7 Sci-Fi TV Shows That Aged Incredibly Well

The sci-fi genre has regularly proven one of the most popular and successful genres in fiction. Its speculative nature allows it plenty of opportunity to explore a rich vein of themes, commenting on modern society, human nature, and various other issues both real and imagined. While sci-fi has found an audience in a wide range of media, one of the biggest and most notable is on television, where sci-fi shows have become something of a staple over many decades. The best sci-fi TV shows are able to capture the collective imagination of their audience, delivering powerful and exciting stories with their often fantastical and imaginative premises.

The rapid improvement of technology and various societal shifts mean that not all sci-fi ages well. Some shows look to a future that becomes increasingly laughable, with others are held back by their reliance on unimpressive visual effects. However, there are still many sci-fi TV shows that hold up remarkably even years after airing, and even when rewatched today, they look to have aged incredibly well.

1) Andromeda (2000-2005)

Created from unused concepts devised by the legendary Gene Roddenberry, Andromeda has everything one might expect from a sci-fi TV show: spaceships, aliens, and space-age conflict. Following the crew of the eponymous vessel as it emerges from a singularity in a dystopian future, Andromeda‘s story is one of humanity attempting to reestablish civilization in the far future. In terms of its narrative themes and the general ideas behind the show’s story, Andromeda‘s hopeful message is one that still rings true decades later.

2) Dark Angel (2000-2002)

Created by James Cameron and Charles H. Eglee, Dark Angel is perhaps best remembered for being Jessica Alba’s breakout role. Its story follows Max Guevara, a genetically enhanced super soldier who escapes and evades the agents of a covert military facility in a dystopian near-future United States. Despite some elements of the show seeming dated, its general narrative and overall presentation remains as good as ever, highlighting that Dark Angel is a show that was very much ahead of its time.

3) Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)

Stargate SG-1 is an example of a sci-fi TV show with an incredible pilot episode, which laid the foundation for a remarkable series and eventual franchise. It follows a military team known as SG-1 who make use of an alien portal – the titular Stargate – in order to find and recover alien technology that can be used to aid Earth in its defense against an invading alien species. Stargate SG-1 holds up brilliantly thanks to its exciting story, as well as the thematic ideas behind its premise and narrative arcs.

4) Firefly (2002)

There are few cult sci-fi TV shows as well-known as Firefly. The show’s premature cancellation continues to be a source of dismay for fans, especially as its potential was clear from the beginning. Following a crew of smugglers who found themselves on the losing side of a galactic civil war, Firefly‘s blend of Western tropes with a sci-fi premise made for truly outstanding viewing. Despite being unfairly short-lived, Firefly‘s quality, impressive visual effects, and engaging narrative all contribute to the fact that the show has aged exceptionally well.

5) Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009)

Though Battlestar Galactica is hardly one of the most terrifying sci-fi TV shows out there, its dark and complex themes helped to make it a firm favorite. Its high-concept premise involving human refugees among the stars at war with the android Cylons has become an example of how good modern sci-fi can be, and how the genre has adapted to the 21st century. The show’s story, presentation, and acting earned it critical acclaim upon its initial run, and are all reasons that it continues to hold up even two decades later.

6) Futurama (1999-Present)

Futurama is widely considered one of the best animated sci-fi TV shows of all time. From the creators of The Simpsons, the show’s initial millennium premise involved Philip J. Fry being cryogenically frozen on December 31st, 1999 and reawoken 1000 years in the future. Fry’s adventures in the year 3000 have afforded the show plenty of opportunity to examine the legacy of pop culture, as well as deliver imaginative and memorable stories brought to life by its timeless style of animation. As a result, Futurama still feels incredibly entertaining and relevant, even when revisiting its earliest episodes.

7) Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

In the entire sci-fi genre, there are very few shows as iconic or as influential as Star Trek: The Original Series. Gene Roddenberry’s original show revolutionized the genre, with its space-set adventures examining components of the human condition in an imagined future among the stars. While The Original Series‘ visuals might have grown a little dated, its themes and ideas remain insightful and important, with its overall message of kindness and inclusion one that is perhaps every bit as important today than it was upon first airing back in 1966.