JuicyTalk
From old classics like The Twilight Zone to more recent gems like Severance and Pluribus, there’s always been great science fiction on television. This long-form medium is the perfect vehicle for the lofty ideas and complicated worldbuilding of sci-fi epics like Cowboy Bebop and Battlestar Galactica.
Some great sci-fi shows are held up by their stronger seasons, like Stranger Things, while others are an untouchable masterpiece from start to finish, like Twin Peaks. So, here are the greatest sci-fi shows ever made.
25
Stranger Things
Although it ended with a whimper, not a bang, in its fifth and final season, Stranger Things still has its rightful place in the history of sci-fi TV. Stranger Things season 1 was a game-changer; an intoxicating blend of Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, Akira, Altered States, and something wholly unique.
That first season was conceived as a limited series, so it was never meant to continue as a series-series, and that hurt it in the long run. The subsequent seasons were very hit-and-miss, with some solid entries (season 2, season 4) and some truly abysmal ones (season 3, season 5).
24
The Handmaid’s Tale
Hulu’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s seminal dystopian nightmare came along at the perfect time. When women’s rights were being stripped away left and right by a flagrantly patriarchal administration, The Handmaid’s Tale came along to reflect those very real horrors.
Atwood didn’t put anything in her book that wasn’t already happening in real life, or throughout human history. The TV adaptation, anchored by a typically fierce Elisabeth Moss performance, recaptured those themes at their timeliest.
23
Fringe
Long before Marvel Studios and the Daniels were dabbling in the multiverse, Fringe explored a parallel universe through the framework of a procedural. The brilliant Anna Torv leads a newly formed FBI division dedicated to researching alternate dimensions.
Fringe may not have been the runaway ratings hit that Lost was, but it remains one of J.J. Abrams’ best shows. It replicated The X-Files’ blend of mystery-of-the-week storytelling and an overarching mythology.
22
Rick & Morty
As far as sci-fi comedies go, Rick and Morty is the best of both worlds. It’s just as imaginative and thought-provoking and visually stunning as the very best sci-fi, and just as hilarious and well-characterized and emotionally endearing as the very best comedies.
Rick and Morty is a pitch-black buddy comedy about the absurdly toxic relationship between an alcoholic mad scientist and his timid teenage grandson. But it also explores our humanity and our place in the universe through mind-bending tales of interdimensional travel.
21
Severance
Dan Erickson cooked up the perfect dystopian satire of the work-life balance with his creation of Severance. Severance combines the mystery-box surrealism of Twin Peaks and The Prisoner with the fluorescent-lit workplace mundanity of The Office and Superstore.
It’s an entirely unique creation, reflecting our collective burnout in the context of a gonzo sci-fi story. Severance has continued its mystery into a second season, just like Stranger Things, but this time, the rubber band held.
20
The Expanse
The Expanse is the closest thing we’ve gotten to a big, dazzling, Star Wars-style space opera in the form of a prestige TV drama. Created by Iron Man screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, The Expanse is six seasons of perfection.
19
Lost
While it stumbled a little in its third season, and disappointed some fans with its series finale, Lost is still, on the whole, one of the greatest achievements in sci-fi television. It started off as Cast Away, but quickly became The Prisoner.
Lost pioneered the now-popular Walking Dead format, following the messy, high-stakes lives of a group of survivors in a kind of post-apocalyptic soap opera. The mysteries were intriguing, but what kept us coming back were the characters and their relationships.
18
Black Mirror
Charlie Brooker’s tech-savvy Twilight Zone updated the classic horror anthology format for the modern day. The titular Black Mirror refers to the ominous, monolithic screens that control our lives: they’re in our pockets, on our desks, hanging on every wall.
Black Mirror has explored lofty themes like surveillance and artificial intelligence and eye-for-an-eye punishment and our dependence on technology, all with Brooker’s signature satirical wit. It’s a new Twilight Zone for the age of smartphones and social media.
17
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels are among the worst-reviewed films of the 21st century. But the cartoon spinoff, set between Episodes II and III, is one of the best-reviewed TV shows of the 21st century.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars used the political theater of the Emperor’s fabricated war between the Republic and the Separatists to explore heavy themes of warfare and authoritarianism within this kids’ show. It’s billed as children’s entertainment, but The Clone Wars occasionally borders on Andor levels of social commentary.
16
Doctor Who
It’s been up and down over the years, as is any franchise that’s lasted for as many decades (and gone through as many different creators’ voices) as this one. But Doctor Who remains a staple of British sci-fi, and a poster boy for the genre at large.
Whereas Star Wars and Star Trek have managed to attract some casuals, Doctor Who is strictly for the nerdiest of nerds. It’s the purest form of science fiction out there.
