Finding an undiscovered treasure in the realm of science fiction is a one of a kind experience. We all experience new feelings from time to time , do we not? That moment of discovery when we finally come across a show which is somewhat obscure in the public eye but welcomes us with open arms? Yes, that is what I am referring to. Science fiction, I believe, is one of the genres with the greatest richness and variety. Even as a source of entertainment alone, a single sci-fi show can present so many radical concepts, and the countless posibilities that come with them, with such creativity that if you try thinking too deeply, it will be painful. And it’s not like most advocates could aimlessly look for causes to support and boost ads for; most sci-fi shows need no publicity.
Nevertheless, some wonderful works do not receive the recognition they ought to have, so, with no further ado, let me present to you five underappreciated sci-fi shows that have either lost or are in danger of losing an unproportionately large fanbase.
If you enjoy the type of hardcore science fiction that gives room for dissection and is the foundation of ample scholarship – be it paid or voluntary – then permit me to present to you five shows that require greater recognition and attention, and that you might actually consider watching. Furthermore, if you are a lover of space-operas and have not yet indulged in Dark Matter, then do indulge in Dark Matter, which aired on Syfy from 2015 to 2017 and got the three seasons and out treatment which, unimaginatively, decent science fiction is subjected to. Dark Matter is centered on a set of people who, in the distant future, far removed from Earth and momentarily untraceable within the vicinity of stars, wake up to find themselves on a spaceship.The essence of Dark Matter is based on six strangers who wake up forgetting everything about themselves and their past onboard a spacecraft. But this straightforward premise comes alive and deepens in a wonderfully bold narrative. It’s not so much the whodunit and the unraveling of the show’s mystery that focuses our attention, but rather the journeys, both individual and collective, of the people known now as the Raza crew. They are the reason the story is so engaging. For me, what turns Dark Matter into a classic is the crew’s interactions, especially in the first two seasons.
Dark Matter is the kind of science fiction show that truly wrestles with identity and memory, and the extremely fragile concept of redemption. And—for you science fiction fans out there—it also includes space battles and morally gray, practically invincible corporations. If you watch Dark Matter and don’t spend at least some time pondering what a fourth season might entail, I really wonder if you, too, are human (or a “doppelgänger”). Regardless, putting aside grim fantasies of being supplanted by a lookalike, Counterpart is, at times, a dark show. At its best, it is an ensemble of well-lit Cold War intrigue and dimensionally transcendental storylines.
What is so intriguing about Counterpart is its reasoned pacing and its world-building. Two diverged worlds formed not long after The Cold War and in this series, they exist adjoined to each other in what must be called a mirror universe. The same people inhabit both worlds; it is their different choices which have allowed them to lead lives that are profoundly, sometimes grotesquely, different. Howard as a womanizer is hot on the trail of a dangerous murderous outfit in the basement of a government office and these plotlines could unfold in any good spy work. But Howard also has another side.
The interplay between him and his in-custody double “Cold Howard” is as good as anything imaginable in any tale of alternating lives. This is a series with a “who am I” premise, and one that feels universal with its rich cast of characters.
Your mind is probably racing, wondering about how The Expanse never gained the notoriety it deserves with casual audiences, despite being beloved by sci-fi enthusiasts. Well, The Expanse is an adaptation of a series of novels by James S.A.Cory, so let’s examine the story. Set two hundred years ahead into the future, gravity wells, not wormholes or gravity, make the solar system the biggest playground for humans along with their AIs. And yes, I know, this already sounds mind-boggling, but it gets way better: it is also a space opera!
In regards to the location, it does start in the emptiness of space between Mars and Earth. However, the core focus still remains the planet and moons orbiting the Earth.
The Expanse isn’t appreciated as much as it should be, but the core of its charm is its characters. With Jim Holden, the protagonist, you can root for his not-so-heroic heroics. You can root aimlessly for Naomi Nagata who is perhaps the most relatable character to ever go through the journey she did. What of Amos Burton? He might not always be worthy of backing, but for his unpredictability and hints of a darker side whenever he speaks of or commits what, in literary terms used for judging characters, is termed “bad,” makes him recent sci-fi’s most interesting character. The Expanse is also good on matters which are important like colonialism and the scarcity of resources.
The Canadian science-fiction drama, Travelers, might become your next binge if you enjoy time travel, but are tired of the conventional paradoxes and butterfly effects. From 2016 to 2018, the show was available for streaming on Netflix and unique approached time travel. Instead of the usual back-and-forth methods, the show introduced “travelers” who send their consciousness to the present day from a dystopian future. These “travelers” take over the bodies of individuals sentences away from dying and attempt to prevent a catastrophe that their society predicted is a millennium away.
What sets Travelers apart from other high-concept sci-fi shows is how effectively it lets viewers invest in its premise — that of a time traveler occupying the mind of a contemporary person on the brink of death. To achieve this, it spends time setting up some very relatable and emotionally resonant stakes, providing us with an actual reason to care about these time travelers and the missions they undertake. The entire cast is quite charming, with famed Eric McCormack from “Will & Grace” starring as the lead. The writing is strong enough to create some problematic identity issues regarding what these time travelers are actually doing, raising questions that revolve around identity and what it means to truly be oneself.
Though specific Netflix Original content may enjoy a staggering budget alongside award-level marketing, in our opinion, Traveler is a show that Netflix should remember “earned” nearly 100% Rotten Tomatoes score (a Netflix original rare achievement) in award consideration. The show is balanced in regard to the emotions it stirs, has character development, and features some is cast members (who are also some of the most underrated performers) strong performances. Even if you do not plan ton watching the show, at least read up on what it is about because the summary sounds engaging and deals with space-time and parallel universe concepts exceptionally well.
The OA draws viewers in with its deliberately paced plot and a narratively audacious structure, some of which do not seem to pay off completely, yet make the series feel bold and ambitious. This is not merely a show that experiments with sci-fi concepts; it embraces them, and pushes beyond any reasonable limits. It feels in some odd way easier to explain a ‘hook’ rather than describe the entire series, so here’s the hook: a woman who is thought to be dead and went missing for seven years suddenly reappears and tells a story so bizarre yet so compelling that it makes you want to binge the whole series.
The OA may not be what many would consider a mainstream show. However, for those who do, it is an experience unlike any other. Also, if you happen to be the kind of person who doesn’t just watch a show, but follows the entire culture surrounding it, the OA fandom is definitely one of those places where you would wish to navigate deep within. Why These Shows (The OA, Legion, Counterpart) Deserve More Love – The OA And Communities Of Love
Make sure to appreciate the essence of community when witnessing the underrated sci-fi shows. They are not the type of series dominating the dialogue throughout the week in social media or those relishing on the breathtaking billboards in Times Square.
They endure in the vibrant recollections and meticulous virtual conversations on forums that have a warm and cozy atmosphere, as well as in the devoted convention cosplayers—when I finally got Edge of Tomorrow in a home theater and reached for imaginary 3D glasses, I suspect I reenacted bits of cosplay performance art.
Photoshopped edges to a broader narrative that involve remarkable moments from Dark Matter—georgina Haig, who played an amazing side role in a way too underrated show, joining my moment suddenly with a photo.
Fans of Dark Matter are eager about a single movie that wraps up the loose ends left after the series’ conclusion. Not all series have communities built around them, and even if they do, their worlds are often small, so it is wonderful to see such dedicated fans. Travelers – and, to some degree, The OA – are kindred spirits, offering rich, fantastic narratives, or at least serious science fiction. And The OA, as I have noted before, tells a story unusual for mainstream entertainment: the truly thoughtful consideration of what could happen in our world if you combine a scientific approach with an utterly fantastic imagination by a real writer (not a half-baked one).
The most parsimonious annoyance is how these streaming platforms seem to terminate shows right when they are beginning to find traction with viewers. The OA is the best example. The devoted fanbase it amassed was left with a sense of “what could have been” after its abrupt cancelation. And Counterpart? If it was too cerebral for mass appeal, it was also a show that had intellectually invested fans in a very intricately woven plot and morally ambiguous characters who evolved in every episode. Now, this is where Sci-Fi shows have to struggle much harder to keep swimming instead of sinking. Imagine the life support a Counterpart would need when it was on HBO, just to barely scrape by the phrase “good but canceled.” Now, at least they have streaming platforms.
The supporters of Travelers are known to request for a Season 4 even years after the last episode was aired, while The Expanse managed to find entirely new audiences once the show reached streaming services.
This means, of course, that even when a show appears to have left too early, it can still be unearthing new followers who conspicuously encouraging new creators—those who adored the series as much as everyone else did. Here’s a statement that all these shows defend: They are built around the fundamental extensive themes that give science fiction its ideas and importance. Consider Dark Matter. Don’t be deceived, at the core of the story is NOT about the high-concept “what ifs” that it plays with.
It is about identity, which is the central problem in the world of amnesiac crew members: You deal with the fundamental question of whether, when you don’t remember your past, you can change who you are.
Many of us relate largely with the idea of change, whether it be on a personal level or enjoying a story. Nonetheless, The Expanse looks at the human need of curiosity and growth on a broader level. It explores the darker sides of colonization as well as resource wars – realities that feel topical these days. Still, it profoundly regards (I would even argue, celebrates) the spirit of discovery which forces humanity to evolve. There is not enough space in this particular commentary to offer do justice to the show’s over and covert political satire, which ebb and flow throughout narratives of power, culminating not only in the unpleasant politics of change on a Solar System and Earth level.
The OA explores themes around the search for connection, how individuals try to derive significance in their existence, and the alluring potential of there being something beyond our understanding. It’s a show that I think is special in its attempt to straddle every genre under the sun—sci-fi, fantasy, drama, or something completely off the rails. To me, it seems like there is a writer’s room that is so confident in themselves, they started crafting a plot that challenges audiences to suspend disbelief on an impossible premise, and just as effortlessly accept the notion that the power of belief is indeed a centerpiece worthy of its own narrative. And this is a memory I cherish; my wife and I started it together, and though I never finished it, what I encountered sparked a lot of wonder and speculation.
Your continued reading leads me to believe that you are now convinced of the value of these underrated series. While these series may lack the massive budgets or fan followings characteristic of other works of pop culture, they more than make up for it in heart. The stories these shows offer are, time and again, not only entertaining, but embrace complexity on par with anything else you might engage with. Larger shows often do not—or chose not to—take risks. But these four shows, along with many others, break that mold. You know you’re in for something extraordinary with them.
The very first time I sat down to watch Counterpart, I was captivated by the end of the pilot episode. The overarching idea—two parallel universes caught in a peaceful Cold War for decades—was exciting in itself, but what kept me glued to the screen was Howard’s quadrant and half arc trying to make sense of his other self. Dark Matter, which is also an interesting mystery and always deserves a rewatch or two, contains this umpteenth version of a ‘lost in space’ tale with its countless wanderers and wanderings spread across the universe’s many quadrants. Of course, I use these terms very loosely; Dark Matter was serving rather delightful character moments—growth, really—while I was still trying to triangulate the narrative into its most obvious starting point.
So if you are looking to binge a remarkable new science fiction series or perhaps want to revisit a show you may have overlooked during its original run, I cannot recommend these enough. They are not just great representations of the science fiction genre; they are stories that remind us why the genre is beloved. They invite us to step in and take residence in their bizarre new worlds where we can engage with the “big” questions that feel, for some reason, more pertinent than they should. And they provide characters who—regardless of the imagination’s blinding flourishes—are as real and important as those we encounter in everyday life.
Doesn’t each great sci-fi series aim for something similar?
Final Thoughts – The Conversation Continues
The beauty of science fiction is that it keeps expanding and intertwining new ways to convey the world’s joys, fears, and dreams. It remains an evolving, enduring, and nomocracy allowing genre. It’s what may lie in the future; it’s our hopes, fears, and dreams. The same way it is far too easy to hang around the big franchises, is the same way it can be difficult to find what’s creeping beneath the surface of the genre. But, with these two shows, I think we can explore the award-winning writing that drifts from the more popular series. So let’s discuss these two shows.
What are your thoughts? What parts did you enjoy the most? And what moments left you utterly speechless?
And really, who’s to say? Maybe one day, we will get to see Dark Matter get revived or The OA get continued. Until that day, we can indulge in discussions celebrating the stories that make us dream beyond the skies.
