Geeks logo

Top 5 Cult Classic TV Shows

As Rated by a Nobody But Please Read To The End

By S.E. ReineroPublished 5 years ago 7 min read
Like

Cult Television. Defined as a label for television shows that are categorized as offbeat, edgy, or identifiable with a specific subculture. In my opinion, it has created some of the greatest shows of all time.

Typically, Cult TV is most often identified with shows from the 1980s to the early to mid-2000s era of television. While Cult TV goes back to the birth of television, shows like Pushing Daisies, Battlestar Galactica, Fringe, Twin Peaks, and My So-Called Life are embedded in the 90s and 00s subculture nostalgia. There are shows today being defined as cult classics before they are finished with their run like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Archer. For this list, we will keep to what has persisted in subculture, and is no longer in its original run as a series.

This being the case, we will mostly focus on the period before 2013 for this list, and will be going from most popular, to most underrated cult television shows.

#5 'Star Trek'

As I said, we will mostly be keeping to the time between the 80s and 00s, but Star Trek has such a long history, it is impossible to leave it out. A first in many of the things that define geek culture, Star Trek generated a following later to be identified as a Fandom. It is also considered to be the first show to have fan-fiction written about it. The franchise as a whole has been among the original members of Cult TV history before it was even defined as such. Star Trek is the only member of this list that is still turning out new series every couple of years. While the franchise has gone through may reboots, the Star Trek series before the JJ Abrams reimagining still holds cult status. Like many other shows on this list, Star Trek faced early cancellation in the late 1960s. It wasn't until the 1980s when Star Trek: The Next Generation brought back Gene Roddenberry's vision before his passing (We will ignore the short-lived and poorly animated TV show in from the 70s. Think old animated Spiderman series). TNG's seven-season series is the more significant of the revivals though, because of how it proved traditional science fiction could have a place on television. As an added plus, it revived and brought new blood into the Star Trek fandom. Star Trek is entrenched in popular geek culture, and persists as a staple in television history, and for going where no shows had gone before.

#4 'The X-Files'

Inspired by its cult-followed predecessor, Twin Peaks, The X-Files tells the story of two FBI agents, and their search for the truth regarding alien government conspiracies coupled with 'monster of the week' episodes. The show began in 1993, went on hiatus after its ninth season in 2002, and recently had two short revival seasons in 2016 and 2018. Unfortunately, with the lead actors being busy with other projects, the show has been shelved again, possibly for good. The shows following has never truly died out. When the show had its TV revival, fans came out of the woodwork, and new fans were created as the age of internet content brought the show back into the spotlight. For example, Mulder and Scully cosplays during the time of the 2016 season made a unique resurgence. For now, The X-Files relevancy in the public eye lives on in novels, audio narratives, comics, and fandom content, even though it has faded back into obscurity. The greatest impacts it had though were how it changed TV show structures, introduced the 'believer-vs-skeptic' trope, and popularized investigations into the paranormal and other conspiracy theories. In a post-Watergate and 9/11 world, the show is still relevant, and so are all the fans it has inspired to believe.

#3 'Firefly'

Firefly is a show that had its life cut short. With only 11 episodes, the show was canceled before it could finish its first season. It took until several years later when its creator Joss Whedon was able to make a movie to provide fans with the closure they so desperately needed. The reason it is identified with cult television is because of its science fiction/western mash-up. The shoe has a band of misfits set in a unique world with the integration of Chinese culture and language with the Wild West elements. The shows ship, the Serenity, has gone down in history as among the most recognizable ships in science fiction next to the USS Enterprise and the Millennium Falcon. The what could have been nature of Firefly is what keeps fans awake at night, and why it remains ingrained in the minds of Joss Whedon fans everywhere.

#2 'Freaks and Geeks'

A coming of age show set in the 1980s that was also cut short, but unlike Firefly at least got to finish its season run. The teen comedy show predominantly follows the Weir siblings. Lindsay Weir is an established mathlete who decides to hang out with a group of burnouts, and her younger brother Sam has to survive his freshman year of high school. The show only ran from 1999-2000, and starred upcoming young actors like James Franco, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and Seth Rogan. At face value, the show comes across as an average teen drama that discusses the troubles of growing up stereotypically. But it was so much more. The show dealt with topics of identity, dealing with drugs, understanding sexuality, having to make the hard decisions in life, and dealing with the consequences. It was grounded and real. Jason Segel's character wants to be a famous drummer, and he even has a band, but he lacks work ethic. But even when he tries, he still isn't good at drumming. The show points out that, in real life, we don't always get to achieve our dreams, even if we try, which is pretty depressing. But just because it's a hard pill to swallow, doesn't make it less accurate. This show holds onto its cult status, because of its realism, flawless cast, and it is considered a show that defined its era in television.

#1 'Danger 5'

Now, this one is very different from the rest of the shows in one significant way; it is an Australian TV show.

For the majority of this list, these classic cult shows were produced in the United States. Why the change? Australian television and film have an intriguing history, and between the two, Australian TV has been considered superior to the country's film industry by the general public. The content produced in Australia is often very anti-Hollywood formula, and truly encapsulates what means to create classic Cult TV, and its goals of nonconforming. Because of these shows' distinct formats, topics, and humor, some of the most iconic series of Australian television fall into the cult television category, like Danger 5. Premiering on SBS in 2012, Danger 5 is a 1960s-styled story that follows a team of super spies who have to reunite to stop Hitler's quest for world domination. The show hooks you in with action and comedy, Nazis and dinosaurs. In short, a healthy dose of surrealism and absurdity. (The closest thing it can be compared to is the film, Kung Fury). Inspired by other cult classics, like Let the Blood Run Free, Danger 5 combined traditional archetypes and absurdist comedy to create a show that was both niche and commercial for Australian television. Danger 5, as a show, also played up the industrial formats for American TV, and exaggerated aspects of British comedy with its absurdist approach. In fact, for its final season, the show based itself in the 1980s and played with classic 80s narrative archetypes while still maintaining its brand of humor. The reason this show falls under cult status is because it is such an out-there show that is not considered commercially viable and traditional. Cult TV is unique, groundbreaking, and niche, which is why Danger 5 holds the number one spot on this list.

tv
Like

About the Creator

S.E. Reinero

Bring what is in your head to the world.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.