I started this exercise several months back, looking at the shows that should be counted among the greatest of sci fi and fantasy TV. There are hundreds (thousands?) of genre entries that have hit the small screen since television networks began programming regularly in the late 1940s, and among those, there are some really really great shows (and some really really bad ones). So, I am working my way through the ones that should be considered among the best, presenting arguments for and against each one. Below is the list of the first twenty I have covered so far (click on the link to read the full article), and I plan to continue adding posts for more in the coming months (about one every week or so). The list is in alphabetical order, as I am not ranking these at this time. However, I will be putting up a poll in the near future so people can vote for the ones they believe are the best. Note that, to be included on the list, I generally prefer the show to have ended its run (I’ve made one exception so far for Futurama). That’s because some shows start strong and then derail badly (like Heroes), while others get off to a weak start and improve over time (like Fringe and Person of Interest). So, it’s best to consider the whole run of a show before deciding if it’s one of the all-time greats. Also, the twenty shows listed are not necessarily the top twenty; they are just the ones I have covered so far.
Feel free to comment below on the list so far and suggest other shows that should be included. And be sure to stay tuned to this link at CancelledSciFi.com for more entries in this series.
Babylon 5 (1993): J. Michael Straczynski’s signature series introduced the story arc to sci fi television in a big way, and it also broke new ground with its heavy reliance on CGI for special effects. While those sfx may not stand up compared to modern technology, this show made its mark and had plenty of influence on the genre, delivering memorable characters and an epic story that was allowed to reach its conclusion.
Battlestar: Galactica (2003): This reboot of the 1978 camp classic beat all the odds by taking a darker turn on its source material and delivering a show with many accomplishments. It offered plenty of drama and moral ambiguities while also getting in some good sci fi tales. It ran out of steam in its later seasons, and the finale is rather controversial, but the show still earned its place on this list.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997): This supernatural drama put Joss Whedon on the map and delivered a rather grown-up young adult show that pushed the boundaries of television at times. It had a stellar central cast and took many chances over its seven-year run, ultimately giving us one of the greatest fantasy shows on television.
Doctor Who (1963): This entry refers to the Classic series that aired on BBC from 1963 to 1987 (I will cover the revival later). It delivered plenty of cheesy sci fi, with some episodes very difficult for modern audiences to watch. However, it established a rich, expansive universe with an amazing set of characters in the Doctor and his companions. It also kept its sci fi (and sometimes fantasy) focus throughout its run, at a time when genre entries were not too popular on television, and it currently stands as the longest-running sci fi TV series worldwide.
The Expanse (2015): This adaptation of the book series by James S.A. Corey took many liberties with its source material, but it still managed to deliver an excellent series. It offered a more realistic approach to space travel and colonization while also delivering an interesting twist on first contact. It has raised the bar for genre television and currently stands as one of the best sci fi TV entries of the 21st century.
Farsape (1999): This Jim Henson Company entry took the Star Trek template of a group of people traveling through the cosmos on a starship and turned it on its head. These were not Starfleet officers seeking out bold new adventures; this was a group of refugees fleeing for their lives and constantly at each other’s throats. The show took plenty of twists and turns, and the quality dropped in later seasons, but it counts as one of the first prestige sci fi TV shows, and its influence is still felt today.
Firefly (2002): Another Joss Whedon entry, this one may have lasted only one season on television, but the story continues to this day. It was cut short by a network that didn’t understand what it had on its hands, but it continued through a movie, books, comics, and more. Though its small-screen run was brief, it was such a strong genre entry that it continues to attract new fans.
Futurama (1999): This animated sci fi comedy has had a storied existence on television, surviving two cancellations thus far. However, it has delivered plenty of funny moments with its genre satire and social commentary and developed a huge following. Like Matt Groening’s other animated comedy The Simpsons, this one could go on for years.
Game of Thrones (2011): Despite a controversial ending, this George R.R. Martin series could easily be considered the greatest fantasy series of all time. It adapted all the completed books from his Song of Ice and Fire series and then went beyond that. It also delivered one of the most memorable collections of characters from any television series. The later seasons and finale generated controversy, but overall, GoT accomplished a lot for genre television.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1981): Based on the radio series of the same name, this sci fi comedy delivered the perfect send-up of the genre. It also did an excellent job adapting the radio version, which was already considered a classic. Done on a BBC budget, they did the best with what they had, and we can only wish it had carried on beyond its one-and-only season.
Lost (2004): This series about people stranded on a mysterious island came out of nowhere in 2004 and turned into a surprise hit while revitalizing the sci fi and fantasy genre on broadcast networks. It took many twists and turns during its six-season run, and some argue that it got far too convoluted. However, it delivered a fascinating set of characters and an interesting form of storytelling, leaving a significant mark on the television landscape.
The Outer Limits (1963): This anthology series often takes second place to The Twilight Zone, but it stands up quite well on its own, focusing on science fiction stories while avoiding the supernatural elements that TZ often employed. Although The Outer Limits was only around for a season and a half, it produced its fair share of classic episodes and truly counts as one of the great anthology shows.
The Prisoner (1967): This Kafkaesque take on the spy genre delivered a ground-breaking series that pushed the boundaries of television and still has people befuddled to this day. Patrick McGoohan took the opportunity to produce a revisionist take on his Danger Man/Secret Agent character, sending viewers on a wild journey that challenges our views of the world we live in and how much control we really have. It can be somewhat obtuse at times, but the show stands out as an accomplishment for genre television.
Red Dwarf (1988): Sci fi comedies can be hard to pull off, and some may argue that Red Dwarf has been hit or miss during its run. However, at its best, this show is a pure delight. It takes stabs at many genre concepts without relying solely on parody. It also established a madcap set of characters from the beginning, and they have continued to grow. Plus, it delivers plenty of laughs, which is what you expect from a comedy of any genre.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987): This Trek revival arrived in the late ’80s and not only charted a bold new direction for the franchise, but it revived sci fi TV and helped it thrive in syndication and off-network venues. TNG brought in a whole new crew for the U.S.S. Enterprise, and they have since become as iconic as the leads from TOS. Some argue that this sequel series outshines the original, but whether you agree or not, you have to acknowledge what it did for the franchise and sci fi TV.
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966): You can’t have a list of the greatest sci fi TV shows without including this one, even if you believe the later entries in the franchise were superior. TOS was an important step for the maturing of sci fi on television and set the bar for many years after it aired. It may look cheesy to modern viewers, but it was important for its time, and the best episodes still hold up well.
Stargate SG-1 (1993): This continuation of the 1994 feature film seemed an unlikely show to build into a multi-media franchise, but it proved strong enough to deliver multiple spin-offs as well as books, comics, games, and more. While it was a more grounded show than the Trek entries airing at the time, it created a rich universe populated with interesting, well-developed characters. It tends to be overlooked when considering the best of sci fi TV, but it has earned its place.
The Twilight Zone (1959): This was not the first sci fi/fantasy anthology, but an argument can certainly be made that it is the best. And that is a direct result of Rod Serling’s involvement as he not only wanted to tell scary tales, he wanted to make a statement. He and the other writers used the fantasy elements of the series to deliver social commentaries, and many of those still hold up well today as this show has become a timeless television entry that proves what the medium could do when at its best.
The Walking Dead (2010): This may be a controversial entry, but I believe it has earned its place here. While TWD may have grown long in the tooth over its eleven-season run, when at its best it delivered good drama and proved an excellent example of genre television. This one was not so much about zombies, but about humans and the choices they will make to survive. And it delivered some excellent moral quandaries addressing those issues. Its quality may have slipped in later years, but it still counts as an important genre entry.
The X-Files (1993): When this show first arrived in 1993, it seemed like a cheesy affair that would quickly disappear into the television wasteland. But Chris Carter had a vision for it, and while it took a few seasons to hit its stride, The X-Files eventually became an important genre entry. It delivered plenty of scares as well as an intricate story arc and some iconic sci fi TV characters. It definitely overstayed its welcome (and the revival seasons are mostly dispensable), but it made its mark on genre television.
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Love that you stuck The Orville into TNG there!
That was a mistake and it is corrected now. But The Orville will get on this list at some point, still waiting for final word on whether it has ended or not.