It has been three years since The Expanse wrapped its final season in 2022, and the absence of Prime Video’s grounded, politically charged sci-fi has left a noticeable gap. Few shows have captured the same balance of hard science, gripping character drama, and world-building ambition. The void has lingered longer than fans expected.

Plenty of space operas have premiered or resurfaced since, but very few reach the consistency and quality that made The Expanse such a standout. Still, there is one series that comes remarkably close. It scratches that familiar itch for dense lore, frontier adventure, and morally complicated heroes navigating interplanetary conflict.

That show is Killjoys, a criminally underrated sci-fi gem that soared under the radar during its run. Even with an impressive 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, it never found the mainstream audience it deserved. For anyone missing The Expanse, diving into Killjoys is one of the smartest moves to make.

What Is Killjoys About?

A Sharp, Stylish Space Opera That Blends High-Energy Action With Rich Sci-Fi World-Building

Co-produced by Syfy, Killjoys follows a trio of interplanetary bounty hunters working for the Reclamation Apprehension Coalition, an independent organization that operates above politics. The team is led by Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen), who partners with brothers John Jaqobis (Aaron Ashmore) and D’avin Jaqobis (Luke Macfarlane) as they take on missions across the Quad, a complex system divided by class, corporate power, and rising rebellion.

At its core, Killjoys is about loyalty, identity, and survival in a volatile political landscape. What begins as episodic bounty-hunting quickly evolves into a sprawling narrative involving secret pasts, biological weaponry, and a war that threatens the entire system. Dutch’s mysterious history ties directly into the Quad’s unrest, giving the story personal stakes that grow each season.

In the world of TV space operas, Killjoys stands out by mixing playful energy with darker storytelling. Its swaggering tone never undermines its emotional weight, and its banter-filled dynamic gives the trio a memorable chemistry. The action is slick, the mythology is inventive, and the story expands in surprising ways without losing focus on the characters’ relationships.

Another major hook is its world-building style. Instead of leaning into hard science like The Expanse, Killjoys uses pulpy, fast-paced sci-fi adventure to explore class inequality, corporate control, and the cost of rebellion. The result is a show that is both fun and thematically rich, delivering emotional arcs and character-driven stakes within a high-energy space opera framework.

Across the five seasons of its 2015-2019 run, the underrated space opera consistently builds on its mythology while keeping the heart of the story centered on its team. This balance of serialized storytelling, political tension, and character drama gives Killjoys its unmistakable identity in the sci-fi landscape.

Why Killjoys Is Still So Underrated

A Critically Acclaimed Space Series That Never Reached Its Deserved Mainstream Spotlight

Despite its critical success and strong fan reception, Killjoys remains one of the most overlooked sci-fi shows of the last decade. One reason is that it premiered during a crowded era of genre TV, competing with larger franchises and streaming giants that overshadowed mid-budget cable sci-fi series.

The show also marketed itself initially as a light, mission-of-the-week adventure, which may have led some viewers to underestimate its narrative depth. While the early episodes of Killjoys lean into breezy bounty-hunting fun, the evolving story quickly reveals a much more ambitious mythology. Many who skipped it assumed it stayed episodic rather than becoming a sweeping, interconnected space saga.

Another factor is the perception that SyFy’s original series lineup was inconsistent during that period. Several shows struggled to gain traction, including The Expanse before it moved to Amazon Prime, leaving audiences uncertain about long-term commitment. Killjoys, however, defied that trend with tight plotting, compelling characters, and a fully completed five-season arc that never felt dragged out or cut short.

Ultimately, Killjoys stayed underrated because it never had the breakout moment or cultural push that elevated shows like The Expanse. Yet its quality, consistency, and craft make it one of the strongest sci-fi offerings of the past decade, and its under-the-radar status is a disservice to how well it was executed.

The Expanse Fans Will Love Killjoys

A Character-Driven, Politically Charged Sci-Fi Adventure That Delivers The Same Addictive Appeal

Fans of The Expanse looking for a worthy successor will find Killjoys hits many of the same notes while offering a distinct flavor. Both shows feature layered political systems, morally complex factions, and heroes caught between personal loyalty and system-wide conflict.

Killjoys mirrors The Expanse in its focus on found-family dynamics. Dutch, John, and D’avin form a tight-knit crew whose bond deepens as the stakes escalate. Their chemistry and emotional arcs feel similar to the connections between the Rocinante crew, giving fans a familiar character-driven core.

The Quad’s political tensions in Killjoys also offer echoes of The Expanse’s Belt–Earth–Mars dynamics. Corporate overreach, rebellion, and shifting alliances drive the narrative, creating a sense of large-scale instability that fans of The Expanse will recognize. The worldbuilding expands steadily, rewarding long-term investment with revelations, escalating threats, and satisfying narrative payoffs.

The action and pacing of Killjoys provide another point of appeal. Though stylistically lighter, the show still delivers sharp choreography, inventive sci-fi concepts, and high-stakes confrontations just like The Expanse. It balances fun energy with heavier emotional and political themes, maintaining momentum throughout its five-season run.

There are a few differences too, of course, but these aren’t to either show’s detriment. Where The Expanse leans heavily into realism, Killjoys embraces pulpy sci-fi flair, giving fans a refreshing yet still thematically compelling shift.

Ultimately, Killjoys is a series that respects its audience, builds its universe carefully, and ends on its own terms – something fans of The Expanse will likely value deeply. For viewers craving a space opera with personality, depth, and a fully realized world, Killjoys is the most satisfying next stop after The Expanse.