There are plenty of TV shows that start off great, but in the last few seasons go off the boil
The obvious example is Game of Thrones, which went from a fan darling to being openly reviled over the course of just six episodes.
Still, there are a few programmes that never go off the boil. Things like Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle, and Mad Men.
With that in mind, we asked Metro readers to share their favourite sci-fi series that were perfect from start to finish.
Why sci-fi? Well, it’s my favourite genre, and I got to pick the topic this week, of course.
And it seems like I’m not alone in loving science fiction because you delivered an incredibly impressive list that’s all killer, no filler.
Metro readers have their say
So if you’re planning on spending the weekend binging some of the best sci-fi ever made, then you can’t go wrong with these seven series.
Firefly
It was inevitable that someone would mention Firefly, and sure enough, Kamran Ahmed obliged, writing: ‘Firefly is the only answer simply because it was so short.’
Kamran isn’t wrong. Firefly ran for just fourteen episodes before it was cancelled, but it regularly comes up when people are discussing the best sci-fi series ever made.
Set in 2517, the show follows the crew of the Serenity, a Firefly-class ship, as they fight to survive on the fringes of deep space while trying to avoid the despotic Alliance government.
So, how beloved is Firefly? Well, it has a 97% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes and was named ‘The World’s Best Space Sci-Fi Ever’ by our colleagues over at New Scientist, and they know a thing or two about science.
Firefly is available to watch now on Disney Plus.
The Expanse
Dozens of you named The Expanse as your perfect TV show, including António Pedro, Mark Parry, and Leo Blake.
Joanne McMurdo, however, was perhaps the most enthusiastic when she wrote ‘The Expanse was a fantastic show with great actresses and actors. Just a shame that it ended so quickly in the last season.’
If you’ve never seen it, The Expanse is based on the novels of the same name by James S. A. Corey and set in a world where humanity has conquered the stars. However, when UN Deputy Undersecretary Chrisjen Avasarala discovers a secret conspircy she must work to prevent war from breaking out.
Boasting an impressive 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics parising it’s complex story, interesting characters, and impressive visuals. Perhaps, though, the show’s most impressive accomplishment is that it managed to survive cancellation.
All six seasons of The Expanse can be streamed on Amazon Prime now.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
What do Craig Bulloch, Ian Dixon, and I have in common? We all think Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) is an impeccable piece of television. Set more than 70 years after Captain Kirk boldly went where no man had gone before, The Next Generation follows a new crew on board the Enterprise as they explore deep space.
Widely recognised as one of the greatest sci-fi series ever made and one of the best TV shows ever, TNG is an absolute classic. Don’t take my word for it, though, because Katharine Trendacosta from io9 put it best when she wrote.
‘The Next Generation has still earned its place not just in the pantheon of Star Trek, but in the pantheon of TV series, period. It’s what all other science fiction shows aspire to.’
All seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation can be streamed on Paramount Plus.
Red Dwarf
Top fan Jonathan Ineson nominated Red Dwarf as a perfect show, and it’s hard to disagree.
Created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, this cult comedy classic follows the last human alive, Dave Lister, as he and the ragtag crew of the mining ship Red Dwarf try to make their way back to Earth.
Sounds easy enough, right? Well, Dave’s a slob, his crewmates are, in order: dead, a cat, and a senile robot. Oh, and he’s three million years from home.
It’s not just Jonathan who’s a big fan of the show. On Rotten Tomatoes, user Ben R wrote: ‘Still absolutely essential viewing despite, or maybe because of, the shonky sets and effects.’
Bob D went further, writing: ‘Best show ever made.’ And who are we to argue with Bob?
All 12 seasons of Red Dwarf can be streamed now on BBC iPlayer.
Foundation
Both Peyn Minx and Robby Penny gave Foundation a shout-out.
Based on the Foundation series of stories by Isaac Asimov, Foundation is an exceptionally dense and complicated show set in the far-flung future, and centres on a plucky group of mathematicians (don’t laugh) as they battle a tyrannical empire.
Wildly ambitious and incredibly popular with its devoted fan base, Foundation is a tough show to get into but a rewarding one.
Or as Empire magazine’s Helen O’ Hara put it: [Foundation] isn’t always easy… but this is sci-fi that’s worth putting the time in for.’
All three seasons of Foundation can be streamed now on Apple TV.
Stargate SG-1
Daz Wibbs named Stargate SG-1 as his pick, and once again I have to bow to our reader’s impeccable tastes.
A sequel (sort of) to the Stargate movie, the show follows SG-1, a military team from Earth, as they use the gate to travel the galaxy in the hopes of finding a way to defeat an alien threat known as the Goa’uld.
SG-1 regularly appears on lists of the best sci-fi series ever made, and despite ending more than a decade ago, it still has a committed fanbase.
In their IMDb review, jsalzman-99905 wrote: ‘Hands down the best Sci Fi series ever, and it has aged well,’ while dquina agreed, adding: They just don’t make them like they used to. Stargate SG-1 is hands down my favourite SciFi show of all time.
All ten seasons of Stargate SG-1 can be streamed now on NOW and MGM Plus.
Fallout
Martin Beecroft chose Fallout, a very modern show, but a favourite in the Metro office.
Based on the games of the same name and set in an alternate post-apocalyptic world where nuclear war has turned the Earth into an irradiated wasteland, this series follows three different characters as they fight to survive in the ashes of civilisation.
Now I love Fallout (read my Fallout season 2 review if you don’t believe me) but I’m not the only one.
On Reddit, user Melon5676060 called it ‘one of the best video game adaptations ever’, adding they think every episode is a 9/10. That would explain why the show has a very impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Seasons one and two of Fallout can be streamed now on Amazon Prime Video.
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