My Favorite Martian: Television's Best Alien Beings and Space Explorers

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (59)

In the movies, aliens are usually creepy, green, evil, horrific, destructive angry or silly and stupid. But on television, we generally like them handsome, hot, intelligent, friendly, empathetic, goofy and thoughtful; if they’re not good-looking, at least they have a sense of humor (see: the Ferengi). As for the explorers we send out to look for/connect with our aliens and discover new worlds, they’re mostly of the strong, silent type. though there are a select few who aren’t afraid to break out the tears (I’m looking at you, Admiral Adama). But whether extraterrestrial being or mere mortal, these characters have left their indelible marks upon our collective psyche. They fulfill a curiosity and a thirst for (imagined) knowledge about our largely unexplored universe. If ever one of us got the opportunity to travel the galaxies, he’d be lucky to have any of these characters by his side.

It seems unfair to try to order this fine group of otherworldly travelers and so I shan’t.

The Fourth Doctor, “Doctor Who”:

Kara Thrace (Starbuck), “Battlestar Galactica”:

Captain James T. Kirk, “Star Trek”:

Captain Jack Harkness, “Torchwood”:

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, “Star Trek: The Next Generation”:

Captain Malcolm Reynolds, “Firefly”:

The Eleventh Doctor, “Doctor Who”:

Lieutenant Worf, “Star Trek: The Next Generation”:

Commander Spock, “Star Trek”:

The Tenth Doctor, “Doctor Who”:

Honorable mention:

The High Commander, Doctor Richard Solomon, “3rd Rock from the Sun”:

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The header pic is probably my most favorite image EVAR now, so thank you for that.

sfdebris has convinced me that Warf was mostly useless. Ok, he was useful as the guy who got beat up to prove the situation was serious. Guys in gold shirts dying? No big deal. Warf got punched in the face? HOLY SHIT RUN!!!

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at May 18, 2011 3:39 PM

Socrates_Johnson, you and sfdebris need to watch Worf's run on "Deep Space Nine". Not only did the show totally hit its stride when he came on board, he finally go to be the bad ass he was always supposed to be.

Regardless of the many humiliations Worf suffered, I'll always love him.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at May 18, 2011 3:47 PM

No Data? This list is wrong.

Posted by: Todd at May 18, 2011 3:48 PM

I'm sure sfdebris has seen plenty of DS9 and knows exactly what you are talking about, but my experience is limited to, mostly, Next Generation. My only experience with DS9 is the awesome tribble episode.
(paraphrasing)
"THOSE are Klingons? Warf what happened?"
"We don't like to talk about it!"

(Side note: I am not sfdebris, nor does he pay me to pimp his video reviews, but if you like Star Trek I'd suggest checking his stuff out. It's pretty awesome.)

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at May 18, 2011 3:58 PM

Best Captain = Kirk
Best alien = Spock

fini

Posted by: logan at May 18, 2011 3:58 PM

And GOD, why do I keep saying "Warf?" I'm going to have to punish myself by watching some Enterprise now.

(Not to mention double posting)

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at May 18, 2011 4:00 PM

It's disappointing how much program overlap there is between these characters, but - when you think about it - there really isn't much else out there for aliens and space explorers in television history that's very good. ALF? Lost In Space? Buck Rogers? I'm blanking here.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at May 18, 2011 4:09 PM

Across the void we come a warping
Across the fields of stars we soar
We pledge to land and something something
Dum da da da dum da da da spaceship

Posted by: Minto at May 18, 2011 4:12 PM

Mork from Ork? He froze the Fonz once. I had a big crush on Pam Dawber when I was little.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at May 18, 2011 4:13 PM

Now wait, I think we might need 2 lists here. One for Aliens and another for Humans In Space. We can argue about Thrace if you want, I *STILL* believe she is 1/2 Cylon, the daughter of the extinct model Daniel,and that either makes her Alien or a proto human like Hera.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at May 18, 2011 4:13 PM

If ever one of us got the opportunity to travel the galaxies, he’d be lucky to have any of these characters by his side.

We'd be "lucky" to have STARBUCK by our side? I'd kill myself just to get AWAY from her.

Posted by: Todd at May 18, 2011 4:14 PM

I would go with Major Samantha Carter from Stargate SG-1. She was wicked smart, resourceful, strong, capable, and just as tough as the guys in her unit.

Posted by: androstarr at May 18, 2011 4:14 PM

Oh, dear Godtopus....

Captain Jack (IANTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Captain Picard

Mal

panties pooling under desk as we speak

Posted by: dammitjanet at May 18, 2011 4:20 PM

Not that I'm complaining, but why do I get the feeling that a lot of these lists are made as an excuse to post characters from Doctor Who and its spinoffs? Great pic of Captain Jack and Ianto, by the way.

Posted by: SJ at May 18, 2011 4:24 PM

I limited myself and did not include androids, robots and automatos (including Cylon), thus no Data.

I did consider Doctor Smith from Lost in Space, Darth--but decided he wouldn't be thought a great explorer.

@Lindsey, I thought Kara turned out to be an angel or some otherworldly being = alien.

Posted by: Cindy at May 18, 2011 4:27 PM

Yeah, seriously; these lists are beginning to be excuses to rave about Doctor Who without doing any actual raving. Not that I'm complaining.

Except why the fuck is Tom Baker lower than Matt Smith? I'm starting to dig Smith, but no way is he better than Tom Baker. I'll begrudgingly accept Tennant above him because he's the better actor overall, but not Smith. Fuck that.

Posted by: vic at May 18, 2011 4:36 PM

Tom Baker was/is and always will be the BEST of the dr who's.

Posted by: Kim at May 18, 2011 4:44 PM

Honorable Mention! YES! :D I loved that show so much as a kid. My sister and I still use some of the quotes from that show ("PICKLES!"), but since it was pretty underrated, people just stare at us in pity.

Posted by: duckandcover at May 18, 2011 4:48 PM

Ummm, it's lieutainaint COMMANDER Worf, thankyouverymuch.

Posted by: Matty at May 18, 2011 4:49 PM

Well, yes, after she had died on Earth. But she was Born of Woman (Soctata Thrace) prior to that. The whole piano thing with Slick (Dreilide) as well as the Hybrid's prophecies lead me to believe she was actually the offspring of Daniel, also known as "An abandoned story arc." I HATE the Angel thing, it pisses me off more than I can express. I just re-watched the whole series and while I was less irritated by the ending the second time around (lowered expectations I guess) I still hate that stupid cop out Angel thing. She crashed on Earth #1, within range of The Colony (before it was moved), was Resurrected, and returned. I had a theory for a while that in order to hide Daniel from Cabal he was transgendered into Thrace and hidden on Caprica by the Final 5, but since Dreilide Thrace's death remains a mystery, I suspect he was the 13th model, and Kara was his daughter. Resurrection of 1/2 Cylons is not dealt with at all in the series, so who is to say they can't do it.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at May 18, 2011 5:02 PM

vic,

It seems unfair to try to order this fine group of otherworldly travelers and so I shan’t.

Reading before outrage.

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at May 18, 2011 5:09 PM

Good list, though it does seem a bit Trek & Who-heavy. Maybe add Ford Prefect, or Beldar Conehead?

Posted by: Need Me Some Coffee at May 18, 2011 5:11 PM

The trouble with Ford Prefect and Beldar, as they might relate to this list is that while Ford Prefect is AWSE in the books, the movie kinda sucked, and the character was forgettable. I mean, if we are going all Adams on this, Zaphod would be a SUPER fun alien traveling companion, and Trillion wouldn't be a bad choice either.
This list seems to be focused on the TV and Cinematic portrayals of the characters. Beldar.... Well.... Not a lot of depth there, really. That character was best suited to SNL skits. Would you REALLY want to travel the galaxy with THAT? He is not bad ass enough to make up for his annoying factor.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at May 18, 2011 5:27 PM

The Hitchhiker's Guide TV series wasn't bad.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at May 18, 2011 5:39 PM

Linds, I'm pretty sure Ron Moore dispelled the whole Daniel was her father thing--he said that was just a fan wish. I like your ideas, but Kara was "different."

Yeah, someone posted the podcast transcript:

"...I should probably say as a sidenote -- I know that there is a tremendous amount of speculation out there on the Internet -- that Kara is the daughter of Daniel or that Daniel, Daniel being the Cylon model that was killed or destroyed or aborted, however you want to choose to define it, by Cavil, that there's a connection between Daniel and Kara and that's part of the revelations that we're gonna reveal in the finale. I don't typically want to, like, put theories to rest, because it kinda spoils the enjoyment and fun of people in the show, however I do think it's worth saying that that is not part of the plan.
...
In this particular case, I don't want people to really be distracted through the finale by this other idea which has gained a tremendous amount of currency on the Internet and among fan circles and that's probably my own fault, because I don't think I realized the impact that the backstory of Daniel would have in "No Exit." I sort of thought that it was an interesting story about, that defined something about Brother Cavil, or John Cavil, and his backstory and how he reacted to the threat of someone else being as beloved as he was. It was a sorta Cain and Abel type allegory. All those reasons, -- I just thought it was an interesting piece of backstory, but in recent weeks I've realized that the Cult of Daniel has grown and there's a tremendous amount, there's a LOT of people out there who are now investing a tremendous amount of time and energy and thought into the notion that Daniel is really a powerful figure in the show and mythos and is directly related to Kara, and I don't want anyone listening to this podcast -- I don't want you to go into the finale with your Daniel-hopes up too high, because that's really not part of the plan. And again, I apologize if people think that that was such a gigantic mislead or clue or something. That was not the intent and I don't think I anticipated how strongly that would be grabbed by people."

Posted by: Cindy at May 18, 2011 5:39 PM

Also, I may be one of the few people who wasn't bothered by her ending. I like that she is somewhat unexplained.

Posted by: Cindy at May 18, 2011 5:40 PM

Fair enough @Lindsey. If just bombing around the galaxy is the aim though, and if Mal Reynolds made it in (not sure he did a lot of 'exploring'), then let's get Han Solo and Chewbacca in there. They are good in a scrape & have their own ride. I bet Lando tells good stories. If you need something heavy lifted bring along Bumblebee or Optimus Prime. They also bring their own rides. If you need to get there fast, Silver Surfer's your guy. All these people had cinematic and/or TV representations.

Posted by: Need Me Some Coffee at May 18, 2011 5:57 PM

Though admittedly the Silver Surfer can be a bit of a whiner.

Posted by: Need Me Some Coffee at May 18, 2011 5:59 PM

What, no Leela? Another victim of the manocentric maleocracy that is science fiction television!

Posted by: LEROOOY at May 18, 2011 6:35 PM

Indeed, Need Me Some Coffee, Han and Chewy would be welcome additions.

Cindy
Your BSG research is humbling indeed. I bow to your superior Geekdom, and reserve the right to STILL wish they had gone in that direction.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at May 18, 2011 6:48 PM

Leila from Doctor Who (human)
Leela from Futurama (mutant human)
Benjamin Sisko from DS9 (human)
Spock from ST:TOS (alien)
Fourth Doctor from Doctor Who (alien)
K-9 from Doctor Who (AI)
Data from ST:TNG (AI)

And I think that'd be a good team for exploration purposes.

Posted by: The Wanderer at May 18, 2011 7:22 PM

No way am I superior to you in any fashion--just remembered reading that at some point. Plus, the Great and Powerful GoogleOz, you know.

Posted by: Cindy at May 18, 2011 7:31 PM

LOST IN SPACE: Dr. Smith, of course not. But how about Will Robinson?

I always liked Rocky Jones,the Space Ranger.

Posted by: Pat C. at May 18, 2011 7:40 PM

Socrates_Johnson: vic, It seems unfair to try to order this fine group of otherworldly travelers and so I shan’t. Reading before outrage.

Aw poop. My bad. One should never rush through Pajiba early in the day. Apologies, Cindy. Let the record still show that Tom Baker > Smith, as far I'm concerned.

Posted by: vic at May 18, 2011 7:56 PM

@DarthCorleone - I second your "Mork".

Nanu-nanu!

Posted by: Green Lantern at May 18, 2011 9:14 PM

Socrates_Johnson, you and sfdebris need to watch Worf's run on "Deep Space Nine". Not only did the show totally hit its stride when he came on board, he finally go to be the bad ass he was always supposed to be.

Cosigned, Forbiddendonut.

Posted by: Green Lantern at May 18, 2011 9:16 PM

POINT OF ORDER, Oh-Boobstacular-One! Ford's character was ALSO portrayed in a BBC miniseries, and THAT version was the gold standard. Seriously...David Dixon's rendition of "Ol' Janx Spirit"? C'mahn...hear it in my head every time. EVERY. TIME.

I am of course, conveniently forgetting the prior radio plays, existing before movie, tv series...or even book. Yes. Look it up on the interwebz, kids.

Away!

Posted by: Green Lantern at May 18, 2011 9:24 PM

@Need Me Some Coffee - Technically everyone you mentioned is an alien (i.e. not originally from Earth), which in MY mind completely removes Kirk from the list (sadly) 'cause...well he's from freakin' IOWA. On Earth. Where he's totally NOT an alien.

*ahem*

@Pat C. - By contrast, Pat C., everyone you mentioned? Also not aliens. Ergo not on this list.

That's like calling ME an alien even though I have this awesome alien technology on my finger. Oh, but you should hear them on Oa, man. "Hey Earth-Boy! Why don't you go have some meat and vegetables with some processed sugar, Earth-Boy! Oh, Earth-Boy! Vaseer Kolo said she wanted to have the sexness with you! You should go show her your 'pee-bis'! Said she would like to see Earthman 'pee-bis'!"

Some of those guys on Oa are real jerks. Stupid aliens...

Posted by: Green Lantern at May 18, 2011 9:34 PM

Yes, the BBC mini series is FANTABULOUS. I went and saw the movie and spent the entire time complaining about how bad it was compared to the mini series.
All of the friends I went and saw it with had never seen the mini-series and thought the movie was awesome. They didn't understand why I disliked it so much.

And as for the 10th Doctor....

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgbuzhLKyQ1qfl9mro1_500.jpg

Totally the best alien.

Posted by: DominaNefret at May 18, 2011 9:44 PM

mmmm starbuck

Posted by: sailboat at May 18, 2011 10:38 PM

Green Lantern, you took the words out of my mouth. The tv adaptation was fantastic, if anything the dated effects add to it's charm. THERE WAS NO MOVIE.

Posted by: Dave Shepherd at May 18, 2011 10:45 PM

You bubble-headed booby:

3. Uncle Martin.

2. Uhura.

1. Piiiiiigs innnnnn spaaaaaaace.

Posted by: , at May 19, 2011 12:51 AM

Best Alien: Superman
Best Alien/human hybrid: Spock
Best Captain: Picard
Best Pilot: Starbuck
Best Lord: Dr. Who
Hottest Captain: tie Solo/Reynolds

Posted by: Melody Be at May 19, 2011 2:24 AM

Agree. The BBC miniseries, for all its low budget campy schlock, was WAAAY better than the recent movie.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at May 19, 2011 2:33 AM

Duck Dodgers

Posted by: csb at May 19, 2011 8:53 AM

Wow...kids....how can you NOT list Ray Walston's "Uncle Martin" in a list of TV's best aliens???

Posted by: OlorinGrayhame at May 19, 2011 8:56 AM

Ok, a few points of order here...

First, it's a TV list, so Han and Chewie are right out. And that's a shame b/c nothing says fantastic starship captain like a squid in a white suit. ("It's a TRAP!" Gee, thanks Admiral Obvious.)

Second, "Best Captain = Kirk"??!!??? Are you f-ing kidding me? Mal Reynolds would hand Kirk his ass before he could even get out of his girdle.

Thirdly, kudos to whomever remembered that there were aliens outside of Dr. Who, Star Trek, and Battlestar. Kal El/CK/Superman wins best alien, hands down. Someone just needs to remind him that we don't usually wear our underwear on the outside of our pants on this planet.

I, too, could've gone with Mork on this one, but he lost points because when it came time to reproduce he spit out Jonathan Winters. WTF?!?

Also, I'd like to honorable mention the dufus from "The Greatest American Hero". Technically a human, but with alien technology. He just makes me feel better about myself every time I try to follow instructions that were clearly written in Asia by non-English-speakers.

Posted by: NateS1973 at May 19, 2011 9:42 AM

Anybody ever wonder how awesome it would be if you could somehow get a 4th Doctor episode shot with the kind of pacing, effects, and writing (Moffat/Adams?) of Doctor New? Would the universe implode from the sheer gravitational density of that much awesomeness in one place, or am I off-base here?

Posted by: StoatCat at May 19, 2011 10:07 AM

Hopefully you nerds can help me: I'm a nuWho baby, and I haven't seen a single episode before 2005. What episodes or specials should I go to for the Last Great Time War and the events leading up to it? I wanna see what is probably the defining moment in the Doctor's life before I can claim to be a real fan. The Internet is surprisingly unhelpful in this regard.

Posted by: Mr. Tusks at May 19, 2011 10:11 AM

Colonel Wilma Deering, especially as a space vampire.

Dave Lister, although I'm not sure he's an explorer.

Jon Crichton, anther accidental traveler.

Posted by: Phibbsy at May 19, 2011 10:30 AM

Yep I am late to the game, and I sure as HEDHS hope someone else got to this before me, but this entire postis an Utter Failure due to the exclusion of the only TV Alien that matters:

MORK FROM ORK

na-nu, na-nu

Posted by: LA Juice at May 19, 2011 12:41 PM

Best Doctor: Patrick Troughton, then Tom Baker, Peter Davison, David Tennant and Matt Smith.

Best Captain: Mal Reynolds, then Kirk, then Sulu.

Best space sidekick: Sara Jane Smith, Jamie, Leela.

Best robot sidekick: K-9, Robbie the Robot.

Best space boobs: Saffron (Christina Hendricks), Ohura.

Posted by: BWeaves at May 19, 2011 1:20 PM

Best drinking partner alien: Zaphod, Ford Prefect, and Eccentrica Gallumbits, The Triple-Breasted Whore of Eroticon Six.

Posted by: BWeaves at May 19, 2011 1:22 PM

But only the TV versions.

Posted by: BWeaves at May 19, 2011 1:24 PM

Because I'm clearly the reference for all Star Trek related spelling, I believe it's Uhura. Her space boobs were spectacular though.

Leela's technically the captain of the Planet Express ship, though Fry's the protagonist of the show.

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at May 19, 2011 1:33 PM

Kal-El = Best Alien. Ever.

I will power ring the crap out of anyone who says differently.

Seriously.

I mean. it.

Back off, yo.

Posted by: Green Lantern at May 19, 2011 9:02 PM

Worf has to be the most one-dimensional character ever written - if he had his own drinking game where you got a shot every time he growled the word 'honor', you'd be pickled pretty quickly.

Now, travels with Guinan, on the other hand would probably be one hell of a good time. And no love for Superman? Or Farscape?

Posted by: funtime42 at May 20, 2011 7:46 PM

Mr. Tusks: The Time War never happened on the show. Russell T. Davies created it as backstory for the New Series for some reason. I still recommend the Old Series, though, it's a lot of fun. I didn't watch it in order, but if you start from the 60s and go on from there, you can see how it evolved, which is cool.

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Posted by: Hottest Female at June 15, 2011 3:44 AM

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My Favorite Martian: Television's Best Alien Beings and Space Explorers

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