You’re Not a Real Sci-Fi Fan If You Haven’t Watched These 10 Shows

Sci-fi is no longer just about laser beams and spaceships. It is about bending time, questioning reality, and occasionally, watching robots develop consciousness. Over the years, the genre has evolved from campy alien invasions to extremely philosophical explorations of what it means to be human. And while big names like Stranger Things, Black Mirror, and The Mandalorian are beloved by fans and non-fans, there is a whole universe of sci-fi shows out there achieving the same level of brilliance.

As a genre, sci-fi has always been about ideas. They ask one “what if?” and then build entire storylines and worlds around the answer. Especially now that we’re so obsessed with AI and multiverses, sci-fi shows are starting to mirror our collective fears and anxieties. And yet, some truly amazing shows just fly under the radar.

If you consider yourself a real sci-fi fan and not someone who keeps up with the trend by watching the latest space opera, chances are you have watched the 10 shows on this list.

10

‘Tales From the Loop’ (2020)

In the quiet town of Mercer, Ohio, strange things happen, but not in the explosive way most sci-fi shows lean into. Instead, Tales from the Loop tells a series of melancholic short stories, each centered around the mysterious underground facility known as the Loop. This lab was built to explore the boundaries of physics, but it’s begun to warp reality for the people of the town above.

Sci-Fi That’s Hauntingly Atmospheric

With each episode, viewers meet new characters and witness how their lives are altered by the Loop’s experiments, and often in ways that feel like metaphors. Tales From The Loop is not your typical sci-fi binge, but a contemplative and artful experience. Directed with cinematic precision by Philip Glass, it’s not obscure, but it’s definitely not mainstream either. Rebecca Hall and Jonathan Pryce anchor the cast and the show only spans one season, but it demonstrates the genre’s capacity for beauty.

9

‘Odyssey 5’ (2002)

Odyssey 5 begins with the explosion of Earth. There is no buildup or warning. Just five astronauts watching their planet implode from orbit. But instead of dying, they’re rescued by a mysterious alien entity called the Seeker, who sends them five years into the past to prevent the catastrophic event. As they race against time and navigate conspiracies, each crew member also confronts their old lives with new knowledge.

Time Travel With Tension

Short-lived but gripping, this one combines time travel, mystery, and character-driven drama to captivating effect. With its massive stakes and the added emotional angle of the astronauts’ personal struggles, it offers a unique setup for the exploration of moral dilemmas. The writing is sharp, the pacing is relentless, and the plot twists are rich. Odyssey 5 was canceled before getting a proper ending, but if you’ve seen it, then you’re part of a rare club of sci-fi fans.

8

‘The Middleman’ (2008)

Based on the Viper Comics series created by Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine, The Middleman follows Wendy Watson, your average struggling artist who gets recruited by a mysterious organization to battle supernatural problems involving monsters, demonic puppets, and zombies. Her mentor, The Middleman, is a clean-cut, retro superhero who fights evil with a smile and a strong moral compass.

Fresh and Unpredictable

Delightfully offbeat and highly underappreciated by all except real sci-fi fans, this gem brings to the screen comic book absurdity and sci-fi satire. Each episode presents a new bizarre crisis that feels like it was pulled straight from a pulp magazine. Natalie Morales and Matt Keeslar bring interesting chemistry to their duo and the show is packed with references only true genre fans will catch.

7

‘Now and Again’ (1999)

Michael Wiseman is a middle-aged insurance executive with a loving family and a very average life. But it all changes when he’s killed in a subway accident and wakes up in a genetically engineered superhero body. Apparently, the U.S. government has created the perfect physical specimen for espionage, but they couldn’t crack the brain part, so they transplant Michael’s into their prototype. Now he’s a secret agent with super strength, but he’s allowed to contact his wife and daughter.

Sci-Fi With Soul and Suspense

Now and Again is one of those rare gems that infuses a touch of dark comedy into its sci-fi premise and even dives into the ethical and emotional challenges of technological advancement. It stars Eric Close and Dennis Haysbert, who elevate the compelling and elegant premise with their nuanced and dramatic performances.

6

‘Humans’ (2015 – 2018)

Inspired by the Swedish sci-fi drama Real Humans, this one takes place in a parallel present where highly advanced humanoid robots known as “Synths” have become an integrated part of life. They act as help designed to mimic humans in appearance and behavior. But in reality, a handful of Synths are becoming sentient. The Hawkins family buys a Synth named Anita, unaware of the fact that she’s one of the conscious Synths.

Artificial Intelligence and Humanity

One of the most socially reflective sci-fi shows, Humans boasts an outstanding cast led by Gemma Chan, Colin Morgan, and Emily Berrington. It explores AI ethics, class divides, and social implications with perfection. It spans three seasons, across which it evolves consistently. The beautiful acting and thought-provoking plot points are incredible too. Forget Black Mirror and Westworld, if you’ve watched Humans, you’re a real sci-fi fan.

5

‘Fringe’ (2008 – 2013)

Created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci for Fox, Fringe appears to be a standard FBI procedural on the surface, but it spirals into topics of fringe science and alternate realities. At the center of the story is Agent Olivia Dunham, who teams up with an eccentric genius named Walter Bishop and his estranged son, Peter, and together, they investigate a series of bizarre events linked to a mysterious pattern.

Layered Storytelling and Speculative Science

From teleportation and genetic mutations to time loops and parallel universes, there is nothing Fringe doesn’t touch on. As the series unfolds, there’s also a revelation about a powerful biotech company and a group of bald men known as the Observers. Which is to say that Fringe is a five-season rollercoaster that starts as a monster-of-the-week format and gradually evolves into a serialized saga using unforgettable high-concept science.

4

‘The Peripheral’ (2022)

In a not-so-distant future, Flynne Fisher is a gamer living in rural America. She stumbles into a simulation that turns out to be a portal to a dystopian London seventy years in the future. When the game becomes a deadly reality for her, Flynn is pulled into a web of secrets, quantum manipulation, and time-twisting warfare.

Sci-Fi Thriller That Bridges Past and Future

The Peripheral, adapted from the acclaimed novel by William Gibson, explores two timelines, and they’re both connected by a mysterious technology that allows consciousness to travel between worlds. It is sleek, cerebral, and visually stunning. The show’s direction (from Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy) paired with Chloë Grace Moretz’s lead performance makes it a true sci-fi feast.

3

‘Lost in Space’ (2018 – 2021)

Lost in Space reimagines the 1965 series of the same name. Set in 2046, it follows the Robinson family. They’re selected to colonize a distant planet after Earth becomes uninhabitable. But their journey on the Resolute spacecraft is derailed by an alien attack and they crash-land on a mysterious planet, forced to navigate hostile terrain, alien creatures, and family dysfunction.

Family Drama Set in Space

This Netflix reboot is a visual treat for real sci-fi fans. The high production value and a story that balances heart and adventure work really well because it becomes both a space exploration show and a survival drama. It stars Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins, and Molly Parker. Told across three seasons, Lost in Space is a must-watch for anyone who loves space-bound sci-fi.

2

‘Devs’ (2020)

Devs takes you into the heart of Silicon Valley and introduces you to Lily Chan, a software engineer at a quantum computing company known as Amaya. The organization has a secret division known as Devs, and when her boyfriend mysteriously dies after joining the Devs team, Lily decides to investigate. What she uncovers is a conspiracy that touches on free will and determinism, as well as the nature of reality itself.

Existential Dread But Make It Stunning

You’re not a real sci-fi fan if you haven’t watched Devs. Cerebral and mesmerizing, it douses you in its thematically rich narrative that challenges a lot of conventional notions. It is created by Ex Machina and Annihilation’s Alex Garland and anchored by the haunting performances of Sonoya Mizuno and Nick Offerman. It’s only eight episodes long, but it packs a lifetime’s worth of questions, proving its sci-fi at its most introspective.

1

‘Resident Alien’ (2021 – 2025)

In Resident Alien, an extraterrestrial crash-lands in Patience, Colorado, with a simple mission: to destroy humanity. But after assuming the identity of a local doctor (by murdering him, no less), things get complicated. The show follows Harry Vanderspeigle (or rather, the alien pretending to be him) as he fumbles through small-town life, learns human emotions, and begins to question the orders given to him.

A Quirky Sci-Fi Comedy

Alan Tudyk’s performance as the fish-out-of-water alien is the beating heart of this awkward and hilarious series. It blends sci-fi with small-town drama, never taking itself too seriously but still delivering emotional punches when needed. Spanning four seasons, Resident Alien builds a quirky ensemble of characters, like the local kid who can see Harry in his true form. Elements like shapeshifting, memory wipes, and genocidal threats add to the intrigue.

Resident Alien

Release Date

January 27, 2021

Network

USA Network, SyFy

Showrunner

Chris Sheridan

Writers

Nastaran Dibai, Sarah Beckett, Jenna Lamia, Christian Taylor, Emily Eslami, Donald Todd, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Njeri Brown, Aaron Wiener, Biniam Bizuneh

• Sara Tomko

  Asta Twelvetrees

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