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.
15 The Acolyte (2024)
The Latest Star Wars Adventure About The Birth Of The Sith
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 joins 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-)
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 Alienstars 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
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 The Boys 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
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 surpassed The Boys in terms 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.
After its excellent opening season, there are many theories about Sugar 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 members, 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.
In A World Where Superpowers Are The Norm, One Young Woman Makes Being Ordinary Her Specialty.
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.
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.
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.
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.
5 X-Men ’97 (2024–Present)
This Animated Series Is A Stunning Return To Form For The Marvel Franchise.
Animated shows about the hidden darkness and superheroes have never been more popular, and X-Men ’97 couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. Drawing from the comics and delving into the lives and heroics of the franchise’s most iconic characters, the series has a nostalgic style and aesthetic that’s made clear and innovative by today’s technology but successfully roots it in the near past. Despite being a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series, the show treads new territory and establishes its purpose from the first episodes.
In many ways, X-Men ’97 is a throwback to the classic kids cartoons of the 1990s, telling easy-to-understand moral lessons under the guise of exciting action sequences. However, the show also has the legacy of Marvel to grapple with and has a lot more lore behind it than the original series did. Even with the weight of a movie studio on its shoulders, X-Men ’97 doesn’t shy away from being different from other Marvel offerings and exploring stories that align with the comics while relating to the modern day.
4 Dark Matter (2024)
Joel Edgerton Leads This Frightening Take On Alternate Realities.
Many pieces of media about time travel and parallel universes deal with the terrifying prospect of what would happen if someone met another version of themselves. In comedic circumstances, both parties simply gasp and faint, but in Dark Matter, Jason Dessen’s (Joel Edgerton) other self has sinister intentions. Just as much a psychological thriller as it is a science fiction series, Dark Matter will appeal to audiences who are hesitant to dip their toes into the fantastical elements of the story.
Like all stories about multiple universes,
Dark Matter
comes down to the choices of its characters and their gnawing fears that they made the wrong decisions.
The science behind Dark Matter‘s interdimensional travel is relatively easy to understand and makes sense thanks to the source material. Based on the book of the same name by Blake Crouch, the series tells the same tight story as the novel and thus far has maintained its promise to be a miniseries. Like all stories about multiple universes, Dark Matter comes down to the choices of its characters and their gnawing fears that they made the wrong decisions. However, it’s clear from the show’s arc that life’s true battle isn’t to make choices but to live with them.
3 3 Body Problem (2024–Present)
Based on the book series Remembrance of Earth’s Past by Liu Cixin, Netflix’s 3 Body Problem blends many genres into its premise, but some of its best aspects are thanks to its sci-fi roots. Weaving together stories of the past and present, 3 Body Problem delves into what happens in the aftermath of an alien species coming to Earth and making it their home. Starring Eiza González as Auggie, the show will return for a season 2 following its explosive debut on the streaming service.
Many shows, films, and novels have delved into the possibilities of what would happen if alien life reached Earth, but 3 Body Problem does this in a totally unique way. The show boasts a strong creative team with David Benioff and D.B. Weiss of Game of Thrones and Alexander Woo of True Blood. Though the show’s conflict revolves around the coming arrival of the aliens, the way humans react to their problems and look for solutions is so compelling. As there are many stories to be mined from the books, 3 Body Problem won’t struggle to develop more episodes.
2 The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (2024)
Though It’s A New Spin-off, The Ones Who Live Features Familiar Faces.
Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) met while fighting to survive, and their love story quickly became one of the most emotionally raw parts of the show.
The Walking Dead is an enormously popular franchise that has maintained relevance with a number of great spin-offs since the original series. However, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is one of the best because it includes two fan-favorite characters from the first series. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) met while fighting to survive, and their love story quickly became one of the most emotionally raw parts of the show. Their story continues in The Ones Who Live, which takes place in the aftermath of The Walking Dead.
The main thrust of the series is Rick and Michonne’s separation and their attempts to find each other amidst the chaos of their everyday world. Like every show within The Walking Dead canon, the series is dedicated to amazing action sequences and telling human stories within the apocalyptic world. A love story that transcends the end of the world is one of these stories and is certainly a compelling beginning to a show that treads familiar ground to the other installments of the franchise. However, The Ones Who Live still manages to bring something new and fresh along the way.
1 Fallout (2024–Present)
The Latest In The Strong Video Game Adaptations Hitting The Small Screen.
Based on the hit video game series of the same name, Fallout has become almost as much of a phenomenon as its predecessor, The Last of Us. As shows inspired by video games grow in popularity, audiences are likely to see an increase in the number of sci-fi series that are influenced by the speculative fiction of games. However, this is an exciting development, as Fallout has proven that much can be done by taking the baseline of the world and atmosphere of the game and imagining a fully developed story full of rich characters.
As Fallout season 2 is confirmed, it shouldn’t be too long before audiences see the return of Lucy (Ella Purnell), the Ghoul (Walton Goggins), and Maximus (Aaron Moten) as they navigate an ever-changing world and their role within it. Fallout has taken hold of its audience’s imagination because of how immersive the series is. The monsters, technology, and factions all make logical sense within the world. Amazing performances from actors and a good mix of CGI and practical effects elevate the series’ strengths.
