It’s easy to think that, in the age of streaming and algorithm-driven recommendations, no goodsci-fishow ever slips away from your attention. After all, if a series has aliens, time travel, orrogue AI, then someone is definitely writing or tweeting about it. But the truth is, for everyStranger ThingsorDoctor Who, there is a brilliant gem that is quietly gathering dust in the sci-fi archives.
Sci-fi is a playground for bold ideas, but not every show gets the love it deserves. Some get lost in the shuffle. From the eerie minimalism of the late ‘70s British shows to the slick,character-driven soap operas of the 2010s, the genre has changed dramatically over the years. It’s also blending itself with horror, noir, politics, and drama, while holding onto its core.
Yet, some of the most inventive, cerebral, and emotionally touching shows stay hidden due to niche appeal or bad timing. But that’s nothing to worry about, because we’ve dug into the archives and come up with the list of the 10 greatest sci-fi shows you’ve probably never heard of.
10’Caprica' (2009 – 2010)
A prequel series set 58 years beforeBattlestar Galactica,Capricazooms in on the origins of the Cylons and the revolutionary web that births artificial intelligence. The story revolves around two families. The Graystones are tech moguls who create the first sentient robot and the Adamas are tied to crime and tradition. When Zoe Graystone dies in a bombing, her father tries to bring her back digitally, creating a being that straddles human memory and machine consciousness.
Technological Ambition Is a Slippery Slope
WhileCapricamay have been overshadowed by the success of its parent series, it is a show that deserves a closer look. It leans less on space battles and more on philosophical provocations, diving deep into themes of identity, religion, and grief. Its cerebral approach to sci-fi, the complex and engrossing narrative, and elegant world-building, make it quietly riveting. You’ve likely missed itunless you’re deep in theBSGuniverse.
9’Lexx' (1997 – 2002)
Created by Lex Gigeroff and brothers Paul and Michael Donovan,Lexxfollows a motley crew that pilots the Lexx, a living bio-chemical spaceship that is shaped like an insect and can destroy entire planets. The team includes a lovelorn security guard, a dead assassin brought back to life, a love slave, and a sentient robot head. Their galaxy-hopping mayhem paved the way for dark satire and absurd storytelling.
Audacious and Unapologetic
Originally a series of four made-for-TV movies, this one is a true classic that revels in its own weirdness. It never follows a straight line. Instead, each season rewrites the narrative structure and shifts from serialized arcs to single-planet adventures. For those who like their sci-fi with a little edge and some weirdness, this one blends elements of dark comedy, high-concept quests, and even erotic fantasy. It’s the experimentation that makes it imperfect but gloriously so.
8’Code Name: Eternity' (2000)
Dr. David Banning is an alien scientist who arrives on Earth with a plan to reshape Earth into something far more sinister. A team of assassins is sent to stop him, and among them is Ethaniel, a powerful alien who defects from Banning’s cause. And with the help of a human physicist, Laura Keating, Ethaniel races against time to thwart Banning’s schemes and prevent a catastrophe.
Sci-Fi With a Conspiracy Twist
You probably missedCode Name: Eternity. Most people did. It aired for 26 episodes in Canada and never got the international love it deserved. But it is a surprisingly thoughtful sci-fi noir with slow-burn thrills and a restrained tone that rewards viewers. The chemistry between Ethaniel and Laura is interesting, whilethe low-budget charmis offset by clever writing and a strong central mystery.
7’Sapphire & Steel' (1979 – 1982)
Time isn’t just a concept inSapphire & Steel. It is a force that can fracture reality. The titular agents, Sapphire and Steel, are elemental beings tasked with repairing anomalies that manifest in eerie, liminal spaces. Like a haunted house stuck in a time loop or a train station where time has frozen. Sapphire is cool and calculating, and possesses time-manipulating powers, while Steel is mysterious and nearly indestructible.
Mood and Mystery Over Action
A true rarity in the sci-fi genre, this British series is almost theatrical with its minimalist sets and dialogue that feel like riddles. But the atmosphere is utterly haunting and unsettling. Joanna Lumley and David McCallum bring a certain beauty to their roles, making the show feel timeless in every sense. Another standout aspect ofSapphire & Steelis that it never spoon-feeds its audience with answers, andthe ambiguity only has you coming back for more.
6’Killjoys' (2015 – 2019)
Killjoystakes place in the Quad, a planetary system ruled by corporate greed and political unrest. It follows three bounty hunters, Johnny, Dutch, and D’avin, who form a tight-knit team and embark on missions that start as simple warrants but spiral into conspiracy, alien threats, and a war that can reshape the universe.
Has Fun Without Sacrificing Soul
Killjoysstarts off fun and fast, then quietly builds a rich mythology and character arcs that genuinely pay off as the seasons progress. Across five seasons of ambitious storytelling, its sci-fi elements become more top-tier. There is nanotech, alien races, mind control, and a living green plasma that’s terrifying. Hannah John-Kamen absolutely owns the role of Dutch, and the overall chemistry of the tyro is smart, stylish, and surprisingly moving.
5’Bugs' (1995 – 1999)
Set in a near-future London where technology is both a boon and a bane,Bugsfollows a trio of tech-savvy operatives named Ed, Ross, and Beckett, as they tackle cybercrime, rogue AI, and espionage. The team works for a private security girl, but their missions often steer into the morally gray areas where corporations are corrupt and experimental tech goes haywire, leading to digital threats that feel relevant even today.
Cyberpunk Before It Was Cool
IfBlack Mirrorhad a cousin from the ‘90s, it would beBugs. It is imbued with a retro-futuristic charm complete with chunky laptops, massive drones, and a healthy amount of tension, all packed into its low-budget production. The show is also ahead of its time in exploding tech paranoia and digital ethics,touching on themes of hacking and surveillance, long before they became mainstream.
4’Sliders' (1995 – 2000)
InSliders, physics student Quinn Mallory accidentally discovers a way to “slide” between parallel Earths, each with its own history and reality. Along with Professor Arturo, his skeptical friend Wade, and singer Rembrandt, Quinn is flung into worlds that are both absurd and dystopian. And because they can’t control where they land, the search for the right Earth becomes a multidimensional odyssey.
A Time-Hopping Cult Classic
From dimensions where America lost the Revolutionary War to one ruled by dinosaurs, every episode presents a radically different and bizarre what-if that turns the Earth into something more creatively unnerving than ever.Slidersdidn’t make the splash its concept deserved, but itcultivated a loyal cult audienceand lives on as a sci-fi underdog that many people have still not heard of. The premise predates and inspires multiverse madness in pop culture, only without CGI.
3’Space: Above and Beyond' (1995 – 1996)
Space: Above and Beyondis set in the year 2063, where humanity is colonizing space but a mysterious alien race known as the Chigs declares war. At the center of it all is the 58th Squadron, a group of Marine pilots thrown into interstellar combat. Their leader, Lt. Col. McQueen, is a genetically engineered soldier, and the team is battling not just alliances, but also prejudice and trauma.
Gritty Alien War and Sci-Fi Depth
Cancelled after just one season due to low ratings, this one blends gritty military drama with sweeping sci-fi world-building and packs more emotional punch into its 23 seasons than many shows manage in five seasons. The direction is cinematic, the writing is bold, and the performances, especially James Morrison as McQueen, are powerful. The sci-fi elements are grounded, realistic, and tactile, making it character driven and impossible to look away from.
2’Blake’s 7' (1978 – 1981)
Created by Terry Nation,Blake’s 7revolves around Roj Blake, a political dissident in a dystopian future that is ruled by a totalitarian government known as the Terran Federation. After escaping imprisonment, Blake assembles a crew of criminals, outlaws and reluctant allies to wage a guerrilla war against the regime, but victory comes at a huge cost.
Dystopian Space Opera
Blake’s 7is a space opera stripped of the glamor of shiny starships and noble heroes. It is gritty, philosophical, and often devastating because it talks about messy people in a messy future. The writing is sharp, the characters are flawed, and the tone is dark. It is a cult classic in the UK, but still criminally under-watched elsewhere. With its innovative use of limited resources and a narrative that grows increasingly unpredictable, it offers a refreshingly subversive story.
1’Childhood’s End' (2015)
Based on Arthur C. Clarke’s seminal novel,Childhood’s Endbegins with the arrival of a mysterious alien race known as Overlords. They promise peace, prosperity, and the end of human suffering on Earth. But utopia comes at a cost. As decades pass and humanity evolves under their rule, they also slowly start losing their individuality, creativity, and identity.
An Adaptation of a Sci-Fi Classic
An Australian miniseries that flew under the radar upon release, it is a gem that stands out for adapting high-concept sci-fi for television with such elegance. The direction is more contemplative than action-packed, the pacing is deliberate, and the visuals are truly unforgettable. Charles Dance plays Karellen, the Overlord ambassador, making aliens look both terrifying and comforting. Basically, if you’re into mind-bending sci-fi,Childhood’s Endis worth watching.
Childhood’s End
