This year has seen a slew of standout sci-fi shows released, with 2021's best science fiction TV comprised of both new and returning options to delight genre aficionados. 2021 has been a jam-packed year for sci-fi television, even by modern standards, with a large number of projects that were delayed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic finally seeing release in a congested schedule. Long-awaited series such as the animated Star Wars spinoff MCU offshoot The Falcon and the Winter Soldier shook off their respective COVID-19 setbacks and debuted to critical acclaim, with many other 2021 sci-fi TV titles similarly proving well worth the wait for audiences.
In addition to these well-established IPs receiving new canon series, 2021 oversaw a host of sci-fi adaptations to come to the fore. Netflix's The Silent Sea is a prime example here, with Choi Hang-Yong's sci-fi mystery drama a direct continuation of his short film of the same name. 2021 was also a big year for novel-to-screen translations, with Isaac Asimov's Apple TV+ and HBO Max original shows, respectively.
While it cannot be said there was any shortage of content for sci-fi fans in 2021, there remain several science fiction television titles that are simply a cut above the rest. While the top sci-fi television of 2021 is primarily dominated by serious, expansive narratives, shows such as Syfy's extraterrestrial comedy Resident Alien also prove there is still an appetite for the zanier side of science fiction. Here's an exploration of the best five sci-fi TV shows of 2021, with each series ranked.
#5 - Invasion
Apple TV+'s flagship sci-fi drama certainly continues to divide opinion, with some critics remaining unconvinced by Easter egg-laden Invasion may well be something of an acquired taste, but it remains a dazzling homage to sci-fi genre classics and a bold slice of original streaming content from 2021.
#4 - Resident Alien
It is perhaps unsurprising that Syfy's Resident Alien has become an instant cult classic given its core premise, which sees an alien sent to wipe out humanity wrestle with his mission as he becomes more attached to the people around him. Alan Tudyk is an inspired choice as the titular, conflicted alien of the series, with his singular comedic skills very much at home alongside a glut of genuinely hilarious alien gags. Yet, perhaps the best feather in Resident Alien's considerable cap is that it dares to be lighthearted in contrast with the vast majority of 2021's gritty, dystopian sci-fi offerings, with Resident Alien proving a breath of fresh air for the genre as a result. Resident Alien's story undoubtedly rests upon the highest of stakes (Earth's survival), yet it is the human notes hit as the eponymous resident alien tries to assimilate within society that makes the Syfy series an unmissable piece of television.
#3 - Arcane
Netflix's Invincible. A blend of fantasy, steampunk, and sci-fi elements conspire to make Arcane a unique spectacle that rivals not only the highest echelons of other videogame adaptations but also some of the very best that science fiction TV has to offer full-stop.
#2 - Foundation
While 2021 saw Denis Villeneuve's Star Wars trilogy.
#1 - Loki
The best sci-fi TV series of 2021 is one few saw coming, with the Owen Wilson's Agent Mobius, further plays into the sense that Loki is very much the antihero of its own Marvel universe. In this way, the best science fiction TV entry of 2021 is a series worthy of being a standalone entity despite the familiar presence of the MCU looming over it, confirming that Loki is an unmissable and unique proposition within the sci-fi genre to date.