Redshirts Always Die
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3 underappreciated sci-fi shows canceled too soon

By Chad Porto

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Actors Grant Bowler (L) and Julie Benz speak onstage at the "Defiance" panel discussion during the Syfy portion of the 2013 Winter TCA Tour- Day 4 at the Langham Hotel on January 7, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Actors Grant Bowler (L) and Julie Benz speak onstage at the "Defiance" panel discussion during the Syfy portion of the 2013 Winter TCA Tour- Day 4 at the Langham Hotel on January 7, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 09: Actors Anthony Lemke, Melissa O’Neil, Jodelle Ferland and Roger Cross attend SiriusXM’s Entertainment Weekly Radio Channel Broadcasts From Comic-Con 2015 at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 9, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 09: Actors Anthony Lemke, Melissa O’Neil, Jodelle Ferland and Roger Cross attend SiriusXM’s Entertainment Weekly Radio Channel Broadcasts From Comic-Con 2015 at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 9, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for SiriusXM) /

Dark Matter (SyFy)

Another great entry from SyFy. This series, like Defiance, only lasted three seasons and unlike Defiance was never given the full SyFy treatment. For some reason, the series was constantly adjusting the show’s formula for the sake of constant shakeups to the story.

Unlike the other series on this list, Dark Matter was fused with a mystery to start the first season. The crew of Raza wakes up without any memories of who they are or why they’re together. The first season follows the crew as they try to discover who they are and why they’re together.

The series was truly captivating in that first season, yet, shakeups to the cast and questionable character arcs harmed the series as a whole as it went on. While it wasn’t bad by any means, it did take established characters and forced them into new dynamics which may have harmed the overall tone and shape of the show. Ending the series early probably cost the creative staff the chance to complete these storylines and bring a satisfying resolution to these arcs.

The cast for the first season didn’t really have names, instead being known for the order they awoke from their capsules in. Marc Bendavid (One), Melissa O’Neil (Two), Anthony Lemke (Three), Alex Mallari Jr. (Four), Jodelle Ferland (Five), and Roger Cross (Six) make up your main cast, as the nameless crew. For at least the first season. The series also features a “living” computer played by Zoe Palmer.

It’s hard to go into details about the show without giving away chunks of the plot but even though there are some missteps, the series as a whole is worthwhile and worthy of your time.

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