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Sci-fi TV shows are some of the most suspenseful and imaginative series. With solid characters, fascinating new worlds, and interesting concepts to explore, there is no telling where a good science fiction storyline will take you. While most of the excellent examples in this category have received their due credit, others have subtly slipped past the radar.
Luckily, these hidden gems still stand out and shine like the stars they are. Whether it is a connection with the characters or suspenseful mysteries, these 10 sci-fi series keep viewers glued to the screen. While some are perfect binge-watches and others are better on DVD box-sets, all of these shows are worth your time and will keep you hooked from start to finish.
1
‘Night Sky’ (2022)
If you found a way to transport to another world, would you share your secret with others? That is the predicament Franklin (J.K. Simmons) and Irene York (Sissy Spacek) find themselves navigating in Night Sky. Adding a supernatural twist to ordinary life is a fascinating premise for the otherwise unassuming characters. Franklin and Irene have gone through life’s ups and downs together on their small farm, and when a strange visitor mysteriously appears, it adds another layer of complication to an already precarious situation.
Although Night Sky is an awesome sci-fi mystery that was well-received by audiences and critics alike, it joins the ranks of other terrific shows that were not renewed for follow-up seasons. Fortunately, the series feels complete in its narrative and can be enjoyed as a miniseries of sorts. Night Sky makes for magnificent marathon viewing and is a hidden treasure among Prime Video originals.
2
‘Now and Again’ (1999–2000)
When Michael Wiseman (Eric Close/John Goodman) wakes up after a near-fatal subway accident, he is given a pretty dramatic good news/bad news update. The good news is that his mind was saved, and his consciousness still exists. The bad news is that his brain has been put into a top-secret, perfectly engineered body by the government, and he can never contact his wife or daughter again.
Much like Night Sky, Now and Again is a perfect one-season watch. The fascinating premise creates a host of opportunities for interesting plotlines, and the overarching need for Michael to reconnect with his family is powerful. Now and Again has some interesting and profound themes to explore, like body image, self-worth, independent agency, civil rights, and more. Although it is only one season long, Now and Again is a sci-fi treasure, and it has the 100% Rotten Tomatoes score to prove it.
3
‘Tales from the Loop’ (2020)
A visually pleasing and markedly unpretentious sci-fi series that doesn’t shout or clamor for attention is Nathaniel Halpern‘s Tales from the Loop. Based on the art book of the same name by Simon Stålenhag, it tells interconnected but separate stories of the people who live and work near a particle accelerator called The Loop. This interesting miniseries draws viewers in with its engaging premises. It is not loud or verbose or out for shock value; it is simply clever, intriguing, and captivating.
Tales from the Loop has gorgeous cinematography and was rightfully nominated for two Primetime Emmys for its achievements in that category. The cerebral and introspective show stars Rebecca Hall, Dan Bakkedahl, Ato Essandoh, Paul Schneider, and Jonathan Pryce, among others. Tales from the Loop is a slower-paced, interesting, and more intellectual sci-fi trip, and if you haven’t checked it out yet, this is your cue.
4
’12 Monkeys’ (2015–2018)
12 Monkeys is a post-apocalyptic time-travel thriller that stars Aaron Stanford and Amanda Schull. Based on the 1995 movie starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt, 12 Monkeys is a dramatic series that gets better with each episode. The storyline follows James Cole (Stanford), who is sent to the past to try to prevent a deadly plague from being released before it destroys all of humanity.
12 Monkeys is a perfect weekend binge for sci-fi fans. At four seasons long, it is lengthy enough to be involved and tell a good story, but short enough that you don’t have to over-commit any viewing time. There are explosive action scenes, and the writing improves every season. The final episode of 12 Monkeys has an impressive 9.5 rating on IMDb.
5
‘Dollhouse’ (2009–2010)
Joss Whedon is the creative force behind hit series like Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. One of his best and most underappreciated masterpieces is Dollhouse. In Dollhouse, young, attractive people agree to have their personalities wiped so that they can become blank “dolls.” Once they become an “active,” they can have any persona stored in the corporation’s database downloaded into their brain.
Dollhouse is a highly intriguing premise that only gets more relevant as time goes on. It poses questions that consumers and scientists have already pondered about the future of augmented reality. There are several plot twists and shocking developments, and it is definitely a series you don’t want to miss.
6
‘Sliders’ (1995–2000)
Decades before Marvel took a stab at a multiverse concept, Fox did with their TV series, Sliders. Starring Jerry O’Connell, John Rhys-Davies, Cleavant Derricks, Kari Wuhrer, and Sabrina Lloyd, Sliders follows a small team of people as they “slide” from one parallel universe to another, trying to find their way back home. It was a series way before its time, and it is still interesting to watch over three decades later.
Civil liberties, reproductive roles, and Post-Traumatic Stress are only some of the issues dealt with in Sliders. Like all good sci-fi shows before it, Sliders uses the lens of fiction to examine some of the more complex truths that exist in a current reality. Fans of episodic, mystery, and time travel shows should add Sliders to their watchlist.
7
‘Fringe’ (2008–2013)
Fringe is a suspenseful series that seems to be only getting better with time. While other sci-fi shows age like sour milk, Fringe stands out among the rest with its stellar writing, superb acting, and impactful storylines. Fringe doubles down with gripping visuals and relatable, flawed characters. As Collider’s Roger Froilan puts it, “[…] the show kept dragging its characters through the wreckage of the science instead of treating them like tour guides through a gimmick.”
The mystery-of-the-week format makes each Fringe episode feel interesting, and the longer-running story arcs that are woven throughout the series are superb. Fringe stars Anna Torv, John Noble, Joshua Jackson, Lance Reddick, and Jasika Nicole, with special guest appearances by Leonard Nimoy. Fans of sci-fi series that take place on this planet and have grounded human elements will want to keep Fringe on their radar.
8
‘Lost in Space’ (2018–2021)
A reboot of an old classic, Netflix’s updated version of Lost in Space keeps viewers hooked from the very beginning. In Lost in Space, a family crashes off course and has to work together to survive on an unfamiliar planet. There are internal and external conflicts aplenty in Lost in Space, and the series is packed with intrigue and complicated interpersonal dynamics.
Besides the below-the-surface tension that some of the family members have with each other, there is the deceptive stowaway June (Parker Posey), and the relationship the youngest member, Will Robinson (Maxwell Jenkins), forms with an alien robot (Brian Steele). Encountering alien life and strange species is a harrowing challenge for any adult, and to watch a young child like Will make contact with a new race is thrilling. Lost in Space is the complete package and a great choice for families to watch together.
9
‘Timeless’ (2016–2018)
One of the best sci-fi and time-travel series ever, Timeless starts strong and finishes well. It stars Abigail Spencer, Malcolm Barrett, and Matt Lanter, who go back to different periods in time, trying to stop a man named Garcia Flynn (Goran Visnjic) who is trying to rewrite history to his own advantage. With so much history to cover, each episode of Timeless is thrilling, revisiting different bygone eras and prominent real-life icons like Jesse James (Daniel Lissing), Harriet Tubman (Christine Horn), and Abraham Lincoln (Michael Krebs), just to name a few.
Timeless is a wonderful and intentional series that doesn’t shy away from addressing difficult truths about the past, like racism and gender inequality. The plotlines pose some profound philosophical questions about altering history, a topic that remains incredibly relevant. Timeless is a vastly underrated triumph that has a solid conclusion. Viewers who have taken the time to discover Timeless recognize how good it really is.
10
‘Travelers’ (2016–2018)
Unlike a person traveling to a different dimension via a wormhole, like in Sliders, the voyagers in Travelers hitchhike their mind into someone else’s consciousness. In a dystopian future, a small team of individuals volunteers to have their awareness sent back through time into another person’s mind. Overriding the mind and personality of the individual who lived in the past, the Travelers aim to alter the course of human history for the better.
The cast of Travelers is superb, and the actors do a fantastic job, having to play dual and multiple roles at times. Travelers has many dimensions to its storytelling, and as the team begins to inhabit the lives of past people, they start to discover hidden secrets and unforeseen complications that no amount of training could have prepared them for. Travelers has no bad episodes. It is an ideal option for any sci-fi fan and will have viewers hooked from the very first episode.
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https://collider.com/underrated-sci-fi-shows-perfect-start-to-finish/
Lisa Nordin
Almontather Rassoul
