Top Ten Science Fiction Series

With hundreds of series from which to choose—spanning both the annals of network TV and the shadows of streaming services—a list of only ten series is sure to spark conversation if not controversy. But the series listed here are simply based on my opinion—a wholly subjective ranking system. That said, I did consider a few characteristics of the shows that make me stop on the channel whenever they are on or binge watch them from beginning to end over and over.

Criteria

Apart from just pure immersion and enjoyment into the show, there were three main characteristics I considered to both identify my top ten and then rank them:

• Characters – The best shows are character-driven, and realistic, three-dimensional, flawed characters make a show stand out. Characters that try their best, follow a code, face dilemmas, sometimes screw up, and learn from their mistakes reflect how those of us in the real world try to live our lives. Top characters may not be perfect—indeed, they may have deep personal traumas and flaws—but they are inspiring.

• Plot – Of course I also like a good story (who doesn’t?), but this is more about a story line that works to bring out the most of the characters. Series with recurring issues and overarching story arcs tended to rank higher than purely standalone-episode series where stories and even characters changed.

• Realism – Stories with an element of realism—not so much in terms of special effects (though those are nice) but in the dark, grittiness of reality—scored higher. Situations with people facing survival with food and shelter as dwindling resources place characters into more believable situations.

So, I guess there was really just one criterion I looked at! Characters. I prefer deep, flawed characters that face challenges, forcing difficult decisions and making them grow. But really, production value, humor, differing viewpoints, and unique episodes also influenced these rankings. In short, if the show is fun, engaging, and immersive, it ranked well.

And though many people consider Science Fiction to include Fantasy (look at any guide on a streaming service), I do not. They are distinct genres, and I’ve endeavored to only include science fiction in this list.

Honorable Mentions

There are so many shows from which to choose, landing on a top ten was difficult, and I’m sure I’ve left excellent shows off my list as I haven’t watched every science fiction show there is (though I’m trying!)

A few shows that I believe to be outstanding but not in my top ten include The X-Files, The Twilight Zone, Fringe, Dark Matter, and The Last of Us. All are really enjoyable shows.

The Top Ten

And without further ado…

10.       Stargate SG-1 – This show really shone during its first five seasons, dropping in quality after that. One of the best “team” shows, each character brought unique skills (leadership, science, history, and muscle/enemy intel) that made the group succeed. But they often had setbacks that relied more on their humanity to solve.

9.         Sliders – Another show that started strong before fizzling in its last two seasons, this show also had a “team” but made up of a widely diverse group of people, turning the concept on its head. Though the team included two scientists, neither could fix what happened, and there were two characters more along for the ride, one being an unexpecting R&B musician. As they slid from parallel Earth to parallel Earth, they faced many societal issues and often had to escape to another world after standing up for their beliefs.

8.         Falling Skies – A gritty alien invasion story, following a large group of humans as they both try to survive and fight back. Lead by a history professor, they are completely overwhelmed and must use their knowledge and what is left of society to try and fight back. But with heavy losses, including family, how they bond together to find others like them is compelling.

7.         Defiance – Another alien invasion story, though the “invasion” left both the many races of aliens and all of humanity nearly wiped out. They must live and work together to eke out a living—until found technology threatens to divide everyone and restart hostilities. Great characters, including a lawman and his adopted alien daughter, synthetic races, and alien cultures along with plenty of greed and power-searching.

6.         Firefly – The classic small crew team consisting of some of the best characters on TV, including self-centered Jayne, the plucky engineer Kaylee, the posh escort Anara, the preacher with a clandestine past Book, and the roguish chip-on-his-shoulder Mal. Facing difficult situations on the frontier planets, they encounter the worst in humanity (greed, torturers, elitists) and often put them in their place.

5.         Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Of all the Star Trek series, to me this one best embodies the ideals of the Star Trek universe while still having relatable characters and a touch of grittiness (though Deep Space Nine was also under consideration.) But Spock’s struggle with (and commentary on) humanity, La’an’s struggle with notoriety and feeling safe, Una’s struggle with her secret biology, and M’Benga’s struggle with his dark past all reflect various issues we in the real-world deal with (on a smaller scale) daily.

4.         Almost Human – A misunderstood cop with a code and an advanced android with a history of instability both have rich and well-developed backstories. Though solving crimes on a daily basis, they uncover a deeper conspiracy that affects both their histories. Amazingly played by Karl Urban and Michael Ealy and created by JJ Abrams, stories studied the subtleties of what makes a being human.

3.         Babylon 5 – The epitome of space opera, the show covers both political intrigue, fascism (making it highly relevant today), propaganda, honor, teamwork, betrayal, and of course the battle between light and dark. A truly stellar cast brought both the Earth command staff and the range of alien Ambassadors to life, particularly Andreas Katsulas as G’Kar and Peter Jurasik as Mollari. Walter Koenig (of Star Trek’s Chekov fame) was excellent as morally dubious telepath Bester. Though the effects are dated, the characterizations and story line are second to none.

2.         The Expanse – Though the realistic effects and amazing adherence to our understanding of physics and orbital mechanics, the basis of The Expanse is the political confrontations of Earth (who think they are entitled to everything), Mars (the militant offspring who wants to do things their way), and the Belt (the overlooked working class who give their lives mining resources for the inner planets). Fantastic secondary characters, such as Avasarala, Amos, and Bobby Draper, add great depth while Thomas Jane is fantastic as Detective Miller.

1.         Battlestar Galactica (’04) – Simply the best in terms of plot, cast/characters, and effects. A dark, gritty imaging of the remnants of humanity on the run. With strife between the military and civilian government, degrading working conditions, constant threat, and dwindling hope, not to mention a running religious clash between the monotheistic Cylons and polytheistic humans, each of the characters responds in their own way. Edward James Olmos is outstanding as Adama, and President Roslin, Starbuck, and Apollo are all distinct and deep. The effects are also outstanding.

Okay, where did I go wrong? Where do you disagree? Let me know in the comments what shows I’ve missed or placed out of order.