Alien: Earth is one of the best things to happen to fans of the Alien franchise and science fiction at large. The Hulu series has an impressive 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated story set in the fictional universe created by Ridley Scott. According to Deadline, it managed 9.6 million viewers in its first six days, making it one of the most-watched science-themed shows on any streaming service. It’s also reported to have sparked a renewed interest in previous franchise installments, with Alien: Covenant hitting the Top 10 on HBO Max in the US.
Created by Noah Hawley (best known for Fargo) and executive produced by Ridley Scott, Alien: Earth has higher stakes. We learn that the Xenomorph threat has finally reached mankind’s home planet after years of containment efforts across the galaxy. Consequently, governments and corporations rush to eradicate the extraterrestrials to prevent an apocalyptic event. Thankfully, Hulu has more wonderful sci-fi shows just like it.
Here are 10 sci-fi shows on Hulu to check out next.
‘Devs’ (2020)
A dream job quickly becomes a nightmare for Sergei (Karl Glusman) in Devs. Shortly after being hired as a software engineer by a renowned Silicon Valley CEO named CEO Forest (Nick Offerman), the young man disappears. Alarmed, his girlfriend, Lily Chan (Sonoya Mizuno), starts looking into the case and soon makes shocking discoveries about the company’s quantum computing division.
Scary AI
A thorough examination of free will and determinism, Devs should also be required viewing for everyone keen on the development of artificial intelligence. Nick Offerman is excellent in his villain role, and Sonoya Mizuno does a wonderful job of channeling her character’s franticness and anxiety as she prepares to square off against Forest. It’s a shame there is only one season of this dark look into the activities in Silicon Valley.
‘Wayward Pines’ (2015 – 2018)
Based on the novel trilogy of the same name by Blake Crouch. Wayward Pines opens with Secret Service agent Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon) looking into the disappearance of two agents in the tiny Idaho town of Wayward Pines. He realizes the town is cut off from the outside world and controlled by the ruthless Sheriff Pope (Terrence Howard). Additionally, Burke learns that humanity is nearly extinct, and the town is a sanctuary protecting the last remaining people from creatures known as “Abbies.” How did it all happen?
Not Another Ordinary Case
Matt Dillon is perfectly cast as Burke, a character who believes he is just solving another tough case, only for him to make wild discoveries, some of which are beyond his comprehension. Featuring a mellow Shannyn Sossamon in one of her finest performances and a memorable supporting turn by Toby Jones as a scientist, Wayward Pines remains an invaluable rendering of post-apocalyptic scenarios and a near-perfect adaptation of a great series of books (only the third season is weak).
‘Lost in Space’ (1965 – 1968)
Lost in Space centers on the Robinsons, a family of pioneering space colonists eager to conquer new worlds. Things get a little complicated when their ship, the Jupiter 2, is sabotaged by the stowaway Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), who is mostly used as a comic foil. As the astronauts struggle to survive, their collective confidences and dreary emotional baggage tumble out into the open.
A Widely Syndicated Masterpiece
Fusing campy action, the usual family drama, and groundbreaking sci-fi concepts, Lost in Space was quite something in its day, and it’s still something today. What in lesser hands could have been a whacky sitcom becomes instead a delicate, penetrating, intelligent show, thanks to series creator Irwin Allen’s deft handling of the lost-in-space concept. A first-rate group of actors all rise impressively to the occasion, and the cinematography stays thorough in all episodes, a technical feat the Emmys recognized.
‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (2008 – 2020)
Set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Clone Wars chronicles the galactic feud between Jedi Knights and the Separatist Alliance. At the center of the tale is Anakin’s Padawan, Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), whose metamorphosis from apprentice to fierce warrior helps change the fate of the Galactic Republic’s clone army.
Best ‘Star Wars’ Show Ever?
Clone Wars is both a detailed sci-fi show and a complex human drama of the highest order — the kind of animated production that doesn’t come around often. Thanks to great character development, many overlooked protagonists grow into fan favorites. And when it comes to entertainment, there is no trial and error. The series, nominated for over 20 Daytime Emmy awards during its run, has arguably the best fights of any Star Wars production.
‘The Orville’ (2017 – 2022)
Created by and starring Family Guy’s Seth McFarlane, The Orville is set on the titular spacecraft USS Orville (ECV-197), an exploratory vessel cruising through the Planetary Union — a 25th-century interstellar alliance of Earth and other planets. Events begin in 2417 and revolve around the misadventures of the ship’s crew.
Another Unmissable Seth McFarlane Gem
By paying homage to Star Trek, The Orville shines brightly, capturing much of the legendary franchise’s quagmires while generating humor by parodying some of its elements. It helps that Seth McFarlane is the person in charge. No one could have executed this better than him. And don’t let Season 1 fool you. The show improves greatly after its shaky first chapter, presenting a near-flawless look at space dynamics.
‘Rick and Morty’ (2013 – present)
Rick and Morty covers the chaotic family and professional lives of Rick Sanchez, a cynical, misanthropic, mad scientist, and his well-intentioned grandson Morty (both voiced by Justin Roiland). The duo often embarks on interdimensional adventures, some taking place in alternate realities while encountering all kinds of nefarious figures.
Another Admirable Comedy and Sci-Fi Union
It’s fun watching a grandfather drag his grandson into endless hijinks. No matter how often it repeats itself, Rick and Morty never loses its appeal. Its satire of science and pop culture is always spot on, while the corrosive putdowns all leave you grabbing your head in disbelief. The fact that the show has been so good isn’t surprising as it was inspired by one of the greatest sci-fi works. Unknown to many, the idea originated from an animated short parody film of Back to the Future that Roiland intended to present at Channel 101, a short film festival.
‘Stargate Atlantis’ (2004 – 2009)
Spun off from Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis tracks a team led by Dr. Elizabeth Weir (Torri Higginson) and military commander Major John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), as they explore strange distant planets in the Pegasus Galaxy. During their expedition, the group faces the Wraith, a deadly alien race threatening to wipe out entire civilizations.
An Unrivalled Sci-Fi Spinoff
Starget Atlantis is at its best when it is balancing action, diplomacy, mythology, and character camaraderie. Prolific character actor Joe Flanagan excels as the plainspoken commander, and ingénue Torri Higginson makes an adorable team leader. The show also happens to be very detailed, so don’t dare multitask while watching it. You might miss out on several crucial details.
‘Lost’ (2004 – 2010)
Lost begins as just another castaway story, only to take a wild turn. The series places us next to the survivors of a fictional Oceanic Airlines flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, after the plane crashes on a South Pacific island. As they figure out ways to survive and get help, the men and women realize that malicious inhabitants are roaming in the woods.
Twist-Per-Minute
All elements considered, Lost is a truly amazing tale, unfolding on-screen with the combined subtlety and skill of Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof. You can never tell what’s going to happen, and even when it happens, you are left questioning some things. No wonder there are still hundreds of fan theories about various plots. Much credit to the show’s writers for also sprinkling some supernatural powder onto the events. Most of it marries beautifully into sci-fi concepts.
‘Firefly’ (2002)
Firefly flashes forward to the year 2517, when humans have colonized a new star system. The main characters are the crew of a “Firefly-class” spaceship known as Serenity. In this era, there are also two surviving superpowers (the United States and China), a development that stemmed from a major war. The two superpowers are revealed to have united to form a federal government known as The Alliance.
An Overabundance of Heavy Themes
Only a few people have managed to fuse the Space Opera and Western genres as beautifully as Joss Whedon does here. And the dialogue is quite spectacular, ranging from Mandarin curse words and wisecracks to common dad jokes. Among the numerous relevant themes explored are classism and political divide, making the show feel more intellectually superior to others of its kind.
‘The X-Files’ (1993 – 2018)
The X-Files is about FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) who investigate the “X-Files”: unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder, a skilled criminal profiler, believes in conspiracy theories and supernatural activities, whereas Scully is a skeptic who has full trust in science.
No Cooler Duo
Has there ever been a better monster-of-the-week show? Hoisted by smart, mythopoeia-driven plots and wonderful chemistry between the leads, the series remains at that perfect junction of scary and jaw-dropping. Horror, dark humor, and suspense are all blended beautifully, resulting in a show with a huge cultural impact. Today, The X-Files is credited with shaping modern sci-fi television while encouraging conversations around oft-ignored science-related topics.
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