9 Best Obscure Sci-Fi Shows

The sci-fi genre on television is dominated by titles like Star Wars and Stranger Things, but beyond the mainstream exists a vast, unexplored cosmos of sci-fi gems that have become obscure over time. In the earlier days, when shows like The Twilight Zone were thrilling audiences with their mind-bending tales, so many others chose to venture beyond the conventional tropes of the genre and offer a refreshing perspective.

As decades passed and sci-fi evolved, television followed suit and shows like Battlestar Galactica and Fringe garnered critical acclaim. But this list is not about the overwhelmingly popular shows. Instead, it dives into 10 obscure sci-fi TV series that deserve to be celebrated for their limitless imagination and for taking the genre into new directions.

9

‘Class’ (2016)

Coal Hill Academy is an iconic location for Whovians, and set within the same universe as Doctor Who is Class, a spin-off that explores the lives of a group of students. The series kicks off when a tear in space and time at the school unleashes a torrent of deadly creations from across dimensions into the real world. These unlikely heroes don the mantle of protectors and combat the menaces.

A Hidden Gem Worth Rediscovering

Class blends the coming-of-age drama of shows like Degrassi with the high-stakes, otherworldly dangers of Doctor Who to craft a unique and compelling sci-fi experience. Helmed by acclaimed writer Patrick Ness and produced by Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin, the same minds behind the other two Doctor Who spin-offs, the series addresses heavier themes like grief and identity with its character-driven narratives. It flew under the radar due to minimal promotion and placement on niche channels and was canceled before time.

8

‘Terra Nova’ (2011)

Terra Nova

Release Date

2012 – 2010

Network

FOX

Showrunner

Craig Silverstein

The year is 2149 and the Earth is teetering on the brink of total collapse, choking under the weight of human overpopulation and ecological destruction. The only hope is a science experiment where a time portal can send people 82 million years into the past, to the age of dinosaurs. The Shannon family is among the few to be selected to join the first wave of settlers determined to establish a colony, but this prehistoric paradise comes with its own challenges, like politics and dinosaurs and a conspiracy.

Sci-Fi Experiment Canceled Too Soon

Terra Nova was an ambitious project from Fox. The network put a lot of faith in writer Kelly Marcel’s idea and brought Steven Spielberg in as executive producer. With his involvement, the series brought cinematic-quality visuals and meticulous world-building to the small screen and became a promising contender for the sci-fi landscape. Despite its intriguing premise and grand scale, however, the show struggled to find its footing and fell victim to a high-stakes gamble that never paid off. Jason O’Mara, Stephen Lang, and Shelley Conn starred in the series.

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7

‘Blake’s 7’ (1978 – 1981)

Narratively similar to Battlestar Galactica or Star Wars but visually distinct, Blake’s 7 is set at least 700 years in the future, where the oppressive Terran Federation is the dominating power. The story follows Roj Blake, a former freedom fighter turned prisoner, as he escapes from captivity and assembles a team of outlaws, each with their own personal vendettas, to wage a war against their overlords.

Morally Complex Space Opera

Predating the more optimistic versions of shows mainstream audiences are familiar with, this one offers a more gritty and morally ambiguous take on the sci-fi genre. It blends elements of espionage and political drama with action and gives into the complexities of heroism by showing both sides of how freedom is obtained. The strong performances by Gareth Thomas, Paul Darrow, and Jacqueline Pearce, paired with both themes and unique pacing makes it an unsung standout. That said, the series was a hit in the UK but is not well-known among US audiences.

6

‘Torchwood’ (2006 – 2011)

Torchwood

Release Date

2006 – 2010

Network

BBC

Showrunner

Andy Goddard

Also a Doctor Who spin-off, Torchwood differs from its predecessors with its darker and more mature tone. It revolves around a covert organization tasked with investigating supernatural threats and an extraterrestrial presence in Cardiff, Wales. Captain Jack Harkness leads the team and, together, they dive into the uncharted lands that push them to their limits.

Doctor Who’s Edgy Counterpart

From saving humanity from alien invasions to wresting their own demons, there’s almost nothing the members of Torchwood didn’t do while living on the fringes of society and sacrificing their own happiness for the greater good. The series takes the whimsical sensibilities of the parent series and infuses them with an edge. Created by Russell T. Davies, it is known for its fearless storytelling, intricate character arcs, and emotionally heavy narrative. Despite having a dedicated cult following, it remains obscure for casual viewers.

5

‘Tales From the Loop’ (2020)

Inspired by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag’s surreal artbook of the same name, Tales from the Loop unfolds in a retro-futuristic fictional town of Mercer, Ohio, where nothing is ordinary. The Loop is a mysterious underground facility that houses a machine that can make the impossible possible.

Sci-Fi Meets Art

The premise may seem vague on the surface, but each episode features a standalone story depicting how the Loop’s influence has transformed the lives of local residents in peculiar and unexpected ways. The series, thus, takes an introspective approach to sci-fi by embracing emotion and themes of love, loss, and connection, over high-stakes battles and spectacle. The show’s slow pacing and soft aesthetic mirrors the tone of Stålenhag and offers a meditative experience to the viewer, which is perhaps why it remains underappreciated.

4

‘Lexx’ (1996 – 2002)

Developed by Lex Gigeroff and brothers Paul and Michael Donovan for Canada’s Citytv, this boundary-pushing sci-fi TV show combines elements of dark comedy and space opera. It follows a ragtag group of misfits at the helm of the organic spacecraft Lexx – an enormous, sentient, insect-shaped ship with the power to destroy an entire planet. They find themselves thrust into a quest to fight the forces of power that threaten their existence.

Outrageous, Campy, and Original

Lexx defies easy categorization because it does everything at once. With its surreal visuals and unconventional narrative structure, the series thrives in its own quirkiness and subverts genre tropes with a self-aware and hilarious disregard for convention. The characters, like a reprogrammed love slave and an undead assassin from a lost civilization, add to its charm. Its low-budget charm was a sharp contrast to its wildly ambitious storytelling, which polarized viewers and critics initially, but the series went on to become a cult favorite.

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3

‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ (1981)

An adaptation of Douglas Adams’ radio broadcast and book series of the same name, this one is a surreal comedy that takes viewers on an unpredictable journey across space. It follows Arthur Dent, an ordinary man who learns that the Earth is about to be obliterated. Saved at the last minute by his alien friend Ford Perfect, Arthur finds himself aboard the spaceship Heart of Gold and on a cosmic adventure with some quirky pals.

Absurd Cult Classic

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, in its entirety as a franchise, is not forgotten or unpopular. The books, countless stage shows and comics, as well as the 2005 movie, reached a decent audience. But it is the 1981 TV adaptation that particularly shines with its unique blend of humor, vivid surrealism, social satire, and philosophical undertones. The lo-fi and unpolished effects reflect the limitations of early ‘80s television and the genre tackles subjects with a lighthearted touch, relegating it to the status of a niche masterpiece.

2

‘The 4400’ (2004 – 2007)

The 4400

Release Date

2021 – 2006

Network

USA Network

Directors

Vincent Misiano, Leslie Libman, Colin Bucksey, Nick Copus, John Behring, Nick Gomez, Allison Liddi-Brown, Morgan Beggs, Helen Shaver, Fred Toye, Ernest R. Dickerson, Michael W. Watkins, Milan Cheylov, Douglas Petrie, David Straiton, Oz Scott, Tim Hunter, Tony Westman, Craig Ross Jr., Yves Simoneau

• 

  Ireon Roach

  Donald Mitchell

• 
• 

  Derrick A. King

  Peter Barton

• 

  Joseph David-Jones

  Wesley Hauser

• 

Most sci-fi television comprises stories about alien invasions and the fights they ensue, but The 4400 stands out because it centers on alien abductees returning home. The series kicks off with the sudden return of 4,400 individuals who had disappeared over the past century, all at once. The world grapples with this event and federal agents Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris investigate the matter, but what is strange is that these people haven’t aged and now possess special powers.

Mix of Mystery and Emotion

The character-driven narratives and overarching sci-fi intrigue are the entire appeal of The 4400, a show that deftly balances elements of a conspiracy thriller with themes of social and ethical implications of humanity’s contact with the unknown. Created by René Echevarria and Scott Peters, it focused mainly on the personal stories of the individuals and the way their abilities evolved as they tried to cope with change. Despite its critical acclaim, The 4400 remained popular with only a smaller audience.

1

‘Bugs’ (1995 – 1999)

Bugs

Release Date

April 1, 1995

Network

BBC One

Directors

Brian Farnham, Andrew Grieve, Brian Grant, Ken Grieve, Matthew Evans, Gwennan Sage, Sandy Johnson, Christopher King

Writers

Stephen Gallagher, Frank De Palma, Stuart Doughty, Duncan Gould, Terry Borst, Alan Whiting, Alfred Gough, Bruno Heller, Miles Millar, Calvin Clements Jr., Gregory Evans

• 
• 
• 

  Adrian Schiller

  Uncredited

• 

A British sci-fi show spanning four seasons, Bugs follows a trio of high-tech troubleshooters, Beckett, Ros, and Ed, who are called in to investigate and neutralize threats related to advanced technology. From thwarting cybercrime to disabling weaponized systems, their missions are a thrilling combination of expertise and espionage.

Action-Packed and Tech-Based

Bugs was clearly ahead of its time because, despite being canceled several times in its four-season run, it still holds up pretty well. Moreover, its relevance has only grown in the decades since, because each tech-based scenario is both unique and familiar, and with scientific breakthroughs happening almost every day in the current world, it provokes thought and intrigue. Created by Brian Clemens, it almost feels like Mission: Impossible but with a sci-fi twist. While overshadowed by mainstream sci-fi shows, Bugs is a must-watch for fans of tech-centric TV.