Sci-fi television has, for many decades, been one of the medium’s most prolific and popular genres. There has always been something irresistible about these grand tales of space exploration, stunning technological advancements, and alien visitors of varying degrees of friendliness; and when watched episodically on the small screen, arguably even more so.
The 2020s have produced some exceptional and highly acclaimed sci-fi shows, from Andor to The Last of Us, but they have also produced some criminally underrated works. From comedies to sci-fi horror, from space operas to action dramas, and well beyond all that, the 2020s’ most underappreciated sci-fi series prove that the genre never runs out of steam, even if the gems it puts out don’t always receive as much love as they deserve.
10
‘Supacell’ (2024–)
Created by Rapman
The superhero drama Supacell is one of the most underrated shows that Netflix has made during the last five years, and it’s not even all that close. With an admirable 100% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s proof that superhero fatigue isn’t real. When done right, the genre can still be as fun and compelling as ever.
It’s not just Supacell‘s fresh approach to both the sci-fi and superhero genres that makes it so special, though. The series also deserves praise for its complex social commentary, its exceptional character writing, and its smart plotting. There aren’t nearly enough movies or TV shows dealing specifically with the Black superpowered experience out there, and Supacell fills that void perfectly.
Supacell
- Release Date
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June 27, 2024
- Directors
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Sebastian Thiel, Rapman
9
‘From’ (2022–)
Created by John Griffin
Psychological horror is a fascinating enough genre of television by itself; and, when mixed with sci-fi, even more so. For proof, one needn’t look any further than From. Executive-produced by the Russo brothers, it definitely has two seasons that are considerably stronger than the third, but one thing remains true: This is one of the most intriguing mysteries currently on television.
Creepy, edgy, and occasionally quite gory, From is reminiscent of shows like Lost in all the best ways. The cast, Hardold Perrineau especially, is fantastic; and the production values, from the cinematography to the music, are of the highest quality. From is genuinely anxiety-inducing, and for people who enjoy that kind of thing, it’s a must-watch.
From
- Release Date
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February 20, 2022
- Network
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Epix, MGM+
8
‘Night Sky’ (2022)
Created by Holden Miller
One of the most underrated sci-fi shows in recent memory, Night Sky is bolstered by a fantastic pair of lead performances by J.K. Simmons and Sissy Spacek. Tender, moving, and occasionally thought-provoking, it’s one of the best sci-fi shows that Prime Video has ever made, and its cancellation after just one season was a real tragedy.
Night Sky‘s soft yet ambitious exploration of themes related to growing older and life as a whole is fascinating, and it provides the perfect backdrop for a story that’s certainly slow-burning, but worth every bit of patience as well. It’s charming, it’s sympathetic, and it’s an absolute delight to see two legends of Simmons and Spacek’s stature do their thing side by side.
Night Sky
- Release Date
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2022 – 2021
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Juan Jose Campanella
- Directors
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Juan Jose Campanella
7
‘Raised by Wolves’ (2020–2022)
Created by Aaron Guzikowski
There are plenty of exceptional and tragically underrated shows not available to stream. For an unfortunately long amount of time, HBO Max’s Raised by Wolves, which was canceled after two seasons, was one such show. With its arrival on Tubi, which is sure to be cherished by fans, it’s about as good a time as any for people who haven’t seen this masterful sci-fi gem to finally check it out.
Hugely imaginative and intelligent, it’s the kind of show that stimulates the mind like few others are able to. It’s not just the clever themes, though; Raised by Wolves has some enthralling storylines, some fascinating characters, and a brilliant use of genre tropes. Unfortunately, its untimely cancellation never allowed it to fully find its voice, but it’s still worth checking out.
6
‘The Peripheral’ (2022)
Created by Scott B. Smith
Loosely based on William Gibson‘s 2014 novel and executive-produced by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, The Peripheral is yet another exceptional Prime Video show that was tragically canceled after only one season. The narrative is hugely compelling, and even though the tone and scope don’t fully click together (an issue that tends to be visible in big sci-fi series’ first seasons), it’s quite likely that the show would have grown into something far more special if it had been given the time.
Although most people probably haven’t seen 2022’s The Peripheral, it’s nevertheless a hugely entertaining work of art with some really smart writing, some gorgeous visuals, and a memorable lead performance by Chloë Grace Moretz. It may not be perfect, but it’s thoroughly engaging and full of potential. Even if that potential never came into full fruition, it’s still worth watching from beginning to end.
The Peripheral
- Release Date
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2022 – 2021
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Scott B. Smith
- Directors
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Jonathan Nolan
5
‘Tales from the Loop’ (2020)
Created by Nathaniel Halpern
Amazon has a knack for cancelling excellent sci-fi shows after only one season. If anyone needs further proof, there’s also Tales from the Loop, a dystopian drama based on an art book by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag. It can’t be easy to transform static art into moving pictures, but the people behind this incredible show did so nearly flawlessly.
Warm, visually incredible, and fully understanding of the sci-fi tropes that serve as its foundation, Tales from the Loop is beautifully nostalgic, carefully meditative, and technically stunning. Its intriguing premise feels full of potential that could never be fully tapped, but even then, the one season that does exist is some of the best 2020s sci-fi one can find streaming today.
Tales from the Loop
- Release Date
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2020 – 2020
- Network
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Prime Video
- Directors
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Andrew Stanton, Dearbhla Walsh, Jodie Foster, So Yong Kim, Charlie McDowell, Ti West
4
‘Devs’ (2020)
Created by Alex Garland
Best known for his screenwriting work—and more recently, for his direction as well—Alex Garland has also worked on the small screen before. More particularly, he created and wrote Devs, a masterwork of the genre that fans of the likes of Ex Machina should make sure to check out at least once in their lives.
Devs is one of the best 8-episode miniseries out there, thanks to the incredible cast, the haunting themes, and Garland’s exceptional eye for sci-fi excellence. It’s hugely ambitious and a bit slow, but for those accustomed to slower-burning sci-fi, it’s a massively rewarding experience. Smart, atmospheric, and absolutely mesmerizing through and through.
3
‘Alice in Borderland’ (2020–)
Created by Haro Aso
Yet another underappreciated Netflix show, Alice in Borderland is a Japanese thriller based on the manga of the same name by the show’s creator himself, Haro Aso. It’s full of shocks, twists, and nail-biting sequences, and has been compared to other similar media in the survival genre, from Japan’s Battle Royale to Canada’s Cube.
This modern cult classic makes perfect use of graphic violence to bolster a gripping story that’s as binge-worthy as it is full of heart. It’s super well written, packed with compelling characters, and surprisingly emotionally stirring from time to time. Though it’s not often praised as one of the decade’s best science fiction shows so far, it absolutely deserves it.
2
‘Foundation’ (2021–)
Created by Josh Friedman and David S. Goyer
Few authors have been as seminal and hugely influential in the realm of science fiction as Isaac Asimov, writer of the Foundation series of stories. It was always going to be a titanic task to adapt such an iconic narrative for the screen, but the team behind Apple TV+’s adaptation of the same title (easily one of the streaming service’s best shows) did a phenomenal job.
Even then, it still feels like Foundation is grossly underappreciated. One of the best sci-fi shows of the decade so far, it has been praised for its jaw-dropping high-budget visuals, its amazing cast, its sense of scope and scale, and its unforgettable music. It definitely gets a bit too grandiose for its own sake sometimes; but, for the most part, it’s a show that fully meets all of its ambitions. For fans of the genre, it’s obligatory viewing.
Foundation
- Release Date
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September 23, 2021
- Network
-
Apple TV+
1
‘Resident Alien’ (2021–)
Created by Chris Sheridan
Considering that it isn’t nearly as prolific (and also not nearly as often praised), it’s deliciously funny that the sci-fi comedy subgenre is the one that provided what’s arguably the most underrated sci-fi show of the 2020s so far. Resident Alien is a real hidden gem of 2020s television, and it deserves to get a lot more love than it typically gets nowadays.
Alan Tudyk has proved on several occasions that he can craft one of the most memorable and fun secondary characters of any sci-fi show or film, but this was his first true leading role, and he has so far knocked it out of the park. He’s a fantastic anchor for this fresh dramedy that so easily functions as a comfort show for sci-fi fans, and which develops characters more fully fleshed-out than what one’s used to seeing in sci-fi comedies. It’s definitely one of the most underrated series of the 2020s as a whole.
