There are several incredible underappreciated sci-fi shows never get the recognition they deserve. Although some long-running sci-fi shows like Doctor Who have been panned in recent years for poorly written seasons, many sci-fi shows with five seasons or more retain a consistent standard.
Though there are many incredible sci-fi movies set to release in 2025, sometimes a sci-fi TV show with plenty of episodes is exactly what a viewer needs. It is rare to find a series that truly has no bad seasons, remaining of a certain quality all the way through. With so many quality seasons to keep one busy, shows like the original Quantum Leap and Stargate SG-1 are sure to satisfy anyone looking for a weekend TV binge.
10 Warehouse 13 (2009-2014)
This Show Was A Mix Of The X-Files And Indiana Jones
Warehouse 13
- Release Date
- 2009 - 2014-00-00
- Network
- SyFy
- Directors
- Chris Fisher
Cast
Joanne Kelly
WHERE TO WATCH
When Secret Service agents Myka Bering and Pete Lattimer are reassigned to Warehouse 13 in rural South Dakota, they find themselves part of a team of agents tasked with tracking down and recovering supernatural artifacts, to be stored in the warehouse.
- Writers
- Jane Espenson
- Seasons
- 5
- Streaming Service(s)
- Peacock
Often overlooked compared to other sci-fi series, Warehouse 13 was a show that revolved around a team of secret agents and the supernatural artifacts they were tasked with collecting every week. These artifacts would then be stored in the eponymous Warehouse 13, a warehouse that, much like Doctor Who's TARDIS, seems bigger on the inside. Throughout the series, fictional historical events are referenced, adding more and more lore to the show's universe.
Even to this day, Warehouse 13 holds the title for Syfy's third-largest premiere, only trailing behind Stargate Atlantis and Eureka. The best part is that the series only continues to improve the longer it goes on, adding more and more drama and context to the overarching plot of collecting these artifacts for storage. The series itself holds an amazing 87% with fans on Rotten Tomatoes, and even earned an Emmy nomination for Best Original Main Title Theme Music.
9 Orphan Black (2013-2017)
This Mysterious Sci-fi Thriller Achieved Critical Acclaim
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Orphan Black
- Release Date
- 2013 - 2017-00-00
- Showrunner
- Graeme Manson
- Directors
- David Frazee
WHERE TO WATCH
When streetwise hustler Sarah Manning witnesses the suicide of a woman who appears to be her doppelganger, she assumes the woman's identity to investigate. Soon Sarah discovers that she is one of many clones created by illegal experimentation, and someone is after her and her "sisters."
- Writers
- Graeme Manson
- Seasons
- 5
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
Orphan Black begins with an immediate hook, depicting British con-artist Sarah Manning as she witnesses the death of someone who appears to be her complete doppelgänger. The show soon reveals that this woman was not a chance doppelgänger at all, but was in fact one of many clones. This series' conspiracy runs deep, with its expertly crafted five seasons addressing the mystery of how these clones all came to be.
- Birthdate
- September 22, 1985
- Birthplace
- Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Height
- 5 feet 4 inches
Out of each of its seasons, the lowest score that Orphan Black receives on Rotten Tomatoes is an astounding 83% with every other season sitting over 90%. The series has both been nominated for and won many awards, and the fact that it was not nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 65th and 66th Primetime Emmy Awards is considered by many to be unfortunate despite Tatiana Maslany winning the award in later seasons. Orphan Black has since been made into an entire franchise, including a spin-off series titled Orphan Black: Echoes.
8 Quantum Leap (1989-1993)
The Original Series Was One Of Television's Best
Starring Scott Bakula in his most famous role to date, Quantum Leap is the story of a scientist who, using the power of technology, is able to "leap" into the bodies of different people across time to correct the timeline. The series expertly blends humor and drama, with the question of whether or not Bakula's character Dr. Sam Beckett will make it back to the present remaining up in the air. The unique take on time travel is interesting enough, tied together neatly with incredible writing and great special effects for the time.
A revival of Quantum Leap was released in 2022 on NBC starring Raymond Lee, running for two seasons and ending in 2024.
The show ran for five seasons and had 97 episodes in total. It has won several Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards, many of which went to Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell for their cinematography and acting. TV Guide considers Quantum Leap one of the Top Cult Shows Ever, cementing it as one of history's greatest sci-fi shows.
7 Eureka (2006-2012)
This Science Fiction Comedy Has A Lot Of Charm
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In the fictional town of Eureka, Oregon, sheriff Jack Carter is an ordinary guy in a town full of geniuses. Whenever there's a technological accident or a science experiment gone wrong, Sheriff Carter and the town's scientists step in to solve the mystery and save the day.
- Directors
- Colin Ferguson
- Writers
- Andrew Cosby
- Seasons
- 5
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
Considered one of the best sci-fi shows on Amazon Prime, Eureka is a science-fiction comedy series set in the fictional town of Eureka, Oregon. Eureka is hidden away from the outside world, mostly because the town is filled with geniuses who all work for the same company. This series is full of comedy and fictional technological breakthroughs, and though each episode seems mostly contained, there are overarching plotlines throughout each season.
Holding the record for the highest-rated series premiere in Syfy Channel history, needless to say there are a lot of positives about Eureka. The show was praised for its quirkiness and critical thinking, and was both nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and honored by the Independent Investigations Group. Eureka also shares a fictional universe with the series Warehouse 13, with the two series having several crossover episodes and cameo appearances between them.
6 Fringe (2008-2013)
J. J. Abrams Creates Another Sci-fi Marvel
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This sci-fi procedural follows the FBI's secretive Fringe Division and its agents Olivia Dunham, Walter Bishop, and Peter Bishop. Together, they investigate cases regarding strange events that threaten society, including cases of parallel universes, human experimentation, and other strange phenomena.
- Writers
- Roberto Orci, J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman
- Seasons
- 5
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
J. J. Abrams is best known for films such as Armageddon, Cloverfield, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, he also created the series Fringe for Fox. The series follows the FBI's Fringe Division, a task force that focuses on cases related to "fringe science," which often includes topics such as transhumanism and parallel universes.
Several comic books taking place in the Fringe universe have been written and published by DC Comics.
The series is another with a big viewership and a cult following, with many likening it to iconic shows such as The X-Files. Although it did not win any Emmy Awards it was nominated for several, winning at different awards shows such as the Saturn Awards. Fringe set the bar for many of the science fiction shows that would come after, marrying its weekly premise with serialized drama.
5 The Expanse (2015-2022)
Amazon Prime's Sci-fi Darling Started On The Syfy Channel
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The Expanse
- Release Date
- 2015 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- SyFy
- Showrunner
- Naren Shankar, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Cast
Dominique Tipper
WHERE TO WATCH
The Expanse is a sci-fi series set in the distant future where humanity has spread out across the solar system, but the alliances between the three most potent governing bodies have reached a state of the cold war. In the series, a mixed crew finds themselves at the center of a dangerous intergalactic conspiracy that threatens to bring war to the colonized worlds.
- Writers
- Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
- Franchise(s)
- The Expanse
- Seasons
- 6
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
Originally based on a series of novels, The Expanse is a tense science fiction series that takes place hundreds of years in the future. The solar system has been colonized by humanity and the United Nations has become militaristic. As the story of The Expanse unfolds, more is learned about Mars and its role in the greater galaxy, as well as the cast of characters sent to investigate the conspiracy at the planet's core.
The Expanse only improves as the series goes on, eventually being dropped by the Syfy channel and picked up by Amazon Prime. Several of the series' seasons have 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason. The series is notable for its commendable writing and complex character arcs, constantly giving viewers something new with every episode.
4 Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)
This Long-Running Series Was A Response To The Film's Success
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Stargate SG-1
- Release Date
- 1997 - 2007-00-00
- Network
- Showtime
- Showrunner
- Brad Wright
Cast
-
Richard Dean Anderson
Michael Shanks
WHERE TO WATCH
Stargate SG-1 is a sci-fi adventure television series spin-off set in the Stargate Universe, initially created by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. Set roughly a year after the film's events; the story takes place after it becomes known that the Stargate technology allows those who use it to travel across different planets. With several teams dispatched to perform recon and defend the Earth from potential extraterrestrial threats, the series follows the titular team SG-1 of the U.S. Air Force as they face several alien threats.
- Directors
- Peter DeLuise
- Writers
- Brad Wright
- Franchise(s)
- Stargate
- Seasons
- 10
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Creator(s)
- Jonathan Glassner, Brad Wright
Acting as a sequel to the 1994 film Stargate, Stargate SG-1 takes place a year later with the creation of a special operations team meant to investigate the Stargate network. Because it follows the entire network, Stargate SG-1 explores even further than the planet featured in the original film, but still pulls inspiration from various mythologies. This series eventually grew to be so popular that, similarly to Star Trek, it spawned various sequel series such as Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe.
10 Most Shocking Twists In Stargate's Shows, Ranked
Throughout the franchise's long history, the three live-action Stargate TV shows have had some jaw-dropping plot twists, from deaths to major reveals.
Stargate SG-1 is considered one of the best Syfy Channel original series and is widely considered a staple of the genre. It was nominated for seven different Emmy Awards during its decade-long run, but despite being praised for everything from its visual effects to music composition, it did not win. The show is an incredible look into the science fiction genre, examining morality through the lense of these new alien worlds.
3 Futurama (1999-present)
Futurama Has Been Canceled And Revived Several Times
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Futurama
- Release Date
- March 28, 1999
- Network
- Comedy Central
- Showrunner
- Matt Groening
Cast
Katey Sagal
Billy West
WHERE TO WATCH
Futurama follows the exploits of Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy from 1999 who is cryogenically frozen for 1000 years. Waking up in the year 3000, Fry befriends a cyclops named Leela and a roguish robot named Bender, and the three find employment with Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery service. Their work takes them to all corners of the universe, exploring space and the future as imagined by Matt Groening and the creators of The Simpsons.
- Directors
- Matt Groening
- Writers
- Matt Groening
- Seasons
- 9
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
Despite being a campy comedy series in the same style as adult shows such as The Simpsons, Futurama has garnered an especially loving fan base due to its interesting storylines and willingness to address harsh topics. Following the character of Philip J. Fry, a man from the year 2000 who wakes up from being cryogenically preserved in the year 2999, Futurama, for the most part, sees different stories with every episode. Wacky and absurdist to its core, the show also often parodies other popular media.
Although it has been canceled and brought back by several different platforms, with its most recent home being on Hulu, Futurama remains fresh with each season despite its decades-long run. Many of its seasons have 100% review scores, with viewers citing its endearing comedy and witty satire as reasons to watch the show. It is still running today, with season 12 being the series' most recent.
2 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
This Iconic Series Continues What The Original Started
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Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Release Date
- 1987 - 1994-00-00
- Network
- Syndication
- Showrunner
- Gene Roddenberry
Cast
Jean-Luc Picard
Commander William T. Riker
WHERE TO WATCH
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
- Directors
- Cliff Bole, Les Landau, Winrich Kolbe, Rob Bowman, Robert Scheerer, LeVar Burton
- Writers
- René Echevarria, Maurice Hurley, Richard Manning, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Tracy Tormé, Hannah Louise Shearer, Stuart Charno, Ira Steven Behr, Sara B. Cooper, Peter Allan Fields, Herbert Wright, Frank Abatemarco, Burton Armus, Hilary Bader, Morgan Gendel, David Kemper, Michael I. Wagner, Philip LaZebnik, Robert McCullough, Susan Sackett, Nick Sagan, Fred Bronson, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Sam Rolfe
- Franchise(s)
- Star Trek
- Seasons
- 7
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
- Where To Watch
- Paramount Plus
In the grand scheme of things, the Star Trek: The Original Series is relatively short in comparison to the series that would come later, with only 3 seasons and 79 episodes. Star Trek: The Next Generation, however, is much longer, spanning 7 seasons with an impressive 178 episodes between them. Much like the series that came before, Star Trek: The Next Generation has a different story with each episode, following the USS Enterprise on its journey to explore the galaxy.
- Birthdate
- July 13, 1940
- Birthplace
- Mirfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
- Notable Projects
- Star Trek: Picard
- Height
- 5 feet 10 inches
During its initial release, new episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation had viewers numbering in the millions, often overtaking massive shows such as Wheel of Fortune and Cheers in views. The series won a phenomenal 18 Emmy Awards, going on to become the only syndicated TV show to be nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Dramatic Series. It has won Hugo Awards, Peabody Awards, and this series' success is the reason why there are so many other Star Trek series today.
1 The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
This Anthology Series Popularized The Format And Became One Of The Best
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The Twilight Zone
- Release Date
- 1959 - 1964
- Network
- CBS
- Showrunner
- Rod Serling
Cast
-
Rod SerlingSelf - Host
-
Robert McCordWaiter
WHERE TO WATCH
The Twilight Zone is an anthology series that debuted in 1959, featuring a collection of standalone episodes encoming drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and horror. Known for its macabre or unexpected twists, each story is distinct, exploring various speculative themes and human experiences.
- Directors
- John Brahm, Buzz Kulik, Douglas Heyes, Lamont Johnson, Richard L. Bare, James Sheldon, Richard Donner, Don Medford, Montgomery Pittman, Abner Biberman, Alan Crosland, Jr., Alvin Ganzer, Elliot Silverstein, Jack Smight, Joseph M. Newman, Ted Post, William Claxton, Jus Addiss, Mitchell Leisen, Perry Lafferty, Robert Florey, Robert Parrish, Ron Winston, Stuart Rosenberg
- Writers
- Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson, Earl Hamner, Jr., George Clayton Johnson, Jerry Sohl, Henry Slesar, Martin Goldsmith, Anthony Wilson, Bernard C. Schoenfeld, Bill Idelson, E. Jack Neuman, Jerome Bixby, Jerry McNeely, John Collier, John Furia, Jr., John Tomerlin, Lucille Fletcher, Ray Bradbury, Reginald Rose, Sam Rolfe, Adele T. Strassfield
- Seasons
- 5
- Streaming Service(s)
- Paramount Plus
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Creator(s)
- Rod Serling
Known as an anthology series that covers all sorts of genres from science fiction to fantasy and horror, The Twilight Zone originally aired all the way back in 1959. It has since been rebooted several times, with its latest release being as recent as 2020. The series has since released a film, audio dramas, and even a theme park attraction.
The show's creator, Rod Sterling, was well-known for his criticism of the television medium and the censorship found within, and The Twilight Zone often came into direct conflict with this censorship.
The Twilight Zone is one of the best sci-fi series of all time, notable for pushing the boundaries of television at the time. The show's creator, Rod Sterling, was well-known for his criticism of the television medium and the censorship found within, and The Twilight Zone often came into direct conflict with this censorship. It paved the way for the science fiction series that would follow, bravely tackling subjects of the time, including nuclear war and McCarthyism, rather than sticking to the more whimsical stories that were popular during this period.
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