What if we could have a more advanced space travel? What if we could transport ourselves through time? What if communication with aliens was a daily reality and supernatural forces from other dimensions found their way to our planet? Science fiction TV shows—same as science fiction books before them—answer these questions to satiate our curiosity.
Science fiction, or sci-fi for short, is a vast genre that combines various separate genres: time travel, space exploration, extraterrestrial life, supernatural activity, parallel universes, sentient machines and technologies, and many more. One thing they all have in common is that they try to imagine how life would have been if a certain concept, most frequently related to science and technology, would have existed.
The first space TV show aired as far back as 1950. It was called Space Patrol and was initially targeted at children. But soon the adventures of its main character Commander-in-Chief Buzz Corry and his sidekick Cadet Happy gathered a considerable adult audience. The show continued to run for five consecutive years and often ranked in the top 10 Saturday shows.
Of course, modern science fiction TV shows have come a long way, and today’s series look nothing like 80s or even 90s sci-fi shows. We have compiled a list of some of the best sci-fi series from various decades. Which ones have you already seen? Do you agree with our rating?
Star Trek: The Next Generation
1987 | First-run syndication | Seasons: 7
Shows about space have always enjoyed large popularity among the audience, and we have quite a few on our list, Star Trek being one of them. Even if you have never watched a single episode of this show, you have definitely heard about it. It is one of the largest franchises that includes both feature films and television series that last anywhere from one to as many as seven seasons. Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the TV series. It is set one century after the original series and follows the adventures of an all-new crew aboard the iconic starship Enterprise.
The X-Files
1993 | Fox | Seasons: 11
Not all paranormal activities turn into a nice journey through space. Sometimes they end up as a crime scene requiring investigation. If this is a storyline you could get behind, you should definitely watch The X-Files . When agent Fox Mulder starts suspecting the involvement of extraterrestrial forces in several cases, he is partnered with a medical doctor, Dana Scully, who is supposed to check the scientific credibility of his discoveries. Working together on many improbable cases, Mulder and Scully come to unravel an even bigger conspiracy. The X-Files is rightfully considered a classic among alien TV shows, and this probably explains why it remains popular among viewers even after it was closed.
Doctor Who
2005 | BBC One | Seasons: 13
Doctor Who is one of, if not the most long-running TV shows in Britain. The first episode of the original installment was aired in 1963, and the show ran continuously until 1989 when it was closed down. However in 2005 it was brought back to life and very soon became a global sensation. Same as the original, the revived series tells the story of an alien Time Lord, who goes by the name of The Doctor, has two hearts and regenerates with a completely different appearance after each cycle. Together with his companions, he travels in a blue police box with the sole purpose of helping those in distress. If you need protection, he will find you on any planet, in any century, because time is actually not linear, it’s wibbly wobbly, timey wimey… stuff.
Star Trek
1966 | NBC | Seasons: 3
Another entry from the Star Trek franchise on our list, this one laid the foundation for the future popularity of the show. After the show expanded into multiple films and series, the 1966 edition received the name of Star Trek: The Original Series . Together with the classic cast of the first crew, we embark on a journey around the Milky Way, as they explore new worlds and civilizations.
Stranger Things
2016 | Netflix | Seasons: 4
If you are in search of a show that will cater to your ’80s childhood nostalgia, pay homage to Stephen King novels, include an evil corporation conducting experiments on humans, and open up a whole other dimension housing an unspeakable monster, seek no more. Stranger Things checks off every item on that list and delivers magnificently on all of them. A fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana wakes up from its perpetual slumber when a number of inexplicable events start to happen. What first seemed to be a pretty obvious missing child case soon turns into a quest involving paranormal activity and monsters from another world. Stranger Things is often called one of the best series on Netflix for its formidable storytelling and character development.
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Battlestar Galactica
2004 | Sci-Fi | Seasons: 4
In 2004, American screenwriter and producer Ronald D. Moore revived a popular ’70s military sci-fi TV show Battlestar Galactica , with the new series following the general premise of the original. In the distant future, a human civilization living on a group of planets, known as The Twelve Colonies, were attacked and almost destroyed by a race of android robots. The very few survivors fled the Colonies. Led by the only remaining military spaceship, Battlestar Galactica, they embark on a journey to find the legendary thirteenth colony, also sometimes called Earth.
Black Mirror
2011 | Netflix | Seasons: 5
The problems of modern society and culture have been the subject of many works of fiction, but Black Mirror manages to have a fresh take on it. This anthology TV show is set in dystopian societies of the near future, and each episode is a social commentary on one of the common traits of contemporary culture. While having a recurring theme, Black Mirror doesn’t have a common arc developing throughout a season. Each episode is a standalone story and can be watched in any order. This is great if you don’t have enough time and watch the show with big pauses between episodes.
Lost
2004 | ABC | Seasons: 6
Lost starts off as a modern Robinson Crusoe story. A commercial jet airliner crashes on its route from Sydney to Los Angeles, and its passengers find themselves on an island in the Pacific Ocean. As the unsuspecting audience expects to see a story of survival, a fight for resources, and rivalry for leadership, the equally unsuspecting characters realize that there is more to the island than first catches the eye. Very soon it becomes clear that the island is inhabited by mysterious supernatural forces, and the struggle for survival becomes even more difficult. During its lifetime, Lost often received appreciation from critics. It was also one of the most expensive TV shows, due to a large ensemble cast and filming on location in Hawaii.
Westworld
2016 | HBO | Seasons: 4
Just a few decades from now, a large American corporation builds several theme parks, including one based on the American Wild West, suitably called Westworld. The main attractions of this park are biochemical robots known as hosts. Indistinguishable from humans, these robots are designed to engage in any act of violence or sexual behavior the visitors require of them in their pursuit of the Wild West experience. Hosts, who can’t feel pain or emotions, get their memories wiped after finishing their work with each guest. Until one day a new update is implemented, and some of the hosts start remembering their past traumatic experiences…
The Expanse
2015 | Syfy | Seasons: 6
The Expanse is an adaptation of a series of novels by James S.A. Corey. Several centuries from the present, the human race has moved beyond the limits of planet Earth and has colonized the entire Solar System. The fragile peace—which in reality is more of a cold war—is held together by three powers: the United Nations of Earth and Luna, the Martian Congressional Republic, and the Outer Planet Alliance. A UN executive, a police detective, a spaceship officer, and his crew never expected to uncover, let alone find themselves in the center of a conspiracy that endangers whatever peaceful existence is still left, but now they have to navigate through it, while also dealing with an existential crisis caused by the discovery of previously unseen alien technology.
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We all love a good TV show to relax to after a long day when you are either too tired or don’t have enough time to get invested in a feature-length movie. One hour of solid entertainment that will keep you hooked enough to want to come back the next day for another episode is exactly what you need in a situation like this.
Great Britain has always been known for producing some of the best content in the world of TV series. British shows like Doctor Who , Downton Abbey , and BBC’s Sherlock , have long become classics and have acquired huge fandoms around the globe. Even if you haven’t seen any of them (which is pretty weird, how did you manage that?), you definitely know what their stories are about.
Unlike some other countries where the majority of TV shows are created in one particular genre—usually a dramatic love story—UK TV shows don’t limit their creators. Top British TV shows explore diverse premises, from the earlier years of England’s legendary King Arthur and his trusted friend and counselor Merlin ( Merlin ), to office sitcoms ( The Office ), to social commentaries on contemporary issues ( Black Mirror ).
The very first British TV show saw the light of day in 1932 on BBC and was called The Man With the Flower in his Mouth. As TV gained popularity, BBC grew to become the country’s largest broadcast company and produced a huge number of amazing TV shows, but today you can also find many British shows on Netflix.
You can argue indefinitely as to which series can be considered the best British TV shows of all time, but there definitely are some British dramas that everyone who appreciates extended formats of storytelling should watch.
Luther
2010 | BBC One | Seasons: 5 Starring Idris Elba as the Detective Chief Inspector John Luther, this TV show tells the story of a police officer who is dedicated to his work to the point where it becomes an obsession. It explores his complicated relationship with a brilliant murderer and psychopath Alice Morgan, as she helps him solve the murder of his wife and gradually persuades him to leave his life in London and follow her. Studded with magnificent performances, Luther is a must-watch if you love psychological crime thrillers.
Peaky Blinders
2013 | BBC Two | Seasons: 6 Peaky Blinders is a great choice for those who enjoy both crime dramas and period TV shows. Loosely based on the endeavors of a real urban youth gang of the same name that was active in the English city of Birmingham between the 1880s and 1910s, this TV series depicts the exploits of a mixed Irish and Romani crime family soon after the end of World War I. Led by the charismatic and dangerous crime boss Tommy Shelby, played by Cyllian Murphy, the gang holds Birmingham in terror and becomes a huge problem for law enforcement. With each season, we see the gang extend its grip even further both in terms of geography and power.
Killing Eve
The Crown
2016 | Netflix | Seasons: 4 The Crown created quite a buzz when it was released, as this historical TV show had the reign of Queen Elizabeth II as its principal storyline. Starting in the period shortly after World War II and Elizabeth’s marriage to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the show follows its protagonist through historical events and personal challenges as the Queen of England over the course of four seasons. If the behind-the-scenes of the royal court and the life of the British monarchy that is kept away from the public eye is something you enjoy, make sure you don’t miss this TV series.
Vera
2011 | ITV | Seasons: 12 Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope may look like an ordinary, not very sharp employee who is counting her days until retirement, but behind that deceiving appearance you will find a smart, dedicated professional with keen senses. Originally the main character in a series of crime novels by Ann Cleeves, Vera works in the fictional Northumberland & City Police together with sergeants Joe Ashworth and Aiden Healy. She might be fighting her own demons on the inside, but on the outside, her calculating mind and superior detective skills help her uncover multiple crimes in Vera .
Call the Midwife
2012 | BBC One | Seasons: 11 This period drama takes the viewer to a not-so-distant past of the 1950-1960s in the poorer districts of London’s East End. Midwife Jenny Lee, together with her colleagues and nuns of a nursing covenant, have to deal with the problems of poverty and the poor state of health care in post-war England. But as up to 100 babies are born each month in the district their covenant is located in, the main duty for the midwives and nuns remains providing safe childbirth to the impoverished women. Call the Midwife gives an interesting insight into the social problems of the post-war society and is very thought-provoking, as the audience can’t help but wonder how much things have or haven’t changed in the modern day.
Happy Valley
2014 | BBC One | Seasons: 2 This crime drama revolves around the life of Catherine Cawood, a police sergeant in West Yorkshire, as she deals with the trauma of losing her teenage daughter to suicide after she was raped and gave birth to a son. When the man responsible for this horrendous act is released from prison, Catherine becomes obsessed with finding him. Far from being cheerful, as the title might suggest, this drama gives you insight into Catherine’s police work, as she uncovers another crime and deals with problems in her own family. Happy Valley won the BAFTA Award for the Best Drama Series in 2015.
The Last Kingdom
2015 | BBC Two | Seasons: 5 The Last Kingdom is another book adaptation hitting the silver screen. Based on the historical novel series The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, it tells the story of the birth of England in the 9th and 10th century. We follow the path of the protagonist Uhtred, who was the heir to the throne of Northumbria but was enslaved in his childhood by Danish invaders. The show has its share of fictional details, yet it creates a very compelling narration of the fight for freedom, love, betrayal, and honor that led to the creation of the early kingdom of England.
Endeavour
2012 | ITV | Seasons: 9 Britain has given us quite a few names when it comes to detective stories. Many of them were adapted for the big or silver screen. One such name is Colin Dexter, the author of the series of detective novels Inspector Morse . Published from 1975 through 1999, the novels were adapted into a TV show. Following its success alongside a spin-off Lewis about Morse’s partner sergeant–now detective Robert Lewis, Endeavour was created as a prequel, depicting Morse’s younger years at the beginning of his career of fighting crime in his native Oxford.
Line of Duty
2012 | BBC Two | Seasons: 6 Another British police TV show on the list, Line of Duty is about the daily life of an Anti-Corruption Unit 12. As the protagonist Steve Arnott, who was transferred to this unit after he refused to unlawfully cover up an event in his previous team, his partner Kate Fleming, and other colleagues uncover cases of corruption within the fictional Central Police Force, they see clearer with each step how deeply-rooted it is. Their ultimate goal is to reveal the identity of a mysterious person or persons going under the pseudonym of H. They come to learn that H plays a key role in running the activities of an organized crime group, and now need to find him or them within the police force.
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