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For sci-fi fans looking for a quick binge-watch session, there are plenty of excellent shows with less than five seasons. And for those looking for a longer commitment to enjoy over the course of several months, there are also many with more than five. But when it comes to science fiction, for some inexplicable reason, five seasons—the exact number of seasons that several of the genre’s best TV series have—seem to be the sweet spot.

From campy classics, like Quantum Leap, to shows which aired their final season far more recently, like Stranger Things, the number of legendary sci-fi shows with exactly five seasons is too large to be considered a pure coincidence. Not so short that they can be watched in a single sitting, but also not so long that watching the pilot feels like a huge commitment, they’re right in the delightful middle ground.

1

‘Quantum Leap’ (1989–1993)

Image via NBC

There are plenty of cheesy ’80s sci-fi shows that somehow still hold up, and Quantum Leap is easily one of the most iconic. Starring the always-incredible Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell, this cult classic combined sci-fi with humor, romance, and social commentary masterfully throughout its entire run, delivering a timeless experience that’s aged like fine wine.

It’s the kind of brilliant sci-fi series that kept coming up with inventive ways of refreshing itself, which made its five-season run consistently exciting—and ensured that it went out with a bang instead of fizzling out like many shows of its kind often do. Well-acted, nostalgic, and often surprisingly dramatic for a series that so often has pretty silly premises, it may not be perfect, but it sure provides a good time.

2

‘Orphan Black’ (2013–2017)

Image via BBC America

Bolstered by Tatiana Maslany‘s masterful star-making performance as several characters, Orphan Black is one of the greatest Canadian TV shows ever made, let alone Canadian sci-fi shows. It’s not just the quality of its lead performance: This is one of those rare sci-fi shows that are perfect from start to finish, the kind that only kept getting better with each passing season.

For people who love clone and doppelgänger science fiction, Orphan Black is a must-see. It’s a wild ride full of pulsating suspense, layered character work, and thought-provoking themes and commentary on the moral and ethical implications of human cloning. It’s a deeply complex show that never lets its innovative premise run out of steam, and by the time it came to an end, it had already solidified itself as one of the highest-quality sci-fi shows of the 2010s.

3

‘Spider-Man: The Animated Series’ (1994–1998)

Image via Fox Kids Network

The very first Spider-Man animated TV series started airing in 1967, and since then, the Wall-Crawler has become one of the most familiar faces in the realm of animated superhero fare on the small screen. It wasn’t until 1994, however, that audiences were exposed to just how great Spidey shows could truly be, all thanks to Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

It’s the second highest-rated Spidey show on IMDb, and it isn’t hard to see why. The animation is vibrant and has aged well, the rogues gallery that Spider-Man faces throughout the show’s run was top-tier, and the several story arcs that each season contained were always an entertaining delight. It truly feels like a comic book run pasted on the small screen in all the right ways.

4

‘X-Men: The Animated Series’ (1992–1997)

Image via Fox Kids Network

It was X-Men: The Animated Series which proved in 1992 just how great Marvel cartoons could really be. To this day, it’s still widely regarded as one of the most perfect superhero shows ever made, and it’s the whole reason many people fell in love with the X-Men from childhood. It’s not just nostalgia: This is children’s television at its very best.

The show is perfectly episodic while still feeling like a larger adventure overall, supported by some excellent visuals and voice acting. Sure, it may look and feel a bit dated here and there, but that only adds to its charm the vast majority of the time. All in all, it’s still the best possible introduction to superheroes for kids, and just as engrossing of a show for grown-ups who love Marvel.

5

‘Fringe’ (2008–2013)

Image via FOX

Before Lost had come to a close, J. J. Abrams jumped to co-create another sci-fi series: Fringe. Whereas many people think that Lost was a series that started out amazing and then got weaker as it went on, the opposite seems to be the case with Fringe. Following a more episodic, less coherent first season, the show only kept getting better and better as it went on.

It’s one of the most criminally forgotten sci-fi shows of the 2000s and 2010s, an X-Files-inspired gem that never overstayed its welcome. With its dense mythology, mind-bending plots and twists, strong character arcs, and resounding final season, it’s one of the most entertaining network science fiction series of the 21st century.

6

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–2025)

What started out as just a cozy, nostalgic, mysterious sci-fi series that paid homage to the movies and pop culture of the ’80s soon became one of the biggest media juggernauts at Netflix’s disposal: Stranger Things. There’s no denying that the final season left most fans pretty disappointed, but there would also be no point in denying that this was one of the most pop-culture-defining sci-fi shows of the 2010s and 2020s.

That’s why this is one of those sci-fi series that shouldn’t be remade, underwhelming fifth season notwithstanding. The technical aspects are nigh-faultless, the performances are mostly phenomenal, and the overarching story is as engaging as it is mysterious. Wearing its influences out on its sleeve, Stranger Things proved that the streaming giant could do some fantastic stuff with the sci-fi genre.

7

‘Person of Interest’ (2011–2016)

Image via CBS

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Yet another piece of evidence that network sci-fi television can be absolutely exceptional when placed in the hands of the right team, Person of Interest is far and away one of the best genre shows of the 2010s. Touching on themes of technology and surveillance that feel even more timely today than they did back then, it’s essential viewing for sci-fi fans even now, a decade after its conclusion.

The series remained amazing throughout its entire run, but it’s its fifth and final season in particular—one of the highest-rated seasons of television on IMDb—that really seals the deal: This is one of the best sci-fi shows of the 21st century thus far. Deep, mysterious, and as emotionally engaging as it is thought-provoking, it’s everything that science fiction should aim to be.

8

‘Samurai Jack’ (2001–2017)

Image via Cartoon Network

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Genndy Tartakovsky‘s magnum opus, Samurai Jack, may not be overt science fiction as often as many of its peers, but it’s nevertheless one of the greatest time travel series ever made—animated or otherwise. Full of striking visuals, adrenaline-pumping samurai action, and the kind of enthralling world-building that Tartakovsky is such an expert at, it’s one of the best animated series of the century so far.

The show was originally canceled after only four short-lived seasons, having left its story without a conclusion. 13 years later, however, Tartakovsky came out with a darker, more mature fifth and final season that enshrined this as one of the best five-season sci-fi shows ever. It’s the kind of animated show that everyone should watch at least once in their lives.

9

‘Babylon 5’ (1993–1998)

Image via PTEN

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It wasn’t just science fiction: American network television as a whole had a “before Babylon 5” era and an “after Babylon 5” era. In a way practically unprecedented for American broadcast television at the time of its airing, the series was designed as a “novel for television,” where each pre-planned season would contain episodes envisioned as “chapters.” This kind of serialized science fiction storytelling had practically never been seen before on American network television, and the genre hasn’t been the same since.

Sure, as a ’90s sci-fi series with a relatively low budget, Babylon 5 looks, sounds, and feels a little dated in certain spots; but this is nevertheless one of those low-budget sci-fi shows better than their big-budget counterparts. The writing is top-notch, the visuals have a timeless charm to them, and the story arc of each season is just as enthralling as the last and the next.

10

‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)

Image via CBS

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Saying that The Twilight Zone is one of the most groundbreaking sci-fi shows ever made, and probably the most influential, is such a truism that it goes without saying. Rod Serling‘s creation is a masterclass in how to make a sci-fi anthology series, a show so phenomenal that it contains several of the greatest sci-fi anthology episodes of any show in history.

Inventive, fresh, and sometimes eerily prophetic, The Twilight Zone is just as fun and thought-provoking today as it was back during the ’50s and ’60s. Not all of its episodes hit, as can be expected of any anthology show; but the ones that do are absolutely unforgettable, with some of the coolest production values and writing of any show the genre has ever seen. Five seasons were all that was needed to make this a generation-defining masterpiece.

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The Twilight Zone

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Release Date

1959 – 1964

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Directors

John Brahm, Buzz Kulik, Douglas Heyes, Lamont Johnson, Richard L. Bare, James Sheldon, Richard Donner, Don Medford, Montgomery Pittman, Abner Biberman, Alan Crosland, Jr., Alvin Ganzer, Elliot Silverstein, Jack Smight, Joseph M. Newman, Ted Post, William Claxton, Jus Addiss, Mitchell Leisen, Perry Lafferty, Robert Florey, Robert Parrish, Ron Winston, Stuart Rosenberg

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Home Improvement alum Zachery Ty Bryan has been sentenced to jail time following a 2024 DUI arrest.

Bryan, 44, was re-arraigned on Monday, February 23, after previously striking a plea deal with prosecutors, according to TMZ. The former child actor pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and admitted to an enhancement for driving with a BAC of 0.15 percent or higher, nearly double the legal limit.

Per the outlet, Bryan was denied probation and sentenced to 16 months in county jail with credit for 57 days served.

Bryan, who costarred alongside Tim Allen on Home Improvement for eight seasons from 1991 to 1999, has faced a long history of legal issues. In October 2020, he was arrested after an argument with girlfriend Johnnie Faye Cartwright and was later charged for felony strangulation, fourth-degree assault and interfering with making a police report. He ultimately agreed to a plea deal, pleading guilty to menacing and fourth-degree assault. He received seven days in jail and 36 months of probation.

Bryan later claimed the incident was “blown out of proportion.”

“We got really loud. We were screaming and because we were in a townhome that had [thin walls], everybody could hear,” Bryan told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023, alleging that he and Cartwright, whom he remained in a relationship with at the time, didn’t “even really get that physical” prior to his arrest. “At the end of the day, [the police] throw a bunch of counts at you because they ultimately want you to plead to something. I could’ve fought it — but that’s more stress and drama.”

Three years after his first felony, The Hollywood Reporter accused Bryan of running a fraudulent agriculture-technology startup scheme, claiming the actor allegedly took individual payments ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 in exchange for fake contracts. Bryan denied the allegations.

In 2023, Bryan was arrested and charged with fourth-degree felony assault, third-degree robbery and misdemeanor harassment following an alleged physical domestic dispute with a woman, for which he served 36 months of supervised probation and seven days in jail. The following year, he was arrested in February and October, both times on DUI charges.

Us Weekly confirmed in January 2025 that Bryan had been arrested for second-degree domestic violence in South Carolina after police responded to a domestic issue. He was arrested again 10 months later in Oregon after violating his probation from his previous domestic violence conviction. Cartwright was also arrested and charged with a DUI and three counts of reckless endangering and attempted first-degree assault.

According to authorities, Bryan and Cartwright’s three children were with them when the incident took place.

“Deputies learned Zachery Ty Bryan, 44, of Eugene, was in a pickup truck with Johnnie Faye Cartwright, 32, of Eugene, and their three small children. They were driving together in the area,” Lane County Sheriff’s Office confirmed at the time, noting that “Cartwright then attempted to run over Bryan, crashing the truck with the children inside into the ditch. … Bryan was able to move out of the way and avoid injury. No one inside the pickup was injured.”

Related: Zachery Ty Bryan’s Ex-Fiancee Sentenced, Pleads Guilty to DUI

Zachery Ty Bryan’s ex-fiancée, Johnnie Cartwright, has been sentenced after being accused of trying to run over the Home Improvement actor with her truck in November. Cartwright pleaded guilty to DUI and reckless driving, both misdemeanors, in an Oregon courtroom on Wednesday, January 14, according to hearing audio exclusively obtained by Us Weekly. The additional […]

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Cartwright, who pleaded guilty to a DUI and reckless driving, was sentenced to 24 months of probation for each respective plea and ordered to pay a $1,500 fine and a $255 DUI conviction fee. Her license was also suspended for one year and she was ordered to comply with the ignition interlock device requirement once she’s back behind the wheel. She cannot possess or consume alcohol, nor can she visit any place where booze is the main product kept or sold, per documents obtained by Us.

During the hearing, Cartwright’s attorney referred to Bryan as Cartwright’s “ex-partner,” detailing the pair’s “tumultuous” relationship.

“He had been convicted of domestic violence and is pending a revocation of his downward departure for contacting Ms. Cartwright at the time of this incident. She was told by him that his probation had been completed and that he was able to have contact with her,” the lawyer stated in court. “In my discussions with her, I let her know that that was indeed not the case. They have a tumultuous relationship. It’s the best way to summarize it. They do share three small children, and she depends on him financially quite a bit.

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Published
February 24, 2026
12:05 AM PST

In a post-Tell Me Lies world, every relationship should be analyzed for red flags. The same month that the high-anxiety relationship drama ended on Hulu, Prime Video released its own take on the subject. In February, an adaptation of Catherine Ryan Howard’s book, 56 Days, hit the platform. Though the series veers quite substantially from the source material, the heart of the story is still there.

56 Days follows two people who embark on a romance after a chance meeting in a grocery store. Oliver (Avan Jogia) comes from generational wealth while also working at an architecture firm in Boston. Ciara (Dove Cameron), who is new to town, has a working-class background, but the two hit it off immediately after connecting on the subject of outer space. They rush into a sexual relationship, ignoring all the questions they have about each other. Oliver immediately seems suspicious as he takes intense private phone calls that hint at a dark, ulterior motive. Ciara, however, isn’t as innocent as she seems, and eventually it becomes clear that Oliver isn’t the only one harboring secrets.

‘56 Days’ Delivers All the Twists in Its Limited Run

56 Days’ addictive romance is only one part of this compelling thriller. The 56 days in question measure the time that Oliver and Ciara are together before a horrific crime rocks the apartment that they share. Flashforwards show that only a couple of months after the lovers get together, a body is discovered in the apartment. Authorities are shocked to find a partially dissolved body in the bathtub, and work to piece together the timeline that brought the characters to this point.

The flashbacks offer further tension as fans form their own conclusions about the identity of the body in the bathtub. As Ciara and Oliver’s relationship heats up, signs point to one of them being the victim. That being said, 56 Days offers many surprises to keep viewers engaged over the course of eight episodes.

The best part of the series is the increasing feeling of dread as Oliver and Ciara’s relationship progresses. It soon becomes clear that their first meeting was not by chance at all, but something else, darker and more nefarious. It almost becomes a cat-and-mouse game of who can be the most unsettling in this fast-paced relationship. Within minutes of meeting each other, Oliver offers to take Ciara out on a date that escalates quickly. He seemingly lies about their plans and then leads her into a dark alley. Though he does nothing to harm her, this is exceedingly worrying behavior, and Ciara somehow doesn’t seem concerned by it.

Somehow, the audience is encouraged to ignore these warning signs as well and fall under the spell of the narrative. Avan Jogia is captivating as Oliver, who is equal parts charming and disturbing. Jogia walks the line between these two traits well, leaving no question as to what attracts Ciara to Oliver in the first place. His dark allure becomes erratic at times, but ultimately, the vulnerability of the character shines through. This allows fans to suspend their disbelief when it comes to some of the more dramatic portions of the story.

Oliver and Ciara quickly consummate their physical relationship, which leads them to become even more codependent. There is a reason their fast-paced relationship leads to death, but that reason doesn’t become clear until the very end. 56 Days is the type of thriller that is easy to consume and leaves viewers guessing until the last possible moment.

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Release Date

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2026 – 2026-00-00

Network

Prime Video

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Directors

Alethea Jones

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Writers

Lisa Zwerling, Karyn Usher, Catherine Ryan Howard

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