Sci-fi can be very complex, with so many moving parts and such a volume of in-depth lore that it can be borderline impossible to make a perfect show within the genre — but two fairly recent shows have managed to pull it off. Even some of the most binge-worthy sci-fi shows aren’t without their flaws, and many can often have entire seasons that are generally disliked. That’s why it’s so impressive when a project of this variety performs so consistently and draws almost no criticism.
Of course, the two near-perfect sci-fi shows in question do have the occasional bump in the road, but to expect otherwise would be incredibly unreasonable. That said, what could unfairly be labeled as missteps within the respective series never tarnish the episodes in which they occur. In other words, while the occasional installment might have a moment or two that briefly falls away from the larger story’s high standards, things quickly get back on track.
‘The Expanse’ & ‘Severance’ Are 2 Sci-Fi Shows That Are Almost Impossible To Fault
Within the sci-fi genre, various tropes are chosen to build a narrative around, and those are developed upon to create unique stories. So, while The Expanse and Severance understandably feel like very different shows, they both belong in the upper echelon of sci-fi storytelling. Beginning in 2015 as Syfy’s live-action adaptation of James S.A. Corey’s literary space opera, The Expanse ran for three seasons before switching to Prime Video for another three runs.
Covering the events of the source material’s first six books, The Expanse is masterfully executed throughout and lacks any filler episodes. The adaptation can vary in its pacing, but it’s an intentional choice that mirrors the tone of Corey’s original version of the saga, and the slower parts never feel boring or unnecessary. It wasn’t an especially popular show when it was being made, but The Expanse deservedly continues to find new fans today despite ending in 2022.
Thankfully, the same year that saw the loss of The Expanse to its satisfying season 6 finale brought with it the premiere of Apple TV’s Severance. Led by Adam Scott and other veteran actors like Christopher Walken and Patricia Arquette, the Severance cast immediately plunged the audience into a sci-fi world that felt both wildly unpredictable and immensely compelling. Similar to The Expanse‘s entire run, Severance Season 1 was largely enjoyed only in certain circles, but Season 2 made it a cultural phenomenon after the fan base ballooned during its three-year break.
Severance has perfectly walked the line of drawing viewers in with enigmatic world-building and holding back integral information, allowing audiences to retain interest in the mysteries. Its innovative premise is a breath of fresh air in the TV world, building on the work of its sci-fi predecessors while completely avoiding feeling derivative. Every episode of Severance requires immense levels of concentration to avoid missing even a glimpse of what could be a clue about upcoming twists and turns. That might sound like a bad thing to some, but Severance‘s popularity proves the exact opposite.
‘The Expanse’ & ‘Severance’ Each Have Advantages The Other Doesn’t
The Expanse, while fantastic, can attribute a large part of its success to the quality of the book series it adapted. The downside of this transition from the page to the screen is that it can be pretty easy to come across spoilers online. The show is a very faithful adaptation of Corey’s work, so spoilers for the books are often spoilers for the show. Severance doesn’t have this issue, as the Apple TV show is a completely original story that doesn’t rely on the adaptation process. As such, audiences have no idea what to expect as the narrative develops.
Furthermore, Severance isn’t over yet. Season 3 is on the way, and it would be shocking if there wasn’t at least one more season after that. So, The Expanse is the ultimate binge-watch affair, whereas Severance fans are currently being left to wait between seasons. That said, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stream The Expanse in certain territories as Prime Video’s deal with Alcon gradually expires. Eventually, physical box sets could become the only way to enjoy The Expanse in full, but Apple TV will presumably keep Severance on the platform for a long time yet — if not indefinitely.
‘Severance’ May Lose Its Shimmering Reputation Before The Apple TV Show Ends
Apple TV
The Expanse has the bonus of being a completed project, despite the lingering possibility of a return one day to adapt the final three books. So, it’s been softly immortalized as part of the sci-fi TV show hall of fame. Severance, on the other hand, still has more episodes to make. As the Apple TV show continues, it’s possible the occasional dud episode could sneak into Severance‘s run. For a project that treats mystery as one of its biggest priorities, this is an ongoing risk.
It’s certainly fun to wonder about what will happen as Severance continues, but audiences could become frustrated if they’re forced to endlessly theorize rather than being given solid answers to some of the show’s biggest unresolved mysteries. Shows like Lost are a great example of this happening. While largely well remembered, some still admonish the show for raising far more questions than answers, which could be part of the plan for Severance, resulting in The Expanse having one less peer.
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