HBO has proven over the years that it can churn out plenty of absolutely compelling thriller miniseries. Shows as varied as The Night Of, Sharp Objects, Mare of Easttown, and The Penguin have all earned critical acclaim and ardent fans. Each of these miniseries lasts just one season, but they are every bit as gripping as a long-running drama. Now, HBO’s newest miniseries, DTF St. Louis, has already earned an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes and is gaining a devoted following who are becoming obsessed with the drama.

What Is ‘DTF St. Louis’ About?

A seven-part dark comedy created by Steven Conrad, DTF St. Louis follows the friendship between the straight-laced weatherman Clark Forrest (Jason Bateman) and the affable Floyd Smernitch (David Harbour). Clark seems to have it all, with a successful career and a sweet family, but his connection with Floyd and Floyd’s wife, Carol Love-Smernitch (Linda Cardellini) ends up threatening the perfect life he’s created for himself.

From the very first episode, it’s easy to get sucked into this triangle of characters, but the show expands from a simple tale of middle-aged friendship to a murder mystery when one of them turns up dead under extremely strange circumstances. Two detectives, Donoghue Homer (Richard Jenkins) and Jodie Plumb (Joy Sunday), arrive on the scene and discover that these seemingly normal suburban parents are actually hiding a whole host of secrets. Many of these secrets stem from Floyd and Clark joining a dating app called DTF St. Louis, where married couples are encouraged to have affairs. Each episode unfolds in a nonlinear way, with flashbacks to the beginning of the trio’s bond to the present-day murder investigation.

Related

‘DTF St. Louis’ Review: David Harbour and Jason Bateman’s HBO Mystery Wobbles, but Its Dark Comedy Still Hooks You

In the heart of suburbia, three lives intertwine through a dating app, but one death throws the town into chaos.

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‘DTF St. Louis’ Features a Wild Plot and a Stellar Cast

DTF St. Louis, on the surface, seems to have a fairly innocuous premise, but as the action plays out, the twists and turns result in storytelling choices that create a surprising and unique narrative. The characters all have multiple layers, so that what you see on the surface becomes very different from who they are at their core, with several unreliable narrators that heighten the series’ tension. DTF St. Louis has plenty of dark themes, but the humor underlying many scenes gives the series an absurd sensibility. Plus, the storytelling decision to jump back and forth between time frames results in a thrilling pace that carries through each episode. You won’t want to wait for new episodes to find out how this mystery will resolve itself.

DTF St. Louis is a fascinating miniseries because it nails the balance between serious themes and sly humor, and this combination is executed brilliantly by a fantastic cast. Bateman brings all of his comedy background, a la Arrested Development, alongside his experience in dramas like Ozark, to create an enigma of a morally ambiguous character. Harbour, in a huge departure from Stranger Things, is a lovable hero who is trying to leave the world a better place than he found it. The true standout of the series is Cardellini, however, because each episode changes how we see Carol — is she a neglected housewife, or a manipulative femme fatale who is poised to get her way? Cardellini brings a magnetism and darker energy to the character that makes DTF St. Louis even more intriguing. Jenkins and Sunday are equally interesting in their detective roles, and Peter Sarsgaard has a fun, smaller performance as a man that Floyd meets through the dating app.

DTF St. Louis might have fallen flat without such a stellar cast, but luckily, Conrad’s insightful and inventive writing and directing allow this twisted story to flourish. As a viewer, you’ll desperately want to find out who’s responsible for the murder and how it came to pass, but you’ll also stay glued to your screen simply to learn more about how this friendship ended so tragically. Because this is a one-and-done limited series, most of our questions will probably be answered by the finale, but it’s going to be a wild ride to the ending.

DTF St. Louis is available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S. New episodes drop every Sunday.

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Release Date

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2026 – 2026-00-00

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HBO

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Showrunner

Steve Conrad

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Steven Conrad

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Steven Conrad

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A director from the Yellowstone spinoff Marshals is defending the show’s decision not to explain Monica’s shocking offscreen death.

“This is why it didn’t strike me as a pilot. There was no exposition about Monica’s death in the pilot,” Greg Yaitanes, who directed the series premiere, recently told Collider about the introduction to the CBS show.

The plan was to not get into detail about what happened to Monica (Kelsey Asbille).

“It was exactly what it would be like a year or two after the death of the character,” he continued. “You would be talking about the circumstances around it vs. talking about the thing.”

Related: Why Did They Kill Off Yellowstone’s Monica on ‘Marshals’? Death Explained

Yellowstone‘s spinoff Marshals killed off Kelsey Asbille‘s character Monica, but what was the reason for her onscreen death? The Sunday, March 1, episode of Luke Grimes‘ new CBS show revealed that Kayce Dutton’s wife previously died after she got cancer as a result of toxins dumped onto the Broken Rock reservation. Amid a strong reaction […]

Yaitanes expressed gratitude to Asbille, adding, “What was really important was that we had her picture for the protest, and she was lovely to give us permission for that. That was a really critical piece to that scene. That’s what I thought that scene was about.”

Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, which aired from 2018 to 2024, introduced Us to Kayce (Luke Grimes) and his wife, Monica, who remained at the center of the show until the finale. After teaching at a local school on the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Monica went on to become a professor at Montana State University while navigating life with Kayce, who moved them back to the Yellowstone Ranch following his past tension with dad John (Kevin Costner).

Following John’s death, Kayce, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, became the new owner and operator of the Yellowstone Ranch. Kayce and Monica ended the show alive — and were still together — before Marshals began.

When the series premiered in March, however, fans learned Monica died after battling cancer.

“My first question when I got the scripts, as I was reading them, was, ‘How are they going to undo Kayce’s happy ending?’ He really had a beautiful finish at the end of Yellowstone proper,” Yaitanes explained. “And I was really moved to see, ‘OK, life has gone in another direction.’ I almost feel like [episode 2] is really the pilot, and [the pilot] was the bridge between Yellowstone and Marshals.”

Yaitanes called the second episode “the show you’re going to be watching.”

“Immediately, being a single dad to a son, which was something I could personally connect to, having been a single dad at various times in my life, I felt that the way it was handled and the humanity in which it was handled was really beautiful, and I wanted to be part of it,” he shared.

Showrunner Spencer Hudnut has also addressed the decision to kill off Monica.

“Kayce had such a perfect ending in Yellowstone,” he told TVLine in March. “His dreams had finally come true. As we were trying to figure out how to tell the next chapter in Kayce’s story, it felt like he really needed to be shaken out of that. Unfortunately, tragedy tends to find Kayce, so something bad was going to happen for him one way or the other. It just sort of played out that it was going to be Monica.”

Hudnut said Monica’s death will continue to drive Kayce, adding, “To me, Monica is really guiding Kayce through this first episode, trying to help him find his new path. And if you actually break it down, Tate is at that rally to honor his mother, and Kayce goes there to protect Tate. So if not for Monica, Kayce never would have been in that position and may not have found this path.”

He concluded: “We really wanted to be respectful of the way that we said goodbye to her. I also didn’t want to step on the ending of Yellowstone, because what they had was a beautiful ending. Unfortunately, real life intervened.”

Marshals airs on CBS Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.

Robert Pattinson is gearing up for the release of his latest film, “The Drama,” in which he stars alongside Zendaya. Recently, at the premiere of the new movie, he opened up about the long-awaited sequel to 2022’s “The Batman,” which has been in the works for several years.

Robert Pattinson Says Production On ‘The Batman Part 2’ Will Begin Soon

Warner Bros. first greenlit “The Batman Part 2” in April 2022 with Matt Reeves set to return as the director and Pattinson once again playing the character. However, the film faced several delays and, until recently, repordadly didn’t have a script.

Recently, Pattinson spoke to Deadline and gave an update on the highly anticipated film. He said, “The script is extraordinary, and I think it’s gonna be like a really, really special movie and very, very different, even from the last one.”

The actor went on to call the script “interesting,” noting that the movie will “take some big swings.” Pattinson was then asked if production had started, to which he said, “No, a couple of months.”

The Movie Has An Official Release Date

It’s not uncommon for studios to push back the release of movies. However, many have been dismayed by the long wait, given the success of “The Batman” and the positive reaction to Pattinson as the character.

Originally, “The Batman Part 2” was slated to be released on October 3, 2025. The release date was later changed to October 2026, and now fans can expect to see the yet-to-be filmed movie on October 3, 2027. Of course, it should be noted that the film was also disrupted by the 2023 Hollywood strikes.

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Regarding production, Variety reported in April 2025 that production would begin in Spring 2026, which is roughly in line with Pattinson’s update to Deadline.

Fans Are Excited About ‘The Batman Part 2’ But Also Nervous

For the most part, there is still general excitement about “The Batman Part 2.” One person reacted to Pattinson’s update, saying, “Best live action Batman in my opinion.” Another person wrote, “I have a feeling this is gonna be the best Batman movie ever.”

Someone else said, “Production hasn’t even started?? lmaoo.” A different TikTok user then threw out an unwanted scenario, writing, “Imagine they pulled a ‘Joker 2’ and made it a musical.”

Lastly, a different fan brought up the long wait, stating, “Uh, no, a couple months? Brother, we’ve been waiting four years for a Batman movie.” Still, overall, most people have faith that “The Batman Part 2” will live up to the first, especially with Reeves directing.

Robert Pattinson Recently Hinted That He’s Married

Pattinson began dating actress and singer Suki Waterhouse in 2018. They then announced that they were expecting their first child in November of 2023. After that, an insider confirmed to PEOPLE in December that they had gotten engaged.

The source said, “They are engaged. They both want to be married. It’s important for them. He’s so ready. His relationship with Suki is incredible. He feels very lucky.”

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More recently, in March 2026, Pattinson and Zendaya gave a joint interview with Extra to promote “The Drama.” During it, they were both asked the biggest secret they’ve been able to keep. This led Zendaya to play coy about rumors she secretly married Tom Holland.

After that, Pattinson said, “It’s the same one that you have,” again, referring to Zendaya’s alleged secret marriage to Holland and hinting that he and Waterhouse had tied the knot.

Pattinson Has Several Movies On The Horizon

Pattinson may have made a name for himself with the “Twilight” franchise, but he’s become a bona fide movie star aside from the vampire flicks. Now, ahead of production on “The Batman Part 2,” he has several already completed films on the horizon. Up first is “The Drama,” which arrives in movie theaters on April 3.

After that, he will appear in Christoper Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” which will be released on July 17. Notably, his “The Drama” co-star is also one of the film’s leads. Per IMDb, his other 2026 film with an official release date is “Dune: Part 3,” which Warner Bros. is releasing on December 18. This will be the first “Dune” movie to feature Pattinson.

Pattinson will also star in “Here Comes the Flood.”

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Chapped lips are the bane of my existence every winter. Bethenny Frankel feels the same way, and she just revealed the genius plumper (yes, lip plumper) that keeps her pout “smooth, hydrated and kissable” all season long.

On a recent edition of Bethenny’s List, Frankel said she can’t stop using the RoC Derm Correxion Lip Volumizer, and it does much more than simply plump lips. “This gives a soft, natural plump without the sticky gloss or overdone look. It’s the kind of product you throw on and instantly feel better,” Frankel said.

Get the RoC Derm Correxion Lip Volumizer for $25 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

From my nearly 10-year career in the beauty industry, I’ve learned that many lip plumpers can feel rather irritating. However, new ingredients have transformed the category with fresh, elevated formulas that nourish your pout while also increasing volume.

RoC Derm Correxion Lip Volumizer utilizes hyaluronic acid filling spheres that bind water to your lips. More moisture naturally results in a plumper look, sans stinging. Add in some pro-collagen peptides to minimize lip wrinkles, and you have a soft, smooth, very kissable pout.

An additional benefit of this lip plumper is the included SPF 30. We often forget that lips are skin, too, and need to be shielded from the sun to prevent them from drying out.

As for the plumping effect, well, some Amazon shoppers say friends have inquired if they’ve gotten lip injections after using this regularly.

“I had been on the fence for a few months on whether this lip treatment would be worth it. How can it be that much better than others? I don’t know how, but it is,” one reviewer wrote. “Such a hydrating and plumping formula that actually lasts!! I have had two coworkers ask me if I had my lips done since using it regularly (2x a day). If you are thinking about this product, trust me you will love it!”

Add the RoC Derm Correxion Lip Volumizer to your cart to experience the hydrating/sun protection/plumping effects for yourself!

Get the RoC Derm Correxion Lip Volumizer for $25 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more from RoC here and more lip volumizers here! Don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Related: Selena Gomez Applied This $29 Skin-Perfecting Cream Before the Golden Globes

Red carpet glamour often conjures images of luxury serums and sky-high price tags, but Selena Gomez took a more relatable route for her Golden Globes beauty prep. To create her softly glowing, Old-Hollywood-inspired look, a source told Us Weekly that the star’s makeup routine began with the Dr. Althea PDRN Reju 5000 Cream. The skin-perfecting […]

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Rebel Wilson is letting everyone know she won’t keep quiet amid an already messy legal drama involving her film “The Deb.” 

The 2024 musical comedy has been at the center of a legal battle between Wilson and its producers. The “Bridesmaids” star previously accused them of embezzlement and other misconduct, allegations that prompted a lawsuit.

Recently, it escalated following claims that Wilson planned to circulate false information about producer Amanda Ghost. Wilson has now pushed back, making it clear she intends to speak her truth. 

Rebel Wilson Says She’s Not ‘Scared’ To Speak Up Amid Her Film’s Legal Showdown 

The 46-year-old took to her Instagram Stories on March 17 to respond to the new smear campaign accusation, suggesting the issue runs deeper than it appears, with influential figures attempting to keep her quiet.

In her first post, she wrote that “there’s a lot to say,” about the lawsuit drama over her directorial debut which she described as her “passion project.” 

She explained that she had originally planned to wait until giving testimony before sharing her side of the story. However, “the absolute bombardment on her, via heavily paid crisis PR firms” has affected her so much that it is “impossible” to keep quiet.

Wilson continued, alleging “dodgy” behavior from the production team on set, which she reported and believed would be stopped. However, it seemed she struck a nerve, suggesting that “powerful people” wanted it covered up and were intent on “silencing” her. 

She also directly called out billionaire Sir Len Blavatnik, urging him to take appropriate action. Wilson added that if necessary, she is fully prepared to take the stand and “tell it like it is,” per People Magazine.

Rebel Wilson Reportedly Plotted Smear Campaign Against Amanda Ghost 

Wilson’s latest response comes just days after a court filing alleged she worked with a PR firm to circulate damaging and false claims about Ghost.

As The Blast reported, Jed Wallace, who owns a crisis management firm, was allegedly heard in a leaked recording discussing strategies to shape a negative narrative around Ghost. The plan reportedly included portraying her as a “madame” involved in procuring sex workers for Blavatnik.

Wallace also referenced Wilson’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, in his plan and gave instructions to publicist Melissa Nathan on how to circulate the allegations anonymously online.

Rebel Wilson Revealed Some Of The Things That Happened On The Movie Set 

Since the dispute began, Wilson has continued to share her version of events from the film’s production. According to The Blast, “The Hustle” actress recounted being held hostage and pressured to sign documents. 

“A whole ton of things went on, including something massive… me and local producers being locked in a room and forced to sign documents,” Wilson previously told Tara Brown on “60 Minutes Australia.”

She also revealed an incident involving Charlotte McInnes that occurred, which she interpreted as sexual misconduct. The “Struck By Lightning” actress recounted that McInnes told her that Ghost had asked for them to take a shower together, which made her feel uncomfortable. 

Wilson added that she felt morally obligated to do something about the allegations. 

Wilson’s Sexual Harassment Report Debunked 

However, McInnes denied ever telling Wilson of such actions and fired back with a defamation lawsuit. 

In her filing, McInnes maintained that no misconduct ever occurred and dismissed the claims as “absurd.” She emphasized that she never reported any inappropriate behavior because, according to her, there was none to report.

McInnes noted that it was Wilson’s conduct that left her feeling uncomfortable. “I was deeply disturbed by this behavior and felt very bullied and harassed by Wilson, who was the director of the film and in a position of authority over me,” McInnes stated per The Blast.

The ‘Pitch Perfect’ Star Set To Welcome Another Baby Girl 

Amid the legal chaos, Wilson is preparing for an addition to her family of three. The Blast reported back in December that she and her wife, Ramona Agruma, shared the happy news on Instagram. 

The post featured a video montage showing moments with their first daughter, Royce, and clips of Agruma’s baby bump. 

In the caption, Agruma emotionally wrote, “The happiest news in our family… it will be 4 of us soon! Baby number 2 is on her way. I love you @rebelwilson.”

Grey’s Anatomy might have found a way to subtly address — and shade — the viral Coldplay kiss cam scandal.

During the Thursday, March 19, episode of the hit ABC medical drama, a case was brought into Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital with a couple getting injured at a public event, which led to their affair being exposed.

There were later divided thoughts on the drama as different employees at the hospital weighed in on the married man being in a secret relationship with his boss.

Ben (Jason George) had strong thoughts on infidelity, saying, “Social media is racking her over the coals. Her company is putting her on leave. … You take the risk, you pay the consequences too.”

Related: Every Star Who‘s Left ‘Grey‘s Anatomy‘: Where Are They Now?

The night … was March 27, 2005. Television titan Shonda Rhimes knew what she had just created — but audiences still had no idea. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to […]

The sentiment wasn’t shared by Jules (Adelaide Kane), who felt the blame was only directed at the woman involved in the affair.

“I bet there isn’t a peep about the married man,” she said, to which Winston (Anthony Hill) argued that the man is “getting judged plenty” as well. “Is he getting put on leave?”

Winston, however, noted that the situation isn’t the same because the woman “is his supervisor.” The comment held a double meaning, as Grey’s Anatomy fans have been anxiously waiting for Winston to act on his feelings for Jules despite him technically being her supervisor.

While the story line could have been nothing more than a fictional idea, certain details appeared to be inspired by Kristin Cabot and Astronomer CEO’s Andy Byron being caught getting cozy at a Coldplay concert.

The August 2025 moment made headlines when Cabot, the head of HR at Tech company Astronomer, and Bryon, the CEO who was also newly separated, had a stunned reaction when they were caught on the kiss cam. Byron had his arms wrapped around Cabot until they realized the cameras were on them, prompting him to drop out of sight to hide and Cabot to turn and shield her face.

“Whoa, look at these two. All right, come on. You’re OK,” Coldplay frontman Chris Martin said at the time. “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy. I’m not quite sure what to do. I hope we didn’t do something bad.”

When the moment got shared online, Byron and Cabot were both still legally married to other people. Andy’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, made headlines for appearing to remove “Byron” from her Facebook profile while Kristin subsequently filed for divorce from husband Andrew Cabot.

“I made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and danced and acted inappropriately with my boss,” Cabot — who said she was newly separated at the time of the concert — told The New York Times in December 2025. “And it’s not nothing.”

Kristin reflected on how her life changed after the scandal. “I took accountability and I gave up my career for that. That’s the price I chose to pay,” she said. “I want my kids to know that you can make mistakes, and you can really screw up. But you don’t have to be threatened to be killed for them.”

Kristin clarified to The New York Times that she interviewed for a position at Astronomer in the summer of 2024. She spoke with Andy and they “clicked, stylistically.” Kristin started as Astronomer’s chief people officer in November 2024 and found herself developing a connection with Andy while going through a separation from her husband. Andy told Kristin that he related to what she was going through during a conversation they had in spring 2025.

According to Kristin, the first and only time she kissed Andy was at the infamous concert. She recalled how the immediate fallout affected her — personally and professionally.

“I was so embarrassed and so horrified,” she noted. “I’m the head of HR and he’s the CEO It’s, like, so cliché and so bad. We both just sat there with our heads in our hands, like, ‘What just happened?’”

In the wake of the scandal, Andy resigned from his position at Astronomer. (Kristin stepped down from her position as Chief People Officer as well.)

“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” a spokesperson for the company told Us Weekly in a July 2025 statement. “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”

The statement continued, “Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI. While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We’re continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.”

Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.

It should go without saying that a sci-fi show that’s perfect is the dream of every fan of genre television. But a sci-fi show that’s almost perfect—a near-masterpiece, if you will—can be every bit as delightful. There can be a variety of reasons why they don’t quite reach “masterpiece” status. Perhaps they’re a little dated, or they have a couple of narrative mistakes here and there, or they were prematurely cancelled before they could achieve greatness. But no matter what, these are still some of the greatest sci-fi shows ever made.

From classics like the British cult favorite Red Dwarf to modern hidden gems like Colony, these shows come about as close as a TV series can come to true science fiction perfection. Hugely imaginative and creative, full of interesting characters and world-building, and with some of the coolest visuals of any show from their era, these series, whether they’re underappreciated or absolutely legendary, are a must-see for all sci-fi fans.

‘The Peripheral’ (2022)

Image via Prime Video

Loosely based on the 2014 book by William Gibson, Prime Video’s The Peripheral was a tragic victim of the extended duration of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. But while this left it as one of those sad single-season sci-fi shows that was never allowed to reach their full potential (a category that unfortunately has many exponents), it’s still one of the most underrated sci-fi shows of the 2020s so far.

Starring the incredible Chloë Grace Moretz and executive-produced by Westworld‘s Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, The Peripheral feels like it was designed for people who love cyberpunk sci-fi and genre slow-burns. Its thought-provoking, deliberately-paced nature may not fully appeal to those who prefer their science fiction action-packed and adrenaline-filled, but for people who have no problem with sci-fi shows that take their time, it’s a must-see.

‘Red Dwarf’ (1988–2020)

Image via BBC

The long-running BBC sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf has become a multimedia franchise with almost four decades’ worth of diehard fans, but only 12 seasons of the show have aired. That’s primarily due to the eventual dissolution of the creative partnership between its creators, Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. But even in spite of all the gaps and hiatuses, this is one of those underrated sci-fi shows that are far better than they look.

Red Dwarf can often be delectably campy, pulpy, and imaginative; but at its worst, it can be an atrocious disappointment. After around season six (when the Grant & Naylor split took place), Red Dwarf lost some of the polish that had made it a beloved classic for so long. But even the worst of Red Dwarf episodes are far funnier and more enjoyable than most sci-fi comedies on the air today, and that’s more than enough to still make it worth watching today.

‘The 4400’ (2004–2007)

Image via USA Network

Yet another exceptional sci-fi show that was canceled due to a WGA strike (this one in 2007), The 4400 is nevertheless one of the best TV series the genre had to offer during the 2000s. The show felt like a direct response to the general national mood in the U.S. post 9/11, at least tonally, and it kept that atmosphere throughout the entirety of its run. That may make it sound like it reads more like a product of its time nowadays, but in fact, The 4400 is still every bit as enjoyable in 2026 as it was back in 2004.

It was always surprisingly ambitious for a CW science fiction show, often feeling more like the kind of prestige genre television you’d expect to find somewhere like HBO. Sometimes the pacing isn’t great, and the drama can feel a little forced, but the vast majority of the time, The 4400 remained a show taut in its writing, memorable in its performances, and exceptionally entertaining in its creativity and originality.

‘Colony’ (2016–2018)

Image via USA Network

Colony was created by House of the Dragon creator Ryan Condal and former Lost showrunner Carlton Cuse. It starred Lost‘s Josh Holloway and The Walking Dead‘s Sarah Wayne Callies. With a pedigree like that, it’s no wonder this was such a beloved and acclaimed show throughout pretty much all of its run, a run which came to a tragic end after three seasons due to declining viewership and rising production costs.

In all honesty, sci-fi fans failed Colony. In it, they had one of the best-written, thought-provoking, and intelligent genre shows on network television, and that made its untimely conclusion all the more of a tragedy. The series was never perfect, since it sometimes felt a little too derivative of alien invasion classics like V; but it was the kind of sci-fi show that only kept getting better and more engrossing as it went along, and fans continue to be disappointed that the story wasn’t allowed to continue.

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–2025)

The elephant in the room must be addressed: Yes, the main reason why Stranger Things loses its right to hold the “masterpiece” status that one may argue it held after Season 4’s conclusion is how underwhelming its final season was. But those willing to look past a disappointing ending will find themselves treated to one of the most prestigious, creative, and nostalgic sci-fi shows of the 21st century thus far.

Stranger Things is the kind of sci-fi show so nearly-perfect that it should never be remade. The casting is phenomenal, the visuals are out of this world, and the homage that the writing team constantly paid to movies, shows, and pop culture from the ’80s was always a delight. Emotionally engaging and full of compelling characters, Stranger Things deserved a better ending. Even though it didn’t get it, it’s still one of the most entertaining genre shows from recent years.

‘The Mandalorian’ (2019–2023)

Image via Disney+

Ever since Star Wars: Ewoks and Star Wars: Droids debuted together on the same fateful day in 1985, the televisual dimension of the Star Wars franchise had been exclusively limited to animation. It wasn’t until 2019, years after Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm and just a month before the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga with The Rise of Skywalker, that the galaxy far, far away made the jump to live-action television with The Mandalorian.

Though the series’ third (and latest) season was disappointing, it still had its moments; and the first couple of seasons were top-tier Star Wars content. It’s one of the most nearly-perfect shows on Disney+, a bounty-hunting space adventure that takes full advantage of its episodic format while still having plenty of serialized elements to keep viewers engaged. It’s exciting, full of great additions to the Star Wars lore, and packed with references and Easter eggs that fans will surely appreciate.

‘The Boys’ (2019–Present)

Image via Prime Video

Highly divisive and very often criticized, Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson‘s The Boys comic book series wasn’t exactly the kind of source material that made it easy to make a masterful show. And yet, from the moment Prime Video’s show of the same name started streaming, fans knew that not only were they in for a series considerably superior to the comics it was based on, but also potentially one of the greatest superhero shows ever made.

The Boys is one of those action TV shows that are like an adrenaline rush from start to finish, full of dark humor and clever satire poking fun at the superhero genre, Hollywood, and modern American society. While its jokes don’t always land, its edginess doesn’t always feel organic, and its later seasons have gotten clunkier in certain spots, it’s still one of the most exciting and entertaining social and political satires currently on television. Whether its final season will be able to stick the landing and bring it closer to full-fledged “masterpiece” territory remains to be seen as of the time of writing this article.

‘Star Trek: The Original Series’ (1966–1969)

Image via NBC

In 1964, long-time sci-fi fan Gene Roddenberry came up with the idea for a TV series about the crew of a large spaceship exploring the galaxy. That idea eventually transformed into Star Trek (now retroactively subtitled The Original Series), a show that, from the day it first aired in September 1966, was far ahead of its time. It’s an iconic gem whose unmistakable style, optimistic and hopeful approach to the genre, and social and political progressiveness have become so immensely influential that it feels weird adding the word “nearly” before “perfect” when talking about it.

In all fairness, however, it’s more than fair to say that almost everything that The Original Series does well has been done slightly better by some other Star Trek property that came after. But if there’s any show which proves that being an almost-masterpiece doesn’t mean it’s any less impactful or iconic, it’s this one. Star Trek: The Original Series is a cornerstone of science fiction history and a must-see for all those who love the genre, a classic full of entertaining stories and with one of the best ensemble casts in television history. Sci-fi wouldn’t be what it is today without it.

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Star Trek: The Original Series

Release Date

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1966 – 1969-00-00

Showrunner

Gene Roddenberry

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Directors

Marc Daniels, Joseph Pevney, Ralph Senensky, Vincent McEveety, Herb Wallerstein, Jud Taylor, Marvin J. Chomsky, David Alexander, Gerd Oswald, Herschel Daugherty, James Goldstone, Robert Butler, Anton Leader, Gene Nelson, Harvey Hart, Herbert Kenwith, James Komack, John Erman, John Newland, Joseph Sargent, Lawrence Dobkin, Leo Penn, Michael O’Herlihy, Murray Golden

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