Rhea Seehorn in a yellow leather jacket on the phone while sitting on her bed in Pluribus Episode 1.
Science fiction is an enduring genre with lots of great representations on TV, year after year. Whether you're a fan of sci-fi becoming an inseparable part of real life, dystopian ideas, or stories set in outer space centuries away from now, there are shows like these that are pretty much perfect throughout.
True fans of sci-fi would find it hard to disagree about these. If you're lacking ideas or want to begin your science fiction journey with some recent series, here are six modern sci-fi shows that are 10/10, no notes. You can find selections of all the themes and ideas presented above, but it's guaranteed that all of them bring something new and exciting to the table and are future classics in the making. 6 'Fallout' Video game-based TV shows have come a long way, and 2024 ushered in an amazing adaptation of one of the best and most popular video games of our time—Fallout. The live-action Fallout honors the source material in every possible way, from uniforms and small details in equipment to narrative ups and downs; the show, of course, takes creative liberties to adapt the source material to the television medium, and it uses a lot of whimsy, fun, and atmosphere to do it. While The Last of Us opened up the path for great video game adaptations to keep coming out, Fallout potentially surpasses it because it remains universally loved by both game fans and those who've only seen the series. Fallout is set in post-apocalyptic America, starting by showing people who live in underground bunkers called Vaults after a nuclear disaster hit the country and devastated the landscape. The protagonist is young Lucy , who ventures out of the bunker she grew up in to find her kidnapped father, Hank , the Overseer of Vault 33. Along the way, Lucy realizes her Vault world isn't what everyone believes it to be, discovering truths about her life, learning how to survive on her own, and even having a found family moment. Season 2 follows Lucy's venture into New Vegas, which is named after the most popular game in the Fallout video game franchise. This venture into New Vegas is a brilliant move by the showrunners, and Season 2 has a higher overall rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 5 'Andor' Andor is a Star Wars universe story, and it's the most successful and praised TV show out of any spin-off, sequel, or prequel of Star Wars. However, Andor is also officially a prequel to Rogue One, which is a prequel to the entire Star Wars movie saga. Rogue One follows members of the Rebel Alliance, led by the passionate Cassian Andor , who successfully sabotage the construction of the Empire's biggest planned weapon, the Death Star. After the Rebels pick up the daughter of research scientist Galen Erso , Jyn , she joins them in their fight against the Empire. Rogue One is a fantastic movie by all accounts, and Andor is a worthy successor . The series Andor is set some five years before Rogue One and follows Cassian Andor before he became a passionate Rebel leader. It turns out that, before his leadership, Cassian was fully disinterested in politics and the cause of the Rebel Alliance; over the course of Season 1, we watch him turn from a neutral figure into a force with great leadership skills. Season 2 is the show's definite ending, and Diego Luna fully commits to making Cassian Andor relatable, human, inspirational, and brilliant. Andor is such a great series that, in all honesty, you can step in and watch it whether you're a Star Wars fan or not; the show has universal themes of freedom, finding one's purpose, and fighting for what's right that anyone could find entertaining and moving. Led by Luna, the cast also consists of Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, and Fiona Shaw, among others. 4 'For All Mankind' For All Mankind is an often underrated sci-fi show with a massive—and star-studded—ensemble. It's the first-ever Apple TV original series, and it was created by Ronald D. Moore, known for some legendary sci-fi series, such as Battlestar Galactica, several Star Trek series within the franchise, and even Outlander. For All Mankind was created after Moore had a sit-down with the former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman, when they discussed the consequences had the Soviet Union reached the Moon before the US. With consistent episodes, emotional character arcs, and beautiful retro visuals, For All Mankind is so close to perfection that it pretty much just is perfect. For All Mankind is set in an alternate history timeline, in which the Soviet Union wins the Space Race during the 1960s, reaching the Moon before the Americans. The show follows the decades after and the motivation of the US to reach the same level of space, tech, and social innovations; it also follows the personal lives of various families and astronauts. With five seasons so far , each installment takes place a decade after the previous, so Season 1 begins in the 1970s, while Season 5 will be set in the 2010s. For All Mankind is a fun and stylish look at"what could have been," and it sparks a curiosity about the world that's hard to find in many other shows. 3 'The Expanse' The Expanse is one of the most talked-about sci-fi shows of the past decade, and it's easy to understand why as soon as you get a first look: the world-building is precise, lore-heavy, and lived-in, pulling viewers in with each new episode. New characters and events are introduced with care and attention, giving them arcs and significance within the story; considering it's an ensemble effort, The Expanse is an incredible feat of show-making. The Expanse was based on a series of novels by James S.A. Corey, which is the pen name for not one, but two writers—Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. The Expanse is set hundreds of years in the future, when humans have colonized the Solar System. The show follows the people of Mars and Earth and the residents of off-planet colonies set in the asteroid belt, who are called"Belters." The Belters are usually the ones to get the most hate, though Earth and Mars have great tensions between them; the story is about UN politicians, Martian soldiers, and the crew of a gunship, who are often the main characters. While The Expanse may take a while to get used to because of the numerous characters introduced, it becomes a marvel of science fiction in the blink of an eye. 2 'Pluribus' Pluribus marks Vince Gilligan's return to sci-fi after The X-Files, and it's as bold and beautiful as we could have imagined. Some people consider it to be too slow-burning for their taste, but if you love the exploration of the consequences of a unique science fiction premise, this show will blow your socks off. Pluribus exceptionally establishes the mood and forces us to sit with it, paired with a carefully selected color scheme in each episode to evoke certain feelings, whether it's isolation, nostalgia, beauty, or loneliness. The performances are also incredible, with Rhea Seehorn finally winning an award for leading in a Gilligan show . Subscribe to the Sci‑Fi Newsletter for Curated Picks Explore sci‑fi deeper: subscribe to the newsletter for curated recommendations, thoughtful analysis of shows and themes, and tailored watchlists to guide your next must‑see series in modern science fiction. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Pluribus is set in modern times, but it follows the discovery and arrival of an alien virus that makes people kind, collaborative, and happy. Everyone is also a part of a collective, aka"hive mind," and they know everything about each other. However, there are about a dozen people who are immune to the virus, and the show follows one of them, romance novelist Carol Sturka . Carol is cynical and closed-off, and her journey with the collective is shown throughout Season 1. Pluribus is only going to get better, and this is pretty much promised, considering Gilligan's track record. 1 'Severance' Severance is widely recognized as one of the best shows of the 2020s already, and it's only had two seasons until now. Still, those two seasons merge sci-fi ideas with emotionally resonant stories about work, identity, and humanity like no other show has succeeded, probably ever. This show boasts clean spaces with a retro-futuristic vibe, and if you like aesthetically pleasing shows, Severance is the perfect choice. Adam Scott stars, and most of the series' episodes were directed by Ben Stiller, who excels as a director; don't let this lineup of comedy actors fool you, though—Severance is pure sci-fi almost through and through. Severance is set in modern times but introduces a mysterious company called Lumon Industries that installs chips into its employees' brains, making them forget their work after they leave the office. At the same time, these people don't have any memory of their private lives at work, either, so the question isn't about what they don't remember while at Lumon, but who they really are. Mark is one of the employees who opted to have this chip installed after a personal tragedy, but his office persona begins shaping up as a whole new person, and the identity pull becomes intense. Severance is an incredible show with so many layers and symbolism, while also carefully following the lore it establishes throughout; it's a rare dystopian sci-fi series that achieves exceptional world-building while relying on ideas and concepts we already see in our daily lives. Like Follow Followed Severance TV-MA Drama Mystery Science Fiction Release Date February 17, 2022 Network Apple TV Showrunner Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman Directors Ben Stiller Cast See All
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Apple TV’s Sci-Fi Dominance Keeps Growing After It Quietly Cancels Another 2-Part SeriesAdam Scott as Mark Scout in Severance
Read more »
Matt Damon’s Underrated Sci-Fi Action Movie Is Leaving NetflixMatt Damon’s 2013 sci-fi action film will be leaving Netflix’s library next month. Here are the details on the movie and its schedule.
Read more »
Robocop And The Terminator Fought In An Epic Sci-Fi CrossoverMatthew is a seasoned writer and editor who has spent the last decade covering Android, gaming, e-readers, and a multitude of other mobile technologies.
Read more »
8 Upcoming Sci-Fi Shows You Cannot MissNeuromancer Book Cover
Read more »
10 Best Sci-Fi Anthology Shows of the Last 10 Years, RankedThree robots sitting at a table in Love, Death & Robots.
Read more »
Highguard’s Sudden Shutdown Shows A Glaring Flaw In Modern Live Service GamesMarch 12 marks the end of Highguard, but the risks it took reveal a key problem within some live service game development practices.
Read more »