The short sci-fi shows that you can binge in a day can be unforgettable, as dedicating an entire day to one story can leave viewers appreciating the series’ craftmanship, or lamenting the show’s short run. While the major sci-fi franchises have more time to attract attention, many great miniseries are underrated sci-fi shows that you need to discover.
Tales from The Loop
The ambitious and mysterious Tales from the Loop is one of the best sci-fi miniseries on Prime Video. It stands out from other more well-known shows in the genre for focusing on human emotion rather than more traditional sci-fi elements, like space travel. The series is set in a small town built over a phenomenon called “the Loop.”
The show has an extremely distinctive and often disconcerting look, as it is based on the artwork of Simon Stålenhag, whose retro and futuristic images feel both idyllic and utterly alien. Each episode is a standalone story that fits into the show’s overarching question that explores the idea of what it means to be human. It is slow, haunting, and unique.
Devs
Hulu’s best sci-fi thriller is undoubtedly Devs, which may not be surprising to fans of Alex Garland, who created, wrote, and directed the series. Garland is known for his unusual creative vision, presenting common sci-fi tropes in a new way that has given us the movies Ex Machina and Annihilation. Devs is no less creative, and a virtually perfect show.
Devs was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Devs is about Lily, a software engineer, whose boyfriend is murdered after taking a job at the same company. As Lily sets out to uncover the truth behind his death, the show’s eight episodes build up suspense, resulting in a mind-bending ending that combines religion and technology. The show stars Nick Offerman and Sonoya Mizuno.
The Lost Room
Syfy’s 2006 mystery The Lost Room captures the sense of unease that many viewers may recognize from looking at the popular “creepypastas” of the early 2000s and the notorious SCP Foundation website. The premise for the three-part series reads like an urban legend, in which a detective must search for his daughter, who has disappeared from inside a mysterious room.
The series is even better than its 77% positive critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes suggests, as The Lost Room is a mystery masterclass. It has a deceptively simple plot, featuring everyday objects that have strange powers, but what carries the show is its fast pacing and constant sense of urgency. These are timeless, keeping the show feeling exciting even 20 years after it first aired.
Station Eleven
The post-apocalyptic genre is more versatile than it may first appear. While high-octane movies like Mad Max and terrifying TV shows like Chernobyl are best-known, Station Eleven provides a hopeful look at the future of humanity, even among the ruins. Fallout fans will love the underrated apocalypse show, as it has many of the same elements, including some absurdist humor.
Station Eleven may feel familiar, as it is set in the aftermath of a deadly pandemic. The story follows multiple characters across different timelines, exploring the ways in which small parts of humanity survive, including the desire to entertain others. While the show has some shocking and bleak moments, it is a perfect reminder that the post-apocalyptic genre does not always have to be depressing.
Wild Palms
Kim Cattrall’s five-hour miniseries, Wild Palms, is a forgotten sci-fi TV show that has aged like fine wine. The show is based on a comic strip in which a sinister right wing cult known as “The Fathers” attempts to seize control of America through manipulation of mass media. The show has been compared to David Lynch’s work, so Twin Peaks fans must watch Wild Palms.
Wild Palms features a cameo from the cyberpunk author, William Gibson (Neuromancer) as himself. He is introduced as “the man who invented the term “cyberspace“, to which he says “and they won’t let me forget it.”
A few years ago, Wild Palms might have felt outdated for its 90s aesthetic, but now is the perfect time to watch the show as its distinctive style now feels nostalgic, while the story feels current though it was once ahead of its time. Wild Palms has accurately predicted aspects of modern events, including cult-like behavior and factions attempting to control the media.
Firefly
Of all the great sci-fi miniseries, Firefly undoubtedly has the greatest legacy of them all. Firefly became a sci-fi cult classic through its simple story, lovable motley crew of passengers on the Serenity, and its blending of sci-fi and Western genres. With a long-awaited and much-anticipated reboot on the way, now is the perfect time to rewatch the show, or discover it.
Firefly‘s failure to succeed was not the fault of the show’s creators. Its initial run skipped the pilot episode and aired the other episodes out of order in an unpopular Friday night slot. While the show has not always aged well, it is still a nearly-perfect series in many respects, with its character-focused storytelling and details that hinted at a much more expansive world.
Watchmen
HBO’s Watchmen series is a masterful superhero story and a perfect example of a comic book adaptation done right. The show is a direct sequel to the comic and builds on existing mythology while adding to the lore, both catching up with existing characters and adding new ones. In a similar way to The Umbrella Academy‘s 1960s episodes, Watchmen combines superhero lore with social commentary.
While many superhero movies prioritize visuals and special effects, Watchmen puts its human story at the center at all times, which gives us nuanced characters and emotional depth rather than a visual spectacle with no soul underneath. While the original author, Alan Moore, was not a fan of the show, critics gave it a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam is one of the many great sci-fi TV shows that have been canceled before their time. The story follows the immortal New York homicide detective, John Amsterdam (Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) who is fated to become mortal again once he finds his one true love. New Amsterdam‘s slightly-ludicrous but fun premise puts a clever twist on immortality.
As John brings lifetimes of experience to his work, each episode explores a different facet of humanity, turning the show into something more thoughtful than a clichéd love story. New Amsterdam lasted for eight episodes and had an ending that left another season as a possibility. However, the show was canceled soon afterward, leaving an excellent, if unfinished, sci-fi miniseries.
Caprica
Of all the forgotten TV shows that could have taken over the world, it is still a surprise that the Battlestar Galactica prequel, Caprica, did not achieve as much success. With both critics and audiences giving Caprica an 81% positive Rotten Tomatoes rating, the show was extremely well-regarded, but did not attract enough viewers to keep it running for another season.
Caprica started out as a slow-burn that explored the creation of the Cylons, and built up momentum as it continued. Unfortunately, while Battlestar Galactica fans may have wanted to tune in, Syfy kept making changes to the show’s scheduling before pulling it off-air for a mid-season hiatus, which was extremely unusual before the days of split seasons.