Scifi shows are more prolific than ever. Here’s our list of the best science-fiction shows since 2010:
The Walking Dead
It may feel like a show that’s travelling as aimlessly as any zombie right now, but its legacy cannot be forgotten. This show regularly features in lists of the greatest ever, it has its own spin off show and it managed to make the zombie concept even more successful on TV than it has been in film.
The 100
The 100 has everything: space travel, reapers, radiation poisoning, nuclear warfare, an out of control AI and a constant focus on geopolitics and celebrations of platonic love. This show is better, and has more depth, than Game of Thrones. It’s also more shocking. It has learned from its past mistakes and worked hard to give good portrayals of disability, a cast with people of colour and (at the time of writing) four living (out and confirmed) queer characters. Don’t let the light couple of episodes fool you into thinking the show is immature. It just stars out so innocent to contrast well with the darkness that comes.
Altered Carbon
A great dive into a cyberpunk world. It’s a relatively new series and the next season is already in the works but it has already made its mark. It’s rare to get such a high-quality cyberpunk experience on TV. The show has its flaws but the grit, the aesthetics and most importantly, the portrayal of capitalist oppression all combine to make it true cyberpunk.
The Expanse
The aesthetics of this show are strikingly similar to The Martian and Mass Effect Andromeda, which is definitely a strong point to the show. The characters are all interesting as they navigate the complicated politics of the galaxy against a new threat that they do not fully understand. Strong writing that really grows in confidence with each episode, if you like space stories than this will definitely be a show for you.
Lost in Space
This remake was met with trepidation when it was first announced but viewers need not have worried given the end product. A really strong story, with a robot that people have fallen in love with (to say the least) and great dialogue between the different characters means that this is a highly engaging show. The main villain doesn’t quite manage to be chilling enough, but it doesn’t really matter when you just want to watch and root for this cool space family.
Westworld
It’s rare for JJ Abrams to let audiences down when it comes to scifi. Westworld is the show that helped take on Game of Thrones in scope and popularity. The award-winning show has as many layers as Lost but with a grittier story and cool Western aesthetics. Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton are particularly superb in this thrilling show.