20 Classic Sci

Jul 02, 2023

Discover the timeless allure of classic sci-fi shows that have aged beautifully—journey through iconic worlds with these unforgettable classics.

Sci-fi has to be one of the best genres in fiction. It's the realm where futurists get to dream of better worlds beyond the stars. Some of the best shows depict places that humanity has yet to reach and are explored by deeply emphatic characters while making contact with new alien species. Others explore human nature in dystopic settings after the fall of civilization in a world where everyone must fend for themselves.

The great thing about Sci-fi is how malleable it can be. Hollywood creatives can use these fictional elements to explore current real-world issues. They also are a door to examine supernatural elements. Many of these shows were praised as the peak of their respective genres when they came out. Almost all of them left a mark that makes them timeless. The following is a ranking of the best classic Sci-fi shows that have aged like fine wine.

Kids in the '80s were swept away by V (also nicknamed V: Extraterrestrial Invasion in some regions), as the captivating sci-fi series created by Kenneth Johnson broke every rule in the book at the time. The show's plot revolves around the ongoing mystery behind the Visitors, a reptilian alien species with dark intentions for humanity. The show had stirring visuals, as the Visitors usually fed on living creatures and wore synthetic skin to hide their original reptilian forms. The cast includes working actors from the 80s, such as Marc Singer, Faye Grant, and Jane Badler.

In a classic case of Sci-fi property becoming too niche, V was very popular after the first two miniseries, with the full-fledged show going into production soon after. The solid writing and gripping themes regarding politics were fascinating, although audiences seemed more interested in the action. Unfortunately, by episode 19, NBC gave up on the property. While they didn't kill it instantly, the network seriously reduced its budget.

After making a hit out of a nuclear family in Springfield, Matt Groening went to the far-flung future to give us his take on the future with Futurama. This animated gem featured the exceptional voice talents of Billy West, Katey Sagal, and John DiMaggio, chronicling the adventures of Fry, Leela, Bender, and many more in the 31st century. Made out of the same wood as the early Simpsons, the show acted as a social critique of present-day practices and their potential impact in the future.

The show was smart and charming, it had everything The Simpsons had lost after ten years, but it never quite lived up to the expectations of Fox Network. The groundbreaking nature of the show touched on many subjects related to the political land field in America, as well as the dangers of nostalgia attachments. The first run lasted five seasons, with Comedy Central reviving the show for two more seasons in 2009.

MTV revolutionized animation by producing the first offerings aimed at an adult audience. Æon Flux, created by Peter Chung, was part of the first outing for Liquid Television, an experimental TV slot to capture young adult audiences. Denise Poirier brilliantly voices Aeon Flux. The story is an avant-garde journey through a dystopian future, with visual perks exploring multiple themes related to social taboos, sexuality, and drug consumption. The show challenged the boundaries of storytelling and animation with hauntingly beautiful aesthetics.

The visionary approach to the show uses non-linear narratives and deep philosophical exploration to understand the different POVs depicted in the show. Æon Flux only had a run of three seasons and 21 episodes, but it was enough to leave a mark in the minds of many people who still regard it as a beloved cult classic. Æon Flux is cherished by its fan base for being artistically bold and having challenging storytelling.

James Cameron's TV debut was strong enough to be remembered to this day. Dark Angel is a futuristic drama about the adventures of Max Guevara, a genetically enhanced super soldier escaping an underground military facility. Most of the plot takes place in a gritty post-apocalyptic Seattle, where Max must battle corruption and oppression. This show launched Jessica Alba's career and included a great cast of working actors such as Michael Weatherly, Alimi Ballard, Richard Gunn, and John Savage.

Dark Angel was a reasonably competent blend of action, suspense, and cyberpunk flair, creating a thrilling and visually stunning experience. The show was set to run for three seasons, each exploring a single storyline to be resolved in the show's final season. Audiences grew uninterested by the end of the second season, leading to the show's cancellation. It wouldn't go down without the rabid fanbase asking for the story's conclusion, which was delivered in a series of Novels and a videogame.

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What do you get when you combine one of the lead creators of The X-Files with the ever-creepy Lance Henriksen? You get Millennium. This show had a great premise as we followed the story of former FBI forensic profiler Frank Black. At some point in his life, Frank worked for the Millennium Foundation, a mysterious organization that functions as the recurring menace behind most of the events in the show. Frank does not dive into the fight unarmed, as he seems to have the unique ability to see the world through the eyes of serial killers, murderers, and other criminals.

Millennium built a loyal fanbase based on grappling, atmospheric storytelling, and thought-provoking exploration of the human mind. These combined elements offer numerous stories of crime, horror, and the supernatural, immersing us in a web of suspense and intrigue. The show lasted three seasons with a total of 67 episodes. After being canceled in a cliffhanger, Fox allowed showrunner Chris Carter to finish Frank's story in The X-Files.

SeaQuest DSV is one of those shows that works as a cautionary tale about the future. Created by Rockne S. O'Bannon, the story explores the ocean's depths after humanity exhausts all natural resources, save for the ones hidden in the ocean. The sole mission of the high-tech submarine is to ensure humanity's survival by exploring the mysteries of the deep ocean. The crew of the SeaQuest is led by the charismatic Roy Scheider, along with working talents such as Jonathan Brandis and Don Franklin.

SeaQuest DSV explores a side of the future that is ugly and inevitable in many ways. The show is filled with themes related to environmentalism, the abusive nature of humanity, and our eventual dismissal as the dominant species on account of our greed. The show would explore further science fiction in the following seasons, with the cast being rotated and exchanged for new crew members to account for the passing of time. Ultimately SeaQuest DSV feels like Star Trek in the ocean, which is suitable and grounded for people who like more realistic settings.

The Twilight Zone broke the mold of every TV production by the year 1959. Rod Serling created the show as an anthology series with different protagonists for each episode. Each story explored the bizarre nature of humanity or extraordinary tales of fantasy. We get to see multiple famous faces here. Both established players in Hollywood and newcomers, such as Burgess Meredith and William Shatner.

The show achieved its iconic status for being captivating with each new episode. The blend of mystery, suspense, and social commentary made it a hit lasting for five seasons with 156 episodes. Sterling chose the anthology format and sci-fi to comment on all the social issues he wanted to explore after being subjected to heavy censorship in a film he wanted to make about the lynching of Emmett Till. His legacy went unchallenged, and many scholars have explored his message to this day.

Quantum Leap is one of the greatest classics of the 80s; the show was created by Donald P. Bellisario and starred the brilliant duo of Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. The story explores the dimensional travels of Dr. Sam Beckett as he leaps from one person to another after a botched experiment send him on a dimensional journey. He must right wrongs or, later, the course of the lives of the people he encounters. The show offered a unique blend of drama, humor, and heartfelt moments, especially when Beckett takes over a historical figure.

Bakula gained prominence as the lead, the time-traveling Sam, paired with Stockwell's screen-stealing portrayal of Al. The show lasted for five seasons and 97 episodes. Quantum Leap was hard proof that Bakula had good range, as he had to act as the people he was impersonating. Although we see him most of the time, we are continually reminded people see him as someone else. Some of the most notable stances had him playing a mentally challenged individual and a black man during segregation. It's one of the best sci-fi shows out there and still holds up well.

Andromeda has the great distinction of being the second show created using multiple annotations by Gene Roddenberry and approved by the Roddenberry estate. Developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, the showrunner used the ideas of the visionary author to create a brand new space opera with the talented Kevin Sorbo in the lead. The thrilling series takes us on a journey through the cosmos with Captain Dylan Hunt and a diverse crew navigating the complexities of a post-apocalyptic universe.

Andromeda is a show with all of Roddenberry's trademarks: action, adventure, and thought-provoking themes associated with social issues. The visual aspect it's not dated at all, as the show had decent production values. The story takes us through all the occurrences that led to the fall of the Systems Commonwealth and how Andromeda plays a role in getting humanity back from the shadows after being subjected to submission for thousands of years.

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No series encloses so profoundly the meaning of space opera, such as Legend of the Galactic Heroes, created by Yoshiki Tanaka. The extensive lore of this Anime was too big to be contained by a single network. The show was produced and sold exclusively as VHS sets in its native Japan from 1988 to 1993 and would later be reprinted in DVD format. The main story is focused on the ongoing war between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance, a 500-year conflict between two government systems looking to outplay each other on the battlefield and in politics.

The grand epic explored a large-scale journey plagued with political intrigue, warfare, the complexities of human nature, and many more nuances. The main leads in the show are military genius Reinhard von Lohengramm on the side of The Galactic Empire and strategist Yang Wen-li from the Free Planets Alliance Star Fleet. The work of Tanaka is solid, exceptionally paced, and with no fillers. The 110 episodes and three films cover all stories crafted by the author very faithfully.

3rd Rock from the Sun is the oddball offering from the bunch. This weirdly enjoyable sitcom mixes sci-fi elements with humor as an exploring mission of unnamed aliens are sent to Earth to study humanity. The crew deems it necessary to assume human forms to achieve their mission successfully. Created by Bonnie and Terry Turner, the stellar ensemble cast led featured John Lithgow along with the massive talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kristen Johnston, and French Stewart. This hilarious show takes a fresh and quirky approach to the space visitors' concept.

The eccentric extraterrestrials posing as humans are fascinated by the human experience. Their human hosts allow them to enjoy everything on Earth like humans do. The absurd situations see the aliens often being involved in the oddest situation, given their lack of understanding of human customs, especially those related to intimacy. Some of the funniest bits come from the group's ongoing communications with their off-world commander, The Big Giant Head, who is later revealed to be none other than William Shatner.

If there's one thing The Jim Henson Company knows how to do, it is aliens. They tested their mettle with the intergalactic adventure Farscape, created by Rockne S. O'Bannon. The show was a collaboration between the Nine Network and the SyFy Channel. It explores the adventures of a group of escapees running from a militaristic organization called the Peacekeepers. The team is rescued by a biomechanical ship named Moya, which also picks up an Earth astronaut called John Crichton.

Farscape managed to tell a complete story across four seasons and 88 episodes. The show took advantage of the usual trope of humans escaping an intergalactic force by having most cast members build unique relationships. The groundbreaking storytelling saw enemies turned into friends and the whole team coming together to fight the ongoing menace of the Peacekeepers while trying to get Crichton back home. There's a lot of soul-searching among the crew, and Moya usually offers excellent commentary on the challenges faced by the characters.

The X-Files was the smash hit of the '90s, created by Chris Carter; this juggernaut is the one that made the careers of the iconic duo of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. The show was deemed groundbreaking for mixing forensic research and supernatural elements. It perfectly blended mystery, science fiction, horror, and suspense. Fox Mulder was brilliant yet enigmatic and a fierce believer in the paranormal. Dana Scully, on the other hand, was skeptical and pragmatic, choosing to search for factual reasons for the events they experienced.

Not many shows have achieved what The X-Files accomplished. The series was the central pillar of Fox Television programming for nine full seasons and 202 episodes. Two major motion pictures were released under the brand, and the show was revived in 2016 for two more seasons rounding up the story and reuniting the original creative team back. The show is often viewed as the pinnacle of fiction by many and used to support one too many conspiracy theories about the existence of Aliens on our planet.

If you search for the term "cult classic" everywhere, you'll likely find an image of Firefly beside it. This short-lived space opera was created by Joss Whedon and lasted exactly for one season of 14 episodes. The talented cast was led by Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Summer Glau, Alan Tudyk, and Morena Baccarin. The story is, by definition, a space western that takes us on a thrilling adventure through the outskirts of a future galaxy. We follow the misadventures of the ragtag crew of the Serenity, a ship that has nearly the same charm as the Millennium Falcon.

The ongoing narrative of Firefly blends elements of science fiction, action, and mystery and wraps it up with tons of witty banter to create a unique experience. In the single season, we see the crew form great attachments as their mission is to protect a prodigy named River Tam from the corrupt force of the Alliance, who are looking to get their asset back after making transforming her into an empathic reader.

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Picking up right after Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is a show created by Josh Friedman, featuring Lena Headey's and Summer Glau's talents. It lasted two seasons and explored the further adventures of Sarah Connor, her son John and Cameron, a newly programmed Terminator sent back in time to protect the pair. The show's premise picks up the pace by letting us know that because Skynet failed with the T-1000, it will not stop until John Connor has been killed.

The show offered a compelling narrative full of spectacular action sequences and time travel narratives. It also explored the emotional toll it takes on John Connor to be the so-called savior of humanity. Summer Glau, as Cameron, offered a nuanced interpretation of the Terminator as the machine was more advanced than the T-800. Still, the learning process to blend with humanity was more complex since the machine was disguised as a teenage girl. The show's still a good watch and highly recommended.

Hard to think this show was kick-started with a prominent Hollywood feature directed by Roland Emerich and starring Kurt Russel. Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner created the show. After the feature film proved successful, the TV adaptation was quickly greenlit to capitalize on the popularity of the property. Stargate SG-1 premiered in 1997 and lasted ten seasons, with 212 episodes in the backlog and two additional films that went straight to video based on the show's events.

As expected, Stargate SG-1 goes beyond the film's events, with Richard Dean Anderson leading the cast as Jack O'Neill, alongside Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, and Christopher Judge. The show is famous for building its continuity based on multiple Egyptian, Greek, Norse, and Arthurian myths. The Stargate is a tool to explore the vast depths of the galaxy and encounter other cultures, such as the Goa'uld, the Replicators, and the Ori. The show explored multiple themes, such as military culture and the need for diplomacy to solve conflicts.

This wonderful space opera takes us on a thought-provoking journey to a universe on the brink of war, where humanity and alien species must coexist on a massive space station known as Babylon 5. The show is the magnum opus of J. Michael Straczynski. The writer is also known for building some of the best eras of Spider-Man comics as well as some of the most hated stories in that lore. The show is full of political intrigue and deep philosophical themes, interwoven with a meticulous world-building narrative a thoughtful character development.

The cast became beloved figures and working faces in similar properties. Mira Furlan, Peter Jurasik, and Claudia Christian offer some of their best performances for some of the most multifaceted characters ever put to screen. Straczynski is well known for being a great character arc planner, making Babylon 5 a staple of sci-fi television for its meticulous planning. The creator was committed to five seasons, 110 episodes, and six TV specials which he delivered as planned, making the property one of the best and most cohesive IPs in sci-fi TV.

Let's talk about significant upgrades for a moment. After Star Trek was revived as a successful film property, Paramount wasted no time getting the beloved IP back on television. The result was Star Trek: The Next Generation. Gene Roddenberry retook the lead as the showrunner for the new generation of Trek travelers with the ensemble cast led by Patrick Stewart. The show would take us to new lengths of exploration with the crew of the USS Enterprise-D to encounter strange new worlds, civilizations, and one too many moral dilemmas.

The supporting roles would go to beloved actors Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, and Marina Sirtis, among many others. The popularity of The Next Generation rode high, with the show lasting seven seasons and 178 episodes produced. Captain Picard would get the chance to meet with Captain Kirk in the film Star Trek: Generations, the seventh film in the series and the one that sent off William Shatner by killing him while trying to save Picard. The success of this show assured the longevity of the IP, with many of the characters coming back for one last round in the show Picard, currently streaming on Paramount+.

If someone says "space western" in the open, you'll likely think about Cowboy Bebop. Shinichiro Watanabe created this influential piece of media, and it's regarded as the show that single handily brought Anime as a valid form of storytelling for American audiences. It's also the first show to feature an impeccable dub work, one still regarded as the bar to top by many in the industry. We follow the adventures of the Bebop, a bounty hunter ship with a crew led by Spike Spiegel, voiced by Steve Blum, his right-hand man, and technician Jet Black, and the people who join them in their adventures, such as the tough-as-nails Faye Valentine; the weirdly behaved Ed. This unlikely gang embarks on a series of adventures while solving the issues of their pasts.

While the show is considered a cult classic for its compelling story and themes, it became a revered IP for the fantastic soundtrack composed and played by Yoko Kano with the band The Seatbelts. The soundtrack currently consists of 11 entries derived or inspired by the show. Cowboy Bebop is a story that has universal appeal. There's nothing like it, and it conveys many emotions in a single run of 26 episodes. The show explores human nature, depression, solitude, and the importance of learning to let go. It's an unforgettable experience that resonates with audiences 25 years after its release.

Not many properties can pull off a revival that elevates the IP to new heights. Some of the shows in this ranking have tried, and nearly all crashed and burned. That didn't happen with Battlestar Galactica. The original show was a Star Wars rip-off with a single season back in 1978. The revival show was developed by Ronald D. Moore, who took the basic layout of the original show to do his own thing. Battlestar Galactica premiered in 2004 as a miniseries and was a smash hit.

The robust cast includes revered stars, Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell. The show's gender-swamped and introduces multiple new characters to build a gripping drama that seamlessly blends political intrigue and existential questions. The Cylons were no longer single-minded robotic threats. The machines had evolved to disguise themselves as humans. The reimagined property became a genre benchmark that lasted for its planned four seasons and 76 episodes, and it's still regarded as the bar to overcome when it comes to revivals for legacy IPs.

Good entertainment makes you forget you're being entertained. Happy to be here to share my takes on cinema and TV shows with you.