The 2000s were a great time for sci-fi thriller TV shows. Nowadays, in the era of streaming, it can be hard to define TV show genres. So many titles fit into more than one category, and the world of science fiction can make that even more complex, but that’s part of the fun. There are plenty of bingeable sci-fi thriller TV masterpieces out there from recent years, but it’s also worth looking back in time a little and giving some older titles the appreciation they deserve.
It’s worth noting that a TV show that has “no bad episodes” is not the same thing as one with “no bad seasons.” Many shows have rough patches, installments that aren’t always as strong as usual, but it takes a lot more than one or two poorly received episodes to completely ruin an entire season. These sci-fi thrillers are iconic titles that helped define the noughties and the future of TV, and they’re well worth a watch.
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‘Doctor Who’ (Modern Era) (2005-2022)
A Voyage Across Time and Space Like No Other
Watch This If: You’re looking for a lengthy sci-fi franchise to sink your teeth into. When Doctor Who returned to screens in 2005, almost 16 years after the classic era ended, it was immediately apparent this was something special. Several of the greatest Doctor Who episodes of all time are from the modern era, and although some of the show’s other episodes aren’t exactly the best, they’re consistently strong enough that no season can be considered “bad.” The Doctors and their companions’ journeys across time and space are comical, heartwarming, and devastating, often all at the same time, but it’s impossible not to fall in love with all of them.
Doctor Who‘s “Disney era,” which began with the 60th anniversary specials in 2023, saw David Tennant and Ncuti Gatwa portray the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors, respectively. While it is technically a continuation of the modern era, it is also considered its own era and is separate from Jodie Whittaker’s departure in 2022 onwards.
Skip This If: You don’t have the time to remember complex lore, or if you’re somewhat of a completionist. Since it began in 1963, there have been hundreds of episodes, a TV movie, and an array of other Doctor Who specials. The Doctor’s story is a complicated one, and there’s a lot of Doctor Who content to binge, which might be a bit overwhelming for some.
6
‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2003, 2004-2009)
A Fantastic Reimagining of the 1970s Classic
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Syfy
Watch This If: You enjoy sci-fi TV masterpieces in general. Kicking off with a three-hour miniseries and continuing for a further four full seasons, the reboot/reimagining of Battlestar Galactica is a fantastic watch. Battlestar Galactica is darker and grittier than the original 1970s series, but it sets the tone of the show brilliantly, and it makes the story of humanity’s attempts to avoid extinction at the hands of the Cylons even more endearing. On the surface, Battlestar Galactica looks to be your classic sci-fi action TV show, but it’s also incredibly deep, and delves into things like intergalactic politics and the human psyche.
Skip This If: You’re not interested in watching anything that challenges morality. Battlestar Galactica is very complex and sees several of its characters battling moral conundrums. While this isn’t a criticism, and if anything, many believe this is what makes it such a great show, some viewers might not want to watch something so heavy-hitting.
5
‘Farscape’ (1999-2003)
An Iconic Sci-Fi Cult Classic
Watch This If: You enjoy sci-fi titles that are as equally cheesy as they are dramatic. At a glance, Farscape‘s story, about a lost astronaut stuck on a ship with a bunch of alien fugitives a long way from home, seems rather camp. But in reality, the show is actually a hard-hitting, emotionally tumultuous, and visually appealing watch that should be taken seriously. Despite originally airing in 1999, the show is very noughties-coded, and it’s often been compared to Firefly. In fact, Farscape outlasted Firefly, wrapping up in 2003 after a total of four seasons.
Skip This If: You don’t want to watch something without a proper ending. Production originally planned a five-season run for the show, so Farscape’s abrupt cancellation resulted in the Season 4 finale ending on a cliffhanger. To this day, Farscape‘s ending is one audiences are still hoping will be redeemed or rewritten in some way, but as of 2026, the Farscape web series we were promised by its creator has still not happened.
4
‘Fringe’ (2008-2013)
A Perfect Sci-Fi Mystery That Rivals ‘Severance’
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FOX
Watch This If: You’re looking for a good science fiction mystery. Fringe‘s characters are just as important in driving the narrative as the plot itself, especially Anna Torv as Olivia Dunham, whose role as an FBI agent sends her into a world of time travel, alternate dimensions, and more. With romantic subplots, shocking plot twists, and plenty of science fiction enigmas, Fringe is a wild ride. It can feel a little confusing at times, especially in the later seasons when it jumps back and forth between parallel universes, but that’s part of Fringe‘s overall appeal, as well as a staple of a J.J. Abrams hard sci-fi series.
Skip This If: You’re looking for something consistent. The show changes a bit during its run; it starts as a story-of-the-week format, and it later slips into a serialized structure. While some viewers prefer the earlier format, every installment of Fringe is still as enthralling as the last, but it’s understandable if some viewers prefer a show that sticks to the same structure.
3
‘Life on Mars’ (2006-2007)
A Rather Unique Time Travel Story Compared to the Norm
Watch This If: You enjoy a good British detective procedural with a sci-fi twist. Life on Mars is a fantastic watch for sci-fi fans, even if it doesn’t seem very sci-fi at times. The show tackles time travel in a very interesting way: by introducing John Simm as Sam Tyler, a police officer who, after being hit by a car in 2006, wakes up in 1973. The show’s time travel aspects aren’t the main priority, though, not in the traditional sense. Sam Tyler isn’t constantly popping back and forth in time; the show follows a crime-of-the-week episodic format, but the mystery of how he ends up in the past in the first place is an overarching storyline throughout.
Skip This If: You prefer to watch something that fully commits to the sci-fi side of things. Life on Mars is a great title that everyone should watch at least once, but its sci-fi elements sometimes feel a bit overlooked. While Sam’s mission to find out what happened to him is always prominent, it sometimes takes a back seat so Life on Mars can focus on the story-of-the-week.
2
‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ (2008-2009)
Nothing Can Stop ‘The Terminator’ Icon Sarah Connor
Watch This If: You’re looking for more content related to the Terminator movies. Set after Terminator 2 and disregarding the events of Terminator 3, the spin-off Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles follows Sarah Connor and her son, John, as they try to prevent the creation of Skynet. The Sarah Connor Chronicles has often been deemed the best Terminator sequel ever. It has plenty of action and extreme tension, but the show also delves into the gritty reality of Sarah raising John while trying to protect him from the horrors of the Terminator world. Even 17 years after its ending, The Sarah Connor Chronicles still has a huge cult following, and it has continued to grow.
Skip This If: You’re looking for a multi-season title to binge. Annoyingly, the show only ran for a total of 31 episodes across two seasons. The Sarah Connor Chronicles‘ cancellation in 2009 was a major shock, especially even after fans campaigned to keep the show going.
1
‘Lost’ (2004-2010)
J.J. Abrams’ TV Masterpiece
Watch This If: You’re looking for a TV show with mind-bending twists. Opinions on Lost are often varied; it’s mainly because there’s so much debate over certain twists, as well as the show’s pacing at points, but there’s no denying that it’s one of the greatest TV shows of all time. The story of the survivors of Oceanic Airlines flight 815 and their attempts to escape the island they crash on is like no other. Between the flashes (back, forward, and sideways), supernatural influences, and nail-biting tension throughout, Lost is a meaty yet satisfying watch. Although Lost has its touch-and-go moments, most audiences agree that the show is strong from start to finish.
Skip This If: You’re hoping for a completely satisfying ending. While the show does wrap up some of its mysteries, it leaves some others up to interpretation. However, that’s somewhat the point of Lost, and even the main characters are never truly sure what to believe. Lost’s finale is a gripping watch, but it’s also a TV show ending people struggle to agree on.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
