Have you ever watched a sci-fi show and realized that the relationship between two characters is what actually has you hooked? This happens to me all the time. While sci-fi gets praised for its epic battles, amazing spaceships, and mind-bending tech, one of my favorite things about the genre is the friendships that form amid all the chaos.
Sure, I enjoy a good romance subplot or rivalry, but I’ve got a real soft spot for those underappreciated friendships in science fiction.
Think about it – some of the most touching scenes in storytelling come from connections between characters who aren’t always in the spotlight. I’m talking about those friendships that don’t need big dramatic moments but thrive on quiet, meaningful interactions. Firefighter friendships: the kind where you know someone has your back during a shootout and all you need is a raised eyebrow and knowing look to communicate in a crisis.
These are the pairs that make “camaraderie” feel real. In this article, I’ll look at ten sci-fi friendships that don’t get enough love. The duos I’ve picked might not be the central relationships in their stories, but they add so much depth that I can’t help but call them unforgettable.
I’ll dig into what makes each relationship work, highlight key moments fans should remember, and explain why these friendships deserve more fan discussion than even the writers seemed to give them. If you love these characters and their stories, I think you’ll enjoy this rundown.
Partnerships at Their Best – Celebrating Sci-Fi’s Lesser-Known Duos
Let’s explore some of sci-fi’s best friendships.
These aren’t forced alliances born from necessity. These are genuine bonds that develop as stories unfold. I’ve chosen ten pairs: five classic and five modern—though “modern” doesn’t necessarily mean “recent.” (And to avoid recency bias, I won’t include any shows that came out after summer 2022, when I started working on this piece.)
Zoe Washburne and Hoban “Wash” Washburne — Firefly
I know Firefly has many iconic pairs, but something about Zoe and Wash just fascinates me.
Yes, they’re romantically involved, but I think that aspect gets more attention than it should. For all practical purposes, they’re best friends who happen to be married. Their dynamic—how they understand each other and their unique way of resolving conflicts—really clicks with me.
If more fans thought about how much time these two must spend together (imagine planning a heist with your spouse, best friend, and fellow war buddy—must be fun!), they’d probably appreciate Zoe and Wash more. Mulder and Scully — The X-Files
The X-Files gave us Mulder and Scully, a pair almost everyone recognizes. Beyond being one of TV’s greatest “will they or won’t they” couples (that’s another essay entirely), they share one of sci-fi’s—maybe even television’s—best friendships.
Season 2 has a great episode about trust that I’m going to spoil. The X-Files is an old show, so it’s okay. The episode cleverly starts with Scully (not Mulder).
She’s exhausted and disheveled, clutching a coffee-to-go like it’s life support, trying to keep track of Mulder and his conspiracy theories. And she doesn’t even believe them. Geordi La Forge and Data—Star Trek: The Next Generation
If there’s a Star Trek fan who doesn’t understand why this pair deserves more recognition, let me explain.
First, you’ve got Data, basically the ultimate “can I be human” character in all of sci-fi. Then there’s Geordi, with his spiritual, path-of-least-resistance vibe, being the perfect “you don’t always have to be right to be a good friend” counterpart. Seriously though: When has Data ever told Geordi, “You know what I was just thinking?”/”What?”/”For all practical purposes, your face is a right angle”?
Kaylee Frye and Inara Serra — Firefly
Let’s return to Firefly, because Kaylee and Inara deserve more attention. Despite their different backgrounds—Kaylee’s the big-hearted mechanic while Inara’s the elegant companion—their friendship feels natural. There’s a scene where Kaylee struggles with her self-esteem, and Inara reassures her so warmly it feels like watching a hug.
Fans often appreciate how their friendship breaks from the competitive female dynamics we sometimes see on TV. Their relationship is judgment-free; they support each other completely. Kaylee and Inara are a fantastic duo who deserve more fanfiction.
John Crichton and Aeryn Sun — Farscape
Another friendship with romantic undertones is John Crichton and Aeryn Sun from Farscape. These characters start from complete opposition. Earthling John Crichton is perpetually confused, while Aeryn Sun is extremely competent with her “membership in the intergalactic police force that beat everyone else.” This setup creates a perfect “buddy tale.” Plot-wise, these characters face countless dangerous, potentially fatal situations.
They work through them together, but in such an entertaining way that it makes me want to watch Farscape from the beginning to see how it all unfolds. D’Avin Jaqobis and John Jaqobis – Killjoys
Sci-fi sibling dynamics often include rivalry. But D’Avin and John from Killjoys offer a refreshing alternative.
Despite their differences—D’Avin’s the soldier, John’s the tech expert—they share an unbreakable bond that feels genuine. Sure, they disagree (who doesn’t when hunting bounties in space?), but when things get tough, family comes first. I love the scene where they’re trapped and instead of panicking, they reminisce about childhood.
It’s a small moment that reveals their deep connection. Fans appreciate their brotherly banter but also love how the show lets them explore vulnerability. The Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble—Doctor Who
Oh, Donna.
Oh, Ten. This classic Doctor-companion duo has such a heartbreaking ending compared to the Doctor’s other relationships. Some stories suggest Donna and the Doctor shared romantic feelings, but there’s more evidence pointing to their friendship being remarkable for its lack of romantic tension.
What’s the deal with that narrative anyway? Donna is the companion with the no-nonsense attitude and sharp tongue. Though she might seem like a poor, put-upon Sarah Michelle Gellar “Scooby-Doo” version of a typical can-do-no-wrong Doctor companion, Donna absolutely earns her adventures with the Doctor.
Ezekiel Jones and Cassandra Cillian — The Librarians
For fans of magical sci-fi blends, Ezekiel Jones and Cassandra Cillian form the oddest couple in The Librarians. Jones is a master thief. Cillian, a brilliant but sometimes anxious mathematician.
They seem mismatched and unlikely as partners. But they have fun together. Beneath their lighthearted banter lies a deep tenderness that often surprises me.
When Jones risks his life to save Cillian—trapped in a dangerous mathematical problem—I witness true friendship. They balance each other perfectly. Without the teamwork Jones and Cillian share, the librarians wouldn’t succeed.
Kara “Starbuck” Thrace and Karl “Helo” Agathon — Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica focuses on survival, leaving little room for sentiment. Despite the constant chaos, Kara Thrace (Starbuck) and Karl “Helo” Agathon maintain a steadfast friendship. Like Starbuck, Helo has suffered tremendously, but he’s always there for her.
Survival comes first, but I find it remarkable how Helo refuses to abandon Starbuck even when everyone else has given up. This scene sticks with me, along with many moments leading to it. Their friendship is undoubtedly the best thing in Starbuck’s life, and Helo’s loyalty is something we should all aspire to—regardless of where we stand on survival, mortality, or destiny.
Finn and Poe — Star Wars Sequels
Finally, let’s talk about Finn and Poe. The Star Wars sequels can divide fans, but one thing we can all agree on—and I mean everyone, not just my immediate circle—is that Finn and Poe deserved more screen time together. From their first scene, they had an amazing bromance.
What’s not to love? One’s a stormtrooper turned rebel. The other’s a hotshot pilot.
Together, they fight the First Order and hopefully live to fight another day. After examining these ten enduring sci-fi friendships, let’s uncover why they resonate so deeply with fans and what makes them special among countless iconic partnerships. I think it comes down to a couple things.
First, these friendships work beyond just shared banter or battles. They represent sci-fi’s heart—celebrating human connections in the face of terrifying unknowns. These stories show how people (or nearly-human characters) support each other while braving strange frontiers together.
Most sci-fi friendships center on loyalty. There’s nothing particularly modern about how Zoe and Wash from Firefly interact, but they have a friendship anyone would be lucky to find. It’s not that they don’t face challenges that test their bond.
Their foundation of loyalty makes them both comfortable and capable together. For most fandoms, even today, this kind of friendship is something to aspire to. That’s why pairs like John Crichton and Aeryn Sun in Farscape don’t really “level up” in their friendship until they’ve faced “shared hardships and adventures.” Eventually, they develop something comparable to what Zoe and Wash have, and then some.
In a genre usually defined by epic confrontations and passionate romances, these overlooked friendships remind us about the power of quiet moments. Take Data and Geordi from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Their relationship is built on acceptance and understanding, qualities Trek fans have always cherished.
We watch Data trying to understand humans while Geordi patiently guides him, and we realize that if a superhuman android and a smart human can be friends, then anyone can connect with anyone. They demonstrate how friendships can form between different beings, without concerns about superiority or inferiority. You want to talk about humanistic values?
That’s a perfect example. One of the most fascinating aspects of fandom is how fans take existing works and create their own art. Through fan fiction, fans write new stories and add episodes to what were always going to be limited narratives.
Screen friendships like Finn and Poe’s have inspired countless backstories. Seriously—if you can’t get any closer than those two, what do you call it? Finn and Poe never crossed any lines, but their friendship feels so authentic!
With these foundations, fandom writes, draws, and endlessly builds toward the kinds of stories it hopes for when first engaging with the original work. So why do these friendships matter so much to us fans? One reason is relatability.
Despite futuristic settings and fantastic elements, science fiction is fundamentally about people. The best sci-fi stories—from creators like Chris Carter and Russell T. Davies—feature protagonist pairs who, amid universal mysteries, both support and challenge each other equally.
Consider Fox Mulder and Dana Scully from The X-Files. They occupy that special place in fandom. They’re practically the original sci-fi BFFs.
And overall, Mulder and Scully represent a healthy partnership. Moreover, Donna Noble’s friendship with the Doctor shows even underestimated fans that they’re capable of more than they realize. For anyone who’s felt overlooked or been told they’re not “Doctor material,” Donna’s emotional journey ending with her as a powerfully emotional character reinforces that we all have the ability, in Donna’s words, “to be more.”
These under-the-radar friendships are vital and impactful.
No one would argue that shows exist solely to showcase these bonds, but their presence adds essential depth and portrays relationships that few of us might be lucky enough to have but must admire from afar. D’Avin and John Jaqobis from Killjoys share a relationship few can relate to, especially in a “sci-fi” context. But they embrace their sibling bond without falling into the tired TV tropes where one sibling must be bad for the other to be good, or at least good at being bad.
Why Fans Are Drawn to These Stories
Science fiction explores what could be possible, and these underappreciated relationships ground the stories. Fans have unique ways of showing affection for even obscure characters, but for this discussion, let’s just say that Captain Janeway’s first officer has a better fandom than I ever had. It’s comparable to Third Eye Blind’s.
Why do I value these friendships so highly? Well, just look at Zoe and Wash from Firefly.
Inviting the Fans In – The Community and Power of Beloved Sci-Fi Friendships
Fellow space travelers, let’s finish where we started and celebrate these vital friendships in sci-fi.
One of fandom’s best qualities is how it centers on stories that bring people together. Sharing what we love, theorizing together, or simply bonding over funny moments we’ve all experienced while enjoying the same stories creates that warm feeling of belonging to a special club—us and the sci-fi friendships we’re celebrating. At their best, fan communities can be incredibly wholesome and positive, and even if our community primarily connects through the stories we love, our appreciation for these amazing friendships creates even more wonderful communities.
Science fiction is about dreaming, about imagining a future as wonderful and strange as anything we can conceive. And as we gather here, appreciating the friendships that make those dreams feel possible, we’re part of something truly special. So thanks for joining me, and let’s continue in the comments with your thoughts on sci-fi friendships that deserve more attention.
After all, we’re just stargazers sharing the same corner of the universe.
