The 12 Greatest Science Fiction Series of All Time

12) Quantum Leap

Scott Bakula (who would go on to star in Star Trek: Enterprise ) played the role of Sam Beckett, a scientist who finds himself “leaping” into the bodies of different people during different time periods. This made for some interesting situations, because not only did Becket have to solve some sort of problem, but he also had to deal with the personal life of the person that he “leapt” into. Race, sex, location, time period, and culture all came up during the series’ run, which was from 1989 to its untimely cancellation in 1993.

11) Babylon 5

Some would argue it is the best Sci-fi series of all time. This politically and philosophically charged series ran from 1994-1998, and enthralled a wide fan base. The show centers around a space station (the fifth of its kind) intended to be a sort of bastion of peace in the galaxy. As we’ve learned from the real world and science fiction alike, peace can be a difficult thing to achieve.

10) The Outer Limits

“There is nothing wrong with your television. Do not attempt to adjust the picture.” Originally airing in the sixties in black and white with similar subject matter to The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits was resurrected in 1995 and ran until 2002. Each episode dealt with a new sci-fi plot. The cryptic and enticing storytelling kept the viewer guessing until the very end, which often featured a clever twist. “You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to the outer limits…”

9) Firefly

Joss Whedon’s Firefly only ran for one season, but was too good to be kept off this list. It was cancelled after one season in 2002 for various reasons – Fox marketed it poorly, and many claim the studio disagreed with some of its edgy subject matter. The show didn’t get the viewers it deserved, but huge DVD sales prompted a movie sequel to be made – Serenity, which was released in theaters in 2005. Some would describe Firefly as akin to what Han Solo’s story would have been like if he never met up with Luke and Obi Wan on Tatooine.

Farscape

Muppets have never been utilized in such an awesome way since The Dark Crystal. John Crichton, an astronaut slung into the other side of the universe by a wormhole, joins forces with a rag-tag crew on a strange alien ship. The show delivers on pretty much every level, which explains why it has become such a cult hit. Farscape ran for four seasons, and then was concluded with  The Peacekeeper Wars .

7) Sliders

The fact that Sliders convincingly portrayed Jerry O’Connell as a super genius is in itself enough to give the show recognition. After said genius discovers a way to “slide” through parallel dimensions and visit various versions of earth (think the opposite of Quantum Leap), a group of people go on a journey and visit these other versions of earth. The catch is, they can’t get back. The series chronicles their quest to return to their version of earth.

6) Dr. Who

Never has a show undergone as many major changes while maintaining stability. Dr. Who centers around an eccentric time traveling alien who’s time traveling machine looks very much like a police box. The show began in 1963 and ran for over 25 years, and now a newer reinvention of the series can be seen on the Sci-Fi channel. It is fitting there would be a later version of a show that underwent so many metamorphoses.

5) Stargate: SG-1

Rarely does a mediocre Sci-Fi movie spawn an enthralling and successful series that churns out 10 seasons of quality programming. Stargate: SG-1 is an exception. The show centers around an elite team, known as SG-1, that travels through the “Stargate” – a gateway that uses wormholes to enable instantaneous travel between planets. One of the show’s strong suits is how it stays exciting, and at times dramatic, without taking itself too seriously. Also, it is hard to think of another show that has done more with a relatively low budget. Stargate: SG-1’s success paved the way for Stargate: Atlantis, a spin-off and great series in its own right.

4) Battlestar Galactica

The few humans that remain after the Cylon attack travel through the galaxy in search of a world they can call their own, they are hoping for a place called “Earth”. The Cylons are a race of sentient robotic beings that were once created by man, and now are out for blood. The 2003 miniseries  spawned a 2004 series that is superior to the original 1978. With top-notch acting, storytelling, visual effects, and a flowing and engaging plotline, Battlestar Galactica has everything a Sci-Fi buff could ask for.

3) The Twilight Zone

While it only ran for five seasons, The Twilight Zone left a monumental impact on the genre of science fiction and television as a whole. The series changed the way that stories were told, and brought an edge that TV hadn’t seen before. The show was jam-packed with metaphorical references to global politics and culture that were taboo to tackle directly. The chilling twists and mind bending ideas it introduced are still pertinent today.

2) The X-Files

Everyone knows paranormal investigators Mulder and Scully; they are iconic figures of American television. Their supernatural and extraterrestrial encounters spanned nine seasons, and a feature film was made in 1998. Six years after the series wrapped, another movie is on the way. IMBD The X-Files: I Want To Believe hits theaters later this summer.

1) Star Trek

You didn’t really think Star Trek would be left off the list, did you? This includes both the original and The Next Generation incarnations. Speaking of icons, they don’t get any bigger than Captain James T. Kirk (and to a lesser extent, Captain Jean-Luc Picard) and the U.S.S. Enterprise. Star Trek has captivated generations of viewers with its unique mix of interstellar politics, bizarre science, and seductive green women.

Other series’ in the franchise include Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise.

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