Sci-Fitelevision wouldn’t be where it is today without the influence of these important sci-fi TV shows. Each of these shows represents a step in the evolution of sci-fi TV from its roots in the pulp serials of the 1950s to today’sbest prestige television series. These sci-fi shows changed what it means to even be a science fiction TV show in the first place, whether that’s the format, the tone, the technology to create it, or the stories it goes on to inspire.
It’s important to keep in mind thatthis is not a ranking of howgoodeach of these 20 sci-fi TV shows are. Great sci-fi shows can run for years and amass devoted fandoms without necessarily changing the television landscape or generating much buzz outside of internet forums and convention halls. Some other influential shows were simplyovershadowed byStar Trek, and other heavy hitters of sci-fi. Instead, we’re looking at how these shows shaped sci-fi TV as a genre. What did they bring to the table? How did they influence the shows that came after? Let’s find out.
Following the 1983 miniseriesVand its 1984 sequel,V: The Final Battle, theVTV series was a weekly continuation of the conflict between humans and the invading reptilian aliens known as Visitors. While the idea of aliens posing as humans certainly wasn’t new,Vtook the concept to a frightening new level, with the Visitors controlling every level of our society.Anyone could be an alien, reflecting the distrust that ran rampant in a country barely out of the Cold War.Vreturned with a 2009 revival, reimagining the original ’80s miniseries for a post-9/11 era.
Lost in Spacecreated some of the most familiar tropes in science fiction storytelling and helped to define the mid-20th century space age aesthetic for a wider audience. Following its more balanced first season,Lost in Spacesoon became the quintessentially campy 1960s sci-fi television showthat it’s remembered as, with its diabolical villain hidden in plain sight, and a robot actor that went on to appear in multiple TV shows and movies.
Remakes ofLost in Space—a 1998 movie and the2018Lost in SpaceNetflix series—paid homage to the original without necessarily embracing the plucky charm that defined the 1960s series, with the latter receiving acclaim as a self-contained show with a proper ending. Thelegacy ofLost in Spacelives on in other sci-fi shows, from NBC’sEarth 2toStar Trek: Voyagerand its spiritual sequel,Star Trek: Prodigy.
Like its very own Philip J. Fry (Billy West),Futuramakeeps coming out of deep freeze to be revived in new eras, with new ways to lampoon classic sci-fi tropes—and new ways to unexpectedly resonate with viewers who keep demanding more.Futuramakeeps succeeding because it respects its sci-fi roots and its smart audience, while hilariously pushing genre stereotypes to absurd extremes. With its delightfully intelligent brand of goofiness,Futuramahides sentimentality beneath the wackiness. And when it comes to its meme-generating ability, well… shut up and take my money.
Westworldwas HBO’s attempt to do for science fiction whatGame of Thronesdid for fantasy, as a genre adaptation that sought acclaim as a crossover hit on prestige television.Westworldgot off to a strong start, quickly captivating audiences by hinting thatthings were not as they seemed at its western-themed pleasure park—both on-stage and behind the scenes. The existential and ethical questions that dominatedWestworld’s central mystery inspired othershows likeWestworldto pick up on HBO’s original promise of a high-concept, intelligent sci-fi adaptation.
Before the MCU had a chokehold on modern comic book fans,there wasHeroes:a deconstruction of the superhero subgenrethat was far ahead of its time.Heroes’diverse cast of charactersspanned ages and continents, each reacting to their newfound powers in different, but still realistic, ways. The first season united these strangers with a common goal to “save the cheerleader, save the world”, with little other explanation. Once that mystery was solved,Heroes' later seasons weren’t as tight, but the influence ofHeroes' realistic take on supers is still felt in shows likeInvincible, Watchmen, andThe Boys.
Often compared toThe Twilight ZoneandThe Outer Limits,Black Mirrorredefined the anthology genrefor the 21st century with a sharp focus on technological horror. Not content with being merely spooky,Black Mirrorstories are often accompanied by a sinking sense of dread. As the title promises,these too-real stories of the near future reflect the future shock of our own present day. The message in each episode varies, but always reminds us that the rule of cool or the apparent ease of use must not overtake what makes us essentially human.
From the start, Netflix’sStranger Thingswas a love letter to 1980s horror that felt authentic, thanks to nostalgic production design and a cast of bona fide 80s stars like Winona Ryder and Sean Astin, alongside children played by actors who were—at the time—actual kids. Though the gaps between seasons got longer,Stranger Thingssurged back into the public consciousness every time it came back, bidding viewers to binge-watch the entire drop or risk being spoiled for one of the streamer’s biggest draws.
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One of the most interesting side effects is howStranger Thingsrevitalizes 40-year-old pop culture. Dungeons & Dragons made a huge resurgence because ofStranger Things, with monsters pulled straight from the tabletop game. It launched Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” back onto the charts, decades after their initial releases. Who knows whatStranger Things' upcoming season 5will make cool again?
Asan early Sci-Fi Channel Original Series,Farscapeproved that the cable channel could be more than a repository for classic sci-fi TV shows—it could push the genre forward in new ways. Involving Jim Henson’s Creature Shop was an early indication thatFarscapewasn’t going to be typical.
Subsequent seasons delivered onFarscape’s promise to get weird and take risks, taking astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) to the strangest, sexiest, most action-packed far-flung corners of the galaxy, with a crew of (literally) colorful characters that you really have to watch to believe, because words alone don’t doFarscapejustice.
Although its influence may not be immediately apparent, British comedyRed Dwarfis a cult favorite with a surprisingly impressive impact on sci-fi TV. Shows likeFuturamaandFarscape, in which a single human finds himself surrounded by bizarre creatures in comedically unfamiliar territory, can—and should—countRed Dwarfas a predecessor. Like those shows,Red Dwarffinds its humor in how its relatable audience analog, Dave Lister (Craig Charles), deals with patently absurd situations that seem perfectly normal in the far, far,farfuture.
Based on the novel series by James SA Corey,The Expansechanged sci-fi with its fascinating, realistic world building. Instead ofStar Trek’s bright future of an evolved humanity,The Expansetakes a balanced look at the 23rd century, based on hard science and speculative sociopolitics.What would humans actually be like if venturing into our solar system divided us along new lines?
The Expansesuggests we wouldn’t be able to rid ourselves of greed or classism, but we would still, like Rocinante captain James Holden (Steven Strait), find something to fight for, even in the toughest times.
