Sci-fi, like every other genre, has some iconic, long-running TV shows and plenty of series that ran for only one season. However, just because these projects were cut short, that doesn’t mean they aren’t as high-quality or memorable as their counterparts. There are many reasons a series might be canceled before its time, with budget constraints and weak audience bases playing a significant role in the decision to end a show after season 1. However, with time, many of these projects have become cult classics with huge followings across genre-divides.
Many of the best TV shows with only one season had external circumstances working against them. While it can be disappointing to fall in love with a series only to have it canceled, these shows make up for their short runs with excellent world-building and storytelling. Since there’s a limited amount of time to get to know the characters, it’s vital that the viewer understands the tension and relationships from the start. These TV shows deliver all of these elements and transport the audience to fascinating worlds they’ll want to explore forever.
10 Flashforward (2009–2010)
Knowing the future isn’t always a good thing in Flashforward
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review FlashForward Release Date 2009 – 2009 Stream Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH BUY
Flashforward accomplished a lot in its singular season, with many interweaving story threads coming together to create an unforgettable story. Unfolding in the wake of an event that shows everyone on Earth a glimpse of their life six months in the future, Flashforward grapples with fate and the balance between what can be changed about the future and what’s set in stone. It’s a compelling concept from the beginning, easily drawing the audience into the story’s world.
Joseph Fiennes leads the cast as the FBI agent, Mark Benford, who’s charged with investigating the event and discovering what others saw. Though Flashforward sees Mark uncover many scientific anomalies and unexplainable events, it also touches upon the interpersonal aspects of his story. The audience cares just as much about Mark’s fate as they do about the source of the mysterious flash forward and what it means for humanity. Though it was cut short, Flashforward received a warm critical reception.
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Flashforwards (2009–2010) 80% 78%
9 Caprica (2009–2010)
This little-known Battlestar Galactica prequel made interesting choices
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Caprica Release Date 2010 – 2009 Stream Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming
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Though the 2004 iteration of Battlestar Galactica successfully revived the franchise, the spinoff prequel, Caprica, didn’t continue this trend. However, revisiting Caprica today demonstrates that there was more to the series than meets the eye, as it makes many interesting comments about the emergence of new technologies and human evolution. Primarily focusing on the development of the Cylons, Caprica was still intended to be a significant departure from the earlier show.
It’s through the character development that Caprica shines.
Since it takes place before the war, Caprica is more concerned with the social and political dynamics of its characters. The events that lead up to the creation of the Cylons are emotionally gripping and shed new light on the eventual downfall of humanity. While the characters in Battlestar Galactica are pushed to their limits, trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic reality, the characters in Caprica have every luxury, but this makes them arrogant and dangerous. It’s through the character development that Caprica shines.
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Caprica (2009z-2010) 81% 85%
8 The Event (2010–2011)
The existence of alien life isn’t just possible, but everywhere in The Event
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review The Event Release Date 2010 – 2010 Network NBC Directors Nick Wauters
Aliens aren’t just real but living among humanity in The Event, even though the government within the story’s world tried to hide this for many years. The series plays with time and the audience’s perception, using different timelines and flashbacks to slowly reveal the mysteries at the heart of the story. Though aliens are the sci-fi element of the story in The Event, the series is also deeply engaged in political and social conversations about transparency and violence.
Jason Ritter stars as Sean Walker, a man who slowly uncovers the alien conspiracy in the wake of his girlfriend’s kidnapping. Though The Event introduces many different plot lines for the viewer to juggle at once, the way the series slowly intertwines them and carefully plots the narrative is impressive. Ritter’s performance helps anchor the sometimes unbelievable series, as he’s an easy hero to like and follow to the end of The Event.
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score The Event (2010–2011) 67% 49%
7 Second Chance (2016)
A new take on Frankenstein’s monster searches for redemption in Second Chance
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Second Chance (2016)
Fans of White Collar will recognize Tim DeKay in Second Chance, as the actor portrays the son of the protagonist, Jimmy (Robert Kazinsky). However, Jimmy and his son, Duval, have an unconventional father-son dynamic, as Jimmy was resurrected and made younger by two scientists in a revolutionary experiment. Waking up in this younger and fitter body, Jimmy realizes he has the world at his feet, but this new lease on life might be better used by making up for his past mistakes.
Meant to be a spin on the story of Frankenstein, Second Chance doesn’t make Jimmy a monster but a man in search of redemption.
This is the dramatic thrust of Second Chance, with the series incorporating many elements of the crime procedural genre into its otherworldly premise. Meant to be a spin on the story of Frankenstein, Second Chance doesn’t make Jimmy a monster but a man in search of redemption. While it’s not always easy for him to step back into the role of father and family man, Jimmy works hard to prove himself, and Second Chance incorporates many action-oriented adventures for him to test his mettle.
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Second Chance (2016) 30% 71%
6 Firefly (2002–2003)
An iconic piece of television that only becomes more beloved every year
8/10 18 9.5/10 Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Firefly Release Date 2002 – 2002 Stream Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming BUY
There’s a reason why Firefly has remained so popular and well-known within the sci-fi sphere. Every day, Firefly reaches new audiences and reconnects with longtime fans revisiting the series. Created by Joss Whedon, the mind behind Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Firefly is the benchmark for genre-bending sci-fi, as it incorporates the best of science fiction with elements of Westerns and classic interpersonal drama. Its ensemble cast is led by Nathan Fillion as Malcolm Reynolds, the captain of the central spaceship, with a charmingly roguish sensibility.
Related 10 Best Space Western Movies & TV Shows It might seem like sci-fi and Westerns have little common ground, but they both deal with the idea of the frontier and how it is to live on it.
Even with its limited number of episodes, Firefly creates a clear and concrete world that audiences want to explore further. The characters are just as vivid, with their traits and relationship dynamics established from their first appearances onscreen. No matter what adventure they’re on, the characters in Firefly are truthful without being predictable. With a Firefly cast reunion set for the 20th anniversary of the spinoff movie Serenity, it’s clear that Firefly’s hold on the culture isn’t loosening anytime soon.
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Firefly (2002–2003) 77% 96%
5 Watchmen (2019)
Regina King leads this stellar expansion of the Watchmen universe
7/10 Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Watchmen Release Date 2019 – 2018 Stream Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming
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Adapting the Watchmen comics to the screen was always going to be polarizing, but today, the opinion surrounding HBO’s Watchmen is much more unanimous. Audiences and critics have come to recognize that the story at the heart of Watchmen isn’t meant to be a one-to-one recreation of the comics but a faithful exploration of the deeper themes and meanings introduced by the story. Led by the brilliant Regina King, Watchmen is one of the best comic series of the 21st century.
Watchmen takes the narrative of prejudice and resistance even further, making the series Lindelof’s most poignant work to date.
Created for the screen by Damon Lindelof, Watchmen is similar in style and tone to other series he’s had a hand in, like The Leftovers and Lost. However, Watchmen takes the narrative of prejudice and resistance even further, making the series Lindelof’s most poignant work to date. Though there’s only one season of Watchmen to enjoy, this doesn’t detract from how intricately the story is crafted and delivered to the viewer. It will be highly influential in sci-fi comic adaptations for years to come.
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Watchmen (2019) 96% 57%
4 Terra Nova (2011)
The characters in Terra Nova might go back in time, but their fears are all too relatable for modern audiences
8/10 Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Terra Nova Release Date 2012 – 2010 Stream Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming BUY
Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, Terra Nova has an ambitious premise that transports the audience to a new world. While this new world might look alien, it’s actually Earth during the Cretaceous period. Terra Nova begins over one hundred years in the future when Earth has been destroyed by climate catastrophes. In response, scientists have started sending people back in time to try and reset the trajectory of humanity while dealing with the terrors of the past.
Though sci-fi usually grapples with the emerging technologies of the future, it was clever to have the characters in Terra Nova, who are so far removed from the dangers of the ancient world, go back in time. Dinosaurs, new environments, and especially the other members of the colony all make the settlement in Terra Nova a dangerous and tenuous place. Visually appealing and original to the final moments of the story, Terra Nova is a series that could easily have a resurgence today.
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Terra Nova (2011) 62% 66%
3 Almost Human (2013–2014)
A sci-fi crime drama that asks what it means to be human
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Almost Human Release Date 2013 – 2013 Stream Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH BUY
Fans of another sci-fi-fantasy series will recognize the cast of Almost Human, as it’s one of the best TV shows starring The Boys actor Karl Urban. Urban plays John Kennex, a detective who’s partnered with the android Dorian (Michael Ealy), to John’s dismay. The show is set in the late 2040s, and the world looks very different in Almost Human. However, there are some things about life that never change. Dorian’s closeness to humanity and the real personality that John discovers are vital parts of the story.
As John overcomes his prejudice, the two become friends over the course of the series. Touching upon themes of humanity and friendship, Almost Human is an emotionally charged addition to the sci-fi genre, but this is what helps set it apart. Though the early episodes of Almost Human can bog down the viewer with exposition, once the story hits its stride, there’s plenty of action and drama to accompany the underlying ethical and moral questions posed by Almost Human.
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Almost Human (2013–2014) 69% 83%
2 Y: The Last Man (2021)
In the aftermath of a world-changing event, almost everything must be rebuilt in Y: The Last Man
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Y: The Last Man Release Date 2021 – 2020 Network FX Showrunner Eliza Clark
Based on the beloved comic book series of the same name, Y: The Last Man stars Ben Schnetzer as Yoric Brown, the supposed last cis man on Earth after every person with a Y chromosome dies. Developed for television by Hulu, Y: The Last Man was an enormous undertaking, and this shows. Diane Lane plays Yorick’s mother, Jennifer, who assumes the role of President of the United States. The series follows the aftermath and fallout of a world that must create a new system of power.
Related 10 Sci-Fi TV Shows That Have An Excellent Mystery Element The best sci-fi shows have an excellent mystery element as the characters spend their time trying to figure their way out of unexpected situations.
Unfortunately, Y: The Last Man isn’t currently available to stream anywhere in the US, which is a shame, considering how exciting the series was when it first premiered. Since post-apocalyptic dramas have become more popular in recent years, Y: The Last Man was a unique addition to the genre, with a mysterious twist at the heart of the story. Though Y: The Last Man didn’t get the chance to follow through on all of its intricate setup, the episodes that were released paint a picture of a vivid world.
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Y: The Last Man (2021) 77% 62%
1 Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979)
This short-lived sci-fi series became an iconic cult classic
9/10 Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Battlestar Galactica Release Date 1978 – 1978 Stream Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming BUY
Though the original Battlestar Galactica’s biggest claim to fame is inspiring the popular 2004 reboot, the initial series has a lot to offer. Premiering in 1978, Battlestar Galactica might have only run for one season, but it was a great example of the sci-fi genre during this period. It’s easy to see why the series became a cult classic in the years following its cancelation, as it was unlike anything else seen on television at the time.
Like other TV series of its era, Battlestar Galactica received a full order of episodes, making the single season twenty-four episodes long. This provided ample opportunity for the writers and actors to develop complex characters with compelling dynamics explored throughout the episodes. The development of the Cylons, the antagonistic force in the galaxy, resulted in creative character designs and effects throughout Battlestar Galactica. Though the series has been critically compared to contemporaneous science fiction movies and TV, it’s carved out a unique niche in media history.