There are plenty of good reasons why science fiction television is as popular and prolific as it is. People simply can’t resist the allure of these stories about futuristic technology, wild aliens, and—of course—space travel. Not all sci-fi shows take place in space, but several of the greatest in the genre’s history do, proving that the stars are one of the most interesting settings for sci-fi.
From older classics that have left an indelible mark on the genre and television as a whole, to more modern cult classics that have quickly earned fans’ favor, science fiction television is often at its best when it’s set in outer space. Perhaps it’s the spaceship dogfights, or the episodic visits to alien planets; perhaps it’s the endless potential for world-building, or simply the natural appeal of space. Whatever the case, these series prove the irresistible charm of this timeless genre.
10
‘Stargate SG-1’ (1997–2007)
Developed by Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright
The military sci-fi franchise Stargate began with the film of the same name from 1994, directed by Ronald Emmerich, one of the biggest titans of the disaster movie genre. When things really kicked into high gear was in 1997, when Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright co-created Stargate SG-1, which today is one of the highest-rated TV shows on IMDb.
Sci-fi lovers are clearly fond of Stargate SG-1. It takes a couple of seasons to really make it out of the exosphere, but once it does, there’s no getting off the hook. The stories are impressively smart and consistently amazing, the visuals keep evolving in all sorts of different directions with each passing season, and the characters are all compelling. For people who enjoy shows like Doctor Who, this one’s a must-see.
9
‘The Expanse’ (2015–2022)
Developed by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby
The Expanse premiered on Syfy, but was canceled after just three short-lived seasons. Amazon then picked up the series for three more seasons, allowing the show to come to a natural conclusion. Thanks to that, it’s one of the greatest sci-fi shows of the 21st century, with a clever mix of genre influences and an admirable dedication to scientific accuracy.
This is the kind of science fiction series that just keeps getting better and better. There are thrilling space sequences, intriguing political plots, riveting character arcs, and satisfying payoffs galore, making for a highly rewarding viewing experience for fans of the genre. The visuals are amazing, and the relatively more “realistic” approach to sci-fi is a welcome change of pace.
8
‘Doctor Who’ (2005–2022)
Created by Sydney Newman
The original Doctor Who was born on the BBC in 1963, largely as an educational show meant to teach younger viewers about history. It slowly started to morph into something entirely different, until finally becoming the pop-cultural phenomenon that it’s remembered as today. The original series was canceled in 1989, but Russell T. Davies then revived it for newer generations in 2005.
The Doctor Who revival is typically agreed to be the best of the franchise—one of the few sci-fi shows that could genuinely be called a masterpiece. The titular alien’s adventures through time and space with a wide variety of human and non-human companions were always a delight, and still offer tons of rewatchability value today. Funny, entertaining, emotional, campy, and goofy in all the right ways and amounts, NuWho is the epitome of time travel shows.
7
‘Futurama’ (1999–)
Created by Matt Groening
Animated sitcoms are aplenty, as are sci-fi sitcoms; but sitcoms that blend the two genres together are significantly rarer, and they can only ever aspire to be as great and as iconic as Matt Groening’s Futurama. The show is now 26 years old and still going strong, proving that long-running sitcoms don’t run stale as long as there’s a talented team of writers behind the wheel.
Futurama is one of the longest-running animated shows in history, and as such, it’s not without the occasional dud here and there; but, for the most part, it has remained consistently funny, creative, and fun. It’s surprisingly smart, it has a great sense of humor, its characters are impossible to get tired of, and the writing team never seems to run out of ideas for entertaining plotlines.
Futurama
- Release Date
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March 28, 1999
- Network
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FOX, Comedy Central, Hulu
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Billy West
Fry / Professor Farnsworth / Zoidberg / Zapp Brannigan (voice)
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6
‘Andor’ (2022–2025)
Created by Tony Gilroy
Star Wars hadn’t been this great since 1980. Though many fans tend to think of Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm as the beginning of the end for the hyper-successful transmedia franchise, the fact of the matter is that, without the purchase, Andor would never have come into being. Another fact is that a world without Andor would be a significantly worse place.
The show is the peak of space opera storytelling. The characters are all compelling, the plots are all fascinating, and the abundance of banger Andor episodes is impossible to ignore. Star Wars fans will be treated to riveting lore expansions and an insightful look at the full might of the Empire from the eyes of simple Rebels; and non-fans will be treated to one of the most powerful and complex critiques of fascism and authoritarianism that television has ever offered.
Andor
- Release Date
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2022 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Disney+
5
‘Foundation’ (2021–)
Created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman
There are very few sci-fi authors more seminal and influential than Isaac Asimov, whose Foundation series of novels is a collection of some of the most important works in the genre’s history. Apple TV+ had a titanic mission when they decided to take on making a small-screen adaptation of the stories, and so far, they’ve delivered in spades.
Foundation is one of the best sci-fi shows of the 2020s so far. While it strays a fair distance away from the source material more often than not, it more than makes up for it by making its unique contributions provide just as much value as the original stories. The acting is phenomenal, the sense of scope is tremendously epic, and the space visuals never cease to be impressive. It’s outer-space sci-fi television at its most entertaining and consistently jaw-dropping.
Foundation
- Release Date
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September 23, 2021
- Network
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Apple TV+
4
‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)
Developed by Ronald D. Moore
The legendary sci-fi franchise Battlestar Galactica saw its start with a 1978 TV series that, while definitely strong, hasn’t aged the best. It wouldn’t be until 2003’s miniseries of the same title, one of the greatest sci-fi miniseries in history, that fans would truly come to realize how exceptional the franchise could be; and as soon as the 2004 TV series came out, there was no doing the greatness of Battlestar Galactica.
Battlestar‘s space sci-fi elements all work wonderfully together, but what makes it so special is that genre tropes were never its focus. Instead, it was always the engaging character arcs, the complex themes, and the marvelously written stories. Sci-fi television is rarely this gritty and smart and entertaining, and when it is, it’s rarely as good as Battlestar Galactica.
3
‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987–1994)
Created by Gene Roddenberry
Star Trek: The Original Series ran so Star Trek: The Next Generation could soar through the vastness of space. It’s easily the best piece of media that has come out of the original, a sequel spin-off that most tend to praise as being even better than the first show. The cast is great, the effects are great, and the writing is consistently some of the strongest the franchise has ever seen.
The Next Generation is one of the most rewatchable shows of the ’80s, a true classic in every sense of the word. Its expansion of franchise tropes changed the game, its technology and sci-fi concepts are always fascinating, and its space exploration elements never get old or even the slightest bit boring.
2
‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)
Created by Sunrise
There are plenty of sci-fi anime series that are great, but only a handful that could genuinely be called masterpieces. Cowboy Bebop is way up there. A neo-noir space Western like no other, its incorporation of several different genres allows it to explore themes of existentialism, loneliness, and identity in all manner of interesting and fun ways.
Cowboy Bebop received nearly unanimous acclaim upon release, and even nearly three decades later, it’s still praised as one of the greatest in the medium. After all, how often do anime series have such exceptional voice acting, such memorable visuals, such sophisticated writing, and such masterfully blended genre elements?
Cowboy Bebop
- Release Date
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1998 – 1999
- Network
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TV Tokyo, WOWOW Prime
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Koichi Yamadera
Spike Spiegel / Ein (voice)
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Unsho Ishizuka
Jet Black (voice)
1
‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)
Created by Joss Whedon
Firefly, one of the biggest cult classics in television history, rules supreme along shows that were infamously canceled after just one short-lived season. 22 years later, this space Western still endures as one of the most beloved and iconic shows of the entirety of the 2000s, with a fandom more loyal than most and a legacy far stronger than what anyone can describe in words.
Firefly is one of the best sci-fi shows of the 2000s, full of colorful characters, top-tier production qualities, and incredibly fun and nuanced space exploration. The offbeat sense of humor is a terrific way to support the clever blend of sci-fi and Western elements, making for an experience with a sharp balance between tension, action, laughs, and pure otherworldly adrenaline.
Firefly
- Release Date
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2002 – 2002
- Network
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FOX
