As a TV genre, sci-fi is the gift that keeps on giving. It usually has something for everyone: political intrigue, spaceships, drama, action, comedy, relevant themes, and futuristic technology beyond our real-world capabilities. It’s a pliable genre in that regard. You can do so much with it, whether one has unlimited financial means for the best special effects or two pennies and a potato phone. Sci-fi is the pinnacle of human creativity.
Over the past 15 years or so, the genre has seen a resurgence in popularity, especially as being a “geek” becomes more mainstream and “cool.” Syfy, in particular, has produced some gems that probably flew under your radar back in the day. Even somewhat more well-known shows like Orphan Blackstill have onlya small (but loyal) fan base. Plenty of underrated sci-fi series are bona fide masterpieces that continuously improve with each season. Here’s a list of 10 shows that fit that bill.
’12 Monkeys’ – Syfy (2015-2018, 4 Seasons)
We love a good adaptation of an adaptation (Adap-ception, anyone?). Syfy’s mid-2010s series 12 Monkeys loosely adapts the 1995 Bruce Willis-led movie of the same name, which is based on Chris Marker’s 1962 short film La Jetée. In it, two strangers join forces to put the kibosh on one covert organization’s destructive plans using, you guessed it, time travel. Taking place in 2043, James Cole and Dr. Cassandra “Cassie” Railly must travel back to 2015 to prevent the “Army of the 12 Monkeys” from releasing a deadly virus. It’s terribly prescient in a post-COVID world, to be sure. If they fail their mission, the mutations of said virus would spell the end of humanity. No pressure.
12 Monkeys boasts fun sci-fi plot twists and, unlike many short-lived shows today, delivers a complete story and sticks the landing. Sure, it’s easy to compare it to the ’90s film, but the series stands on its own as a wholly entertaining watch. It scratches that time travel itch.
‘Raised by Wolves’ – HBO Max (2020-2022, 2 Seasons)
The woefully truncated Raised by Wolves is the very definition of “underrated.” It certainly deserved more than two seasons, but not even director/executive producer Ridley Scott and general critical acclaim could save it from its fate. The series zeroes in on two androids, Father and Mother, as they raise human children on Kepler-22b following Earth’s destruction. Religious differences polarize the human colony on the planet. It’s a meditation on religious persecution, among many other themes, and the age-old debate about the rise of artificial intelligence and its integration into our modern world. Do we let AI flourish unregulated? How long until androids and robots supersede us at the top of the food chain?
Raised by Wolves is audacious sci-fi at its best. It’s not a show you put on as background noise, though. It requires every ounce of your attention to follow its complex storylines and heavy themes. That said, we have a dearth of sci-fi on TV right now that’s willing to swing for the fences, so Raised by Wolves deserves a watch.
‘Killjoys’ – Syfy (2015-2019, 5 Seasons)
RIP to the mid-2010s era of Syfy. It was an undisputed high for the channel (Battlestar Galactica‘s run in the 2000s notwithstanding). It was also a time of delightfully cheeky sci-fi like Killjoys, a series following three bounty hunters who must remain neutral in the imminent interplanetary class war as they chase warrants across the Quad. Described as “fun-loving” and “hard-living,” it isn’t long before said bounty hunters’ respective pasts catch up with them. The show stars Hannah John-Kamen, who fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe might recognize as Ghost.
Killjoys is just plain fun. It doesn’t take itself seriously and isn’t afraid to dish out snappy dialogue. Who says “sci-fi masterpieces” can only include deeply thought-provoking, serious fare? Killjoys is an enjoyable watch from beginning to end, providing lighthearted escapism, complete with action and laughs.
‘Orphan Black’ – BBC America (2013-2017, 5 Seasons)
If this writer had to pick favorites, Orphan Black would be one of them. This underrated sci-fi masterpiece centers on Sarah Manning, a con artist who witnesses a woman, Beth Childs, die by suicide by stepping onto train tracks. At face value, Beth is Sarah’s doppelgänger, but really, both women are two of many human clones. What transpires next is a thrilling, pulse-pounding thriller of epic proportions that asks viewers to question the moral and ethical implications of human cloning. Tatiana Maslany delivers a masterclass in acting, portraying a whopping 17 clones throughout the show’s five seasons. There are even clones pretending to be other clones. Maslany rightfully won an Emmy for her work.
Orphan Black is bolstered by Maslany’s compelling performances, to be sure. However, it’s also a touching tale of found family, and through it all, it’s the sestras who endure and come out on the other side. I usually direct people to this series if they enjoyed Maslany in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and are looking for thoroughly engaging science fiction for their next watch.
‘Humans’ – AMC (2015-2018, 3 Seasons)
Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned robot story? Based on the Swedish sci-fi series Real Humans, AMC’s Humans delves into the timely theme of artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity’s future. In the series, it’s common to have what are called “synths” – anthropomorphic robots – as maids or servants in the family home. For the Hawkins family, life is grand until their synth, Mia, starts to think and feel. The horror!
It’s not an innovative plot. After all, robots fighting back against their creators is well-trod territory in science fiction. However, considering where we are today regarding AI advancements, it’s a narrative that hits close to home. Humans offers a gripping, thought-provoking story that’s more relevant today than when it first aired a decade ago.
‘The Expanse’ – Syfy and Prime Video (2015-2022, 6 Seasons)
If this were a ranking of sci-fi TV shows, The Expanse would be number one. The six-season show adapts James S.A. Corey’s incredible series of novels of the same name. It’s modern hard science fiction at its best. Despite its growth in popularity in recent years, it still feels like an under-the-radar type of series.
Set roughly 200 years into our future, The Expanse blends noir and space opera to deliver a tale of interplanetary conflict and how the lower class is always crushed underfoot by bad-faith power players. Throw in a pinch of class warfare, mysterious alien entities, badass people with cool tattoos, and a ragtag crew on a frigate named after Don Quixote’s horse, and you’ve got yourself a sci-fi winner. Oh, and Shohreh Aghdashloo’s elegant swearing is the cherry on top.
The Expanse maintains a steady clip from beginning to end, faithfully adapting the source material with enthralling performances from the cast. It’s dense, and it demands your attention, but it’s more than worth your time. Enjoy your binge-watch, Beltalowda.
‘Farscape’ – Syfy (1999-2003, 4 Seasons)
Frell yeah! Farscape is an iconic sci-fi masterpiece that dominated the early 2000s. It deserves a spot in the pantheon of the all-time greatest science fiction TV shows. Astronaut John Crichton finds himself in an unknown part of the Milky Way galaxy after being hurled through a wormhole. Now part of a misfit alien fugitive crew as the sole human, Crichton must find a way home. Space shenanigans ensue.
Farscape was co-produced by The Jim Henson Company and was responsible for countless prosthetics and alien looks, along with the two animatronic puppets of Rygel and Pilot. Who knew sci-fi and puppetry would mix so well? Farscape is pure, unadulterated campiness, but it also never shies away from those big emotional moments. You might feel things. Many things. Overall, it maintains quality storytelling over the course of its 88 episodes.
‘Warehouse 13’ – Syfy (2009-2014, 5 Seasons)
I get it – a lot of entries on this list are Syfy shows. The channel showcased its fair share of underrated gems back in the day (before it became a veritable ghost town). Warehouse 13 was one of those gems. It probably has more universal appeal, as it’s not hard science fiction by any means. One could argue that it’s a solid gateway into the genre, a way to dip one’s toes into sci-fi before exploring heavier shows. It’s also a fun mix of other genres, like mystery, fantasy, action-adventure, and thriller.
Warehouse 13 follows two U.S. Secret Service agents as they’re deployed to the eponymous Warehouse 13 in South Dakota, home to supernatural artifacts galore. There, they team up with other specialists to retrieve more artifacts. The series is more lighthearted than most of the entries on this list, but if fluffy, goofy goodness is your jam, add Warehouse 13 to your watchlist.
‘Dark Matter’ – Syfy (2015-2017, 3 Seasons)
Believe it or not, another Dark Matter series existed before Apple TV’s Dark Matter. I remember the short-lived Syfy show caused an uproar among its loyal fan base on Twitter after its cancellation. The three-season series follows a group of people aboard the starship Raza as they emerge from stasis pods with no memories of their identities. We learn in the pilot that they’re actually mercenaries – the worst of the worst in the galaxy. They’re faced with a choice: do they resume their shady dealings or seek redemption? Much of the series centers on secrets from their dark pasts threatening to complicate their lives.
There’s something delightful about the low-budget genre shows of the 2010s that manage to pull off amazing narrative and visual feats while still being downright entertaining. They can do so much with limited resources. Dark Matter left us too soon, and on a cliffhanger to boot.
‘Babylon 5’ – PTEN (1993-1998, 5 Seasons)
The oldest entry on this list, Babylon 5 aired on the now-defunct Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN). It also has – gasp – a whopping 111 episodes under its belt, which is perfect for a lengthy binge-watch. This underrated sci-fi masterpiece homes in on the human military staff and alien diplomats aboard the titular Babylon 5 space station. It feels more relevant than ever with its compelling thematic exploration of oppression, politics, redemption, and more.
Babylon 5 is a fun blend of action, intriguing character dynamics, and suspense, using long-form narrative storytelling to keep audiences hooked. Another reason why it makes for a great binge is that it’s serialized. Plotlines aren’t neatly contained in single episodes, which was a rarity during its tenure on the air. So, this isn’t a scroll-on-your-phone series. However, if escapism is what you crave, Babylon 5 provides it in spades.
What are your favorite underrated sci-fi TV masterpieces? Did your picks make this list? Let us know in the comments.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
