One of popular culture’s most beloved and influential genres, sci-fi has produced a number of the best television shows of all time. Dealing with futuristic and imaginative concepts in the vein of time travel, extra-terrestrial life, or artificial intelligence gone rogue, the best sci-fi shows leverage other genres in the vein of drama, horror, or comedy to produce a layered offering that makes use of a unique theoretical premise. From violent science fiction shows laden with gore to underappreciated hidden treasures, there’s something for every brand of fan out there.
However, while a compelling central premise is as good a start as a show could hope for, maintaining consistent success across multiple seasons is another matter altogether. For every science fiction television show that has produced a consistent level of excellence across multiple installments, there are two genre offerings that fell off in terms of quality after a promising first season. In any case, whether these debuts served as the foundations for a wildly successful show or simply ended up as a “what might have been” footnote, a number of science fiction television shows have produced a near-flawless first season.
10 Westworld (2016-2022)
Created By Jonathan Nolan And Lisa Joy
HBO’s Westworld is a dystopian science fiction western that is based on the Michael Crichton-directed film, Westworld. The series centers on high-paying guests who visit a western theme park full of human-like androids to live out wild fantasies. Westworld would later introduce a futuristic mid-21st century where the world is run by an artificial intelligence called Rehoboam. The series was incredibly popular during its four-season run but was canceled by HBO in November 2022.
- Release Date
- October 2, 2016
- Seasons
- 4
- Network
- HBO Max
A dystopian epic that channels elements of classic Westerns and science fiction, Westworld is one of television’s preeminent case studies in wasted potential. Depicting an alternate near future where android “hosts” are indistinguishable from real human beings and are used to populate period-themed amusement parks, the star-studded HBO offering’s first season is frequently lauded as one of the single finest seasons of television ever produced. It’s a shame the rest of the show couldn’t keep up that momentum.
Given the fall off in quality that is attributed to later seasons of Westworld venturing beyond the parks, it’s hardly surprising that the show’s masterful debut outing is often overshadowed by the criticism directed at later installments. It’s a shame too. T he superb standard of world-building and acting found in Westworld‘s first season, all set against the backdrop of an intricately crafted and endlessly thrilling narrative, remains a benchmark of the genre.
9 Altered Carbon (2018-2020)
Created By Laeta Kalogridis
Altered Carbon is set in the far future, at a time when a human’s consciousness can be stored in a device called a Stack and transferred into different bodies, allowing people who have the means to become functionally immortal. Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman and Anthony Mackie), the former member of a rebellion against Stack technology, is awakened and released from prison so that he can be employed by a wealthy man to solve the man’s own murder. The Netflix original series is based on the 2002 novel of the same name by Richard K. Morgan.
- Release Date
- February 2, 2018
- Seasons
- 2
A visually arresting case study in cyberpunk television, Netflix’s Altered Carbon is set 360 years in the future in a reality where an individual is able to transfer their consciousness from one body to another. Leaning heavily on the influence of iconic science fiction offerings in the vein of Blade Runner, the show’s first season stars Joel Kinnaman as Takeshi “Tak” Kovacs, as a former rebel reawakened to solve a murder. It’s a unique and compelling fusion of genres, especially in the first season.
Although Altered Carbon was canceled after a second season that saw Marvel star Anthony Mackie take on the role of Kovac’s latest iteration, an abrupt conclusion does little to take away from the sterling quality of the show’s debut outing. The season features some legitimately jaw-dropping visuals. Fusing those elements to a mind-bending existential commentary to complement a compelling narrative and a gritty lead performance from Kinnaman, Altered Carbon’s first season rarely fails to leave fans wanting more.
8 Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)
Created By Glen. A Larson
The 2004 science fiction TV series Battlestar Galactica is a reimagining of the 1978 series of the same title. Created by Glen A. Larson, the original Battlestar Galactica features a fictional human civilization living in a distant star system called the Twelve Colonies. They are in constant battle against a cybernetic race called the Cylons, who want to exterminate the human race. A massive attack was launched, and only those who made it onboard the Battlestar Galactica and its fleet survived. They navigate space in search of the mythical 13th colony called Earth. Battlestar Galactica is under the command of President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Colonial Fleet Officer, Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos).
- Cast
- Grace Park , Katee Sackhoff , Mary McDonnell , Tahmoh Penikett , Tricia Helfer , Edward James Olmos , Aaron Douglas , James Callis , Alessandro Juliani , Michael Hogan , Jamie Bamber , Kandyse McClure
- Release Date
- October 18, 2004
- Seasons
- 4
An epic reimagining of Glen A. Larson’s original series of the same name released at the height of television’s “golden age”, Battlestar Galactica is renowned as one of the finest science fiction shows of all time. The series debuted through a three-hour miniseries that was followed by four full seasons of television. Battlestar Galactica‘s first season earned rave reviews and established the show as a name to watch.
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A first-rate cocktail of political drama and science fiction that invites philosophical musing on the nature of life, religion, and other weighty existential topics, Battlestar Galactica’s maiden voyage never skips a beat. While the rest of the show remained impressive, the series’ first season is a stand-out entry in the genre. Featuring some of the best science fiction quotes imaginable and a compelling cast of diverse characters, Battlestar Galactica’s first season is a passionate love letter to science fiction’s most storied elements.
7 Lost (2004-2010)
Created By Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams, And Damon Lindelof
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
- Cast
- Evangeline Lilly , Naveen Andrews , Henry Ian Cusick , Daniel Dae Kim , Harold Perrineau , Dominic Monaghan , Emilie de Ravin , Jorge Garcia , Josh Holloway , Michael Emerson , Terry O’Quinn , Matthew Fox , Ken Leung , Elizabeth Mitchell , Yunjin Kim
- Release Date
- September 22, 2004
- Seasons
- 6
Widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time, ABC’s Lost is one of the most influential sci-fi outings of the 21st century. Depicting the aftermath of a plane crash on a mysterious island in the South Pacific Ocean, Lost ran for six seasons between 2004 and 2010. The show earned critical acclaim and countless award nominations along the way for the sterling quality of television on offer, especially in its inaugural season.
The first season of
Lost
won six Primetime Emmy Awards, including for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.
The first season of Lost set the bar high for the five that would follow with a near flawless debut outing. It’s a glorious cocktail of science fiction and supernatural elements that grabs the viewer’s attention by the throat with a mystery that keeps them guessing and doesn’t let go until the credits roll. The show’s rich characters and engrossing narrative combine for an electric viewing experience, one that left fans instantly hooked and clamoring for more in short order.
6 Misfits (2009-2013)
Created By Harold Overman
Misfits is a British comedy-drama sci-fi series that blends science fiction with dark comedy. It is centered around five young offenders who gain supernatural abilities after a bizarre electrical storm. Set during their community service, the show explores how each character deals with their newfound powers, shining a light on the darker sides of having special abilities.
- Cast
- Nathan Stewart-Jarrett , Joseph Gilgun , Iwan Rheon , Lauren Socha , Antonia Thomas , Karla Crome , Nathan McMullen , Robert Sheehan , Matt Stokoe , Natasha O’Keeffe
- Release Date
- November 12, 2009
- Seasons
- 5
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
A hidden gem of modern British television that helped launch the careers of stars like Iwan Rheon and Robert Sheehan, the sci-fi comedy-drama Misfits is a fantastic show. It follows the adventures of a group of colorful young offenders who obtain supernatural abilities after a mysterious electrical storm. While the show ran for five seasons and featured multiple iterations of the core cast, the E4 original never came close to replicating the success of the show’s first season.
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Leveraging the cast’s superb performances to maximum effect with a healthy dose of British humor, Misfits’ band of superpowered undesirables proved to be the perfect group to carry the show’s first season to success. Sheehan particularly shines as the immortal Nathan Young. The character breathed life into one of British television’s most iconic faces courtesy of some of the most outrageous one-liners ever heard on television.
5 The Boys (2017-present)
Created By Garth Ennis And Darick Robertson
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
- Cast
- Karl Urban , Jack Quaid , Antony Starr , Erin Moriarty , Jessie T. Usher , Laz Alonso , Chace Crawford , Tomer Capone , Karen Fukuhara , Nathan Mitchell , Colby Minifie , Dominique McElligott , claudia doumit , Cameron Crovetti , Nneka Elliott , Laila Robins , Shantel VanSanten , Aya Cash , Giancarlo Esposito , Jordana Lajoie , Katy Breier , Matthew Edison , Jim Beaver , Elisabeth Shue , Jensen Ackles , Simon Pegg , Susan Heyward , Valorie Curry , Jeffrey Dean Morgan , Ann Cusack , Nicola Correia Damude , Christian Keyes , Sabrina Saudin , Malcolm Barrett , Liyou Abere , Jennifer Esposito , David Reale , Frances Turner
- Release Date
- July 25, 2019
- Seasons
- 4
- Franchise(s)
- The Boys
- Creator(s)
- Eric Kripke
The genre subversion to end all genre subversions, the first season of Amazon Prime’s The Boys proved to be a line in the sand for all superhero adaptations moving forward. While The Boys isn’t a strict sci-fi offering in the traditional sense, the show features genetically enhanced superhumans as a central premise. It’s a status quo that renders it more than worthy of inclusion when it comes to discussing flawless first seasons of science fiction shows.
A glorious superhero satirical with no equal, The Boys’ first season unfolds as a self-aware cocktail of cynical social commentary and unabated gore. Introducing audiences to two of current popular culture’s most inimitable faces in Karl Urban’s Billy Butcher and Antony Starr’s omnipotent superhero Homelander, the first season ripped up the playbook for what was acceptable to show on television with spectacular results. The first season received near universal critical acclaim, serving as the foundation for one of the most popular and influential shows of all time.
4 Stranger Things (2016-2025)
Created By The Duffer Brothers
Inspired by 80s pop-culture and elements of Stephen King’s works, Stranger Things is a supernatural action-drama TV series set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.
When a young boy goes missing, his group of friends stumbles upon a young girl with telekinetic powers who recently escaped from a mysterious facility. They soon realize that she may be their only chance at stopping an impending doom that threatens to engulf Hawkins whole.
- Cast
- Finn Wolfhard , Joe Keery , Jamie Campbell Bower , Brett Gelman , Caleb McLaughlin , Maya Hawke , David Harbour , Matthew Modine , Priah Ferguson , Gaten Matarazzo , Winona Ryder , Charlie Heaton , Sadie Sink , Millie Bobby Brown , Joseph Quinn , Dacre Montgomery , Natalia Dyer , Noah Schnapp
- Release Date
- July 15, 2016
- Seasons
- 4
Netflix’s flagship offering and a love letter to 1980s pop culture, Stranger Things is undoubtedly the streaming giant’s most celebrated and influential original show. A cocktail of various genres that channels the influence of virtually every seminal science fiction offering, the Duffer Brothers’ hit show has received acclaim from fans and critics alike. It also shows no signs of slowing down as it gears up for its fifth and final season.
None of this would have been possible without a near-faultless debut season, a fact that Stranger Things’ first outing wears like a badge of honor. Focusing on Will Byers’ abduction while setting the stage for the explosive series of events that would follow in later seasons, the show’s debut installment proved to be a smash hit. Introducing fans to the show’s cadre of beloved characters against the backdrop of a thrilling story leveraging the best elements from science fiction and horror, Stranger Things’ first season is as close to a flawless introduction as a television show could possibly hope for.
3 Black Mirror (2011-present)
Created By Charlie Brooker
Black Mirror is a sci-fi anthology TV series that shows the dark side of life and technology. The series was created by Charlie Brooker, with the first season premiering on British Channel 4 in 2011. Black Mirror is notable for its dark, satirical edge that provides social commentary, particularly in continuously evolving technology. Each episode has a different cast, location, and even reality as it further explores the themes of technological advancement and its potential positives and repercussions of overreliance on it.
- Release Date
- December 4, 2011
- Seasons
- 5
One of television’s foremost anthology offerings, Black Mirror is widely regarded as one of the most impressive and influential television series of the 2010s. Revived by Netflix for the show’s third season in 2016 after originally airing on British network Channel 4, Black Mirror has produced six wildly successful series to date, with almost every episode telling a self-contained story of sci-fi horror. A seventh installment of the hit series set to follow in 2025.
[
Black Mirror
‘s] veritable wildfire of success can be partially attributed to one of the most successful debut seasons for a science fiction-based offering in television history.
The show’s veritable wildfire of success can be partially attributed to one of the most successful debut seasons for a science fiction-based offering in television history. In particular, The National Anthem and The Entire History of You are frequently cited as two of the best episodes that Black Mirror has ever produced. Both received rave reviews that culminated in an impressive Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 98% for the first season.
2 From (2022-present)
Created By John Griffin
From – Season 1
One of television’s most consistently underappreciated offerings, From is contentiously the best science fiction show that you’ve never heard of. Led by Lost alum Harold Perrineau in a career-best turn as Sheriff Boyd Stevens, the Epix sci-fi horror series centers around an American city that mysteriously imprisons anybody who enters. The inhabitants are subsequently plagued by terrifying supernatural creatures inhabiting the surrounding forest.
Critics cite Perrineau’s compelling lead performance along with [
From
‘s] world-building and intricate narrative as notable highlights.
A front-runner for any sci-fi fan’s fall viewing, From’s debut season set the bar high for future installments with a 96% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes. Cr itics cite Perrineau’s compelling lead performance along with the show’s world-building and intricate narrative as notable highlights. The rare science fiction offering that is legitimately frightening, From’s superb first season instantly captures the viewer’s attention and refuses to let go for an instant until the credits roll.
1 Rick and Morty (2013-present)
Created By Justin Roiland And Dan Harmon
Rick and Morty is an adventure/Sci-Fi animated series that follows the intergalactic, inter-dimensional adventures of super-genius Rick Sanchez and his less-than-average grandson Morty Smith. Rick’s daughter, Beth, his granddaughter, Summer, and his hated stepson, Jerry, also take center stage more often than not. Hailing from creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, the series blends comedy with science fiction as a way of exploring a wide variety of themes aimed at an adult audience.
- Release Date
- December 2, 2013
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu , Max
While co-creator Justin Roiland’s ignominious fall from grace has arguably tarnished the reputation of the wider show, Rick and Morty remains the current golden standard for the adult animated sitcom. With Season 8 of the hit science fiction comedy in the works, Rick and Morty owes much of its lasting success to the show’s debut installment. That was a nearly flawless season of television that swiftly established the Adult Swim offering as one of the funniest shows out there.
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Earning an impressive approval rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, the unique visuals, zany characters, and sidesplitting gags that can be found in Rick and Morty’s first season built the foundations that all future success for the show would be based upon. It’s a state of affairs that’s even acknowledged within the show itself, with self-referential gags that speak of the show’s need to fall back on its roots frequently utilized throughout later seasons. It’s one of the most impressive first seasons of any sci-fi genre.
