Though the 2010 pilot season won’t be here until August, the new year is upon us, and this means we must look to the future of our prime time entertainment. With the cancellation of Joss Whedon’s FOX series Dollhouse, we’re left (once again) to pick up the pieces of our sci-fi/fantasy TV fandom and look elsewhere.
Here’s what we’re looking forward to on the small screen in 2010
Torchwood
A BBC spinoff of Doctor Who (with much more nerve), Torchwood’s future was a little up in the air after the success of it’s third season, Torchwood: Children of Earth. Still, rumors are swirling once again that the show will return for a fourth season in 2010.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNsUHstmkJI]
LOST
After five stranded seasons, ABC will wrap up its sci-fi Gilligan’s Island with the sixth and final season, slated to kick off on Feb. 2. We’re expecting one hell of a finish for the survivors of Flight 815, and the lack of teasers for the first few episodes makes us even more curious.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rSXZs7561Q]
Past Life
The new FOX show is based on M.J. Rose’s book “The Reincarnationist,” and follows a pair of detectives who investigate past lives. Sounds a bit Fringe-ish to us, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Plus, its got former West Wing-er Richard Schiff to boost its credit.
Premieres on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzAEtbmPF8I]
Day One
NBC is dipping into the realm of post-apocalypse with new show Day One. At first the show was slated for a short 13-episode season, but was later reduced to a mini-series – probably a good choice, but still, we’ll be glad to check it out. For now, Day One is expected to run in March after the 2010 Olympics.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vdaBMaIvvo]
Caprica
The latest from the Battlestar Galactica universe, Caprica will focus on the creation of the Cylons and will begin 58 years before the events of BSG. It’ll be a look at the pre-war BSG world at its prime, which piques our interest, too. The show will start airing on Syfy on Jan. 22.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQlhlHwXjj0]
Human Target
Possibly the new show I’m most excited for is FOX’s Human Target, based on the DC Comics hero, Christopher Chance. The promo boasts a nice budget with good effects and action sequences and the plot seems solid. Premieres on Jan. 17 at 9 p.m.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EBvQpcQgsc]
Legend of the Seeker
I caught the first season of this show based on the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind and fell hard. Sam Raimi, of Spiderman and Xena: Warrior Princess fame, is at the helm, and minus the lame one-liner comedy, I’m hooked. Besides, good fantasy TV is few and far between. Catch up with season two on Hulu before the show returns from hiatus on Jan. 9.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkRgKUWgakA]
Fringe
FOX’s investigative science hit has had a serious drop in the ratings, but it’s worth watching, nonetheless. Though the implausible science schemes have become repetitive, they’re intriguing and the relationship between ex-mad scientist Dr. Walter Bishop and his caretaker son, Peter is worth watching. The second season continues on Jan. 11 at 9 p.m.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLPCaUT8JII]