popular cartoon is always a hit. Steven Universe tells the story of Steven, a young boy who is also half-Gem. The Gems are alien fighters who are tasked with keeping humanity safe from threats of terror and monsters. Steven looks to these Gems to learn how to understand his powers, growing as a person while doing so. 

Steve Universe is a masterclass in animation. For fans of Lost in Space, there isn’t much space exploration, but you’ll love the stories that are told, often with special powers, cool graphics, and beautiful animation. Not only that, but Steven Universe teaches valuable lessons about love and family (like Lost in Space) and learning to accept yourself for who you are. The series is such a great watch for both kids and adults alike.

Stream Steven Universe on HBO Max.

Away (Netflix)

In this Netflix original series, Away tells the story of a group of astronauts, led by Emma Green. Their main goal is to become the first crewed spaceflight to Mars after years of trying to make it happen, but in order to do so, they have to commit to being away from their loved ones for three years.

Away is the perfect one-season binge for fans of Lost in Space. Not only does it deal with space travel, it also shows the effects of being away from the ones that we care about, and what we’re willing to do to protect them. Something I also adore about Away is its cast. Led by the talented Hilary Swank, the cast has wonderful chemistry, compelling story arcs and plenty of interesting character moments that will keep you entertained. It’s a shame the series didn’t last long.

Stream Away on Netflix.

Star Trek: Voyager (Hulu)

You can’t have a sci-fi list like this and not include Star Trek: Voyager. This popular sci-fi series is a part of the Star Trek franchise, follows the Starfleet vessel, aptly called “Voyager,” as it tries to return home after being stranded for many, many years. But of course, as every Star Trek crew does, they run into problems along the way. 

Star Trek is just one of those franchises that I’m sure most sci-fi fans have watched. For viewers of Lost in Space, this series has a lot of the same beats and character moments you would expect, with several different storylines and relationships for you to root for. And, when it comes to Star Trek, you know there’s always going to be some ridiculously campy villain at some point, but they’re so much fun to watch and see our protagonists fight against. Starring Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Voyager is a ton of fun. 

Stream Star Trek: Voyager on Hulu.

Raised By Wolves (HBO Max)

Last but not least, we have Raised by Wolves. This HBO Max original series follows two robots who look human, named Father and Mother. Together, they are programmed to raise young human children after Earth was completely destroyed by war, alongside a human colony. Soon, the robots learn that the older humans are volatile, and it’s not easy to keep them from harming each other, whether because of religious differences, or more.

Raised by Wolves is such an interesting concept for a sci-fi show. For fans of Lost in Space, this also shows humans in a completely different environment, trying to adapt, but it’s so much more than just that. Famed director Ridley Scott serves as an executive producer, and even directed the first two episodes, so you know it’s really good. Both Amanda Collin and Abubakar Salim give amazing performances as Mother and Father, and with a second season on the way, now is the perfect time to watch. 

Stream Raised by Wolves on HBO Max.

There are truly so many amazing sci-fi shows out there for you to watch if you’re feeling up to the challenge after finishing Lost in Space. Maybe you just might have found a new TV series to love. Regardless, you’ll have a fun time watching no matter what you pick.  

Katee Sackhoff became a star thanks to her role as Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica. With making such a big splash in a single genre it’s not uncommon to see actors return to that well again and again, but that’s not really what happened with Sackhoff. She only recently returned to science fiction again with the Netflix series Another Life.

Katee Sackhoff explains to CBR that once she was done making Battlestar Galactica, she had a desire to do some different things and make stories that were a bit more grounded in reality. However, she decided to return to science fiction because, while it might share a genre with Battlestar, she saw it as a very different sort of project, and it was one she had control over. Sackhoff explains… 

On the one hand, some actors find themselves in similar roles again and again, because it’s what they enjoy doing, On the other hand, there are those that are always looking for a challenge, or just something different so that work isn’t the same thing every day. Katee Sackhoff is clearly one of these latter cases. She seems to like working in science fiction, but it’s not the only thing she wants to do.

While the SyFy Channel reboot of Battlestar Galactica was based on a 1970s series that wasn’t particularly cerebral, the reboot was quite serious and dramatic. By comparison, Katee Sackhoff describes Another Life as a “popcorn” series, and that makes it different enough to be interesting for her. Sackhoff continues... 

Whether you’re a fan of science fiction, a fan of Katee Sackhoff, or both things together, Another Life’s second season is now streaming on Netflix 

On November 7, 2021, the world lost Dean Stockwell - the supremely talented, yet sometimes underrated character actor - at the age of 85. As a native of North Hollywood, he began acting when he was just child before eventually scoring his best known roles as Al Calavicci on Quantum Leap, or in the 1988 comedy Married to the Mob, which earned him his sole Academy Award nomination. 

Those titles are just two of our own personal recommendations below for the best Dean Stockwell movies and TV shows to check out in honor of the beloved actor’s illustrious life and career, starting off with this Emmy-winning classic.

Quantum Leap (1989-1993) 

Created by Donald P. Bellasario, Quantum Leap follows a brilliant scientist (Golden Globe winner Scott Bakula) whose time-travel experiment goes a little “ka ka” and sends him on a journey with no discernible end, that forces him to right the wrongs of the past by, essentially, possessing different people from different time periods one “leap” at a time. 

His only ally is a man from the future named Admiral Albert “Al” Calavicci, who appears to him in the form of a hologram only visible to him to offer whatever guidance he can. Dean Stockwell’s performance as Al earned him four Emmy Award nominations and one Golden Globe win and helped solidify this series, which originally aired on NBC for five seasons, as one of the best sci-fi TV shows of its time (or any time).

The Twilight Zone - Season 3, Episode 15 (1961) 

Speaking of great sci-fi TV shows, decades before Quantum Leap, Dean Stockwell got to see what time travel via body swapping was like while appearing on creator and narrator Rod Serling’s highly influential anthology series that ran on CBS from 1959 to 1964. 

In an episode titled “A Quality of Mercy” (which also stars Star Trek’s Leonard Nimoy), the then 25-year-old plays an American military lieutenant who begins to question the consequences of his actions after mysteriously being able to see things from a Japanese soldier’s perspective during World War II. Like many of the best Twilight Zone episodes, the Season 3 installment is another thought-provoking morality tale, only heightened by Stockwell’s passionate approach to the material.

Married To The Mob (1988)

Almost immediately after he secured his role in the Quantum Leap cast, Dean Stockwell became an Academy Award nominated actor for this criminally funny romantic-comedy classic from the late Jonathan Demme, who would later direct The Silence of the Lambs. 

After her gangster husband (Alec Baldwin) is killed, fed-up housewife Angela (Michelle Pfieffer) thinks she has finally received a second chance, which is instead interrupted by an undercover FBI agent (Stranger Things’ Matthew Modine) and her husband’s boss, Tony (Dean Stockwell). Stockwell would work with Demme again for their 2004 remake of The Manchurian Candidate, but Tony “The Tiger” Russo in Married to the Mob would forever be remembered as one of the actor’s defining performances.

Paris, Texas (1984)

Another one of Dean Stockwell’s most acclaimed films is Paris, Texas, in which he also plays a far more likable character. He stars as Walt Henderson, who finds his amnesiac brother Travis (the late Harry Dean Stanton) after he mysteriously disappeared four years later, giving him the chance to reconnect with his young son (Hunter Carson) and his estranged wife (Natassja Kinski). From celebrated German director Wim Wenders, this witty, rousing drama (which also won the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival) is a beautiful tale about finding your family and yourself.

Blue Velvet (1986)

Dean Stockwell’s next major motion picture was the original 1984 adaption of Dune - which was not quite the critical or commercial hit that fans of Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel hoped for, but luckily, not the last time the actor would work with David Lynch, either. 

Just two years later, the seminal filmmaker and future Twin Peaks creator cast Stockwell in the memorable role of Ben - a sadistic, eccentric fan of Roy Orbison's music - in Blue Velvet, which is the story of a young man (Kyle McLachlan) embroiled in a disturbing criminal conspiracy after discovering a severed ear in a field. The surreal, instant classic Neo-noir thriller was a profitable success (making more than $8 million on a $6 million budget), a surefire hit with critics (save Roger Ebert), and earned writer and director Lynch his third Academy Award nomination.

To Live And Die In L.A. (1985)

A year before playing a criminal in Blue Velvet, Dean Stockwell played Bob Grimes - an attorney to a criminal - for another legendary filmmaker, William Friedkin. The client of Stockwell’s character is a menacing counterfeiter played by Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe, whom William Petersen’s former Secret Service agent protagonist is hellbent on finding, to avenge the murder of his former partner. 

Based on the novel by Gerald Petievich, To Live and Die in L.A. is one of the most gripping, authentically gritty, and underrated action thrillers of the 1980s, that only the director of The French Connection and The Exorcist could deliver.

The Rainmaker (1997) 

More than a decade later, Dean Stockwell was promoted from a corrupt attorney to a corrupt judge, as the honorable Harvey Hale in The Rainmaker. Co-written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the legal drama stars Matt Damon as a young lawyer who finds himself in over his head when his first case after passing the bar exam proves to be a high-profile battle against a fraudulent insurance company and its impressive team of seasoned attorneys (headed by Jon Voight). 

Danny DeVito also stars as Damon’s sole underdog ally in what is considered to be one of the greatest modern courtroom dramas, especially among those based on a John Grisham novel.

Air Force One (1997) 

In the same year as The Rainmaker, Dean Stockwell flew to even greater heights when he starred in Air Force One as the United States Secretary of Defense, Walter Dean. He, the Vice President (Glenn Close), and others find themselves in over their heads when struggling to figure out how to bring passengers of the President’s private jet to safety, after it gets hijacked by Russian terrorists (headed by Gary Oldman). 

However, the President himself (Harrison Ford) - a Vietnam War veteran - seems to be handling things pretty well on his own, in this thrilling action classic from director Wolfgang Petersen.

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) 

A decade earlier, Dean Stockwell was still earning a steady living playing shady criminal types, such as in the follow-up to the monster hit comedy that made Eddie Murphy one of Hollywood’s most bankable leading men. 

In Beverly Hills Cop II, Stockwell plays a member of an international arms trafficking ring that Detroit-based detective Axel Foley returns to the Sunshine State to investigate, following an assassination attempt on a renowned, local police captain. Aside from being about as funny as its predecessor (one of the funniest and best ‘80s movies), the sequel is admired for upping the ante on its action sequences, especially with the late Tony Scott at the helm.

Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker (2000) 

I will not give away how, but Dean Stockwell (technically) got to play both sides of the law with his role in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. He voices an older Tim Drake, whom Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) - the young successor who was given the Batman mantle by Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy) - seeks out to learn more about his traumatic past as Robin, after the Clown Prince of Crime (Mark Hamill) seemingly comes back from the dead. The secrets that come to light and the thrills that follow make this spin-off from the hit Batman Beyond one of the best animated Batman movies of all time in the eyes of many.

Battlestar Galactica (2006-2009) 

Perhaps the finest (and most sinister) of Dean Stockwell’s villainous performances was in his triumphant return to science-fiction television when he joined the Battlestar Galactica cast in Season 2. His character, a humanoid Cylon known as John Cavil, proved to be one of the most brilliantly conceived and engrossingly intense antagonists on Syfy’s celebrated reimagining of the short-lived ‘70s TV show originally created by Glen A. Larson. 

The Boy With Green Hair (1948) 

I could not have called this retrospective of Dean Stockwell’s career fully complete without a mention of one of the more obscure and undeniably bizarre credits from his early days as a child actor in the 1940s. He plays a young Irish lad name Peter Fry, the titular character of The Boy with Green Hair, whose locks magically turn an unusual and unnatural color after a deadly raid leaves him orphaned and living with his grandfather. While it seems like nothing more than a silly children’s fantasy, director Joseph Losey’s dramedy is actually a clever, deeply symbolic satire way ahead of its time with a powerful message that stands against wartime violence. 

Scott Bakula’s Dr. Samuel Beckett could not have asked for a better holographic companion on Quantum Leap than Al Calavicci, and no better actor could have played him than Dean Stockwell. Even though he had not acted since 2015, after starring in the twisted indie comedy Entertainment, his undeniable talent is still far from forgotten and his legacy will be everlasting.