Science fiction is a broad spectrum of material that can include everything from aliens and robots to alternate worlds and time travel. In many ways, it’s just fantasy with some technical mumbo-jumbo that attempts to ground the world in reality rather than magic. Sometimes, sci-fi gets really technical by using real-world science, but no matter how you slice it, there’s still something fantastical about the end result. Perhaps that’s why we love binging sci-fi television shows, as it helps us further immerse ourselves in that world.
While many sci-fi shows are memorable from the very start, some just get better with age. Looking beyond some of the dated special effects and terminology, the very best science fiction television continues to hit home years, even decades, later. This is the case with these sci-fi TV shows that we’ve put together — shows that you’ll be pleasantly surprised are even more fun with every rewatch.
‘Fringe’ (2008–2013)
There was perhaps no sci-fi drama more bold and creative to come out of the early 2000s than Fringe. What began as a simple sci-fi-flavored procedural where the FBI would investigate a pattern full of fringe-science-related cases quickly grew into a series that dealt with everything from parallel worlds, time travel, robotic shape-shifters, and a post-apocalyptic future. During its five seasons, the familiar faces at Fringe Division never led us astray.
Co-created by J. J. Abrams, Fringe was often ahead of its time regarding the pseudo-scientific conversations it was having, dealing in parallel universes and timelines long before the multiverse became mainstream. Not only does the show become more relevant and compelling with every watch, but the relationship between Olivia (Anna Torv) and Peter (Joshua Jackson) — as well as Walter’s (John Noble) overall development — becomes so much clearer in hindsight. Plus, it’s just a great show.
‘Warehouse 13’ (2009–2014)
For science fiction that isn’t afraid to lean into the campy nature of the genre, Warehouse 13 is one of the best. A SyFy original that exists in the same shared universe as Alphas and Eureka, the series primarily follows two U.S. Secret Service agents as they join the title warehouse in finding mythical artifacts that start making trouble around the globe. While this one does teeter the line between sci-fi and fantasy, it’s a fun show that definitely gets better with age.
Over five seasons, Warehouse 13 leans more into humor and levity as Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) are thrown into each zany new case. In many ways, this show gets better each rewatch simply because it’s a comfort show. Its intent isn’t to bend your mind or push you to near-insanity trying to figure it all ou, it’s simply fun, sci-fi entertainment that pulls you into a fascinating world full of lovable characters.
‘Stargate Atlantis’ (2004–2009)
The first spin-off of the larger Stargate television franchise, Stargate Atlantis sends the members of the Atlantis expedition to the neighboring Pegasus Galaxy to explore new worlds. Based in the famed “Lost City” itself, the Atlantis crew makes quick enemies with the Wraith, an ancient race of vampiric aliens who drain the life from those in their path. As they seek to free the galaxy from their terror, Major John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and the rest of the team find themselves in heaps of trouble.
Stargate Atlantis is another sci-fi wonder that lasted five seasons on SyFy, continually dazzling viewers with its creative new ways to put the Atlantis crew in peril. Of course, as you continue to revisit the series, you’ll fall more in love with its charming cast and unique take on the Stargate brand. You’ll especially have fun revisiting one of Jason Mamoa’s first notable television roles, long before he would return to another version of Atlantis in Aquaman.
‘Falling Skies’ (2011–2015)
For fans who watched Falling Skies every summer when it aired in the early 2010s, you’ll remember that this TNT drama was a blast from the beginning. Produced by Steven Spielberg and starring Noah Wyle as history professor-turned-militia leader Tom Mason, the show followed a group of Boston-based rebels who stand against a horde of alien invaders who took over the planet six months prior. Even better, plotlines often mirrored American (and later world) history, albeit with an extraterrestrial bent.
For five seasons, the folks in the 2nd Mass battled the invading Espheni in hopes of restoring their old world. Falling Skies is one that you may not have returned to in a while, but you won’t regret it if you do. The show diligently unveils the truth about the alien invaders in question as the characters themselves are forced to shed their old ways to adapt to this new interstellar world. By the time the series ends, you’ll be so amped up that you may just want to binge it again.
‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987–1994)
The first live-action continuation of the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: The Next Generation has often been hailed as one of the greatest science fiction shows ever made. Set a century after the original with a new crew, the USS Enterprise sets sail again for the stars, as creator Gene Roddenberry successfully reinvented the brand. The Next Generation ran an impressive seven seasons, even sparking film continuation sequels and revival projects like Picard decades later.
Like many Star Trek installments, The Next Generation also benefits from a rewatch. Each time we reunite with the Enterprise crew, we are delighted by Captain Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) more intellectual approach to the brand’s space adventures, effectively turning the series into something more of a “thinking man’s sci-fi drama.” For longtime fans, revisiting the best episodes of The Next Generation is like reuniting with an old friend, and those reunions only become more enjoyable with every new binge.
‘Stargate SG-1’ (1997–2007)
After the success of the original Stargate feature film, Stargate SG-1 continued the narrative with a new cast on television. The Showtime-turned-Syfy adventure series created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner pushed the Stargate crew back together to explore new worlds and keep the villainous Goa’uld from making their way to Earth. While the plot developed beyond that over time, that thread would stick with the series throughout its impressive 10-season run.
Stargate SG-1 was the flagship Stargate series that reinvented the franchise into a television staple throughout the early 2000s. Each new binge of SG-1 reminds us of how good we had it at the time. While a new Stargate series is in development, nothing quite beats the original, which even produced two direct-to-video continuation films that effectively concluded the franchise.
‘Continuum’ (2012–2015)
Many of the shows on our list have dealt exclusively with alien invaders or case-by-case adventures, but when it comes to time travel, few shows are more compelling than Continuum. Not only does the show offer us a look at a dystopian future where corporations control all aspects of life, but it’s also a mind-bending time travel drama that features complex characters and an enjoyable weekly caseload. For four seasons, Continuum continued to surprise us, and it’s still at the top of its game.
Set primarily in 2012 Vancouver, the show follows 2077 police officer Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols) as she travels to the past to pursue a terrorist organization called Liber8. The only problem is, over time, Kiera begins to understand the group’s cause, even if she disapproves of their methods. The tensions between corporatism and an overreliance on technology are at the heart of this show, making it more relevant today than ever.
‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)
Billed as a “space Western,” Firefly was the brainchild of Joss Whedon, who aimed to view the future through a distinct lens that blended cultures and pushed its outlaw heroes into further paths of rebellion. As the crew of the Serenity soar among the stars, they soon find themselves in the middle of uncharted waters when they pick up some mysterious passengers who put them on Alliance radar. With Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) — easily the best of this wild bunch — to guide them, the crew takes odd jobs all across the ‘verse.
Only lasting a total of 14 episodes, Firefly is a quick-and-easy binge, but one that will leave you wanting more. The series was cancelled long before its time, but each new watch reminds us of the potential that this cast and crew had to create something truly great. The cult following it garnered is enough proof that the short-lived Fox series succeeded, as is the continuation film Serenity.
‘The X-Files’ (1993–2018)
The original “spooky cop show,” The X-Files is the perfect blend of science fiction and network television. As FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate the weird and unexplained, they fall into a conspiracy so large it spans not just the globe but the stars as well. What began as an alien-heavy series about abductions, UFOs, and government cover-ups soon turned into a pop culture phenomenon.
After nine original seasons and two feature films, The X-Files spawned two revival seasons in the 2010s. Around that time, many binged the series through once more, only to be reminded that there has never been another TV duo like Mulder and Scully. With over 200 episodes to choose from, binging The X-Files is no small feat, but once you do, you’ll be reminded of how novel this Chris Carter-created series was from the get-go.
‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)
Perhaps the most groundbreaking installment in televised science fiction, Battlestar Galactica took a long-dead franchise and, under the direction of Ronald D. Moore, revived a brand by stripping it of all the camp and making it more adult. After humanity is nearly wiped out by a race of cybernetic Cylons, the remaining survivors search for the mythical homeworld of Earth. With the Galactica leading the fleet, this high-octane, politically charged drama is considered among the best of its kind for a reason.
Kickstarting with a two-part miniseries, SyFy launched Battlestar Galactica in 2004, resulting in a four-season space epic that remains unmatched. Even if it’s been a while since you watched it, the very first episode will suck you back in with force, and you’ll be glad it did. And, with several prequels and mid-series films also available, you can make it last even longer.
