Entertainment
10 Classic Sci-Fi TV Shows Still Worth Binge-Watching Today
The science fiction genre is one that lends itself perfectly to producing highly binge-worthy television. After all, what is it that makes a show bingeable? Serialized stories full of gripping mysteries and engaging plot lines, character arcs that are irresistibly compelling, and creativity so enrapturing that it makes clicking on the “next episode” button a necessity more so than a simple temptation.
Binge-watching television is a modern phenomenon of the streaming era, so it’s mostly newer sci-fi shows that are highly bingeable. But there are also plenty of classic sci-fi shows that seem prophetic in how they seemed to understand how audiences would consume television in the future, ticking every box that makes a show binge-worthy in the modern day. If we define “classic” as any series from the 20th century, that leaves us with 10 series that should all be considered essential viewing for fans of the genre.
10
‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)
It’s true that an element of serialization is almost a necessity for a show to be binge-worthy, but the keyword here happens to be “almost.” The proof? The Twilight Zone, far and away one of the best American sci-fi shows of all time—and most definitely the most influential one. The thing about this classic is that it’s perhaps the most perfect use of the anthology format in television history.
As such, though there are definitely a few underwhelming episodes here, The Twilight Zone mostly delivers across the board. Its many distinct stories are so creative, so freshly original, and so delectably nostalgic that, even if there’s no serialization to keep viewers clicking on “next episode,” the episodes themselves are so strong in their own right that it’s impossible to stop moving on to the next one.
9
‘Batman: The Animated Series’ (1992–1995)
Whether superhero shows like Batman: The Animated Series should or shouldn’t be considered science fiction is a topic for debate, but what’s undeniable is that this is one of the best cartoons of the ’90s. It’s the definitive small-screen portrayal of the Caped Crusader (voiced by the legendary Kevin Conroy), a show that should prove irresistible even for those who hold no nostalgic feelings toward it.
This is another instance of a heavily episodic series that’s nevertheless borderline impossible to stop watching, particularly for those who already find the Dark Knight to be one of the most interesting superheroes in history. Everything about Batman: The Animated Series is so well-realized; its adaptations of and additions to the Batman lore are all so gripping; and its animation has aged so well that it’s abundantly easy to consume the whole thing in less than a month.
8
‘Stargate SG-1’ (1997–2007)
The Stargate franchise was born from Roland Emmerich‘s 1994 blockbuster classic, and from there, we got one of the best military sci-fi franchises in the genre’s history. There’s really not much of a question regarding what the best or most popular installment in the whole franchise is: That honor would have to go to Stargate SG-1, which started out as more of a low-key niche product in the ’90s, but transformed into a pop-cultural sensation after it moved from Showtime to The Sci Fi Channel in 2002.
The ’90s were perhaps the best-ever decade for sci-fi television, and few shows demonstrate that better than Stargate SG-1. With an exceptional ensemble cast that oozes chemistry and a fascinating world that never got dull throughout the show’s run, the show is a brilliant blend of episodic “world-of-the-week” elements and an overarching serialized narrative that grows in importance as the show goes on. With over 200 episodes, it’s definitely not a show one can binge-watch in a single week, but that doesn’t make it any less addictive.
7
‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)
Cowboy Bebop is perhaps the most iconic and acclaimed sci-fi anime series in history, one of the shows that helped popularize anime among Western audiences in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Twenty-seven years after its conclusion, it’s still one of the best TV show masterpieces of the last 30 years, a neo-noir space Western that works wonderfully in virtually every way that matters.
Genre-bending, visually delectable, and flawlessly paced, it’s a show that pretends to be episodic, but it also features a strong, slow-burning serialized story and a sense of aesthetic continuity that you can’t get in any other show. The story’s paced like a good tune (paired with some phenomenal music), and the character-driven story is a blast from start to finish, making Cowboy Bebop‘s 26 episodes abundantly easy to get through.
6
‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ (1993–1999)
You’d be hard-pressed to find a Star Trek fan who thinks that Deep Space Nine is the franchise’s best show ever, but is it the most bingeable of the bunch? It most definitely is. By this point in the life of Gene Roddenberry‘s franchise, some kind of refreshing was needed, and a refreshing is precisely what Deep Space Nine provided by introducing complete serialization to the Star Trek television universe.
Complete with a fantastic cast, top-tier production values, and the best villain that Star Trek has ever shown on the small screen, Deep Space Nine is the kind of binge-worthy sci-fi show that gets better every season. It’s not perfect, particularly since there are some elements of filler that definitely haven’t aged the best, but for the most part, this is a criminally underappreciated chapter of Star Trek‘s history.
5
‘Farscape’ (1999–2003)
The worst thing about Farscape is the fact that it ends. Produced by The Jim Henson Company, this is one of the most groundbreaking sci-fi shows in history, a perfectly written and visually delightful cult classic that has aged like fine wine in virtually every way. If only for its revolutionary work with make-up, prosthetics, and animatronic puppets, it makes it impossible to watch only one episode at a time.
But its visuals aren’t the only thing that Farscape has going for it, which only makes it more addictive. Blending quirky goofiness and camp with seriously dramatic character-driven drama and high-stakes stories, this is one of the most perfect space operas that the small screen has ever seen. Its breaking of genre molds and clever mixture of serialization and episodic elements make it a must-see for people who love sci-fi television.
4
‘Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ (1988–1997)
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is one of the most iconic anime series of the 20th century, one of those sci-fi anime shows that can be considered masterpieces. It’s the second and longest-running animated adaptation of Yoshiki Tanaka‘s series of epic sci-fi novels, and watching the show itself feels like watching a fascinating science fiction book come to life.
Politically and philosophically complex in its thematic work, sprawling in its world-building, and absolutely gorgeous in its cutting-edge animation—which has aged perfectly—, it’s a phenomenal show that even those who don’t typically love anime should consider checking out. It’s television at its most episodic, an airtight story where every moment of every episode starts building up a sense of momentum that leads all the way to an enthralling conclusion.
3
‘Future Boy Conan’ (1978)
Future Boy Conan is one of the best animated shows you’ve probably never heard of—and it’s a borderline crime that so few people have ever heard of it, because it was actually the first time that Hayao Miyazaki oversaw an entire TV series as director. As such, many people consider it the legendary Studio Ghibli filmmaker’s directorial debut.
You can see every signature here that would turn Miyazaki into a legend soon enough: ahead-of-its-time animation, a delightful sense of humor, a thrilling plot full of memorable characters, exceptional music, and surprisingly mature themes. With there only being 26 episodes, there’s no excuse for fans of Miyazaki and anime in general not to watch what’s easily one of the greatest animated shows of the 20th century.
2
‘Babylon 5’ (1994–1998)
Babylon 5 revolutionized American science fiction television. In fact, it was a landmark in the history of American television in general. Very unusually for American broadcast television at the time, this cult classic was devised as a sort of novel for television, where each season would serve as a different chapter of a pre-planned five-season story arc. For such an ambitious premise, it’s surprising that Babylon 5 turned out as well as it did.
It’s one of the most exciting sci-fi shows to binge-watch, if only because it’s a delight to watch how this group of creatives in the mid- and late ’90s set a new gold standard for sci-fi television going forward. Babylon 5‘s serialization still works flawlessly all these many years later, and though some elements of the show do feel pretty dated by modern standards, those elements only add to its nostalgic charm.
1
‘The Prisoner’ (1967–1968)
The British show The Prisoner is one of the best forgotten shows of the 1960s, a surreal gem with elements of spy fiction and psychological drama. It’s a mind-bending trip that was far ahead of its time, and is even more engrossing to watch today than it was back in the late ’60s. Complex, Kafkaesque, and thematically powerful, it’s a powerful reflection of the mentality generated by the countercultural movements of its era.
The Prisoner is definitely not for those who prefer their sci-fi to be straightforward, since its escalating sense of weirdness and mystery only keeps getting less and less apologetic about its surrealism as its 17-episode single season progresses. But for people who tend to be pulled into sci-fi shows by their philosophical hooks, The Prisoner should prove to be an absolute blast.
The Prisoner
- Release Date
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1967 – 1968-00-00
- Network
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ITV1
- Directors
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Don Chaffey, Pat Jackson, Peter Graham Scott
- Writers
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George Markstein, Anthony Skene, Terence Feely, Vincent Tilsley, Ian Rakoff
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Arthur Gross
Control Room Operator
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Barbara Yu Ling
Taxi driver
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Bartlett Mullins
Committee Chairman
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