Sci-fiis always evolving as a genre, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to look back on the best of what sci-fi TV shows had to offer over the years.The 1990s were a standout decade for film and television,and as visual effects improved and the interest in speculative fiction grew stronger, there was plenty of opportunity for TV series to capitalize on this momentum. There is a style that’s unique to sci-fi shows that came out during the ’90s, and revisiting older TV shows can be a fun place to see how visuals have changed since then.
However,many of these hold up well today because of their storytelling and character-driven narratives.The ’90s saw more prestige television and serialized narratives hitting the screen, and this impacted every genre. Every time period has a different focus within the speculative fiction genre, as the progression of technology and anxieties about the future are reflected onscreen. For example, some of thebest sci-fi TV shows of the 1970sfocused on space travel and adventure, though this is a recurring theme across sci-fi. Similar intersecting themes and tones can be found in enduring pieces of 1990s science fiction.
Twin Peaks
Cast
Conceived by Mark Frost and David Lynch in 1990, Twin Peaks is a supernatural mystery-drama series that brings FBI Agent Dale Cooper to the quiet town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer. As Dale continues his investigation of her death, he learns that Laura’s life wasn’t as she advertised it, and the town itself is hiding far more secrets than they let on. The show received a revival for a third and final season two decades later to resolve the cliffhanger left at the end of the second season.
The fact thatTwin Peaksremained popular enough to warrant the production ofTwin Peaks: The Returnspeaks to how much audiences still love this surrealist drama. Like most works by David Lynch, the mystery at the heart ofTwin Peaksis difficult to unravel, butsticking with the complex series until the end is well worth dedicating time toTwin Peaks.Kyle MacLachlan’s performance as Agent Dale Cooper is still some of his best work.
While the sci-fi aspects ofTwin Peaksare mixed with the fantastical visuals and supernatural elements, this only adds to the intrigue of the case Coop is looking into.
Twin Peaksseason 1 is a near-perfect season of television, and while season 2 isn’t quite as strong, it’s still more original than many of the sci-fi series of its time. While the sci-fi aspects ofTwin Peaksare mixed with the fantastical visuals and supernatural elements, this only adds to the intrigue of the case Coop is looking into. The success ofTwin Peaksand its enduring legacy is proof that there’s continued interest and appetite for film and television that push boundariesand break the mold of what’s typically seen on TV.
1
91%
96%
2
65%
88%
This refers to the original run ofTwin Peaks, not the miniseriesTwin Peaks: The Return.
The X-Files
The X-files takes the police procedural formula and applies it to sci-fi mysteries. Conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully team up to solve cases surrounding alien invasions and other unexplained, paranormal phenomena.
Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny star as Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, the skeptic and the true believer in the supernatural crime dramaThe X-Files. One of the most successful procedurals of all time,The X-Filesis a great show with plenty of seasons to get sucked into today.The chemistry between Anderson and Duchovny was one of the most popular aspects of the show, as the series kept up the will-they-won’t-they dynamic for many seasons.
AlthoughThe X-Fileswas originally canceled after season 9, it came back for two strong follow-up seasons in 2016. This continuation allowed audiences to catch up with Mulder and Scully and see where their paths had led them many years later. From investigations of aliens to traditional disappearances and deaths,The X-Fileshas just enough of the supernatural to keep fans guessing while not alienating any of the viewerswho are more interested in the investigative work.
83%
89%
97%
3
4
100%
5
67%
95%
6
93%
7
78%
85%
8
73%
9
22%
57%
10
64%
72%
11
77%
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is a sci-fi television series that revolves around a group of humans and aliens that work together on a space station known as Babylon 5 during the twenty-third century. The show explores intergalactic relations, conflict, and the relationships of the crew as they try to help their respective species thrive and survive.
ThoughBabylon 5never reached the popularity of the biggest smash-hit sci-fi series of the 20th century, it’s grown as a cult classic and hasn’t lost any of its charm or relevance today. While many older TV shows used an episodic formula,Babylon 5broke this mold and told an overarching narrativethat changed the setting and characters throughout its five-season run. This is a more similar structure to how prestige television unfolds today, making it sure to connect with modern audiences.
Innovative in both storytelling and visual effects,Babylon 5is one of the most influential series of the ’90s, and without it, the world of sci-fi TV would look quite different.
Innovative in both storytelling and visual effects,Babylon 5is one of the most influential series of the ’90s, and without it, the world of sci-fi TV would look quite different. The use of CGI looks a little dated today, but for the time, it was revolutionary, and it’s interesting to look back on how VFX has evolved. After watching some of the high-budget sci-fi shows of the modern era,it’s exciting to go back in time toBabylon 5and see how much these projects owe to the classic series.
60%
90%
94%
8 Incredible Sci-Fi TV Shows Made Under A Budget
While sci-fi does well with large budgets that allow for amazing visual effects, sometimes the best TV shows are made with limited resources.
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is a 1998 animated series set in 2071, where humanity has colonized the Solar System following a catastrophic event. As crime surges, bounty hunters known as “Cowboys” are employed by the Inter Solar System Police to capture criminals in exchange for rewards.
As soon asCowboy Beboppremiered, it was clear that it wasn’t a regular anime but a cultural phenomenon. From the visuals and the action to the incredible scoring, there’s no part ofCowboy Bebopthat doesn’t work perfectly to immerse the audience in the world of Spike, the bounty hunter, and his friends. Blending elements of film noir and the Western genre while incorporating innovative imaginings of what technology might become,Cowboy Bebophas no shortage of moments that will captivate sci-fi lovers.
Unfortunately,Cowboy Bebopis notoriously difficult to translate from animation, as the recent Netflix version is one of theworst live-action anime adaptations. However, because every element ofCowboy Bebopworks so seamlessly,there’s no reason to remake or reboot the series, as viewers can simply revisit the masterpiece.Even audiences who are hesitant to dip their toe into anime will be won over by the relentlessly compellingCowboy Bebopand wish that there were even more episodes to transport them into the world of the space cowboys.
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits is a science fiction anthology television series that explores various themes of speculative fiction. Each episode features a self-contained story often involving elements of alien encounters, futuristic technology, or otherworldly phenomena. The show blends moral, philosophical, and existential questions within its narratives, offering a diverse array of tales that challenge human understanding and societal norms. The series first aired in 1963 and has since been revived, continuing to captivate audiences with its imaginative storytelling.
A revival of the original 1963 series of the same name,The Outer Limitsreturned to screens in 1995, and though it received many comparisons toThe Twilight Zone, it still manages to stand apart.The anthology format is a large part of the sci-fi genre,andThe Outer Limitsis a great example of an important period of change for this niche of television. Anthologies have been popular for a long time. However, the series quickly realized that the most important part of its stories was how they related to and reflected the current cultural climate.
Though the final season ofThe Outer Limitswas on a different network and couldn’t feature as much adult content, the first six seasons were a significant departure from the subject matter of the 1960s iteration.The Outer Limitsoriginally aired on Showtime and used plenty of mature situationsto capture the attention of older audiences.The Outer Limitsestablished itself as a serious and compelling drama and a creative space for speculative fiction to thrive.
75%
5Dark Skies (1996–1997)
Set in the 1960s, Dark Skies explores an alien version of history
Dark Skieswas well ahead of its time in terms of revisionist history storytelling within the sci-fi genre. While iconic series likeDoctor Whoused time travel to explore important parts of the past,Dark Skieswasa period piece set in the 1960s that imagined what this turbulent decade would have been like with the existence of aliens thrown in.The series drew heavily from ideas surrounding conspiracy theories and that the U.S. government was covering up the existence of aliens.
This setting and era allowedDark Skiesto play with the big moments of history and revel in the style and aesthetics of the 1960s.
This setting and era allowedDark Skiesto play with the big moments of history and revel in the style and aesthetics of the 1960s. The series featured many great actors, including Jeri Ryan, who was also part of theStar Trekfranchise inStar Trek: Voyager. Despite only running for one season,Dark Skiesis a fun, campy addition to the world of sci-fi in the ’90s. Thoughit was clearly inspired by contemporary works likeThe X-Files,Dark Skieshas plenty of original moments and interesting plot lines.
Farscape
Farscape is a sci-fi television series that initially premiered in 2004 and was created by Rockne S. O’Bannon. Astronaut John Crichton is sucked into a wormhole across the universe after an experimental flight goes haywire, setting him onboard a ship with a crew of several different alien races. Stuck in space and on the run from a nefarious organization known as the Peacekeepers, John and company work together to make it day-by-day while trying to maintain peace throughout the universe - as much as possible
Produced in part by the Jim Henson Company,Farscapeis a masterclass in the creation of a fictional universe and the development of realistic alien cultures and life forms. Winning several Saturn Awards throughout its run,Farscapewas unlike anything seen on television.The series follows a modern astronaut who’s thrown through a wormhole across spaceand must adapt to his alien surroundings. His perspective is an effective tool forFarscapeand gives the audience the necessary exposition required for such a complex show.
The Jim Henson Company was also a major contributor to the creation of the alien creature inFarscape, which is why it holds up so well today.Unfortunately, the series was cut short before the planned final season,making the last episodes ofFarscapeend with many questions still in the air. However, the journey is what matters most inFarscape, and the adventures the viewers go on with the characters are plenty satisfying and thrilling throughout the seasons.
87%
80%
84%
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a sci-fi adventure television series spin-off set in the Stargate Universe, initially created by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. Set roughly a year after the film’s events; the story takes place after it becomes known that the Stargate technology allows those who use it to travel across different planets. With several teams dispatched to perform recon and defend the Earth from potential extraterrestrial threats, the series follows the titular team SG-1 of the U.S. Air Force as they face several alien threats.
The impressive ten-season run ofStargate SG1wasn’t surprising after the success of the 1994 filmStargatethat the show was based on. However, it still exceeds expectations and has stood the test of time thanks to the vivid characters and rich world that the narrative creates. Not only wasSG1a hit, but it led to many other installments within the franchise, including the animated seriesStargate Infinity. The military aspect ofSG1and its connection to human mythology was an interesting juxtaposition throughout the show.
With several multi-season arcs,SG1was a complex series that spent a good deal of time developing its antagonistsas well as the main characters. The series consistently pushes itself in terms of visual effects, making the travel between planets through the titular Stargate as believable as possible. Though it began as a spinoff to a major movie,Stargate SG1evolved into a fully formed universe and leans into connecting with contemporary audiences through its humor and preferential dialogue.
92%
86%
74%
79%
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.
The long and successful legacy of theStar Trekfranchise creates difficult shoes to fill for every new installment of the universe, butDeep Space Ninecreated a memorable reputation for itself. While everyStar Trekshow explored social issues through the metaphor of alien life and space travel,DS9was especially explicit in its interrogations of race, class, and other social inequities.It also differed from the otherStar Trekseries because it wasn’t set aboard a ship but in a space station.
Despite its strong ratings,Star Trek: Deep Space Ninedidn’t receive as much recognition as other shows while it was airing, but this can be changed today by revisiting the classic series.
ThebestStar Trek: DS9episodes from each of the seven seasonsall illustrate exactly why it’s one of the best installments of the franchise.Part of the reason it remains timeless is because of the human storiesthat are at the center of everyDS9narrative and the truthfulness with which the actors portray them. Despite its strong ratings,Star Trek: Deep Space Ninedidn’t receive as much recognition as other shows while it was airing, but this can be changed today by revisiting the classic series.
81%
71%
82%
Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show
Star Trek is ending series like Discovery and Lower Decks but renewed Strange New Worlds while setting up new streaming and theatrical movies.
Sliders
Sliders is a science fiction television series that follows Quinn Mallory (Jerry O’Connell) and a group of fellow travelers as they “slide” between parallel universes. With each new world presenting a unique alternate reality, the team encounters various versions of Earth, facing different challenges and societal structures. The series, which aired from 1995 to 2000, explores themes of consequence, diversity, and adaptation.
Slidersdraws parallels to many great works of sci-fi likeBack to the Futureand recent superhero movies likeThe Avengersseries.It follows a genius teen boy who gets trapped in a parallel universe with his companionsand must fight his way through these many dimensions while trying to return to his original Earth. This allowedSlidersto create interesting hypotheses about how history might have changed if one small element had been different.
The stellar cast includes John Rhys-Davies, best known for his work in theIndiana Jonesmovies andThe Lord of the Rings,two other memorable adventure and fantasy franchises.Slidersexplores the possibilities of parallel universes long before the multiverse became a popular topic insci-fifilm and television. AsSliderscontinued, some of the show’s original spark started to fade, but the first two seasons of the show still proved to be an innovative and imaginative universe full of exciting characters.
70%
63%
