The Doctor of course. Of all, it is the only one with an endless list of possible futures, and so can reinvent itself for each generation.
tensaibakasays
Sorry Dr. Who fans, if we’re trying to predict which shows/characters will have the most impact 100 years from now, we need to break out of our little sci-fi fanworld bubble, and look at what the entire world knows. Looking back in history from today, Superman has had the biggest impact in the world of science fiction, and is probably the most recognized name in science fiction history. If people are going to be talking about sci-fi history 100 years from now, which characters/shows made the biggest impact globally?
Way too many people still don’t even know that Doctor Who exists, and Star Trek/Star Wars are still too far behind Superman in global recognition. Superman was one of the first major superheros in comics, one of the first superheros to have a widely viewed TV series, and one of the first superheros to have multiple movies, that are still being continued/remade today.
I’m not saying that some of the other shows on the list won’t still be around, but I’m pretty sure Superman will still be a topic 100 years from now.
Can’t argue with your logic, but I think Superman had more influence on the comic book world than on sci-fi. The Superman of sci-fi was Buck Rogers, but he’s not in the list!
Okay, throwing a flag here, 15-yard penalty, scifi foul. 🙂
I’d argue that Twilight Zone, Wonder Woman and Buck Rogers should be on this list. Technically Buck Rogers has been around 80 years already, and Wonder Woman has been around for 70 years. And since I’m rollin’ old school, Flash Gordon may also need to be on this list (FREE FLASH GORDON!!!)
If we keep to shows in the scifi bubble, my personal bias includes Babylon 5, just because.
I would also argue that Star Wars has more than enough mainstream global recognition, and that the first trilogy would likely be second behind Superman in that “non-geek” consciousness Tensaibaka was talking about.
every other franchise has been around long enough to go through various imaginings, story-arc flips/modifications/alterations/re-imaginings.
Firefly/Serenity is what it is in part because Fox did us a favor and froze it. Dare I call it a jewel? It is to me.
Of the shows on that list that I have watched I was invariably disappointed with various cast changes, story-lines, idiotic re-imaginings, nonsensical remakes, etc.
I might have favorite moments from some of those, but if I were to pick one series to watch from beginning to end and know I will not be disappointed at some point, there is only one. It’s the only one I own. It’s the only one I can watch any time, starting at any point, and know that I will enjoy every minute of it.
Here’s to hoping they leave it alone, and not try to make something more out of it.
I’ve said it before, but like Elvis, Firefly knew when the time to die was. It never got the chance to get old, to disappoint us or to have a creative slump. It was cut off just when it was finding its legs and had such potential and that more than anything is what created the buzz, the fondness and the cult around it.
Yes, I said cult….the fans are a cult and we’re a minority in the overall fandom of the world.
That said, things like Star Trek, Doctor Who and Star Wars are more mainstream in their acceptance. (As is Superman, for that matter). There will still be new stories coming out for those franchises years from now…and that’s why I think people will still be talking about them.
It’s nothing against Firefly, but we’re not getting much in the way of new content for it on a regular basis and over time, the followers will grow smaller and smaller….
Chavaliersays
As much as I would have love to have tagged Firefly or Fringe, Superman is an ingrained part of our culture as much as Coca Cola or McDonalds. The mythology is iconic and last time I looked the second most popular figure next to Jesus (To be fair that was some time ago and it’s possible, albiet unlikely that Mclovin may have slid in there). I’m fairly certain that ol’ Supes will be fighting Lex Luthor in 2111.
Hmmm . . . the question is not which franchise will create new content. The question is which franchise we will still be watching and talking about.
That’s not to say there will never be new stuff in the FireFly verse, but the original characters are done, frozen in time.
Saying that over time their following will get smaller neglects the example of written works which have not only lasted, but continue to have a following as new generations are introduced to them.
Besides, the argument could be made the more mainstream series have a different problems that might tire audiences of them. Some will have so much background that they will in fact fade in that background, becoming nothing more than ghostly images of their initial glory.
Still other will become less relevant due to social, political, and economic changes. I specifically mention that in part because FireFly is nearly unique in its characters representing people who could be us . . . no special powers, no magic, no fantastic technology to come and save the day.
Just nine people with flaws, strengths, and a loose moral code based on what we can extrapolate from ourselves.
If 100 years from now audiences are not going to be drawn by what FireFly offers, then perhaps it is best that by then I will not be even an echo of a memory.
I’m not going with my favorite, just the one that seems most likely to be around in 100 years and that’s Harry Potter. 100 years ago there were movies for the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pinocchio, Macbeth and Julius Caesar, all spawned from literature and I think having popular printed volumes gives the story’s more staying power. Superman and Batman will probably still be around in some form, they are both a few decades away from being 100 already but the type of popularity that touches everyone may not be as strong as Harry Potter in 100 years. Just my speculation.
I think Star Trek and Doctor Who (in that order) will be the most remembered & most talked about not only because they have already been going strong, or relatively strong for almost 50 years, but in all their incarnations have produced more hours of content than almost all of the others on the list combined.
There can be only one…and it will be Doctor Who.
I would really like to believe that, but that’s not how I voted.
Just think about which one has been around for almost 100 years already. Best bet there.
The Doctor of course. Of all, it is the only one with an endless list of possible futures, and so can reinvent itself for each generation.
Sorry Dr. Who fans, if we’re trying to predict which shows/characters will have the most impact 100 years from now, we need to break out of our little sci-fi fanworld bubble, and look at what the entire world knows. Looking back in history from today, Superman has had the biggest impact in the world of science fiction, and is probably the most recognized name in science fiction history. If people are going to be talking about sci-fi history 100 years from now, which characters/shows made the biggest impact globally?
Way too many people still don’t even know that Doctor Who exists, and Star Trek/Star Wars are still too far behind Superman in global recognition. Superman was one of the first major superheros in comics, one of the first superheros to have a widely viewed TV series, and one of the first superheros to have multiple movies, that are still being continued/remade today.
I’m not saying that some of the other shows on the list won’t still be around, but I’m pretty sure Superman will still be a topic 100 years from now.
Can’t argue with your logic, but I think Superman had more influence on the comic book world than on sci-fi. The Superman of sci-fi was Buck Rogers, but he’s not in the list!
Where is Babylon 5?
To quote Mr. Spock, Tensaibaka’s “logic is impeccable” and irrefutable.
Okay, throwing a flag here, 15-yard penalty, scifi foul. 🙂
I’d argue that Twilight Zone, Wonder Woman and Buck Rogers should be on this list. Technically Buck Rogers has been around 80 years already, and Wonder Woman has been around for 70 years. And since I’m rollin’ old school, Flash Gordon may also need to be on this list (FREE FLASH GORDON!!!)
If we keep to shows in the scifi bubble, my personal bias includes Babylon 5, just because.
I would also argue that Star Wars has more than enough mainstream global recognition, and that the first trilogy would likely be second behind Superman in that “non-geek” consciousness Tensaibaka was talking about.
But… isn’t the world was ending in 2012?
Only in this alternate universe Nigel.
Firefly/Serenity
Here’s my logic:
every other franchise has been around long enough to go through various imaginings, story-arc flips/modifications/alterations/re-imaginings.
Firefly/Serenity is what it is in part because Fox did us a favor and froze it. Dare I call it a jewel? It is to me.
Of the shows on that list that I have watched I was invariably disappointed with various cast changes, story-lines, idiotic re-imaginings, nonsensical remakes, etc.
I might have favorite moments from some of those, but if I were to pick one series to watch from beginning to end and know I will not be disappointed at some point, there is only one. It’s the only one I own. It’s the only one I can watch any time, starting at any point, and know that I will enjoy every minute of it.
Here’s to hoping they leave it alone, and not try to make something more out of it.
(Spoiler) . . . except when Wash dies.
I’ve said it before, but like Elvis, Firefly knew when the time to die was. It never got the chance to get old, to disappoint us or to have a creative slump. It was cut off just when it was finding its legs and had such potential and that more than anything is what created the buzz, the fondness and the cult around it.
Yes, I said cult….the fans are a cult and we’re a minority in the overall fandom of the world.
That said, things like Star Trek, Doctor Who and Star Wars are more mainstream in their acceptance. (As is Superman, for that matter). There will still be new stories coming out for those franchises years from now…and that’s why I think people will still be talking about them.
It’s nothing against Firefly, but we’re not getting much in the way of new content for it on a regular basis and over time, the followers will grow smaller and smaller….
As much as I would have love to have tagged Firefly or Fringe, Superman is an ingrained part of our culture as much as Coca Cola or McDonalds. The mythology is iconic and last time I looked the second most popular figure next to Jesus (To be fair that was some time ago and it’s possible, albiet unlikely that Mclovin may have slid in there). I’m fairly certain that ol’ Supes will be fighting Lex Luthor in 2111.
Hmmm . . . the question is not which franchise will create new content. The question is which franchise we will still be watching and talking about.
That’s not to say there will never be new stuff in the FireFly verse, but the original characters are done, frozen in time.
Saying that over time their following will get smaller neglects the example of written works which have not only lasted, but continue to have a following as new generations are introduced to them.
Besides, the argument could be made the more mainstream series have a different problems that might tire audiences of them. Some will have so much background that they will in fact fade in that background, becoming nothing more than ghostly images of their initial glory.
Still other will become less relevant due to social, political, and economic changes. I specifically mention that in part because FireFly is nearly unique in its characters representing people who could be us . . . no special powers, no magic, no fantastic technology to come and save the day.
Just nine people with flaws, strengths, and a loose moral code based on what we can extrapolate from ourselves.
If 100 years from now audiences are not going to be drawn by what FireFly offers, then perhaps it is best that by then I will not be even an echo of a memory.
I’m not going with my favorite, just the one that seems most likely to be around in 100 years and that’s Harry Potter. 100 years ago there were movies for the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pinocchio, Macbeth and Julius Caesar, all spawned from literature and I think having popular printed volumes gives the story’s more staying power. Superman and Batman will probably still be around in some form, they are both a few decades away from being 100 already but the type of popularity that touches everyone may not be as strong as Harry Potter in 100 years. Just my speculation.
I think Star Trek and Doctor Who (in that order) will be the most remembered & most talked about not only because they have already been going strong, or relatively strong for almost 50 years, but in all their incarnations have produced more hours of content than almost all of the others on the list combined.
It won’t be Outcasts