If you're new to sci-fi or a die-hard fan looking for more, here are the best sci-fi shows according to Metacritic scores.
Science fiction has been around for a long time, and has been around since the earliest days of television with "The Twilight Zone" and the original "Star Trek" series. And it's not going away. In fact, it's only getting more popular.
With network shows like "The X-Files," "Lost," and Netflix's "Stranger Things" tackling the genre over the past few decades, sci-fi shows are reaching a broader audience than ever before. "Orphan Black" has found critical acclaim and premieres its final season June 10.
If you're new to sci-fi or a die-hard fan looking for more, here are the best sci-fi shows according to critics, based on scores from Metacritic, which aggregates reviews of TV shows:
Note: superhero shows based on comic books were left out, along with older shows that don't have Metacritic scores ("The Twlight Zone," the original "Star Trek," the original "Doctor Who").
19. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987-1994)
"Re-visiting Star Trek on television holds the same nostalgic, socko appeal that the boffo-box-office movies do. I didn't miss Kirk, Spock and friends." -Miami Herald
18. "Dollhouse," 2009-2010
17. "Quantum Leap" (1989-1993), five seasons
"A canny and clever series that makes hardware take a back seat to humanity." -USA Today
16. "The OA" (2016-), one season
"Anchored by a spectacular central performance and a series of increasingly wacky ideas, The OA is frequently mind-boggling, but worth the effort." -The Atlantic
15. "Heroes" (2006-2010), four seasons
Average Metacritic Score: 61.5
"The show's super strengths are its well-developed filmmaking, smooth pacing and a perfect cast. It views like the first hour of a fun, thoughtful movie." -Chicago Sun-Times
14. "The 100" (2014-), four seasons
13. "Firefly" (2002-2003), one season
12. "The X Files" (1993-), ten seasons
"'The X-Files' is the most paranoid, subversive show on TV right now...Filled with florid dialogue (''You've seen things that weren't meant to be seen!'') and not-bad special effects, X-Files is a hoot about hooey."
11. "Sense8" (2015-2017), two seasons
Average Metacritic Score: 68.5
10. "Fringe" (2008-2013), five seasons
Average Metacritic Score: 73.7
"'Fringe' is just good enough to watch with or without the ads. But with Abrams, you expect more than "just good enough." -Newark Star-Ledger
9. "Futurama" (1999-2013), ten seasons
"'Futurama,' like 'The Simpsons,' is a multi-layered, full-family treat: silly and goofy-looking enough to hook the kids, and subtle and sarcastic enough to charm their parents." -New York Daily News
8. "Westworld" (2016-), one season
7. "Orphan Black" (2013-2017), five seasons
Average Metacritic Score: 75.5
"[A] gritty, visceral, and emotionally engaging thriller." -The Philadelphia Inquirer
6. "Stranger Things" (2016-), one season
"This promising drama often has ambiguous and even sad things on its mind, and the familiar contours of its plot are most effective when they serve as a cover for somewhat deeper explorations" -Variety
5. "Humans" (2015-), two seasons
Average Metacritic Score: 77.5
4. "Black Mirror" (2011-), three seasons
"'Black Mirror' leaves you feeling like you should turn all your screens off while making you incapable of doing anything but hitting “play next." -Slate
3. "Doctor Who" (2005-), ten seasons
Average Metacritic Score: 78.7
"Silly, sophomoric stuff that is sure to please its television audience." -The Hollywood Reporter
2. "Lost" (2004-2010), six seasons
Average Metacritic Score: 83.7
"'Lost' is a sci-fi soap opera adventure -- with humor, mystery and interesting characters galore...It's "Survivor" with the one thing 'Survivor' lacks -- a terrific script." -St. Louis Post-Dispatch
1. "Battlestar Galactica" (2004-2009), four seasons
Average Metacritic Score: 84.7
If you're new to sci-fi or a die-hard fan looking for more, here are the best sci-fi shows according to Metacritic scores. Read Full Story
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