Many hate it, but few understand how it actually works. In actuality, all Rotten Tomatoes does is aggregate reviews from certified critics, give them a binary positive or negative value, and then calculate the percentage of “fresh” reviews that a movie or show received. The critics don’t always get it right, though. Over the years, there have been plenty of science fiction shows with rather mid Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer scores that audiences nevertheless loved and love to rewatch.
Whether it’s an underrated classic or a modern cult classic, these shows are proof that a mediocre score from critics is no indication of audiences’ actual love for a show. These series have stood the test of time and are perhaps even deserving of more appreciation nowadays, which makes a rewatch long overdue. Critics’ role in the world of media is crucial and often tragically underappreciated; but it’s an undeniable fact that they don’t get everything right. These are the seven most re-watchable si-fi shows with Rotten Tomatoes scores under 80%, ranked from least to most rewatchable.
7
‘Planet of the Apes’ (1974)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 55%
It all started with Pierre Boulle‘s 1963 novel. Five years later, Planet of the Apes became one of the most surprising successes in the history of the sci-fi genre. Based on the film and its sequels, the television show of the same title is about two astronauts and a sympathetic chimp as fugitives in a future Earth dominated by a civilization of humanoid apes. Due to low viewership, it was canceled after only half a season, and only thirteen of its fourteen episodes originally aired. This, in combination with the several unfilmed episodes (two of them written by The Twilight Zone‘s Rod Serling), has been perfect for the series to grow a cult following.All in all, it’s one of the most underrated sci-fi shows of the era, a nostalgic epic that all those who love the B-picture qualities of the original’s sequels are bound to find tons of things to enjoy in. It’s no masterpiece, but there are enough high-quality production values, solid performances, and compelling social critiques here that the series’ untimely cancellation can reasonably be called a tragedy. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes definitely got this one wrong.
6
‘Night Sky’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%
Starring the legendary Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons as a couple who possess a chamber leading to another planet, Night Sky is one of many Prime Video sci-fi shows that are criminally underrated. Canceled after only one season due to low viewership, it was only mildly liked by most critics, who praised Spacek and Simmons but argued that this particular story would have perhaps been better suited as a feature film rather than a show.
Fans disagreed, though. They found Night Sky to be a surprisingly effective and emotionally powerful slow-burner, with some tremendously rich world-building and, of course, a pair of powerhouse lead performances by these two icons. They loved the character-driven nature of the story and praised the many interesting themes and top-notch production qualities, lamenting that Amazon decided to give up on a series that had such clear potential. Even still, Night Sky remains worthy of a rewatch.
5
‘Almost Human’ (2013–2014)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69%
Those whose favorite part of The Boys is constantly being surprised by the astonishing quality of Karl Urban‘s acting really ought to check out Almost Human, one of the actor’s most underrated shows. The story is set in a not-so-distant future, and follows a human cop and an android partner who team up to serve and protect. This is easily one of the best sci-fi shows you’ve probably never heard of, with an AI-centric story that probably feels more timely today than it did back in 2013.
Critics, however, weren’t Almost Human‘s biggest fans, calling the story and premise by-the-numbers and saying that the show lacked some humor. Audiences, on the other hand, have been lamenting the series’ cancellation for over a decade. They love the performances and the solemn scripts, and though they admit that the show still had a long way to go to become a truly top-tier sci-fi thriller, the fact of the matter is that very few shows achieve that feat in their very first season. Almost Human deserved more time to find its voice, but even in its current single-season state, it’s still a ton of fun and highly rewatchable.
4
‘The Peripheral’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
Loosely based on William Gibson‘s 2014 book of the same title, The Peripheral is yet another underrated Prime Video show that deserved a longer time to figure out its creative footing. Starring an incredible Chloë Grace Moretz and executive-produced by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, it’s a dystopian sci-fi thriller about a woman who discovers a secret connection to an alternate reality, as well as a dark future of her own.
The Peripheral just barely missed out on receiving the approval of 80% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes. They offered praise for its production values and the way the writing treats its audience’s intelligence with respect, but criticized the overabundance of undercooked ideas and the slow pacing. Fans were all about The Peripheral, though, offering tons of love to its originality and its exciting narrative. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled with a cliffhanger ending, but it nevertheless remains one of the most rewatchable sci-fi series of the 2020s.
3
‘The Orville’ (2017–2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
As a bit of a cult celebrity himself, every show that Seth MacFarlane has ever spearheaded is guaranteed to have a cult following. The Orville is no exception. It’s not really a spoof of Star Trek, but rather a genuine homage with a voice all of its own. Created by MacFarlane, it’s a comedy following the crew of the U.S.S. Orville as they continue their mission of exploration, navigating both the mysteries of the universe and the complexities of their own interpersonal relationships.Though the show definitely got better as it went on, with both its second and third seasons having a 100% Tomatometer score, its first season only received the approval of 31% of critics, amounting to a total Tomatometer score for the show of 77%. Fans would argue that the whole thing deserved a significantly higher rating, including the first season. Where some critics saw shallow camp and empty homages, fans saw a love letter to the genre of sci-fi. Today, The Orville is remembered as one of the best sci-fi comedy shows of its era, and its delightful imagination and hilarious sense of humor both make it highly rewatchable.
2
‘V’ (1983)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 58%
It all started with the two-part 1983 miniseries V, about a group of aliens trying to gain control of Earth. From there, V became one of the best and most iconic sci-fi franchises in the history of television—but it’s often hard to beat the original, and this is no exception. About a seemingly peaceful alien race that arrives on Earth with a much darker secret agenda, this immediately became one of the greatest sci-fi cult classics of the small screen, telling a powerful parable about fascism that’s unfortunately aged like fine wine.It’s an absolute travesty that this seminal work of televisual sci-fi holds only a 58% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The juxtaposition with the 87% audience score speaks for itself. Where critics were put off by the show’s exploration of themes of totalitarianism, audiences fell in love with the thematic depth, exceptionally fun sci-fi elements, and terrific character writing that V had to offer. The court of public opinion matters most in the long run, and V‘s legacy is so strong that it’s pretty much self-explanatory.
1
‘Star Trek: Voyager’ (1995–2001)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
There are very few sci-fi franchises, whether on television or cinema, more iconic or beloved than the Star Trek franchise. This seminal multimedia giant has had plenty of great shows, but not all of them receive the love they deserve. Case in point: Star Trek: Voyager, which is not only one of the most underrated Star Trek properties, but also one of the most underrated sci-fi TV series of all time. It’s one of the best sci-fi shows of the ’90s, set seventy-five years away at maximum warp speed from the Federation, following the crew of the Starfleet starship Voyager as they try to forge a truce with a group of rebels in order to find a way home.Commissioned after the cancellation of The Next Generation to accompany Deep Space Nine, Voyager had, in Kate Mulgrew‘s Captain Janeway, both the first female protagonist of a Star Trek property and one of the best captains in the whole franchise. Unprecedented gender balance is by no means the only strength this show has going for it, though. Critics sometimes called the series dull and bizarre, but today, fans look back at Voyager as criminally underrated, praising its highly creative storylines and world-building, as well as its excellent character roster.
Star Trek: Voyager
- Network
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UPN
- Showrunner
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Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor, Brannon Braga, Kenneth Biller
