Streaming Sci Fi TV: Tracking down sci fi and fantasy shows of interest available on the streaming services.
Joss Whedon may have become persona non grata in Hollywood due to accusations of toxic behavior on set, but the fact is that he is responsible for some of the greatest sci fi and fantasy shows of all time. And if you happen to want to check those out, or revisit them if you have not watched them in a while, three of his genre entries are available on Hulu: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly. That Disney-owned service actually has quite a lot of sci fi and fantasy shows available for streaming, and plans start for as little as $9.99 per month with a free trial period. Following is the rundown on the Whedon shows available there:
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (7 Seasons Totalling 144 Episodes): Buffy Summers discovers that she is one in a long line of Slayers tasked with fighting vampires and other supernatural beings. With the help of the “Scooby Gang”, she defends her town which sits on the opening to Hellmouth–the gateway to the demon realms. This is Joss Whedon’s first and longest-running television series and many still consider it his best.
Angel (5 Seasons Totalling 110 Episodes): This spin-off from Buffy follows a vampire known as Angel whose human soul has been restored. He turns away from his vampiric ways and tries to use his powers to help others. This continuation of Whedon’s first series lasted five years and is considered by many to be a near equal to Buffy.
Firefly (1 Season Totalling 14 Episodes): In this space western, a group of former rebels and outlaws try to survive aboard the “Firefly” class ship Serenity by living on the fringes of colonized space and attempting to steer clear of the tyrannical Alliance forces. The quick cancellation of this show was a huge injustice and truncated what could have been the next great sci fi franchise (more on that at this link). But it is definitely worth your time to watch the fourteen episodes produced. This one is also available to watch for free (with ads) on The CW’s website and app.
Bonus:
Dollhouse (2 Seasons Totaling 26 Episodes): The Rossum Corporation offers for hire people known as “dolls” who can be programmed with temporary personalities. However, one of the dolls starts to become self-aware and starts to seek answers on the truth of her origins. This is one of the lesser-known Whedon shows, but it has its moments and it is a pretty quick watch at 26 episodes (which concludes with a series finale of sorts). This one is streaming for free (with ads) on The CW’s website and app.
Keep up with the status updates of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Cancellation Watch posts. And be sure to follow us on social media for breaking news and updates: Twitter | Facebook | Mastodon | Blue Sky.
Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.
