Netflix subscribers have always enjoyed a steady supply of great TV shows, and sci-fi fans have it even better. From Black Mirror to The OA, there are plenty of critically acclaimed options on the carte du jour. Whether they restrict themselves to a small town or depict events that have global implications, these shows leave viewers thinking hard about science and its many possibilities.
Unfortunately, as is the case with every vast library, Netflix has a major problem where many gems get buried under the rubble. Viewers don’t always have all day to check out everything on offer, so they are likely to miss out on a thing or two that would be ideal for them. On that note, the following list has sci-fi shows that will be worth your time if you are a big fan of the genre.
Ever thought of what Amazon and eBay might look like in the future? Futmalls.com creator Lai Chun-yu surely did. In the Taiwanese sci-fi show, people can purchase anything from a mysterious online shopping site that claims to be the future. Fame? Love? Beauty? They can have it all for a price. As expected, there are implications.
No “Return to Sender”
Containing resounding insights about human desires and consumerism, Futmalls.com cuts close to the bone. It’s hilarious, inspiring, terrifying, flirty, and heartbreaking; in short, everything that an ambitious TV show could be. It’s a joy to do the investigations with police officer Zhao Xu-zhen, one of the most fully realized on-screen characters you will ever meet.
‘Better Than Us’ (2018)
The chilling and fiercely unconventional Better Than Us features the magnificent Russian actress Paulina Andreeva in an audaciously masochistic role that Hollywood starlets might have had second thoughts about. She plays Arisa, an android from 2029 who defies Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics and starts harming humans.
Another Warning About the Rise of AI
Better Than Us is undoubtedly one of the essential shows about AI, and it works as more of a cautionary tale. Arisa is vicious, but through her, the show gets to pass several moral messages, such as the importance of consent. In one scene, she murders someone who tries to use her as a sex slave. Add some well-choreographed action sequences, and you have a perfect sci-fi show that’ll leave you immersed for hours.
‘Sisyphus: The Myth’ (2021)
In Sisyphus: The Myth, Han Tae-sul (Jung Hyeon-jun), the genius engineer, CE, and founder of the company Quantum and Time, meets the mysterious Kang Seo-hae and is stricken by her incandescent beauty. She is irrepressibly alluring, a vision of elf-like attractiveness in Chanel and pearls. But she is also harboring secrets. She is from the future, and she is here to prevent Tae-sul from inventing a dangerous machine.
Time Travel Served in a Refreshing Manner
If you’re looking for a tense sci-fi mystery that’s still heavy on inspired visual gags, Sisyphus: The Myth certainly hits the bull’s-eye. The show keenly explores the concept of time travel and, at times, it goes too deep. Consequently, it might be tough-going for viewers who crave nothing but entertainment, but its inventive camerawork and divine catharsis are worth diving in for.
‘Omniscient’ (2020)
Omniscient is set in a society where citizens are monitored 24/7 by drones. When a strange murder occurs, a tech employee devises a way to outsmart her surveillance drone, allowing her to conduct some investigation. Unsurprisingly, her curiosity triggers several consequences for various parties.
Feels Like a Large ‘Black Mirror’ Episode
The show’s premise could be ideal for a Black Mirror episode, but Omniscient as its own vehicle is a good thing since there is enough time to provide commentary on government surveillance and crime. See this lyrical and touching tale, and you’ll be moved to reconsider your views on some of society’s most important yet often neglected practices.
‘The Imperfects’ (2022)
In The Imperfects, three people morph into monsters as a result of an experimental gene therapy by Dr. Alex Sarkov. Robbed of their life and liberties, and enslaved in bodies they don’t prefer, the three characters embark on a lengthy odyssey of vengeance against the man who made them this way, while also hoping he can turn them back into who they were.
Simple Yet Rich
Combining the social realism of Fringe with the deadpan humor of The Boys, The Imperfects is a major triumph, mostly defined by its offbeat minimalism. Set in the bubbly neighborhoods of Seattle, the show has perfect cinematography and visual effects. Interestingly, the camera never moves much, but that’s a good thing since the focus elicits soft, but affecting performances from the team of expressive actors.
‘Tribes of Europa’ (2021)
Tribes of Europa is set in 2074, four decades after a global tech failure caused nations to tumble into anomie and disintegrate into warring tribe-based microstates. The show mainly focuses on the woes and triumphs of three European tribes: the Origines, a peaceful neo-Luddite jungle tribe; the Crows, a warrior society; and the Crimsons, a militaristic tribe hoping to reunite Europe through dialogue.
Using Fiction To Drive a Bigger Point
Given the settings, Tribes of Europa has some of the most stunning cinematography you will see, but it is more than just a visual feast. The thought-provoking German series uses science fiction to make larger geopolitical and philosophical points. By suggesting that every circle of violence can and should be broken, the writers see an end to all obstinate territorial conflicts in the real world.
‘Osmosis’ (2019)
Finding the perfect match is a lot easier in the world of Osmosis. Here, experts have invented a new dating app that can dig deep into its users’ brains and mine data to enable them to find someone who views life in the same way they do. Have the dating challenges been solved forever? New problems emerge, and they are worse than those that were present before.
Dating Is Never Easy
Osmosis is a total joy, whose success lies in its recreation of real-world dating scenarios, and in bravura performances by its lead cast, particularly French actor Hugo Becker, who steals the show as the ambitious, eccentric, and uncompromising CEO of the dating app company. This too feels like a Black Mirror kind of story, one that the show’s writers would regret not having thought about, but we, as viewers, are glad to still get it elsewhere.
‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)
After their spaceship, the Demeter 227, crashes on the alien planet known as Vesta, the crew must navigate the unique flora and fauna of the lush landscape to find a way to repair their ship. Each member must contend with the hostile environment, including various alien species and personal challenges, to survive.
A Unique Sci-Fi Spectacle
Based on the work of Charles Huettner and Joseph Bennett, and taking influence from the landscapes and storytelling of Moebius, Scavengers Reign offers thematic depth, rich worldbuilding, and a distinct visual tone that makes it a wholly original experience. The series would also see both fan and critical acclaim, currently sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. While the series has been championed by many, its unique visual style may have led viewers to skip over this one when browsing titles; don’t make the same mistake.
‘Travelers’ (2016 – 2018)
With the human population dwindling, the breakthrough of a new technology that allows people to send their consciousness back into the past and reshape events offers a glimmer of hope of avoiding the inevitable doom society now faces. Known as “Travelers,” these individuals, under the instruction of a mysterious AI entity, inhabit the bodies of everyday people and try to complete missions to sway the outcome of the future.
Heading to the Past to Save the Future
Chalk this one up to one of the series that Netflix bought and then killed off, with the caveat here being that Travelers never got the fourth season fans were craving. Still, this high-concept sci-fi series leaned more heavily on exploring moral dilemmas and the science behind messing with the timeline. Here you also have a phenomenal cast, led by Eric McCormack as FBI agent Grant MacLaren, who each season becomes entwined in engaging mystery and drama atop its time-traveling intrigue.
‘Pluto’ (2023)
Based on the acclaimed manga by Naoki Urasawa, the series presents a darker re-imagining of the Astro Boy (which Urasawa also created) story arc “The Greatest Robot on Earth.” The series follows a robot detective, Gesicht, tasked with investigating a string of murders targeting powerful robots and affluent humans who fought in a recent war. His investigation leads him to an entity named Pluto, whose reason for targeting specific individuals hints at a larger conspiracy.
A Modern Anime Masterpiece
Don’t let the fact that this is an anime be a deterrent for those seeking an innovative sci-fi, as the series avoids many of the more modern-day anime tropes and is more universal in its exploration of AI themes. Moreover, the anime is geared towards more mature audiences, featuring intelligent storytelling that explores a broad range of themes. The visual style is stunning, and the humanization of robots comes with a surprising emotional element that will catch viewers off guard. At only eight episodes, this is an easy binge.