There are many science fiction shows out there, both old and new, from firm fan-favourites such as Star Trek to new Netflix shows such as Dark and Travellers. The below list looks at five sci-fi TV shows that are well worth tuning into.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is an all-too-uncomfortable look into our humanity, and what we may be losing of it along the way with the rise of technology and social media. Intended as an anthology series, each episode is set in an alternate reality in which the protagonists cope with the realities of their existence, from living to earn social media “likes” to replacing recently deceased loved ones with robotic doppelgängers.
The man originally behind the madness is Charlie Brooker, a journalist and all-around humourist with experience writing for shows such as Brass Eye and The 11 O’Clock Show. Black Mirror has gone from strength to strength since it initially aired in the UK in 2011, and can now be found on Netflix since it picked up the show in 2015.
Westworld
Westworld is a TV show based on a film of the same name. The premise of the HBO series is simple yet enticing enough: robots reside within Westworld, a Wild West-themed park that humans can visit for a fee. When in Westworld, guests can indulge in whatever their fantasy desires, from shameless killing sprees to sexual encounters with the hosts. However, things being to go awry once the hosts increasingly become conscious and begin to turn against their human masters.
Although a second season has been confirmed for release in spring 2018, currently we only have the first ten episodes of season one to enjoy. Let’s hope season two brings yet more intrigue, timeline twists and surprises than the first.
The Expanse
This 2015 TV show, shown on Syfy, is a space thriller like no other. Set two hundred years in the future, humanity has colonised the solar system. However, a conspiracy is underway, and it is being unravelled under the watchful eyes of Josephus Miller, who is played by Thomas Jane.
The Expanse is based on the book series of the same name, and the show is written by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, of Children of Men and Iron Man fame. Since its launch, the show has amassed quite the following, and its third season is expected to land on Syfy later this year.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is, simply put, a stalwart of science fiction TV shows, with its first season airing in 1963. Although the original run of Doctor Who finished in 1989, the show has gone from strength to strength since its reboot in 2005. The premise is simple enough: the Doctor, a time traveller from the planet Gallifrey, ventures through time and space in his TARDIS, helping those he meets on his travels.
As the Doctor is able to “regenerate” into a new human form every time he dies, this has allowed numerous actors to play the role of the Doctors over the show’s many seasons. Although opinions will differ as to who the best Doctor is, notable mentions must go to Tom Baker, David Tennant, and Jon Pertwee.
COLONY — Season:2 — Pictured: Sarah Wayne Callies as Katie Bowman — (Photo by: Justin Stephens/USA Network)
Colony
Colony launched late in 2015 and has shown no signs of stopping in terms of its popularity. The show boasts a strong cast, including Josh Holloway of Lost and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and tells the tale of a Los Angeles couple living under military occupation following an alien invasion.
With an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season, Colony is well worth a watch. The third season has been confirmed for release in 2018, but in the meantime you can catch up on the past two seasons through the USA Network or Netflix.
