LAist Watches: Sci-Fi TV

After being able to sit with the big three network forays into sci-fi this season, it is safe to say that we'll probably only be sticking with one: Threshold. The Carla Gugino led show isn't a winner firing on all cylinders like the best sci-fi on TV right now, Battlestar Galactica, but its powerful cast and fast moving episodes with a slow-burning alien problem is the best of the bunch. It does feel a little x-files-ish with its mysterious "infected" du jour concept right now but three episodes in, we're hopeful that the larger overarching story is going to take some compelling and surprising turns before the season is over. Besides that, they have spent the early episodes focusing mainly on Gugino and Brian Von Holt. With Brent Spiner, Charles Dutton, Peter Dinklage and Rob Benedict filling out the rest of the regulars, there's a lot more good acting to be had.

Invasion, like Threshold, has a very good cast (we're particulary impressed with the kids on the show) but its lacking in actual substance. The idea of some kind of invasion, alien or otherwise, happening during a hurricane should be riveting but the 2nd episode left us flat. We don't know why we should care about these characters or this town or about the glowing ghoulies hiding under the water and inside some of the people. It's well-shot and the special effects are great but....well, we're more likely to be surfing the internet while it's on screen rather than paying rapt attention like we do with our most favorite shows.

Surface? Meh, it's on Monday nights. Next.

LAist's Take: None of these have anything on Lost (the reason all the networks are trying for the big scifi mystery show) which has ramped up the fantastical this season. We're keeping Threshold on our DVR but, really, if you haven't already gotten into the new Battlestar Galactica, you should be getting down with the Cylons on DVD.