7 Soft Sci-Fi Shows Where Every Episode Is a Masterpiece

When it comes to science fiction, there are two main pillars of the genre: soft sci-fi and hard sci-fi. Hard sci-fi is when scientific accuracy is used to create a plausible situation that hinges on actual chemistry, physics, robotics, whatever. Generally, these stories focus on a single scientific premise and run with it. Soft sci-fi, on the other hand, is full of “techno-babble” and more otherworldly adventures that are in some respects more akin to fantasy. It’s with this distinction in mind that we’ve put this list together.

Of all the soft sci-fi shows out there (and there are more than not), few are so well constructed that you’d be hard-pressed to find a bad episode — yet, it’s those few that we’re highlighting today. Even if not every over-arching plotline hits the mark, each of these shows brilliantly constructs each episode so that some might use the (admittedly overused) word “masterpiece” to describe them. For some soft sci-fi shows that won’t let you down, look no further than these genre triumphs.

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

Image via SYFY

Often considered one of the greatest sci-fi shows ever made, Battlestar Galactica is one of those must-watch programs if you’re a sci-fi fan. As humanity is nearly wiped out by a race of machines known as Cylons, they take to the stars in search of a mythical homeworld called “Earth,” fighting to survive. With a fabulous ensemble that includes Edwards James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, and Katee Sackhoff, the four-season Syfy hit kept us on our toes from that first miniseries through the epic series finale.

Battlestar Galactica truly fits the designation of a “space opera.” While there are plenty of action-packed space battles and man vs machine combat, the narrative is wrapped up in political chess moves, spiritual undertones, and doppelgänger conspiracies. Every episode unravels something new about either the Cylons or the human survivors, making us question all we thought we knew from the beginning. There’s nothing quite like watching it for the first time.

‘The Prisoner’ (1967–1968)

Image via ITV

The popular British series The Prisoner may seem like an offbeat pick here for those unfamiliar with the program, but the Patrick McGoohan-created series was considered quite the triumph in its day. Following a former British operative (called only “Number Six”) who is abducted and placed in a small coastal town from which he is unable to escape. As the name suggests, this is the television version of your favorite prison break movies, just with a mixture of sci-fi and spy fiction added in for good measure.

For 17 episodes, the titular prisoner struggled to find his way out of his collectivist fate. The result is an extended series that deals in riveting psychological drama mixed with a heavy dose of Orwellian themes. There has never been a show quite like The Prisoner since, although there was a poor attempt of a remake back in the early 2000s that attempted to bring the tale into the 21st century. However, if you want soft sci-fi that’s a bit more exquisite, look no further than the original.

‘Stargate Atlantis’ (2004–2009)

Image via SYFY

While Stargate SG-1 kicked off the franchise on television, Stargate Atlantis truly elevated the Stargate franchise with improved visual effects and compelling new characters who stole the show. As the Atlantis Expedition makes their home in the mythical city, abandoned in the neighboring Pegasus Galaxy, the crew quickly discover new threats like the vampiric Wraith and the self-replicating Asurans. Every episode of this five-season series was a gem.

Stargate Atlantis may have ended a bit prematurely, but these 100 episodes truly deliver with every new and exciting adventure. Whether it’s a multipart episode or a self-contained standalone tale, John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and his team have what it takes to not only protect Earth from afar, but to aid those in Pegasus as well. The franchise as a whole is one of sci-fi’s best, but SGA in particular stands out as a true television masterwork.

‘Timeless’ (2016–2018)

Image via NBC

Time travel shows can be tricky, because any era of history — American or otherwise — that one revisits will be marked by our present-day view of the past. Timeless is in some respects the best of both worlds, because the show both acknowledges how far our world has come in the last few hundred years while still in awe of exploring some of the U.S.’s most iconic moments. With every episode of Timeless, the show upped the ante by sending the Lifeboat crew into the most dire of circumstances.

Even if some episodes are better than others (and not every plotline or character arc was always well received), Timeless always delivered high-quality time-warping material. With killer twists and marvelous production value, this sci-fi series is one of the best in the business. With only two seasons under its belt, and a two-hour Christmas-themed finale, Timeless is a hidden-gem sci-fi series that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)

Image via FOX

Perhaps if Firefly had gone on beyond its 14 episodes, it wouldn’t make it on this list. However, as the space Western stands now, the Serenity crew have more than proven that every episode has its merits. Indeed, the plucky Joss Whedon series is well-known for its standalone episodes, full of heist jobs and protection gigs that have come to be fondly remembered as classics.

With a strong cast that includes Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, and Gina Torres, Firefly is full of great characters, quippy dialogue, and fascinating worldbuilding that’s unlike most other spaceship-based shows out there. With a follow-up feature film to cap it all off, the short-lived series lives in the limbo of “what might have been” and “what is.” Still, it’s one of the most rewatchable sci-fi shows out there.

‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)

Admittedly, The Twilight Zone wasn’t just science fiction. The hit Rod Serling classic delved into horror, fantasy, drama, and even the Western in its initial five seasons on CBS, though it was most commonly associated with the sci-fi genre — and for good reason. Some of the best sci-fi episodes of the show, such as “To Serve Man,” “The Invaders,” and “Time At Last,” all scratch that soft sci-fi itch.

Compared to all the revivals and reboots the series would spawn, the original Twilight Zone remains on top as an arguably perfect time capsule of sci-fi entertainment. Whether you prefer the episodes with the most disturbing endings or those not actually written by Serling himself, you can’t go wrong when traveling to another dimension. As far as “soft sci-fi” is concerned, The Twilight Zone is among the most intelligent takes on the genre.

‘Fringe’ (2008–2013)

Image via FOX

Easily the “hardest” soft sci-fi series on this list, Fringe dealt with real pseudo-scientific concepts week in and week out. Initially interested in solving “The Pattern,” the Fringe Division team were put up against everything from shapeshifters and time-travelers to alternate timelines and parallel universes, making it all sound somewhat plausible whenever Walter Bishop (John Noble) would sputter some scientific know-how to explain away whatever they encountered next.

One of our favorite underrated sci-fi shows, Fringe is an addictive five-season binge that only gets better with each rewatch. While some plotlines are difficult to swallow (we see you, Fauxlivia), each episode is so masterfully constructed that we’re willing to endure whatever hardships our heroes are put through. Even the final season, which takes place largely in a post-apocalyptic society run by the time-manipulating Observers, pulls no punches in what it puts its characters (and the viewer) through.

Fringe

Release Date

2008 – 2013-00-00

Network

FOX