Sci-fi on TV is a huge universe—and not all stars receive the brilliance they need. Of course, the big boys like Star Trek and Stranger Things hog the headlines, but there are lots of smaller, underappreciated shows that are equally inventive, affecting, and downright entertaining. Some got trimmed back too early, and some went completely under the radar. If you’re hunting for your next great binge, here are 10 criminally underrated sci-fi shows worth your attention—counting down from ten to one.
10. Paper Girls (2022)
Based on the popular comic, Paper Girls plunks four teenage newspaper delivery girls from the ’80s in the middle of an all-out time war. They encounter their adult selves, grapple with their futures, and confront decisions that will change everything. It was clever, it was heartwarming, and it was canceled way too soon. Fans still lament that cliffhanger conclusion.
9. Legion (2017–2019)
Legion is not your typical superhero show—it’s a psychedelic puzzle box. Tracking David Haller, a mutant with awe-inspiring (and volatile) abilities, the show manipulates reality in ways few shows do. Get ready for trippy visuals, unpredictable narrative, and a captivating lead performance from Dan Stevens. It’s Marvel-related but very much its creature.
8. Farscape (1999–2003)
Before the world was infatuated with the Guardians of the Galaxy, there was Farscape. Astronaut John Crichton is stranded in deep space on a living vessel with an offbeat alien crew. Combining humor, practical effects, and crazy world-building, it cultivated a cult audience—only to be left dangling before a wrap-up miniseries provided some resolution.
7. Scavengers Reign (2023)
Evidence that adult animation can be stunning, Scavengers Reign tracks survivors of a shipwreck on a mysterious, hostile alien world. The artwork is stunning, the narrative personal and haunting. Critics loved it, but it was canceled after one season—a pity for a series that was unlike anything else on television.
6. Sense8 (2015–2018)
From the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski is a sci-fi drama following eight strangers linked in mind and spirit. What makes Sense8 unforgettable isn’t the action or globe-trotting spectacle—it’s the raw humanity, representation, and empathy that underlies it. Fans protested to secure closure in a special finale after Netflix cut it short.
5. Lexx (1996–2002)
Imagine Star Trek if it made a sharp left turn into weird, naughty, and unashamedly campy waters—that’s Lexx. This German-Canadian cult show chronicles loser outlaws on a massive, living, planet-devouring spaceship. It’s strange, it’s subversive, and it’s like nothing else has ever been broadcast.
4. Dark Matter (2015–2017)
Six strangers awaken on a spaceship with no memories—and lots of secrets. Dark Matter constructs an addictive blend of action, mystery, and character drama as the crew discovers who they are and what they’ve done. It didn’t last long, but it left us clamoring for more.
3. Caprica (2009–2010)
As a prequel to Battlestar Galactica, Caprica substitutes space combat with a down-to-earth, emotional examination of how the Cylons arose. Corporate politics, religious strife, and ethical debate regarding AI make it an intelligent, slow-developing series that’s ready to be rediscovered.
2. Warehouse 13 (2009–2014)
Imagine The X-Files, but warmer and wackier. Agents of Warehouse 13 pursue rogue, history-altering artifacts and relocate them to a huge, clandestine warehouse. It’s whimsical, creative, and full of character—an offhanded adventure that is sure to charm.
1. Fringe (2008–2013)
At first blush, Fringe appears to be a monster-of-the-week show, but it soon evolves into an epic saga of parallel universes, time travel, and the price of meddling with science. Strong performances by Anna Torv, John Noble, and Joshua Jackson ground the head-scratching plot twists. It never really reached mainstream stardom, but among science fiction aficionados, it’s the stuff of legend.
If your watchlist is getting a little stale, these shows are evidence that the greatest sci-fi isn’t necessarily the most popular—it’s the under-the-radar gems that tend to sparkle the brightest.