We love the ’80s and we’re not ashamed to say it.
When you weren’t alive throughout probably the most epic period ever — right here’s taking a look at you, Gen Zers — you missed out on some nice TV, particularly in case you’re a science fiction buff.
From AI vehicles and furry alien creatures to time journey and horror-filled galaxy expeditions, originality reigned supreme through the ’80s.
On the time, it was high quality over amount.
We didn’t have streaming providers like Netflix and Peacock.
We simply had good outdated satellite tv for pc and cable TV.
Let’s revisit a few of our favourite sci-fi sequence from the 80s.
Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology – 1987
Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology was the third sequence within the Star Trek franchise. It debuted in 1987 and rapidly turned successful with viewers.
The sequence is about within the late twenty fourth century, with Earth as a part of the United Federation of Planets, and Starfleet officers are on a mission to seek out new civilizations.
Nevertheless, every new journey comes with harmful alien encounters and private conflicts among the many numerous crew of Starfleet officers.
The present spanned seven seasons, debuting in 1987 and airing its last season in 1994.
Nevertheless, the franchise has churned out many spinoffs since then.
In 2021, we had two seasons of Star Trek: Prodigy, and in 2022, Star Trek: Unusual Worlds took us into the twenty third century with a brand new crew aboard the starship Enterprise.
The 2020 launch of Star Trek: Picard additionally proved there’s nonetheless an area for the franchise to flourish, giving followers three stable seasons.
In the meantime, the franchise ventured into animation for a second time with Star Trek: Decrease Decks, following the short-lived Star Trek: The Animated Sequence, which aired within the ’70s.
Decrease Decks had 5 unbelievable seasons, and followers had been disillusioned when Paramount+ confirmed there wouldn’t be a Season 6.
Given the continued curiosity within the franchise, it may be time to revive the Starfleet crew. Within the meantime, you may watch the sci-fi sequence on fashionable streaming platforms similar to Netflix and Paramount+.
The Twilight Zone – 1985
The Twilight Zone is paying homage to Netflix’s Black Mirror, however darker and extra thought-provoking.
This sci-fi anthology debuted on CBS in 1985, reviving Rod Serling’s unique masterpiece, which led to 1964.
The thought-provoking sequence options characters trapped in difficult conditions and compelled to take care of ethical and supernatural dilemmas.
With every new episode, the present highlights individuals’s propensity to decide on evil over good and the dire penalties of this selection.
Paramount+ rebooted the sequence in 2019, with Jordan Peele as an govt producer and narrator. Nevertheless, it didn’t have the identical enchantment as the unique, and Paramount+ canceled The Twilight Zone reboot after two seasons.
We’re not giving up, although. There are lots of extra ideas to discover, and we’re hoping one other community will take up the mantle and provides this present the therapy it deserves.
Watch The Twilight Zone On-line
ALF – 1986
ALF was the primary of its sort when it debuted on NBC in 1986.
The idea: a furry alien creature from the destroyed planet Melnec lands within the Tanner household’s storage. They resolve to call him ALF, quick for Alien Life Type.
The brash and sarcastic creature turns into part of the Tanner household.
Comedy ensues as ALF tries to acclimate to life on Earth, whereas the Tanner Household makes an attempt to maintain his existence a secret from the federal government.
The present gave us 4 nice seasons operating from 1986 to 1990.
The excellent news? You may try episodes of the ’80s traditional on Prime Video and Peacock.
Watch A.L.F. On-line
Knight Rider – 1982
Is there any relationship extra stunning than the one between a person and his automobile? Not in case you ask, David Hasselhoff’s character in Knight Rider.
After a life-threatening shot to the face, undercover detective Michael Arthur Lengthy undergoes cosmetic surgery. He takes on a brand new face and a brand new identification as Michael Knight.
After his transformation, Michael turns into a modern-day crimefighter, helped by his trusty AI automobile, KITT, a black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
There have been just a few spinoffs since then, with David Hasselhoff reprising his position within the 1991 film Knight Rider 2000.
In 2008, NBC tried a reboot with the TV sequence Knight Rider: An Icon Reborn, selecting up with Michael Knight II, the unique character’s son.
That fell flat and was canceled after its first season, however an important story stays to be instructed with Michael’s son carrying on his father’s legacy or the duo working collectively.
In 2020, Deadline reported that Spyglass Leisure and Monster Manufacturing Firm, owned by Aquaman director James Wan, had teamed as much as develop a Knight Rider film.
The massive display screen adaptation will reportedly be a present-day take, however is not going to stray from the tone of the unique cult traditional.
Watch Knight Rider On-line
Quantum Leap – 1989
Unsurprisingly, the NBC sequence, Quantum Leap, was a giant hit within the ’80s; the premise alone would excite sci-fi followers in any period.
It includes a time journey experiment gone mistaken, because of scientist Sam Beckett, who turns into the final word lab rat in his science experiment.
Sam thinks he has found a technique to journey via time, however finds himself misplaced in area. All through the sequence, he travels to completely different durations and swaps lives with completely different individuals.
Nevertheless, earlier than Sam can return to himself, he should resolve the issues of the particular person whose identification he has taken on and alter historical past for the higher.
In 2022, NBC rebooted Quantum Leap, nevertheless it strayed too removed from the unique and didn’t ring a bell with viewers. After two seasons, it was canceled.
The present deserves a revisit with extra imaginative storylines, smoother plots, and extra deal with the time journey side, which made the unique sequence successful.
One other factor to rethink? Let’s persist with the unique idea of who might or couldn’t see AI. Let’s add extra depth to the characters and permit viewers to construct a reference to them, and we’d have successful on our arms.
You already know what they are saying: third time’s the allure, and there’s a lot extra to be explored with Quantum Leap.
Watch Quantum Leap On-line
The Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy- 1981
The six-episode sequence, an adaptation of Douglas Adams’s 1979 publication, debuted on the BBC in 1981.
The difficulty begins when the primary character, Arthur Dent, discovers that Earth is scheduled for demolition.
As Arthur grapples with this, he learns that his finest pal, Ford Prefect, is an alien from one other planet who works for The Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy.
Ford has a plan to flee the doomed Earth earlier than it’s destroyed. Every episode options the duo’s adventures as they journey throughout the galaxy with Arthur sporting solely a bathrobe.
It’s onerous to seek out present episodes of the present, however you may try the 2005 film remake on streaming platforms.
Watch The Hitchiker’s Information to the Galaxy On-line
Tales from the Darkside -1983
When you love American Horror Story, this 80s horror anthology is correct up your alley.
The 1983 syndicated sequence encompasses a self-contained story the place the primary character has a supernatural encounter.
Infused with science fiction, thriller, and fantasy, the present covers a spread of themes with a splash of darkish humor. It’s no shock that it had an enormous cult following.
Did your favourite ’80s sci-fi sequence make the record? If not, share them within the remark part beneath.
Watch Tales from the Darkside On-line
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