Particularly in recent years, there has been a boom in science fiction television, with numerous exciting and imaginative projects being produced. However, sci-fi is by no means a new sensation. Since pretty much the birth of television, it has been one of the most popular genres with general audiences, allowing them to immerse their imaginations in richly constructed alternate universes where anything is possible.

While the genre has always been popular, there's such a vast number and large variety of new sci-fi shows coming out every year that many outstanding series end up going unrecognized. Whether it's a very classic-style epic like Foundation, or even a subversive comedy like Resident Alien, there are plenty of underrated sci-fi shows that deserve a lot more recognition than they usually get.

20 'Fringe' (2008 - 2013)

Created by J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe follows FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), scientist Walter Bishop (John Noble), and his son Peter (Joshua Jackson) as they investigate and try to rationalize mysterious and unexplained phenomena known as "the fringe." The series has some of the best seasons of television that have been aired in recent times, and never fails to be exciting even for those who aren't typically into the genre. For those who enjoy other underrated shows like Haven about solving ominous mysteries, Fringe is a perfect fit.

Fringe is action-packed, thrilling, and full of surprising turns, making up for its occasionally shaky storytelling. There is something for everyone because Fringe covers many scientific ideas including time travel, telepathy, parallel universes, and genetic engineering while blending procedural crime drama and science fiction components. The program, created by famous filmmaker J.J. Abrams, is said to be the ideal fusion of Lost and Alias (both also Abrams shows), offering fans of both programs a wonderful new alternative.

19 'The 4400' (2004 - 2007)

Created by René Echevarria and Scott Peters

Great new sci-fi TV shows are coming out all the time, but there's nothing quite like a good old 2000s classic. The 4400 is one of those tragic sci-fi TV shows that were canceled too soon. In it, as the reappearance of 4,400 missing persons on a single day confuses the global community, federal agents on the case slowly discover that the victims have been changed in dramatic ways. There are plenty of good stories about alien abductions, but not enough about the abductees being returned to Earth. The 4400 fills that void.

The 4400 became popular thanks to its innovative premise and ability to seamlessly weave creative sci-fi tropes into the deeply emotional aspects of the story. It delves into themes like identity and power, all set against the suspenseful backdrop of a Homeland Security investigation of a murder. The show was unfortunately canceled after four seasons, but it has since become a cult classic with a loyal following.

18 'Night Sky' (2022)

Created by Holden Miller

Night Sky, one of the best new space TV series, follows Irene (Sissy Spacek) and Franklin York (J. K. Simmons), an elderly couple in the Midwest who uncover a device that can teleport them to a chamber with a view of a strange, desolate alien planet. It's based on the quantum physics principle of quantum entanglement, which states that two particles are connected and affect each other even if they're light years away from each other.

Night Sky is a show that seamlessly switches between investigative drama, science fiction horror, and emotionally evocative life reflection. Though it was nuanced and had compelling characters and a smartly executed concept, making it one of the most underrated TV shows on Prime Video, Night Sky was unfortunately canceled after its first season due to low viewership. Nevertheless, its short run was enough to earn it a fair number of fans.

17 'Lexx' (1996 - 2002)

Created by Jeffrey Hirschfield, Paul Donovan, and Lex Gigeroff

The Canadian show Lexx started out as four made-for-TV movies, transforming into a traditional series after its success. Sexy, funny, and proud of its own weirdness, it's a cult classic about a group of disparate fugitives from an interplanetary tyranny, who find themselves in control of a massively powerful starship. What follows is one of the campiest pieces of media that fans of the genre will ever be able to find.

Its characters are fun, its plotlines are gripping, and its sense of adventure is exhilarating. Even when the show is busy being a self-aware romp full of innuendos and delightfully comedic premises, it always finds the time to pack in some surprisingly deep and even philosophical themes. It's one of the genre's most underappreciated classics.

Watch on Amazon Prime

16 'Lost in Space' (2018 - 2021)

Created by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless

The Netflix science fiction TV show called Lost in Space further proves that the streaming giant is a leading force in contemporary sci-fi television. The story follows the escapades of the Robinson family of space colonists whose ship deviates from its intended trajectory. The Swiss Family Robinson, a novel published in 1812, served as the basis for the original 1965 television series of the same name, which this modern rendition is based on.

Lost in Space is one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix, thanks to a lot of intriguing characters that are easy to like and easy to relate to, which draws viewers in and makes them feel close to the show. The familial bonds that the narrative focuses on, in addition to the visually attractive alien continent with a wrecked spaceship and deadly robots, are the secret to the show's popularity and the reason it is so appealing to viewers outside the most ardent sci-fi fans.

Watch on Netflix

15 'Raised by Wolves' (2020 - 2022)

Created by Aaron Guzikowski

Raised by Wolves centers on two androids called Father (Abubakar Salim) and Mother (Amanda Collin), who are assigned to care for human infants on planet Kepler-22b after a major battle decimated Earth. The androids then discover that regulating human beliefs is a perilous and challenging responsibility as the expanding colony of humans is threatened by religious divisions. Underrated sci-fi TV shows are aplenty, but they rarely get as fresh as this.

Raised by Wolves might be too bizarre for some viewers looking for a more grand sci-fi spectacle, but its visual marvel, mystery, and perpetual sense of danger are fascinating. Raised by Wolves is an intricate tale that's written with extraordinary imagination and flare, making remarks on topics like family, faith, and how artificial intelligence is taking over more and more aspects of human existence. Its cancellation after just two seasons is something that fans will never forgive.

Buy on Google Play

14 'The Peripheral' (2022)

Created by Scott B. Smith

Set in a bleak yet chillingly familiar future where technology has changed society, The Peripheral follows a VR gamer, Flynne Fisher (Chloë Grace Moretz) as she explores a connection to an alternate reality. Along the way, she discovers details about a grim future of her own. Based on a thrilling novel by William Gibson, it's a thought-provoking examination of how technology impacts human relations.

A slow-burn sci-fi series, The Peripheral manages to paint a terrifying future in the subtlest of ways, which makes for a unique viewing experience. With a powerful performance from Moretz in what's arguably one of her best roles, the show had viewers eagerly awaiting a second season that unfortunately never came, as the series was canceled to fans' dismay. Still, its run was so fresh and original that viewers are sure to relish the show forever.

13 'Tales from the Loop' (2020)

Created by Nathaniel Halpern

Tales from the Loop is a beautiful sci-fi drama TV show based on Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag's art book of the same name. The show focuses on the townspeople who live above "The Loop", a scientific research facility that leads them to an alternate reality in which things that are impossible become attainable, thanks to a machine built to explore the mysteries of the universe.

Fans of the Netflix program Stranger Things may find Tales from the Loop's premise familiar, however, this series takes a more adult and serious tone. Tales from the Loop is a terrific option for curious viewers looking for the thought-provoking questions that sci-fi can bring up, because it is told with tenderness and care and features magnificent landscape compositions from filmmakers like Jodie Foster and Andrew Stanton. It's one of the best dystopian TV shows of the past few years, perfect for fans of the genre.

Watch on Amazon Prime

12 'Torchwood' (2006 - 2011)

Created by Russell T. Davies

Every now and then, TV show spin-offs can work wonderfully. Even then, despite being one of the most iconic and longest-running sci-fi shows of all time, Doctor Who had never had a spin-off — Until 2006. Russell T. Davies, who oversaw Doctor Who's 2005 revival, made Torchwood one of the most criminally underrated sci-fi TV shows of the 21st century. A sexier, more violent, and overall more mature show than its predecessor, it's about Captain Jack Harkness and his fellow members of a secret alien-fighting organization, protecting Earth from supernatural threats.

Though Torchwood in its earlier episodes was sometimes too desperate to prove that it was more grown-up than its older brother, it eventually found its voice — And what a voice it is. The series gave fans some of the creepiest aliens in the franchise, some of its most memorable characters, and a few of its most impactful episodes and stories. Viewers don't need to be Doctor Who fans to enjoy this sci-fi thrill ride.

11 'The Expanse' (2015 - 2022)

Created by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby

Based on James S. A. Corey’s series of novels of the same name, The Expanse is set in the near future, at a time when humanity dominates the Solar System. The story follows a group of characters who find themselves at the center of a plot that puts the system's precarious Cold War at a boiling point, while coping with existential issues brought on by recently found technology.

The show has six seasons, and each one balances a number of distinct genres that make it always feel fresh, intriguing, and fascinating. Throughout its epic narrative, The Expanse never shied away from depicting the atrocities people may commit in the name of authority, discrimination, or corporate greed, which is why it’s so awe-inspiring and powerful.

Watch on Amazon Prime

10 'Devs' (2020)

Created by Alex Garland

Film directors occasionally dip their toes into television, and when they do, they can only hope that the result will be as outstanding as Devs. It's a sci-fi thriller miniseries created by Alex Garland that follows software developer Lily Chan (Sonoya Mizuno), who works for Forest’s (Nick Offerman) quantum computing business. Lily quickly becomes involved in her boyfriend's unexplained murder, which occurred on his first day at a new job at Devs.

Similar to Garland's previous work, the show is incredibly stylish, with lively music and dreamy visuals. Moreover, the murder mystery premise is accompanied by philosophical ideas that are so profound and esoteric that it may be challenging for many viewers to fully comprehend. Sci-fi fans should add the series to their watchlist since it brilliantly portrays the unsettling, almost religious influence of tech giants that appear to dominate every aspect of people's lives.

9 'Future Man' (2017 - 2020)

Created by Kyle Hunter, Howard Overman, and Ariel Shaffir

Future Man is a comedy sci-fi TV show that follows a janitor named Josh Futturman (Josh Hutcherson) who is underachieving at work, but can easily beat his favorite and undefeatable video game, Biotic Wars. Suddenly, the game's two main characters, Tiger (Eliza Coupe) and Wolf (Derek Wilson), suddenly arrive and ask Josh for help in defending the planet from the actual Biotic Wars.

Viewers may feel drawn into the narrative and transported back in time by the show's vibrant color scheme and retro design. What makes Future Man particularly captivating is the character-driven action, as opposed of the normal event-based tropes that viewers often see in shows like this, adding depth to the program and balancing the hilarious gags with some exquisite dramatic moments and character development.

Buy on Amazon

8 'Alice in Borderland' (2020 - 2022)

Created by Haro Aso

Alice in Borderland is a Japanese Netflix series about a group of friends led by an obsessed gamer who are suddenly transported to a strange emptied-out version of Tokyo in which they must play deadly games to survive. They're all given "visas" that accrue points, and any player who runs out is immediately disqualified and killed. They soon find that things are more sinister than they seem.

The show is addictive thanks to its intense action sequences, suspenseful story, incredible actors, complex world-building, and exploration of themes like friendship, survival, and power. An incredible and complex death game show, Alice in Borderland is consistently finding more and more inventive ways to explore the reality that the players are forced to deal with, and leaves viewers with more questions than answers (in the best way possible).

7 'Foundation' (2021 - )

Created by Josh Friedman and David S. Goyer

Based on the groundbreaking series of novels written by legendary sci-fi author Isaac Asimov, Foundation follows a complex saga of humans scattered all throughout the galaxy, living under the rule of the Galactic Empire. The galaxy's leading psycho-historian sets out to create the Foundation, an organization tasked with preserving knowledge and reconstructing civilization following the empire's downfall.

Even though Foundation sometimes suffers from some slight pacing issues, it nevertheless succeeds in updating a classic sci-fi series for a contemporary audience in a way that keeps it seeming current and exciting. Moreover, technology, clothing, artwork, and everything else in between are all part of the enormous world-building that is still undoubtedly among the best on any current show. With Foundation, Apple TV+ has proved that it has become the home of the smartest current sci-fi TV shows.

6 '12 Monkeys' (2015 - 2018)

Created by Travis Fickett and Terry Matalas

12 Monkeys is an underrated time travel sci-fi show that is partially based on the outstanding 1995 Terry Gilliam cult classic of the same name. The show follows James Cole (Aaron Stanford) and Dr. Cassandra Railly (Amanda Schull), two random strangers who are drawn together by fate on a quest to use time travel to thwart the evil schemes of the mysterious group called "Army of the 12 Monkeys."

12 Monkeys has a fairly surprising sense of humor for a program that is drenched in post-apocalyptic melancholy and regret. The show progresses so swiftly that if viewers are not paying enough attention, they may occasionally and easily miss certain important facts for the next segment. It's a provocative exploration of memories and their effect on civilization at large, arguably just as great as its source material.

5 'Humans' (2015 - 2018)

Created by Lars Lundström

Humans is an AMC sci-fi drama based on the Swedish science fiction show Real Humans. The show, one of the best about the topic of Artificial Intelligence, takes place in a parallel present where Synths, highly evolved robotic servants that eerily resemble humans, are the newest must-have device for any busy family. One struggling suburban family with a used Synth soon learns that its presence has terrifying, far-reaching effects.

Although the show's concept may not be novel in the sci-fi genre, Humans provides a more realistic and expansive view of what life would actually be like with A.I. living within society, with some terrifying and creative twists. Additionally, the show focuses on the more human-like side of the Synths as well as on its other characters, making it an interesting examination of humanity itself.

4 'Resident Alien' (2021 - )

Created by Chris Sheridan

Resident Alien is a dramedy TV show based on Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse's comic book of the same name, and it's definitely one of the best Syfy TV shows of the last few years. The show follows a crash-landed alien on a mission to wipe out humanity, who takes on the identity of small-town Colorado doctor Harry Vanderspeigel (Alan Tudyk). He struggles with the ethical conundrum of his mission when he is requested to do an autopsy on the town's doctor, who died under mysterious circumstances.

For sci-fi fans who can readily set aside the show's lack of realism in favor of a good sci-fi laugh and an engaging plot, Resident Alien is a terrific choice. The showrunners execute the fun story with amazing sincerity and insight into themes like regret and what it feels like to be an outsider. They make clever use of typical tropes of the genre without being cynical and without constantly winking at the audience for a cheap laugh. There aren't many shows like Resident Alien, which is easily one of the most charming sci-fi series of all time.

Watch on Peacock

3 'Counterpart' (2017 - 2019)

Created by Justin Marks

Counterpart is a sci-fi thriller that follows a man named Howard Silk (J.K. Simmons), a hapless United Nations employee. Howard is forced into a shadowy world of intrigue and betrayal when he learns that the agency he works for is hiding a portal to a parallel dimension that's at war with our own. The only person Howard can rely on is his nearly identical counterpart from this parallel world.

Through an original concept that's nothing short of fascinating, Counterpart explores what makes each individual unique. Additionally, the show is elevated to a new level of complexity and excitement thanks to Simmons' incredible performance, which is the anchor that holds what's surely one of the best thriller TV shows together.

Buy on Amazon

2 'For All Mankind' (2019 - )

Created by Ronald D. Moore, Ben Nedivi, and Matt Wolpert

For All Mankind is set in an alternate 1969, where the Soviet Union successfully places men on the Moon before the United States, shocking the entire world. With that setback, NASA now faces a brand-new obstacle in the space race that they weren't prepared for. The rivalry that defined the Cold War is now more intense than ever, with a greater desire to advance, and more resources available.

A perfect watch for those who enjoy stories about the space race, For All Mankind poses all kinds of challenging questions without being patronizing, and doesn't back down on showing the worst impulses of 20th-century America. Additionally, the program has mastered the art of combining a compelling narrative with extremely high stakes with much smaller, more relatable personal plotlines. As fans recover from its fourth season ending, one can only wonder what the writers will do next.

Watch on Apple TV+

1 'Farscape' (1999 - 2003)

Created by Rockne S. O'Bannon

When it comes to sci-fi television, it hardly gets more underrated than Farscape. This thrilling Australian-American show is about an astronaut from Earth who, after being thrown into a distant part of the universe, finds himself part of a fugitive alien starship's crew. Wearing all its classic influences out on its sleeve with pride, it's an absolute delight for all those who consider themselves fans of the genre.

Thanks to lavish visuals (including makeup and prosthetics courtesy of The Jim Henson Company), compelling characters, and storylines that never failed to be exciting, Farscape is easily one of the best sci-fi shows ever. Though it was originally planned to run for five seasons, it was abruptly canceled after its fourth, causing the series to end on a cliffhanger that will always sting fans. Even in spite of this tragedy, though, its loyal following has only grown since it premiered a quarter of a century ago.

Watch on Tubi

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