If aliens had some sort of cable television, then looking down from their distant planets, they would be fascinated (and low-key proud) of humanity’s obsession with the future, technology, and outer space. For decades now,audiences have enjoyed consuming TV showsthat depict imaginative worlds where super-advanced technologies, far-off galaxies, and complex human stories combine into something truly extraordinary.
While somesci-fiTV shows exaggerate science and sensationalize the visuals for dramatic effect, “hard sci-fi” aims to ground its speculative concepts in principles of physics, biology, and cosmology that are already proven or established. Rather than relying on magic-like solutions, these TV shows try to envision a future that is innovative but feels all too plausible.
Now, narrowing down the immense library of science fiction television intoa “Best Of” listis no joke. Over decades of programming and streaming content, hundreds of shows have been pioneers of one thing or the other. They have expanded our understanding of science and nourished our sense of wonder.
For this list, however, we have selected 20 series that not only stunned and entertained audiences but also explored technology and futuristic concepts in adherence to real science. From intricate spaceship engineering to well-researched intergalactic ecosystems, these shows bring the best hard sci-fi worlds to the small screen.
20Firefly (2002-2003)
Set in the year 2517, Firefly follows the crew of the Serenity, a smuggling ship operating on the fringes of Alliance space. Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) is a veteran of a civil war, bitter about having fought for the losing side and now making his living as an outlaw smuggler out among the distant colonies forgotten and ignored by the Alliance. However, after taking on paying passengers, Mal finds himself caught up in a conspiracy likely to bring the whole Alliance military down on him and his crew.
Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, and Alan Tudyk star in this astounding space Western drama from the 2000s. Set in the 26th century,Fireflyfollows the adventures of a crew of a small transport spaceship called Serenity. Led by Captain Mal Reynolds (Fillion), the team struggles to find work, taking on various odd jobs and smuggling runs to get by. Meanwhile, the independence movement against the totalitarian rule of the Alliance continues. Mal and the crew encounter constant challenges on the changing frontier of space.
Kick-Started the Trend for Ingenious World-Building
Beyond a well-designed sci-fi Western setting,Fireflyalso presented a perfect blend of technology and the universe. Joss Whedon, the primary showrunner ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer, established an immersive world where richly drawn characters, their unique characteristics and morals – from Mal’s smuggler antics to Zoe’s fierce loyalties – and conflicts felt fresh.
ButFireflyepitomized hard science fiction by being realistic with its overall setting, especially that of the spaceship Serenity, whose engine used a real-life design system.Stream on Hulu.
19Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)
Battlestar Galactica
Thisreboot of the 1970s cult seriesdepicts a distant future where mankind resides on a group of planets known as the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. When an android race called Cylons launches a sneak attack on all the Colonies, the surviving humans are forced to seek refuge in a worn-out battleship,Battlestar Galactica, and embark on an adventure in the solar system. Under the command of Commander Adama, the civilians search for a new home – a rumored planet called Earth.
Groundbreaking Exploration of Artificial Intelligence
During a decade that was lush with space-themed sci-fi TV shows,Battlestar Galacticaexplored revolutionary concepts like artificial intelligence and humanoid robots. The brilliance with which it portrays the folly in machine creation, the fleet’s day-to-day operations, and fully-functional human-Cylon hybrids is worth addressing.
Moreover, the series sparked discussions about religion and science. To this day,Battlestar Galacticainfluences AI conversations and remains a highly regarded hard sci-fi TV show.Buy on Amazon.
18Dark Angel (2000-2002)
Dark Angel
Another sci-fi TV show that was ahead of its time,Dark Angelis created by James Cameron and Charles H. Eglee. It centers around Max Guevara, a genetically enhanced superhuman prototype who managed to flee from a top secret government military facility code-named Manticore along with others like her. After she grew up as a normal individual, she used her enhanced abilities to help locals while dodging authorities. She also searches for her transgenic and tries to unravel the mystery around Manticore’s true agenda.
Features a Visionary Feminist Lead
As one of the earliest mainstream sci-fi shows to highlight the concept of genetic enhancement,Dark Angeltries to incorporate realistic futuristic elements into its action-infused narrative. By showcasing Max as a genetically modified individual with heightened strength, agility, and the ability to heal, it shed light on traits in humans that can be influenced through science.
Additionally,Dark Angelportrays dystopian near-future Seattle quite seamlessly. Jessica Alba also deserves massive praise forportraying a defiant female protagonistwith an ass-kicking grace because of how rare it is in the genre.
Related:The 30 Best Sci-Fi Thrillers of All Time, Ranked
17Orphan Black (2013-2017)
Orphan Black
Orphan Blackstars Tatiana Maslany as Sarah Manning, a young woman who witnesses another woman committing suicide in front of her. After realizing that the woman was a doppelgänger, Sarah assumes her identity. She soon learns that they were both part of a secret global cloning experiment, and that Sarah had more sisters from various backgrounds and locations. She teams up with her foster brother, Felix Dawkins, and two of her fellow clones, to unravel the cloning mystery.
Explores Themes of Bioscience
Praised for striking a balance between compelling storytelling and scientific accuracy,Orphan Blackis a seminal work in the landscape of hard sci-fi television. The show’s portrayal ofthe cloning process is realistic, and so is the concept of nature vs. nurture, which mirrors real-world discussions about how genetics and a unique upbringing shapes every individual’s development.
Cosima Herter, who serves as the show’s primary consultant, shares her expertise in the history of biology and ensures that the science of cloning remains close to realism (for instance, all the clones have identical fingerprints). Beyond the “clone thriller” premise,Orphan Blackalso examines themes of sisterhood and corporate exploitation without over-dramatizing them.Buy on Apple TV.
16The OA (2016-2019)
Brit Marling, who is one of the primary writers and an executive producer for the show, stars inThe OAas Prairie Johnson, a young woman who returns home after being missing for seven years. Despite the shocked reactions from her peers about her arrival and her vision being healed, she does not talk about where she has been. Through flashbacks, it is revealed that she was kidnapped and held captive in another dimension. During her imprisonment, Prairie, who now calls herself OA, developed the ability to move people with her voice.
All About Parallel Dimensions
There is a lot going on inThe OA. A refined juxtaposition of science fiction, spiritual drama and elements of a supernatural mystery envelope its primary storyline, and the series takes viewers on a mind-bending journey across multiple realities.
For a show so courageous and visionary, it’s hard to nail the science and accuracy. ButThe OAoffers a rare glimpse into near-death experiences, otherworldly dimensions and portals through the eyes of its eclectic characters. While fantastical, it maintains consistency within its own universe and leaves an indelible mark on fans who love space and time.Stream on Netflix.
15For All Mankind (2019-Present)
For All Mankind
For All Mankindis among a couple other TV shows on this list produced exclusively for Apple TV+. The series presents an alternative history where the global space race never ended. We’re in the late 1960s, in the height of the Cold War, and the Soviets beat the Americans to be the first ones on the moon. In response, NASA expands its program and trains women and minorities to take on more prominent roles as astronauts. Every season is set a decade forward, and as time passes, lunar settlements become the new norm.
Reimagines a Cosmic Future
For All Mankindstands out for its level of research and detail with respect to space exploration. Creators Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi made sure to double-check authentic NASA mission control footage and facts about every decade’s scientific progression to produce an era that felt lived-in and certain.
While the technical aspects of the show expanded genre frontiers, the complex characters were the mostrefreshing highlightsas well. The all-star cast is made up of Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Sarah Jones, Eric Ladin, and more.Stream on Apple TV.
14Dark (2017-2020)
Darktakes place in the fictional town of Winden, Germany, where the disappearance of two young children initiates an intricate and mind-bending time travel mystery. It follows the relationship and double lives of four estranged families across past and present, and they are all connected through a local cave. As their lives intertwine, new secrets emerge and the realities bend in and out of their disrupted subconscious.
Isn’t Chronological, but Is Mind-Bending
A masterclass in sci-fi storytelling,Darkwon massive critical acclaim because of its chilling, tense, and meticulously crafted narrative. Across three seasons, it features multi-generational plot lines that challenge us to understand the complex connections between the characters, their family trees, and puzzle pieces of the past, present, and future.
Darkis also one of the strongest hard sci-fi TV shows of all time. It may consist of fantasy elements, but its intricate mechanics are coiled around the general theory of relativity.Stream on Netflix.
13The Man in the High Castle (2015-2019)
The Man in the High Castle
Based on Philip K. Dick’s award-winning novelof the same name,The Man in the High Castledisplays an alternate history that imagines a world where the Axis powers won World War II. The year is 1962 and the United States is divided into three parts – the West Coast is under Japanese control and the East is under German rule, and there is a buffer zone between the two. Protagonist Juliana Crain discovers a couple of strange film footage that showcase a different reality and believes that it contains a key to their freedom.
Poignant Exploration of Fascism and Human Resilience
The Man in the High Castletakes place in a past that was ripe with oppression and discrimination. The national identity showcased in the series is so fractured that the need for resistance is high. Despite fashioning this dystopian world, the historical trajectories presented by the show are so plausible that it is impossible not to get caught up in imagining an alternate reality ourselves.
Across four seasons, we get to experience society under German-Japanese rule through the eyes of nuanced characters played by Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, DJ Qualls, Luke Kleintank, and more.Stream on Prime Video.
Related:20 of the Best Science Fiction TV Shows of All Time, Ranked
12Foundation (2021-Present)
Foundation
A majority of the series on this list are set centuries into the future.Foundationturns up the dial and transports viewers into the year 12,067 E.I., where humanity has occupied over 25 million planets and the galaxy is ruled by the Galactic Empire. A psychohistorian named Hari Seldon uses his knowledge of “psychohistory” and predicts a future where the Milky Way will meet with an imminent fall. Seldon then gathers a group of loyal followers on a remote planet, and together they try to rebuild a civilization that would sustain the Empire’s collapse.
An Ambitious Hard Sci-Fi Saga
Loosely adapted from Isaac Asimov’s classic series of sci-fi novels, the series chronicles the future of humanity in a brand-new fashion. In terms of storytelling and production values,Foundationis a true epic. It engulfs viewers with its portrayal of a galactic society, mind-bending plot twists, visual mastery, and interwoven politics.
At its core, however,Foundationexplores psychohistory, which is a study that uses psychology, history, and numbers to predict the future. And to say that the book’s translation to screen has been precise and careful is an understatement. Despite being incomplete,Foundationis showing the potential to become a massively ambitious hard sci-fi saga.Stream on Apple TV.
11Travelers (2016-2018)
In a post-apocalyptic future, humanity has intended technology that enables people to send their consciousness back in time to inhabit into the body of another human, following which, the original body perishes. These individuals are called “travelers.” After time-traveling into the 21st century, they secretly work to prevent catastrophes that might otherwise destroy the very future they belong to. The series follows the mission of various travelers in Toronto, who, under the guidance of the Director, try to save humanity.
Immensely Cerebral and Accurate
On the surface, the Netflix series might look likejust another time-traveling thriller. However, creator Brad Wright has put immense care into its essence – which is the cerebral concept of sending a person’s consciousness into the past as well as the future impact of artificial intelligence. Through its many characters, each inhabiting unwilling hosts, it follows lives that were torn between past and present.
The cast ofTravelersconsists of Eric McCormack, Mackenzie Porter, Patrick Gilmore, and Jared Abrahamson, who constantly surprise viewers with their multidimensional stories.Stream on Netflix.
