There are too many underrated science-fiction TV shows to populate only one list, so here are several more brilliant shows that few people seem to be discussing. Some sci-fi shows have managed to become incredibly popular over the years, earning huge fan bases and achieving immense success, including the likes of shows in the Star Trek franchise, Doctor Who, Stranger Things, and more. However, not every sci-fi series is as lucky, as for every one that has gained huge popularity, there are many more that have unfortunately fallen under the radar.
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Along with the likes of The Middleman, Continuum, Dark Matter, Archive 81, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, The 4400, and FlashForward, there are many more sci-fi TV shows that haven’t received the attention they deserve. None of these shows are still releasing on TV, and many would argue they ended before their time. Most didn’t obtain the audience they needed or deserved, while others ended in their prime, but it’s time we bring these fantastic sci-fi shows back into the conversation.
7) Travelers (2016-2018)
Told over three seasons between 2016 and 2018, Travelers followed a group of individuals from a post-apocalyptic future whose consciousnesses are sent back into the bodies of present-day people close to death. They are tasked with preventing the collapse of society, and must adhere to strict protocols to ensure the safety of the timeline – you can imagine where this goes. Travelers offered a fresh perspective on the overdone time travel narrative and focused on its world-building and character-driven stories, but, despite earning 100% approval ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Travelers has been all but forgotten.
6) Odyssey 5 (2002)
Similarly to Travelers’ time-travel storyline, Odyssey 5 also saw individuals from a devastating future travel back in time for a second chance. Showtime’s 2002 series saw five space travelers in 2007 witness the sudden destruction of the Earth, so they travel back in time in an effort to save the planet. Odyssey 5 received praise for its thought-provoking commentary on humanity, its relevant exploration of artificial intelligence, its mature themes and depiction of sci-fi, and its relatable characters, who had emotional depth and faced accessible challenges. Odyssey 5 only ran for one season of 19 episodes.
5) Alphas (2011-2012)
We’ve become very accustomed to seeing superpowers depicted on the big and small screen nowadays, even in more character-driven projects, but back in 2011, this was still a rarity. Alphas pulled it off to perfection, following the adventures of Dr. Lee Rosen (David Strathairn), a neurologist and psychologist who led a team of superpowered people to solve crimes involving other “Alphas.” The series focused on multi-dimensional and unique characters rather than archetypes, and kept its sci-fi elements completely grounded, even to the point of dealing with the moral ambiguity of these superpowered characters doing the bidding of their government organization.
4) Counterpart (2017-2019)
J. K. Simmons brings a sense of prestige and sophistication to any role he inhabits, and the part of Howard Silk in Counterpart was no exception. In a world packed full of epic multiverse stories, Counterpart delivered a more grounded and character-focused tale that saw Office of Interchange worker Silk uncover mysteries surrounding a checkpoint between two parallel universes – Alpha and Prime. Counterpart delivered an interesting premise of Cold War between these two realities, and saw Simmons and his ensemble supporting cast produce some powerhouse performances. Packed full of unexpected twists and clever science-fiction, Counterpart is well worth the watch.
3) Extant (2014-2015)
Extant’s sci-fi narrative instantly grabbed its small audience, as Halle Berry played Molly Woods, an astronaut who returns to Earth inexplicably pregnant after a 13-month solo mission in outer space, despite being infertile beforehand. Meanwhile, Molly’s robotics engineer husband, John, creates them a prototype android son, Ethan (Pierce Gagnon), exploring a biology vs. technology narrative. This put focus on the family drama rather than the overtly sci-fi elements, with Berry, Goran Visnjic, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan in season 2 delivering strong performances. Despite telling a thrilling story, Extant failed to gain a widespread audience, leading to its cancellation.
2) Katla (2021)
The most recent instalment on this list, Netflix’s Katla used psychological drama and mystery themes to explore its dark science-fiction elements. The series uses the eruption of the Katla volcano as a foundation to explore grief, trauma, loss, and identity, which becomes prevalent when deceased people from the past begin to return to the Icelandic town of Vik, covered in ash. Katla stands out for its stunning visuals and cinematography of the Icelandic landscape while dealing with mature themes, complex and thought-provoking sci-fi – especially through its exploration of changeling legends – and its psychological depth. It’ll have a real impact on you.
1) The OA (2016-2019)
Ever since The OA’s cancellation in 2019, the mystery series’ small fan-base has been incredibly vocal about trying to get creators and frequent collaborators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij to continue the story. The OA was planned for at least five seasons, but only two released before Netflix cancelled the show, leaving the story of dimensional travelers OA, Hap, Steve Winchell, Homer, and more open-ended and unfinished. The OA is a beautiful and tender series that explores themes of connection, found family, and dimensional travel through a unique narrative viewpoint. There has been speculation that The OA could soon be revived, which is very exciting for the show’s small audience.
Which underrated sci-fi TV shows are your favorite? Do you want to see any of these series return? Let us know in the comments!
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Image courtesy of Focus Features.
