If you’re not a regular sci-fi or fantasy fan, there are still plenty of genre shows out there to watch!
One would think that if you’re on this website, then you’re automatically a fan of sci-fi and fantasy TV. Several shows have been able to connect with mainstream audiences, like Lost and Game of Thrones. But some might be a bit harder for casual viewers to get into. They are still great, they’re just more for folks already familiar with the genre.
It helps that these shows have great writing, excellent actors and often some stunning story arcs. For casual fans, these 15 sci-fi and fantasy shows are worth tracking down!
1. Silo
One of Apple TV+’s hottest shows, Silo has a pure sci-fi setup: thousands of people live in a city underground, having been told that the world above is uninhabitable. After a couple of deaths, an engineer (Rebecca Ferguson) searches for answers and exposes some dark secrets. While that’s a sci-fi premise, Silo focuses on on the human element as we see what holds these people together.
Tim Robbins is captivating as a sinister community leader hiding his own secrets. The tension in each episode is palpable and the underground setting is claustrophobic.
The just-wrapped second season amps things up. With more seasons planned, this show is turning into a new smash hit.
Streaming on Apple TV+.
2. Good Omens
Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, this Prime Video series is a great fantasy comedy. For millennia, angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tennant) have lived on Earth and forged an odd friendship. When they hear Armageddon is coming, neither wants to see Earth destroyed. They team up to try to stop it, leading to some offbeat complications.
The show has a nice tongue-in-cheek style that plays into religious themes but not in a mocking way. It rests on the relationship of the leads, with Sheen and Tennant marvelously bouncing off each other in one of the best bromances on television. The effects and supporting cast help to make this a good watch for those wanting humor with their fantasy.
Streaming on Prime Video.
3. Quantum Leap
Whether it’s the original 1989-1993 series or the 2022-24 reboot, Quantum Leap takes viewers on a fun trip. The original setup sees scientist Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) bouncing around his lifetime and inhabiting the bodies of others after a time travel experiment gone wrong. Aided by the holographic Al (Dean Stockwell), Sam has to “set right what once went wrong.”
The setup allows each episode to have its own unique vibe. One week is a 1960s-set drama, the next a 1950s crime story and the next a 1970s comedy. Bakula and Stockwell’s chemistry makes the stories shine. Quantum Leap doesn’t shy away from dealing with topics like racism or sexism, with Sam finding himself in various bodies (including women) and learning lessons each time.
The reboot series has its own fun touches while showcasing different time periods. History fans will love this show, while anyone who wants to see a single series boasting multiple genres should take a leap on it.
Original series streaming on The Roku Channel, reboot on Peacock.
4. Severance
Apple TV+’s current smash hit puts a sci-fi spin on the classic office drama. A group of people working for a mysterious company agree to a procedure so that when they’re in the office, they completely forget their lives outside, and vice versa. That lets the actors play different roles while wrestling with the meaning of identity, especially as the lines between their work and home lives start to blur.
Trying to describe the show is difficult as each episode changes what you thought you knew about what was going on. That’s especially true in the current second season, which delves into the background of the company. The talented cast make Severance a must-watch; it's a stunning drama with a sci-fi touch that will have you wondering what makes a person themself.
Streaming on Apple TV+.
5. Once Upon A Time
Amid the numerous Lost clones, this ABC series became an unexpected smash. It helps that it utilizes Disney's takes on classic fairy tale characters, who are trapped in a small town with no memory of their pasts. The first season is the best. There are stunning twists, flashbacks to fantasy worlds, and great performances from the likes of Lana Parilla as the delightfully evil Queen Regina.
The following seasons visit more fairy tale worlds, from Peter Pan to Frozen. Some arcs more successful than others. There’s also the controversial final season, which has an almost completely different cast. However, the show remains an amazing journey with wonderful actors, and the Disney touches add a sense of familiarity. Once Upon a Time is one of the most surprisingly good fantasy shows of the 2010s.
Streaming on Disney+.
6. Stranger Things
Whether it falls under sci-fi or fantasy, Netflix’s TV sensation has captivated millions of viewers and keeps pulling them in. Stranger Things is a love letter to the 1980s; it's not just set in that decade but it captures the feel of movies from back then about a group of kids involved in a bizarre adventure. At its heart is Millie Bobby Brown in her breakout role as Eleven, a girl with mysterious powers befriended by some teens and hunted by a shady agency.
The show puts the characters first with fine writing, good performances and a stellar cast that includes Winona Ryder. Meanwhile, the special effects sell the terror that often pops up. With its final season coming this year, Stranger Things is ready to finish and prove itself a show for everybody, not just sci-fi fans.
Streaming on Netflix.
7. Firefly
High on the list of “great shows that ended too soon,” Joss Whedon’s 2002 sci-fi series has amassed a huge cult following in the decades since its cancellation. What makes it work is that it’s as much a Western as a sci-fi show. Firefly follows a crew of low-level crooks making their way in a galaxy dominated by an evil government. The characters are lovable, the language intriguing and the old-school special effects extremely charming.
The show works thanks to the wonderfully written characters, brought to life by a cast of now-famous names like Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, and Morena Baccarin. The 13 episodes are easy to watch and leave you wanting more. You won't get more episodes, but they did make a movie called Serenity to close out the story.
Streaming on Hulu.
8. For All Mankind
One of Apple TV+’s first and best shows has a fabulous premise: the Soviet Union lands a man on the moon before the United States did in 1969. That kicks off a new alternate history with a different space race, and each season jumps ahead a decade to show a vastly different world. History buffs will obviously get a kick seeing what’s changed and the series does a fine job making it all feel real.
Despite the setting, For All Mankind is more grounded than other some of the other shows on this list, with no aliens or fancy technology. The cast is believable, aging through the seasons, and it’s astounding how the special effects make this feel like the real world, just a bit different. The political and cultural takes are far more interesting than the space exploits and make this one of the best current sci-fi shows around. It definitely deserves more attention from casual viewers.
Streaming on Apple TV+.
9. Doctor Who
For six decades, British viewers have loved the stories of the alien in a police-box-shaped time machine traveling the universe. International viewers have latched onto it as well, and Doctor Who can be a wonderful opening door into sci-fi. It helps that the main character “regenerates” into a new body every few years, meaning a different actor provides a fresh perspective for the series.
The Doctor’s exploits run from high adventure to comedy to horror, mixing historical adventures with fantasy and sci-fi elements. You don’t have to know the complex history to get into the stories, and whatever Doctor you choose, a trip on the TARDIS is appealing to all audiences.
Classic Doctor Who streaming on Tubi, Seasons 1-14 on Max, Season 15 on Disney+.
10. Resident Alien
The tagline for this Syfy series sums it up: “The sci-fi murder mystery doctor dramedy Earth needs right now.” An alien comes to Earth, kills a local resident (Alan Tudyk) and takes his identity as the doctor of a small Alaska town. The fact that our “hero” is on a mission to destroy humanity automatically sets this series apart, even as he finds himself becoming more like the humans he lives among. That includes a young boy who’s the only one who can see through his disguise, which makes for a bizarre dynamic.
With his bizarre mannerisms, Tudyk is marvelous as Harry. The only reason he doesn’t stand out more is that everyone else in this Alaska town is equally quirky. The show builds a story about a government agency hunting Harry as he tries to complete his mission while balancing mysteries and medical emergencies alike.
With a fourth season coming, it’s a good time to catch up on a show that ranks as one of the most underrated comedies on TV, sci-fi or otherwise.
Streaming on Peacock.
11. Galavant
This criminally underrated 2015-16 ABC series is a delight, mostly thanks to its plentiful musical numbers. It sets the tone right off as the heroic Galavant (Joshua Sasse) goes to rescue his love Madalena (Mallory Jansen) from the evil King Richard (Timothy Omundson)...only for her to decide she’d rather be the rich and powerful queen. A broken Galavant is later recruited by a princess to save her kingdom, embarking on the journey with his loyal squire to face Richard again.
What sounds like typical fantasy fare becomes a laugh-out-loud romp that wonderfully skewers the classic fantasy tropes. The songs are always great, backed by a cast that includes none other than Weird Al Yankovich. The cast is having fun, especially Jansen, who chews up the scenery as Madalena supplants Richard as the show’s villain. That leads to the better second season, where Galavant and Richard become unlikely allies.
At just two seasons, Galavant is a fun binge that lets musical fans enjoy a terrific fantasy story.
Streaming on Hulu.
12. Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica has space battles, robots and a lot of sci-fi jargon. But there’s a good reason the 2004-09 reboot of the campy 1970s series is often ranked among the best TV shows of the 21st century. It’s a dark story of the last survivors of humanity fleeing the destruction of their worlds, pursued by the robotic Cylons. Yet the series is at its best exploring how humanity is its own worst enemy while exploring themes of religion, society and class alongside a struggle for survival.
There’s a fine cast, several of whom pull double duty as Cylons, and lots of twists. The gritty feel of Galactica makes it the most realistic sci-fi series out there, and the revelations that the robotic Cylons were just as flawed as the humans is awesome.
The space setting is pure sci-fi, yet BSG was always about humans first. It's a fascinating show all the way to the controversial ending.
Available to buy on Prime Video.
13. Orphan Black
The opening scene of this Canadian series grips you right off. A con artist named Sarah sees an exact double of herself jump in front of a train. Taking over her double’s life as a cop, Sarah soon discovers she’s one of a series of clones being hunted by a sinister company. The series delves deep into genetics and the question of how you’re raised can determine who you become.
The reason to watch Orphan Black can be summed up in two words: Tatiana Maslany. Her star-making turn as the multiple clones is nothing short of astounding, as you believe you’re watching a half dozen different actresses rather than one person playing all the roles. The fact she won an Emmy for her turn only proves how fantastic it is. While the sci-fi themes are good, seeing what remains one of the most impressive performances in television history is the reason this show can appeal to non-sci-fi fans.
Streaming on Britbox.
14. Black Mirror
Anthology series are plentiful on TV, but there's nothing like Black Mirror. No two episodes of this dark show are alike, much to the joy of anyone watching. The series is brilliant, mixing modern themes of class, culture, and science into a variety of stories that non-sci-fi fans can get a kick out of.
There can be surprisingly heartfelt tales like "San Junipero" alongside parodies of classic sci-fi shows such as "USS Callister." The wonderful revolving guest star cast makes each episode feel like a mini-movie, and the way it touches on so many genres means a non-sci-fi buff could easily be captivated by a show that’s barely stranger than our world today.
Streaming on Netflix
15. Star Wars: Andor
Andor may be a Star Wars show, yet it almost never feels like it. You don’t need to know the deep mythology of the franchise or details of past events. This prequel to Rogue One could be taking place in almost any franchise; the Empire and the Rebellion are present, but it doesn’t push the mythos as much as other Star Wars shows. It’s less about big space battles and more about political maneuvering, and in that it succeeds brilliantly.
There are so many threads here to enjoy: Andor (Diego Luna) moving from rogue smuggler to Rebel spy; Mon Mothma working to build what will become the Rebel Alliance while navigating the Imperial Senate; the Imperials fighting for power and backstabbing each other; and the nascent Rebellion trying to form. The upcoming second season will be bigger and better. Even non-Star Wars fans can be enthralled by Andor.
Streaming on Disney+.
16. Game of Thrones
For eight seasons on HBO, Game of Thrones was a mega-hit. People got swept in an enormous tale about warring kingdoms, vast conspiracies, intimate characters relationships, and dragonfire. With the medieval milieu, the doublets, the horses and the swordfights, Game of Thrones is about as fantasy as it gets, and yet it crossed over to a much wider audience.
Why? Because the show put characters first, and then gave us dozens of interesting ones to get to know. The dragons were fake but the conflicts were relatable. The production values sent new benchmarks for TV that shows are still trying to top today.
And if you enjoy Game of Thrones you can always check out the prequel series House of the Dragon, which shares some of the same qualities.
Streaming on Max.
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