Friday, February 28, 2014

12 Shows We Wish Were Returning Instead of Heroes

by Sara N.







The rules: No shows that were cancelled prematurely. Obviously, we all want Firefly and Pushing Daisies back. But today, we're talking about shows that had a good run and were able to develop their characters and give us some plot resolutions, but that we'd still be delighted to drop in on a few years later. A few of these aren't genre shows, but I don't care. That's how strongly I feel about them.

Here there are in no particular order.

1. Angel. Yes, Angel and not BuffyBuffy left everyone with the Sunnydale chapter closed and looking to the future. Angel let us with a hideous, Joss-y cliffhanger that made you think not a single one of the characters would survive another 20 minutes. I'd dearly love to see where they are today. (Yep, I know there's a comic series. I still want to see it in live action.)

2. The X-Files. The last movie was terribly disappointing, wasn't it? But I want to believe that given six or eight episodes, the show could recapture some of that old magic. A mini-arc, a few monsters of the week, some smoldering glances, a few sensible pantsuits. Bam! The magic is back.

3. Jericho. The show had two mostly solid seasons. I'd love to see what kind of society the survivors have managed to build since the show went off the air in 2008, particularly since the final season ended with the threat of a new civil war. This show would work with the same cast, a few years later, or it could follow a different band of survivors dealing with similar challenges in a different part of the country.

4. Alias. The quality suffered greatly in later seasons (let us not speak of Lauren and her evil eyebrows and her omni-accent). But I still have great affection for Sydney Bristow and Michael Vaughn. And Sydney's wigs. Today's spy shows don't have enough wigs, do you hear me, showrunners? Let's do a limited run series that pulls Sydney and Vaughn out of retirement and forces them to get the band back together. Also, wigs!

5. Friday Night Lights. As long as nobody murders anybody, I would very much like to revisit Coach and Mrs. Coach's world for a little while. I'd love to see how Coach Taylor's Texas charm plays in Philadelphia.

6. Chuck. The goofy little show that could ended on an ambiguously bittersweet note in 2012. We all hope that Sarah learned to love Chuck again, but it would be so nice to see proof that this actually did happen. Let's check in with Morgan, Captain Awesome, Jeffster and, of course, Casey for a limited run of episodes. Maybe Ellie gets the intersect this time? Who knows!

7. Highlander: The Series. Here's a show that wouldn't have to pick up with the same characters that appeared in the 1992-1998 show, in large part because the show is about immortals and lead actor Adrian Paul has aged over the last 15 years. Why not follow another McLeod? Some clan, different different vintage and more cool trips through the past.

8. Gilmore Girls. I would agree to a date with Taylor Doose if it meant I could get a look at what the girls are up to seven years later. Let's bring them back for a fast-talking miniseries.

9. Lois and Clark. OK, mostly I want to see Dean Cain back on my television in non-sad Lifetime Christmas movie projects. But what's life like for a superhero as he ages? Does Superman get a super midlife crisis? How does Lois deal in a long-term relationship with a hero? (My husband would like it noted that an aging Superman is already explored in Mark Waid and Alex Ross' Kingdom Come. I still want to see Dean Cain, though.)

10. Veronica Mars. I'm greedy. The movie's not enough. I want more time with our favorite girl sleuth-turned-lawyer. Let's tune in for some Neptune shenanigans every week for two or three months. Time for Kickstarter 2.0?

11. Quantum Leap. There's not enough Scott Bakula on our televisions. Let's see Sam Beckett get pressed into service for another spin through time to solve a looming crisis that can be fixed in, say, 10 or 12 leaps through the past.

12. Daria. The coolest girl in high school will be all grown up by now. Where does she work? She's a producer on Sick, Sad World, right? Are she and Jane still close? Did she and Trent ever act on their burning sexual tension? A short series would let us know who the rebels and the outcasts grow up to be.

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  1. Even though there is the comics, I agree with another run of Angel being fantabulous! I also agree with your opinion of Hereos. I LOVED the first season and watched it on Netflix streaming in a matter of a week or two. But I don't think I even made it past the 2nd season.

    You've also peaked my interest into a few shows I have never watched such as Jericho and Chuck. I might have to check those out!!!

    1. Chuck is a really fun mix of action, comedy and romance. Jericho is a really strange mix of post-apocalypse and cheesiness. Both are great fun, Chuck if you want something light and Jericho if you want darker (and occasionally dumber). :)

  2. Yep, I never went past the first couple of eps of season 2 of Heroes either. Excellent gif usage.

    I want a Daria movie. There's already a kickass trailer:

    I am so there for more Highlander, Quantum, Veronica & Angel.

    1. With Veronica, I'm afraid that the movie just isn't going to satisfy when we're used to full-season arcs and deep character development. TV-to-movie always seems dicey to me.

  3. No love for Firefly? What's up with that? I enjoyed the movie, but I say we pretend it didn't happen and pick up where the show left off. Whose with me?

    1. Who's with me... Who's, as in who is :S
      It's my proofreader's day off.

  4. Joan of Arcadia

    Second the recommendation for Daria.