Sci-fi TV shows continue to dominate the small screen, with the last few decades delivering some of the most inventive, ambitious, and gripping series the genre has ever seen. From dystopian futures to alternate timelines and AI rebellions, sci-fi has proven time and time again that it’s capable of exploring big ideas with thrilling, character-driven storytelling.

Many arguably perfect sci-fi TV shows like The Expanse, Black Mirror, and Battlestar Galactica have set the bar sky-high, but not every show has hit the mark. For every flawless sci-fi gem, there are a handful of shows that came frustratingly close to greatness.

Whether held back by network interference, uneven writing, or one weak season too many, these near-misses still offered gripping concepts and memorable moments. In some cases, it’s painful how close they came to being perfect sci-fi TV shows – but even in falling short, each still deserves recognition.

10

John Doe (2002-2003)

One Of The Most Intriguing Premises In Sci-Fi TV History

Fox’s short-lived sci-fi show John Doe gave audiences a tantalizing mystery in 2002, centered around a man who wakes up naked on an island with complete knowledge of everything except his own identity. Played by Dominic Purcell, the titular John Doe’s quest to uncover the truth about himself became a weekly procedural wrapped in high-concept sci-fi intrigue.

The premature ending robbed John Doe of a chance to evolve from good to great.

The series combined elements of conspiracy thrillers, secret organizations, and science fiction mysteries, making it feel like a spiritual cousin to The X-Files. It was grounded by Purcell’s performance and a growing mythology that hinted at something big. Sci-fi TV shows love to ask “what if?”, and John Doe leaned into this by teasing answers about fate, omniscience, and hidden truths.

However, after just one season, the show was canceled, leaving fans with a massive cliffhanger and zero resolution. While its ambition was clear and its concept compelling, the premature ending of this sci-fi show robbed John Doe of a chance to evolve from good to great.

9

Almost Human (2013-2014)

Buddy-Cop Action Balanced With Smart Sci-Fi Ideas

Set in a futuristic Los Angeles where androids patrol the streets alongside human officers, Almost Human had all the ingredients of a top-tier sci-fi TV show. Its leads – Karl Urban as grizzled cop John Kennex and Michael Ealy as his synthetic partner Dorian – shared undeniable chemistry that drove both the action and the emotional weight of the series.

Fox aired the episodes out of order, disrupting continuity and undermining the show’s slow-burn character development.

Almost Human explored questions about humanity, ethics in technology, and the nature of consciousness. It found a sweet spot between episodic storytelling and serialized arcs, blending slick production design with sharp writing. Every week, Almost Human offered a glimpse into a near-future world that felt both dazzling and uncomfortably believable.

However, despite strong ratings early on, Fox aired the episodes of Almost Human out of order, disrupting continuity and undermining the show’s slow-burn character development. The decision to cancel it after just 13 episodes turned what could’ve been a sci-fi TV classic into a footnote in genre history.

8

Andromeda (2000-2005)

Gene Roddenberry’s Other Big Sci-Fi Vision

Andromeda was built on unused concepts from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and starred Kevin Sorbo as Captain Dylan Hunt, a man frozen in time who awakens to find the galaxy in chaos. Determined to restore the fallen Systems Commonwealth, he travels aboard the titular ship with a ragtag crew, fighting to bring order back to a fractured universe.

Behind-the-scenes turmoil – including major creative shake-ups – derailed the show’s trajectory

The first two seasons showed real promise, combining epic space opera with philosophical themes. For fans of big-idea sci-fi TV shows, Andromeda scratched the same itch as Star Trek, though with a grittier tone and more serialized storytelling. The ensemble cast had potential, and some episodes delivered genuine standout sci-fi moments.

Unfortunately, behind-the-scenes turmoil – including major creative shake-ups – derailed the show’s trajectory. Later seasons leaned heavily into melodrama and camp, losing the cohesion and depth that made the premise so exciting. Andromeda was never short on ambition, but it fell just shy of achieving the greatness it was aiming for.

7

Under The Dome (2013-2015)

Started Strong But Collapsed Under Its Own Premise

Adapted from Stephen King’s novel, Under the Dome debuted in 2013 with an incredibly intriguing premise: a small town is suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible, impenetrable dome. Panic, power struggles, and paranoia ensue as the town’s residents grapple with dwindling resources and rising tensions.

Sadly, Under the Dome dragged on past its natural endpoint.

The first season was suspenseful, unpredictable, and full of intrigue, blending sci-fi and mystery with small-town drama. Sci-fi TV shows thrive on high-concept set-ups like this, and Under the Dome initially had all the makings of an addictive, multi-season thriller. The dome itself became a character – an ever-present threat that forced everyone’s true nature to emerge.

Sadly, Under the Dome dragged on past its natural endpoint. Later seasons spiraled into increasingly absurd twists, with inconsistent writing and pacing issues that alienated its audience. What began as tight, compelling sci-fi devolved into a chaotic mess (in a way not too dissimilar to Lost), and the series finale left many fans disappointed by its lack of satisfying resolution.

6

Colony (2016-2018)

Smart, Subtle, And Way Too Underappreciated

The blockbuster-budgeted Colony took the well-worn alien invasion trope and gave it a fresh, grounded twist. Set in a near-future Los Angeles under occupation by mysterious extraterrestrials, the show focused on the human cost of survival. Josh Holloway played Will Bowman, a former FBI agent forced to work for the collaborators while secretly supporting the resistance with his wife Katie (Sarah Wayne Callies).

With tighter pacing and a proper ending, Colony could have gone down as a modern sci-fi great.

The strength of Colony was in its nuance. Instead of endless battles and flashy tech, the show zeroed in on the compromises people make under authoritarian rule. Sci-fi TV shows often struggle to balance action with political commentary, but Colony did both, offering a layered, morally complex narrative with standout performances.

Frustratingly for fans, Colony never found the audience it deserved. After three seasons and some genuinely jaw-dropping developments, USA Network abruptly canceled the series, leaving it on a cliffhanger. With tighter pacing and a proper ending, Colony could have gone down as a modern sci-fi great.

5

Altered Carbon (2018-2020)

Incredible Visuals Failed By Narrative Baggage

Based on Richard K. Morgan’s cyberpunk novel, Altered Carbon imagined a future where consciousness can be transferred between bodies, essentially making death obsolete. It starred Joel Kinnaman (season 1) and Anthony Mackie (season 2) as Takeshi Kovacs, a former soldier turned private investigator navigating a world of inequality, immortality, and betrayal.

While the visuals were top-tier, the storytelling faltered under the weight of its own ambition.

Visually, the show was stunning. It brought its neon-drenched, rain-soaked future to life with jaw-dropping production values. Sci-fi TV shows don’t often look this expensive or cinematic, and Altered Carbon nailed the genre’s aesthetic. Its central mystery in season 1 was gripping, and the lore behind the tech was rich with potential.

While the visuals were top-tier, the storytelling faltered under the weight of its own ambition. Season 2 felt disconnected and uneven, while some characters lacked emotional depth. With tighter writing and better pacing, Altered Carbon could have rivaled Blade Runner in prestige TV form – but as it stands, it remains a beautiful near-miss.

4

The Peripheral (2022)

Grand Ideas That Needed More Time To Pay Off

Amazon Prime Video’s The Peripheral brought William Gibson’s mind-bending vision of the future to Prime Video with a sleek production and an intriguing dual-timeline premise. Chloë Grace Moretz starred as Flynne Fisher, a young woman drawn into a conspiracy that spans centuries and timelines through the use of virtual reality-like peripherals.

Pacing issues and an overly complex narrative made The Peripheral hard to fully connect with.

The Peripheral ambitiously tackled dense sci-fi themes: time travel, post-apocalyptic politics, and the ethical dilemmas of advanced tech. It was intelligent and stylish, with top-notch visuals and an ensemble cast that delivered strong performances. For fans of cerebral sci-fi TV shows, it was a dream come true – at least on the surface.

Unfortunately, pacing issues and an overly complex narrative made The Peripheral hard to fully connect with. The first season of Amazon’s ambitious sci-fi show ended just as it felt like the pieces were coming together, only for the show to face delays and uncertainty. The Peripheral had greatness in its sights, but it may never get the runway it needs to land there.

3

Continuum (2012-2015)

Strong Foundations Held Up A Shaky Conclusion

Time travel is a notoriously tricky subject, but the Canadian series Continuum handled it with more clarity and heart than most sci-fi TV shows. Rachel Nichols starred as Kiera Cameron, a cop from the year 2077 who finds herself stranded in the present day, chasing terrorists from the future trying to change history.

The story was forced to wrap up too quickly due to a shortened final season.

Continuum immediately stood out in the crowded sci-fi landscape for how well it combined action, emotional drama, and smart social commentary. The show explored how small choices shape the future and questioned whether changing the system from within is ever truly possible. The stakes were deeply personal, and the show’s mythology became increasingly compelling across its four seasons.

As good as Continnum was, though, the story was forced to wrap up too quickly due to a shortened final season. Plot threads were tied off hastily, and character arcs that deserved room to breathe felt compressed. Continuum came achingly close to being one of the best sci-fi TV shows of the 2010s – but it needed just a little more time to get there.

2

The 4400 (2004-2007)

A Brilliant Setup That Never Reached Its Full Potential

When 4,400 people suddenly return to Earth after being abducted over the course of decades – without having aged a day – mystery and tension are a given. The 4400, starring Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie, tackled the fallout of this event with a grounded, character-focused approach that felt ahead of its time. Essentially, the show was like Lost in tone, but with even stronger sci-fi influences.

As the seasons progressed, the 4400’s focus wavered.

Each returnee manifested unique abilities, turning the show into an emotional exploration of alienation, evolution, and government control. For fans of sci-fi TV shows that mix the supernatural with social commentary, The 4400 offered an enticing blend. It often tackled themes addressed in hit sci-fi shows like Heroes or Fringe, but years earlier.

However, as the seasons progressed, The 4400’s focus wavered. Budget cuts and behind-the-scenes changes led to inconsistent storytelling, and the cancellation after season 4 left several plotlines unresolved. It remains a cult favorite for good reason, but it could’ve been a genre-defining hit with stronger execution.

1

Warehouse 13 (2009-2014)

Charm In Abundance Couldn’t Mask An Uneven Tone

The Eureka spinoff Warehouse 13 blended sci-fi, comedy, and mystery as it followed Secret Service agents Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) and Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) tracking down powerful artifacts with dangerous abilities. The titular warehouse housed everything from Tesla’s lightning guns to Edgar Allan Poe’s notebook – each capable of wreaking havoc.

Its tonal swings – from quirky adventure to high-stakes drama – didn’t always land.

Warehouse 13 still has a devoted fanbase, and it’s easy to see why. It was imaginative, endlessly creative, and featured fantastic chemistry between the cast. As far as fun sci-fi TV shows go, Warehouse 13 was endlessly bingeable and often delightfully weird. It delivered great standalone episodes and leaned into steampunk-adjacent aesthetics that made it feel unique.

However, its tonal swings – from quirky adventure to high-stakes drama – didn’t always land. Some emotional arcs lacked weight, and the show occasionally leaned too hard into camp. It still holds a beloved place in the sci-fi landscape, but with more tonal consistency, Warehouse 13 could have gone from fan-favorite to an all-time classic and inarguably perfect sci-fi TV show.