Many classicsci-fishows are just as exciting and innovative as audiences remember them to be when they were first airing on TV. Shows likeThe X-Files,Star Trek: The Next Generation, andThe Twilight Zoneare still frequently brought up when discussing great pieces of science fiction on TV, leaving series likeLexxandSlidersto be unfairly overlooked. As a result, it can be easy to forget just how exceptional they are.
Audiences will be pleased to see thatmany of these classic sci-fi series, ranging from the ’70s to the early 2000s, hold up well with modern viewing. Much of this can be credited to their focus on character-driven narratives, and the benefit of technology having advanced during this time. Such components allow for time travel and adventure-filled series to still feel grounded and practical, establishing a quality that’s enduring to this day.
Alien Nation
Cast
Alien Nation is a science fiction TV series set in Los Angeles in the near future, where humans and an alien race called “Newcomers” coexist. The show follows Detective Matthew Sikes (Gary Graham) and his Newcomer partner George Francisco (Eric Pierpoint) as they solve crimes while exploring themes of racial prejudice and integration.
Being canceled after one season, it’s easy to forget the gripping drama inAlien Nationand all of its potential. Adapted from the 1988 movie of the same name,Alien Nationcontinues to explore various social issues through a sci-fi lens.The series follows two detectives, Matt Sikes (Gary Graham) and George Francisco (Eric Pierpoint). The latter is part of an extraterrestrial race known as Newcomers, who immigrate to the United States and learn to live among humans.
Though it’s mostlya detective sci-fi showwhere criminal activity is investigated by the detective duo, much ofAlien Nation’s drama is centered around the tension between Newcomers and humans, with various storylines exploring themes of bigotry and assimilation. The character design of the Newcomers is just as impressive as the series' writing, and the show, despite its short run, does a satisfying job of fleshing out Matt and George’s partnership.
Sliders
Sliders is a science fiction television series that follows Quinn Mallory (Jerry O’Connell) and a group of fellow travelers as they “slide” between parallel universes. With each new world presenting a unique alternate reality, the team encounters various versions of Earth, facing different challenges and societal structures. The series, which aired from 1995 to 2000, explores themes of consequence, diversity, and adaptation.
AsSliderscontinued its run into 2000, the creativity that made its earlier seasons special began to die out. Still, the somewhat tarnished reputation that came as a result shouldn’t be all that one remembers of the sci-fi fantasy series. Airing for five seasons,Slidersbegins by followinga group of travelers as they move, or “slide,” through a wormhole to travel between parallel universes. Unable to do anything but hope they can return to their home universe, the travelers explore the different universes they travel to.
Getting caught up in the events of whichever parallel universe the travelers find themselves in, the innovation ofSliderswas initially limitless.
Getting caught up in the events of whichever parallel universe the travelers find themselves in, the innovation ofSliderswas initially limitless. Early seasons of the show had a fun, adventurous tone as the characters, who are unable to control where they end up next, were forced to adapt to their unfamiliar surroundings. However, a shift in the series' creative direction by season 3 produced some unfavorable storylines.
SeaQuest DSV
SeaQuest 2032 is a science fiction television series set in the early 21st century, featuring Captain Nathan Bridger and the advanced submarine seaQuest DSV. Tasked by the United Earth Oceans Organization, they maintain peace and explore the colonized oceans, Earth’s final frontier.
Exploring themes related to environmentalism,SeaQuest DSVpresents a mix of gripping drama with a realistic setting. The seriesfollows a crew on the titular high-tech submarine in the aftermath of a disaster in the year 2018. After humanity has wiped the Earth of nearly all of its natural resources, colonies are set up on the untapped ocean floor. The seaQuest crew is responsible for conducting research and settling disputes with other nations.
SeaQuest DSVshines a light on a bleak future where the prioritization of greed harms the environment. Still, the sci-fi series has an adventurous feel to it and is kept exciting with its frequent cast changes. With each season,SeaQuest DSV’s crew of characters were rotated as a means to push the story along and to keep audiences enthusiastic about the show, as its ratings were considerably lower than other competing series at the time.
Lexx
Lexx is a Canadian-German sci-fi television series that follows a group of misfits traveling in a sentient spaceship. The crew, including a cowardly security guard, a love-slave, and a dead assassin, navigate a bizarre and dangerous universe while facing various adversaries.
Having received mixed reviews while it was on air, audiences might be surprised to find out thatLexxis quite a solid series after all. The show initially began as four made-for-TV movies before transforming into a traditional TV show and totaling four seasons of weirdness and bold experimentation. The sci-fi seriesfollows a group of misfits aboard the titular spaceshipas they face various enemies across the universe.
Thanks to word of mouth online,Lexxhas accumulated a dedicated cult followingthat is appreciative of the series' unique sense of humor and complicated characters. The show varied in tone throughout its run, with some seasons being heavily comedic and others being more straightforward and dark. Still, the compelling characters and mixed bag of irony and exploration of death and reincarnation inLexxmake it easy for audiences to trust the series, willingly following it in every strange direction.
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science fiction series set in the year 1999, following the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha as the moon is blown out of Earth’s orbit by a massive explosion. Led by Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau), the crew faces survival challenges while encountering various alien civilizations. Created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the show combines futuristic technology with dramatic storytelling.
Space: 1999is set on the moonafter a nuclear waste explosion sends it out of Earth’s orbit. The show followsa group of individuals aboard a research center on the moon known as Moonbase Alpha. During their time in space, the crew comes across various threats, including aliens and dystopian societies. Though some of the series' performances and its scientific inaccuracies have been criticized over the years, the show is still a great source of entertainment.
Visually speaking,Space: 1999is one ofthe best sci-fi series of the ’70s. Special effects artist Brian Johnson helped bring to life the series' eye-catching special effects. Combining full-sized props and scale models,Space: 1999’s effects were not only cost-effective but realistic as well, which helped the series gain positive attention. For its complex storytelling and high production values,Space: 1999earned positive comparisons to other notable sci-fi series at the time, such asStar Trek.
Æon Flux
Æon Flux: Released in 1991, Æon Flux is set in a surreal, dystopian future where a skilled secret agent from the nation of Monica undertakes missions against Bregna, a police state governed by Trevor Goodchild. The film explores the complex relationship between Æon and Trevor amidst their societal differences.
With the channel having moved away from animated programming in the years since, it’s easy to forget just how good many ofMTV’s animated series from the ‘90swere, includingÆon Flux. The show, like many of MTV’s animated series, originally aired onLiquid Televisionas a six-part serial before becoming the stylish, avant-garde series it’s celebrated as today.Æon Fluxdepicts the conflict between two feuding city-states, Monica and Bregna, focusing on the titular agent from the former.
Æon Fluxhas a 90% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
Æon Flux’s focus on drama over comedy, and frequent, strong displays of violence and sex, set it apart from other adult-animated series at the time. Despite being ananimated sci-fi series that holds up well against live-actionshows, the unconventional storytelling inÆon Fluxdoesn’t always make for an easy viewing experience. Though the story in the series doesn’t always connect, the angular animation throughout the show and its boundary-pushing visuals help it further stand apart from other animated series of the ’90s.
Farscape
Farscape is a sci-fi television series that initially premiered in 2004 and was created by Rockne S. O’Bannon. Astronaut John Crichton is sucked into a wormhole across the universe after an experimental flight goes haywire, setting him onboard a ship with a crew of several different alien races. Stuck in space and on the run from a nefarious organization known as the Peacekeepers, John and company work together to make it day-by-day while trying to maintain peace throughout the universe - as much as possible
Considered to bean underrated show in the genre, the Australian-American sci-fi seriesFarscapeholds up well to this dayand is just as good as audiences might remember it to be when it first aired in the late ’90s. The series opens with astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) as he accidentally flies into a wormhole and winds up on the sentient ship called Moya. John is accompanied by a group of escaped prisoners, joining them in their efforts to evade the antagonistic Peacekeepers.
Farscape’s complex and thoughtful worldbuilding creates a satisfying series of adventures for audiences to join in on.
Farscape’s complex and thoughtful worldbuilding creates a satisfying series of adventures for audiences to join in on. Apart from its compelling characters and gripping storylines,the series is also celebrated for its unique visuals. Co-produced by The Jim Henson Company,Farscape’s design of its alien creatures is a result of a combination of prosthetics and animatronic puppets, which reduced the series’ reliance on poor CGI, unlike many of the other sci-fi shows at the time.
Quantum Leap
This science fiction series follows a scientist trapped in time due to an experiment, leaping into various people’s lives to solve their problems and alter events. As he navigates each era, he seeks to return to his present, impacting history with every leap.
Scott Bakula earned his breakout role inQuantum Leap, playing protagonist Dr. Sam Beckett.The series ran for five seasons and followed Sam as he traveled through time, taking on the lives of various individuals in an attempt to fix certain events in their timelines. Sam and his right-hand man, Al (Dean Stockwell), believe that he must successfully correct the missteps of different timelines, and only then will Sam be able to return home.
As one ofthe bestsci-fishows of the ’80s,Quantum Leaphas it all. Within a fun episodic structure that keeps the series feeling fresh, Bakula’s range as a performer shines, and the series presents a deft combination of humor, drama, and social commentary.Quantum Leapearned a revival series in 2022, and though it was only a moderate success with critics and fans of the original show, the series was a great reminder of how good the original is.
