I put this in the TV forum since things are a bit quiet here given the strike

Considering any TV Series (or series of series) or Movie series, what do you think has the most complicated mythology ?

Stargate ?
X Files ?
Star Trek ?
Buffy and Angel ?

etc

I remember the X-Files mythology not making any sense from start to finish, but I probably need to rewatch it since I was only 13 when the show started.

Star Trek isn't particularly complicated, other than a few civil wars and such (like the Vulcan/Romulans and some of the inner political workings of the Klingons).

Stargate is a little bit more complex, specifically the whole bit about the spreading of humanity and the building of the Stargates and such. I think Atlantis continues to make it more complex, but I haven't watched enough to know.

X-files

I'd probably have to say The X-files. If you were watching them new, and they came out once a week, and they'd mix in episodes that didn't have much to do with the mythology, it was hard to remember what was going on, let alone figure out what was going on.

I would think few film series could have the mythology of James Bond, and I say that having never seen a Bond film all the way through.

I don't think it could likely challenge the X-Files, but Oz has a pretty complex story that would baffle somebody who tried to hop in at some random point. Of course, a soap like Dallas or even better one of the daytime soaps could claim that as well.

The only argument against Bond I would make is other than a few major enemy groups (like SPECTRE), there were rarely any multiple appearances by anyone outside of MI6.

I still don't even remember what the hell happened to Mulder's sister.

I think Alias had a complicated mythology. The entire Rambaldi issue continued throughout the series and had a lot going on.

Angel did get pretty convoluted there by Seasons 3 and 4, but it still ended up making sense in the end(sort of) which is a minor miracle considering they had to rewrite the entire storyline after Charisma Carpenter got pregnant.

Lost is fairly complex. You've got the island(s), the hatch(es), the Others, the Dharma Initiative, and now that other boat they contacted at the end of Season 3.

The Matrix is complex if you try to understand every little detail and incorporate it into the overall story. If you just forget about it and enjoy the action, then not so bad.

I was ok with the Matrix backstory until they got to the architect. I still can't figure out what the hell he was saying.

Stargate isn't necessarily complicated, there's just a lot of different story lines(mythologies) going on at the same time. Each one by itself is fairly simple. Like an epic WWII movie that jumps from one group of soldiers to the next and you have to keep track of what each one is doing. The only thing I found confusing was keeping track of the G'hould warlords and which ones were killing/allying themselves with which other ones.

Earth Final: Conflict had a pretty good mythology.

Lost

X-Files. I wasn't an avid watcher but I watched enough to know that I didn't know what the hell was going on. I just don't think it was written to make sense in a continuity point of view.

Lord of the Rings maybe, if you count all the histories and sidestories from the books, including Silmarillion.

South Park. How does Kenny keep coming back after getting killed so often? How can the kids afford all the airline travel and video games the have?

I was going to post this as well. However, its not that the story is complicated. It just doesn't make sense. Big difference.

I'll nominate Doctor Who.

By far the show I'd have to go with is Carnivale. Wikipedia it, it's seriously complicated.
Others that haven't been mentioned yet worth a nod: Twin Peaks.

for the lazy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mytholo...Carniv%C3%A0le

My nominees for TV series would be:

LOST

The X-Files

Firefly

X-Files.

I watched it when it was first broadcast. I watch it in syndication, still do. I own the entire series on DVD.

Sometimes, I still don't know what the hell is going on.

Of current tv programs:

Lost
Battlestar Galactica (especially season 3/Razor with all the flashback stories)

All time most complicated show ever:

La Femme Nikita

I never knew what the fuck was going on, but I loved it.

Lost

Twin Peaks

Firefly?? What are you smoking? That show is as simple as it gets in terms of mythology.