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What the heck are we, as fans, supposed to do now that "Battlestar Galactica" is gone?

Watch other great science-fiction shows, of course.

As part of our last list looking at the best of 2009, we asked the Airlock Alpha staff to share with us what they felt were the best television series of the year. Unlike our movie list, there was a little bit more breathing room between the No. 1 and No. 2 series of the year, but both finished very strong at top, and were joined by some outstanding programs themselves.

Happy with our list? Felt that it could've been different? Feel free to share your thoughts by visiting our message boards, or e-mailing me at mhinman@airlockalpha.com and share your praise, comments, criticism, or even your own list with us.

Nothing scientific about this list. Just what the staff, as a whole, felt was the best of the best for 2009.

5. 'Dollhouse,' Fox

Fox surprised fans by bringing this show back for a second season, and then surprised them again by keeping it on Friday nights with a horrible sitcom lead-in that had "Dollhouse" dead on arrival.

"Dollhouse," the latest outing by Joss Whedon, could very much be the best show that no one (and we're talking about the masses, not the diehard fans that figured out how great this program is) watched. And it's sad, because "Dollhouse" was just getting good.

The odds were stacked against this show from the start, however. Fox, like many networks, decided that it needed to step in and make some changes to the show from the beginning, taking some of the creative control away from Whedon and its star/executive producer Eliza Dushku.

The interference only lasted a few episodes before Whedon was allowed to work his magic once again, but it had been coupled with the struggling "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" by that point, and left to rot with minimal marketing and buzz on Fridays.

Once "Dollhouse" gained creative steam, fans didn't want to see this show go. With just about every news outlet in the world declaring "Dollhouse" a goner after its first season, Airlock Alpha was the lone voice out there claiming the show was going to come back. And come back it did.

The second season was filled with twists and turns that no one saw coming. Even with an epilogue episode released following the first season that some said kind of gave away the ending, Whedon and his writing crew kept with the surprises, and the actors gave it everything they had.

Special kudos have to be given to two of the supporting actors, Dichen Lachman as Sierra and Enver Gjokaj as Victor, who both shined in this season. Lachman played a Doll that was turned into nothing more than a love slave for a single wealthy man, only to make him pay the ultimate price. Gjokaj took on a variety of characters showing he has a range that would be hard to match by many.

We also can't forget Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt who has gone from understanding and sympathetic, to cold-hearted bitch, and back again. Just amazing stuff.

And we'll miss you, "Dollhouse."

Executive producers were Joss Whedon and Tim Minear; co-executive producers were David Solomon, Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain; producers were Eliza Dushku and Kelly A. Manners; associate producer was Chris Cheramie; and consulting producers were Jane Espenson, Steven S. DeKnight, Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas.

4. 'Doctor Who,' BBC

There wasn't even a real season of "Doctor Who" on this year, but the anticipation over the departure of David Tennant, along with some mostly solid stories, were enough to keep this show strongly on the BBC radar.

To help accommodate Tennant's stage schedule, and to give the series a creative breather, BBC opted to delay the fifth season until 2010 and instead air a series of specials, the first coming as "Planet of the Dead" over Easter, and followed by "Waters of Mars" over Thanksgiving, and then the two-part "End of Time" on Christmas and New Years.

Coming from me personally, I wasn't terribly impressed with "Planet of the Dead," but I really loved "Waters of Mars." I thought the danger was great, the chaos surrounding The Doctor's slow walk away from the Martian base was haunting, and The Doctor Victorious was a great segue into what we would see with "End of Time."

Sure, "Doctor Who" can be a little over-the-top, including what happened with The Master (John Simm) in "End of Time," but that is why we like this show. It can be a bit over-the-top because it has the history to back it up. As well as great acting and some excellent stories.

Standout mention for sure has to go to Bernard Cribbins, who was given a primary role in "End of Time," putting in what has to be one of the best performances ever for "Doctor Who." What he provided on screen was simply magical, and coupled with the excellent directorial work of Euros Lyn, we had some stunning visual moments that we'll not soon forget.

Steven Moffat is taking over now, and we'll have a chance to see what he and new star Matt Smith have to give us in 2010.

Executive producers were Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner, producer was Tracie Simpson and associate producer was Debbi Slater.

3. 'Lost,' ABC

Just one season left, and we seem to be going at full speed right to the end on "Lost."

With momentum and interest building since ABC announced exactly when it would say good-bye, there are some observers that wonder how powerful serialized dramas such as "Lost" could be if there was a pre-determined end-date that a network would commit to.

It certainly helped make up for some aimless storylines before the announcement, and currently is one of the most talked-about shows heading into 2010.

This past year was definitely a lot to talk about, especially with "Lost" finally fully acknowledging that it is a science-fiction show, featuring some of the best time-travel ever shown, and creating what we knew would eventually have to happen -- the castaways that got off the island would end up coming back.

But it was more than just coming back. It also was a time when many secrets of the island were revealed, and not just that it could move. We had a chance to see what life was like inside the Dharma Initiative, including huge insight on one Ben Linus, and if you really can change the past.

Our history lesson, however, went even deeper than that. We had a chance to explore the very essence of the island, and there's no telling how things will go when "Lost" returns in 2010. Everything about the show, even the trailers, have been under a major lock and key, and every minute will definitely be a surprise.

Executive producers were J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Jack Bender and Carlton Cuse; co-executive producers were Jean Higgins, Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz and Stephen Williams; producers were Ra'uf Glasgow, Patricia Churchill and Brian K. Vaughan; co-producers were Richard Peter Schroer, Samantha Thomas, Melinda Hsu and Greggory Nations; associate producers were Amanda Lencioni, Noreen O'Toole and Jim Triplett; supervising producer was Paul Zbyszewski.

2. 'Torchwood,' BBC

After the bloodbath of the primary cast that took place at the end of Season 2, it was probably good that BBC was giving the show a breather.

But when BBC says "breather," they don't mean some light fare will come our way. Instead, we were given the five-part miniseries "Children of Earth," which was essentially already covered in our top series of 2009 quite extensively.

It would be hard to rehash most of this, except to point out how much we'll miss Gareth David Lloyd as Ianto Jones. He was a great member of the Torchwood team, and a perfect companion for John Barrowman's Capt. Jack Harkness.

He'll definitely be missed as "Torchwood" barrels on, supposedly a return to a normal season again in 2010.

Unlike many American shows, "Torchwood" proved that you can have an amazing story told over five hours, with each part more riveting than the next. It also proved that it can continue on, despite major changes at the top, including that of great actors like Burn Gorman and Naoko Mori.

Just imagine if "Torchwood" had a full season like what we saw with "Children of Earth." I bet good money that if we had, we might have seen this show on top of this list just like we did for best episodes of 2009. I really do.

Executive producers were Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner; producer was Peter Bennett; associate producer was Catrin Lewis Defis; and assistant producer was Brian Minchin.

1. 'Battlestar Galactica,' Syfy

It was a tough good-bye for fans, but one many enjoyed right to the end. The final battle ended up being not over revenge or land, but instead on custody of a hybrid girl named Hera.

A series that was born in controversy as a reboot, including recasting (and gender changes) of major characters like Starbuck and Boomer, and taking a much darker look at the iconic 1978 series.

It has become not only a Peabody winner, but a critics favorite, even if it was completely ignored by Entertainment Weekly. It might not have been the biggest ratings winner on Syfy, but it certainly was a show that helped put the cable channel on the map. Since then, Syfy has been far bolder in trying new things, all of which has paid off, including new shows like "Warehouse 13" and "Stargate: Universe."

Even the universe of "Battlestar Galactica" will live on with the new spinoff series "Caprica" that debuts in January on Syfy, set more than 50 years in the past before the planet's fall.

For the fans that wished the original series would've continued instead, they will get their wish. Bryan Singer, who was attached to creating a television continuation of "Battlestar Galactica" for Fox before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is taking another look at a continuation, but this time for the big screen.

When he might be able to fit this project on a busy schedule that includes his return to the X-Men franchise, no one knows. But it seems like we'll be hearing the name "Battlestar Galactica" for some time to come.

Executive producers were Ronald D. Moore and David Eick; producers were Harvey Frand, Ron French and Michael Rymer, consulting producer was Glen A. Larson; co-executive producers were Mark Verheiden, Michael Angeli, Michael Taylor and Jane Espenson; co-producers were Paul M. Leonard, Bradley Thompson and David Weddle; associate producers were James Halpern, Sian McArthur and Andrew Seklir.

Honorable mentions went to "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" on Fox, "Smallville" on The CW, "Stargate: Universe" on Syfy, "Fringe" on Fox, "Supernatural" on The CW, "V" on ABC, "Life on Mars" on ABC, "True Blood" on HBO, and "Defying Gravity" on ABC.