When The extent arriving in 2015, it instantly set a new benchmark for sci-fi TV shows. During its six seasons, The extent became a revelation – a careful, ambitious and captivating depiction of humanity’s future among the stars. It took everything that was great about classic small-screen science fiction and reinvented it for the era of prestige television, proving that cerebral storytelling could still thrill.
However, four years after its finale, the impact of The extent oddly enough, science fiction on the small screen has yet to catch on. Despite its devoted fan base and reputation as one of the best sci-fi series ever made, there is a troubling void where its successors should be. The genre has progressed technologically, but creatively it feels like it’s still in orbit around The extent.
Looking back, The extent seems to have represented a pinnacle, a rare alignment of vision, execution and authenticity that other shows have not matched. However, this realization raises a difficult question to shake: whether The extent was the pinnacle of modern sci-fi television, why has nothing ever risen to match it since?
The Expanse’s final season closes a major chapter in sci-fi television history
The ambitious space opera redefined the genre
When The extent premiered in 2015, few people expected it to become the best science fiction TV show of the 21st century. Adapted from the novels of James SA Corey, what began as a grounded space mystery and evolved into an epic exploration of politics, war and survival across the solar system. It wasn’t just another show: it was a defining moment for modern science fiction.
The extentThe transition from an ambitious project to unique entertainment hasn’t gone smoothly either. After it was canceled by Syfy in 2018, fans rallied to save it and Amazon Prime Video answered the call.
This rescue alone reflects how The extent had transcended typical network sci-fi, inspiring the kind of dedication usually reserved for pop culture heavyweights. When the final episode, “The Ashes of Babylon” from Season 6, aired, it wasn’t just about bringing closure to a story, but also to a chapter in television history.
Contrary to Star Trek Or Star WarsThe Expanse didn’t rely on nostalgia or spectacle. It was complex but accessible, scientifically plausible but rich in emotion. Characters like James Holden (Steven Strait), Naomi Nagata (Dominique Tipper), and Amos Burton (Wes Chatham) were complex and deeply human, grounding the show’s scope in personal issues.
His portrayal of interplanetary politics and moral ambiguity made him feel closer to Game of Thrones than any traditional space opera. The series’ commitment to realism – from the physics of zero-gravity combat to the socio-political tensions between Earth, Mars and the Belt – sets it apart. It made the future tangible and not fantastical.
This balance between spectacle and substance makes The extent a model for how the genre should evolve. When the credits rolled for the final episode, it felt like the end of an era. The extent had shown what science fiction could be in the streaming era: ambitious, intelligent and deeply human.
Why There May Never Be Another Sci-Fi Show Like The Expanse
Success through rejection of modern prestige TV tropes
The extent was not only different from other sci-fi shows of the 2010s and 2020s, it was different. It avoided almost all of the pitfalls that define modern television in the streaming era. In a landscape where prestige shows often blur the line between cinema and plethora, The extent respected the rhythm of television narration.
The reasons why the series is so good are also, unfortunately, why many argue that The extent couldn’t exist in today’s streaming climate. Networks now prioritize easily bingeable content – the “a long film divided into chapters“Format. The extent this refused.
Although it had a complex overall narrative, each episode was self-contained enough to be satisfying in its own right. It embraced serialization without losing its episodic rhythm. Most refreshing of all, The extent also avoided the cheap gimmicks of modern prestige television.
There were no unnecessary shock deaths or gimmicky cliffhangers to chase the social media buzz. Instead, the tension in the 6 seasons of The extent came from character dynamics, political intrigue, and the moral consequences of choice. He was confident enough to let the quiet moments carry as much weight as the explosive battles.
Unlike many contemporary science fiction shows, The extent also trusted his audience. He never over-explained his world-building or simplified his politics. It asked viewers to engage – to think – and rewarded them for it. This is something that streaming-era storytelling, obsessed with instant gratification, often fails to achieve.
Unfortunately, The extent‘s approach has not become the model for new shows. Instead, many big-budget sci-fi projects seem more concerned with algorithms than artistry. They favor frenzy over depth and visual spectacle over narrative substance. The extent proved that balance was possible, that complexity could coexist with accessibility.
In today’s entertainment landscape, this balance seems increasingly rare. This is why, even years later, The extent still feels like lightning in a bottle – a series that has mastered modern sci-fi television in a way that no one has yet duplicated.
Only one current sci-fi show matches what The Expanse did
The Foundation is the closest thing to a spiritual successor to The Expanse
If there is a series that carries the torch of the spirit of The extentit’s that of Apple TV+ Foundation. As The extent, Foundation balances massive scale with grounded storytelling. Its galaxy-wide political and philosophical questions echo the same ambition that made The extent so convincing.
Based on Isaac Asimov’s iconic novels and launching in 2021, Foundation explores humanity’s attempt to preserve knowledge as a galactic empire collapses. He shares The extent‘fascination with systems – how societies rise, fall and adapt. However, it also shares its emotional depth, through characters like Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) and Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell), who reflect The Expanse’s mix of intellect and empathy.
Both shows require patience and reward it. They are methodical, unafraid to tackle existential questions, and are visually stunning without relying on meaningless spectacle. While Foundation is more mythical and abstract than The extentits reliance on serialized storytelling and thematic depth feels like a spiritual continuation of what The extent reached.
What are the best sci-fi shows on TV right now?
The legacy of The Expanse lives on, but mostly thanks to Apple TV+
Right now is a strange time for fans of The extent‘s science fiction style of storytelling. There is no shortage of science fiction series, but few embody the scale, realism and emotional intelligence of The extent. The genre hasn’t gone anywhere, it’s just scattered.
Apple TV+ has become the new bastion of prestige science fiction. Alongside Foundationshows how For all humanity And Silo to carry The extentIt’s DNA. For all humanity explores alternate history space exploration with grounded realism, while Silo uses dystopian mystery to explore human resilience. Each proves that complex, world-building focused science fiction can still thrive.
Outside of Apple, however, the pickings are slim. Netflix is turning to spectacle with shows like 3 Body Problemwhile Amazon has reoriented its science fiction towards more franchise-rich content such as The boys And To fall. None truly capture the spatial realism or complex interstellar politics that made The extent special.
Yet hope remains. The legacy of The extent continues to shape expectations for what science fiction television can be. Its shadow is looming – and if the next wave of creators pay attention, the genre might just reach its peak again.
- Release date
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2015 – 2022-00-00
- Showrunner
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Naren Shankar, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
- Writers
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Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
- Franchise(s)
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The extent
