2024 has been an amazing year for Sci-fi, and the best TV shows of the genre have distinguished themselves as unique and innovative pieces of television. Whether they're based on familiar IP or were created from thin air, each of these series brings something new to the table while appealing to broad audiences. Like all the best sci-fi movies and TV shows, the series of 2024 don't confine themselves to one genre and push themselves to encapsulate a myriad of story elements in addition to their speculative plots.
The story is the most important part of any TV show, but sci-fi narratives tend to shine when their aesthetics and visual effects are of a high caliber.
While it's common for sci-fi thrillers to be confusing and involve mysterious pieces of the story that leave the audience guessing, this isn't always the case. Some shows are straightforward and have a clear message, but that doesn't detract from their emotional impact on viewers. The story is the most important part of any TV show, but sci-fi narratives tend to shine when their aesthetics and visual effects are of a high caliber. All of this comes together to impress audiences and critics and demonstrate the longevity of a project.
10 Amazing Recent Shows That Prove Sci-Fi’s Future Is On TV
The world of quality sci-fi has transitioned from the big screen to the television with shows like Stranger Things, Fallout, and The Expanse.
15 The Acolyte (2024)
The Latest Star Wars Adventure About The Birth Of The Sith
The Acolyte
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Showrunner
- Leslye Headland
- Directors
- Leslye Headland, Alex Garcia Lopez
Cast
Mae
Lee Jung-jaeMaster Sol
WHERE TO WATCH
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
- Seasons
- 1
The latest series in the Star Wars franchise was the subject of a lot of conversations about the fandom and the direction of the franchise, but viewed simply as its own story, The Acolyte is an intriguing new addition to the Star Wars lore. The series tells the story of a pair of twins, each being pulled in opposite directions -- one to good and one to evil. When one of the twins sets out on a mission to assassinate a group of Jedi, the other twin s the Jedi to track her down.
The Acolyte was unfortunately canceled, but there is still a strong fan movement before the series.
The series takes influences from the likes of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to tell a complex and surprising story that shows the birth of the Sith as well as examining the flaws of the Jedi. The cast also elevates the series with Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae standing out as the series leads while Manny Jacinto delivered a scene-stealing performance in a surprising role. The Acolyte was unfortunately canceled, but there is still a strong fan movement before the series.
14 Resident Alien (2021-)
An Alien Tries To Fit In With A Small Colorado Community
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Resident Alien
- Release Date
- January 27, 2021
- Network
- USA Network
- Showrunner
- Chris Sheridan
Cast
Elizabeth Bowen
WHERE TO WATCH
A television adaptation of the comic book series, Resident Alien is a sci-fi comedy that stars Alan Tudyk as an alien who crashes on Earth with one mission - destroy humanity to save the planet. When Tudyk's character takes the identity of a doctor, he arrives at a small town and begins to act the role preparing his plan. As time es, he develops human emotions against his will - but his plans are further complicated when he meets the son of the mayor - who can see his actual appearance.
- Seasons
- 4
One of the most underrated sci-fi shows on television right now returned for its third season in 2024, still looking to break in with the wider mainstream audience. Resident Alien stars Alan Tudyk as an alien who crashes on Earth while on a secret mission to destroy the planet. As he attempts to go about his mission, he takes the form of a small-town doctor, hiding out in the community and gradually becoming more conflicted about his purpose for being on the planet.
Tudyk is hilarious in the lead role, bringing so much physical comedy and wonderful line deliveries to this fish-out-of-water character. Seeing him make sense of this world while also making friends in the community is hugely entertaining and oddly charming. However, there are also a lot of great sci-fi concepts explored in the show as more about the alien and his purpose are revealed.
13 The Boys (2019-)
The Violent And Wild Superhero Satire
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The Boys
- Release Date
- July 25, 2019
- Showrunner
- Eric Kripke
- Directors
- Jack Quaid, Eric Kripke
Cast
Billy Butcher
Hugh Hughie Campbell
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
- Seasons
- 4
- Creator(s)
- Eric Kripke
While superheroes are not always necessarily placed within the sci-fi genre, all of the so-called "supes" in The Boys are genetically modified humans, which qualifies for the genre. Of course, that is just one of the many ways The Boys separates itself from other superhero stories as it depicts a world in which the heroes who save the day are also corporate mascots who are largely self-centered, dangerous, and downright sadistic.
Season 4 of The Boys continued to up the stakes of the story with the battle between The Boys and Vought's superheroes boiling to a point it has never reached before. The series also continued to introduce fun new characters, like Firecracker and Sister Sage, while also providing some fun social commentary on everything from modern politics to the superhero movie world. The finale sets the stage for an epic season 5 which has been confirmed as the final season.
12 Terminator Zero (2024)
The New Chapter In The Iconic Sci-Fi Franchise
The Terminator franchise has taken many different steps to attempt to return to the success of the early James Cameron movies, with very mixed results. However, taking the surprising approach of an animated series, Terminator Zero delivered the best Terminator story since Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The anime series is set in 2022 and follows a father who is developing new artificial intelligence that will either destroy the world or save it when a Terminator is sent back along with a warrior from the future.
However, it is the sci-fi ideas that really make Terminator Zero exceptional...
The anime style lends itself well to the vibrant look of the movie as the characters are sent on a chaotic and desperate run for their lives. There are also some outstanding action sequences that don't shy away from the blood just because it is an animated project. However, it is the sci-fi ideas that really make Terminator Zero exceptional, with it being a story that builds on the mythology of the first movies while also being something completely its own.
11 Invincible (2021-)
A Young Superhero Comes Of Age In The Shadow Of His Father
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Invincible
- Release Date
- March 26, 2021
- Network
- Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
- Robert Kirkman, Simon Racioppa
Cast
Mark Grayson / Invincible (voice)
Debbie Grayson (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on the comic book character by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows Mark Grayson, a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly average life save for the fact that he lives behind the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. Mark goes on to develop superhuman abilities, but he must also learn that his father's legacy isn't as glitzy and glamorous as he's been led to believe.
- Seasons
- 2
- Creator(s)
- Robert Kirkman, Simon Racioppa
Like The Boys, Invincible is another superhero story that shows the dark side of these caped heroes and does not shy away from the gory violence. However, with season 2 of the show, Invincible may have sured The Boys in of wild superhero storytelling with a sci-fi element. The latest season picks up following the aftermath of the shocking and brutal finale of the first season, with Omni-Man having left Earth and Mark attempting to make his way as a superhero.
There are also some intriguing sci-fi concepts to explore, including one episode dedicated to the adventures of the likable alien Allen.
The series continues to do an amazing job of building this unique and fresh superhero world with its own rogue's gallery of interesting heroes and mythology of heroes. There are also some intriguing sci-fi concepts to explore, including one episode dedicated to the adventures of the likable alien Allen. Of course, the show is also filled with bloody and epic action sequences and some new shocking twists that continue to bring the story in interesting directions.
10 Sugar (2024–Present)
A classic film noir private detective takes on seedy and unsettling cases in Los Angeles.
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Sugar
- Release Date
- April 5, 2024
- Showrunner
- Mark Protosevich
- Directors
- Fernando Meirelles
Cast
-
Kirby
WHERE TO WATCH
“Sugar” is a contemporary, unique take on one of the most popular and significant genres in literary, motion picture and television history: the private detective story. Academy Award nominee Colin Farrell stars as John Sugar, an American private investigator on the heels of the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of legendary Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. As Sugar tries to determine what happened to Olivia, he will also unearth Siegel family secrets; some very recent, others long-buried.
After its excellent opening season, there are many season 2 and what the story's next installment will hold. Colin Farrell stars as John Sugar in this nostalgic nod to old Hollywood classic film noir movies that Sugar seems to emulate in his own life as a private detective. This concept would have been enough to intrigue many audience , but Sugar turns its premise on its head and reveals its extraterrestrial twist many episodes into the season.
This intense shift in genre was shocking to many viewers, but there were hints that John Sugar wasn't like the rest of humanity from the beginning of the series. Now that it's firmly established itself as a sci-fi series, Sugar has the opportunity to break out of its season 1 mold and become an even stronger show. Apple TV+ has continuously shown itself to be a powerhouse streaming service when it comes to original sci-fi content, and Sugar is no exception.
9 Extraordinary (2023–Present)
In A World Where Superpowers Are The Norm, One Young Woman Makes Being Ordinary Her Specialty.
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Extraordinary
- Release Date
- 2023 - 2024-00-00
- Writers
- Emma Moran
Cast
-
Máiréad Tyers
-
Sofia Oxenham
WHERE TO WATCH
Extraordinary is a superhero comedy series that premiered in 2023 on Hulu and was created by Emma Moran. A young woman with no powers and a down-to-earth job handling costumes for superheroes begins to ponder her place in the world as she remains the outlier in a world filled with heroes.
- Seasons
- 2
- Creator(s)
- Emma Moran
Extraordinary isn't like other sci-fi shows, and it predominantly takes its cues and references from IP in the superhero genre. The premise is simple: Jen (Máiréad Tyers) is one of the only people in the world who doesn't have a superpower in a universe where everyone has one. At first, this makes her life extremely difficult and brings about a good deal of despair, but being different doesn't turn out to be as bad as she thought. Jen's insistence that she's worse off than other people gets in the way of her relationships.
Watching Extraordinary provides a good dose of light-hearted fun while giving genuine insights into the complexities of interpersonal relationships.
What's considered special and the importance of personal growth is one of the major themes in Extraordinary, which differs strongly from the dark and despairing sci-fi shows that often populate the genre. However, this is a refreshing change for casual watchers who want just as much comedy as they do fantastical elements. Watching Extraordinary provides a good dose of light-hearted fun while giving genuine insights into the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Jen grows a lot across the two seasons, and it's easy for the audience to grow with her.
8 Outer Range (2022–2024)
What Started Out As A Modern Western Quickly Transformed Into A Sci-fi Mystery.
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Outer Range
- Release Date
- 2022 - 2024-00-00
- Network
- Amazon Prime Video
Cast
Shaun Sipos
Lewis Pullman
WHERE TO WATCH
Created for Amazon Prime Video, Outer Range is a Sci-Fi and Western television series that began in 2022. The series was created by Brian Watkins and stars both Imogen Poots and Josh Brolin. The premise sees a Wyoming rancher trying to care for his farm and keep his land safe when a strange void shows up in one of his pastures.
- Seasons
- 2
Josh Brolin cuts an unsettling figure in Outer Range, a show that seemed similar to the likes of Yellowstone on paper, but soon showed itself to be much more. In actuality, the series is about time travel and has posed more questions than answers throughout its two seasons. In the aftermath of season 1's unbelievable cliffhanger, Outer Range season 2 comes back stronger than ever and manages to bring some mysteries to a close. However, the enigmatic hole that is the source of time travel in the show's world is as confusing as ever.
With each progressive season of Outer Range, the door opens for more adventures across time, and the writers and creators have been taking advantage of this. Additionally, even if the series separates itself from other offerings in the Western genre, it still grapples with issues of masculinity and the legacy of a family across generations. These are pressing and interesting questions in this era of TV.
7 Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (2024–Present)
This Animated Twist On Jurassic World Takes The Story's Formula To New Territory.
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Jurassic World: Chaos Theory
- Release Date
- May 24, 2024
- Showrunner
- Scott Kreamer, Aaron Hammersley
- Franchise(s)
- Jurassic Park
Cast
Paul-Mikél WilliamsDarius Bowman
Sean GiambroneBen Pincus
WHERE TO WATCH
Set in the Jurassic World universe, this series explores the unpredictable consequences of cloning dinosaurs, focusing on the ethical and environmental dilemmas faced by scientists and park rangers. As chaos unfolds, characters grapple with the prehistoric creatures' integration into the modern world, highlighting the fragile balance between humanity and nature.
- Seasons
- 3
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
In a Scooby-Doo-like twist on the Jurassic World franchise, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory sees its protagonist come up against a worldwide conspiracy and the dangers of dinosaurs set loose on the world. The series is a followup to the original show, Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, and follows the same group of kids who narrowly escaped Camp Cretaceous the first time. Now, the audience catches up with them six years later, after one of "The Nublar Six" is targeted for an unknown reason.
Even though the Jurassic World movies concluded, that doesn't mean there was a lack of interest in the source material. The show explores the reality of what life is like with dinosaurs coexisting with humans and how the real threats are never what people assume. With an animation style that appeals to a variety of age groups and plenty of amazingly choreographed action sequences, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory provides a great opportunity for the series to continue naturally.
6 Parasyte: The Grey (2024–Present)
Based On The Original Manga, Parasyte: The Grey Expands Upon The Original Work.
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Parasyte: The Grey
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Directors
- Yeon Sang Ho
- Writers
- Ryu Yong Jae, Yeon Sang Ho
Cast
-
Jeon So Nee
-
Koo Kyo Hwan
WHERE TO WATCH
"Parasyte: The Grey" imagines a world where alien parasites begin taking over human hosts, blending horror with psychological drama. The story follows a young man who forms a symbiotic relationship with his alien parasite, leading to a morally complex journey as they confront other parasites threatening humanity. This adaptation adds a unique twist, focusing on the grey areas of survival, identity, and the essence of being human.
- Seasons
- 1
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Creator(s)
- Yeon Sang Ho
Based on the world created in the Parasyte manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki, Parasyte: The Grey is an incredible feat of body horror and visual effects. It was always going to be challenging to translate the manga into live-action, and many adaptations failed to capture the look and feel of the original work. However, Parasyte: The Grey has received acclaim from critics and audiences alike, thanks to its dedication to the spirit of the original work. The series' success also benefited from the fact that the visual effects were so well done.
However, the series will likely have greater longevity than the first live-action iteration as its release on Netflix primed it for significant popularity.
Despite the manga, anime, and original live-action series being Japanese, Parasyte: The Grey is a South Korean production. However, the series will likely have greater longevity than the first live-action iteration as its release on Netflix primed it for significant popularity. The show makes the strong choice of revolving the narrative around Jeong Su-in (Jeon So-nee), a young woman who forms a symbiotic relationship with one of the parasites and serves as a compelling protagonist. She is unique among other victims of the parasites, as they take over people's bodies with no remorse.
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