Welcome, area adventurers!
On this article, we’re exploring the huge universe of area opera TV reveals. However right here’s the twist: we’re leaving Star Trek off the checklist.
Don’t get us flawed, Star Trek is famous and has outlined the style for many years, however there’s a complete galaxy of different unbelievable area operas that deserve the highlight, too!
So, buckle up and prepare to blast off as we rely down the 15 finest area opera TV reveals that aren’t Star Trek!
Killjoys, House/CTV Sci-Fi Channel (2015 – 2019)
Killjoys is the area bounty hunter present you didn’t know you wanted!
Set in a distant system referred to as the Quad, this sequence follows Dutch, Johnny, and D’avin—three fearless bounty hunters (or “Killjoys”) who work for a strong interplanetary group.
Their mission? Monitor down fugitives, convey them in, and take a look at to not get too entangled within the Quad’s messy politics. Nevertheless it’s by no means that easy!
With an ideal mixture of motion, humor, and coronary heart, Killjoys brings you right into a world of hidden secrets and techniques, and loads of area drama.
It’s a wild trip by way of a universe the place loyalty and survival are all the time at odds, and our trio’s friendship is simply as thrilling because the sci-fi motion.
Firefly, Fox (2002)
Joss Whedon’s Firefly is a fan-favorite that blends area opera with Western themes.
Set in a future the place humanity has colonized a brand new star system, the present follows Captain Mal Reynolds and his ragtag crew aboard the Serenity.
They navigate lawless area, dodge the oppressive Alliance, and tackle odd jobs to outlive.
Firefly is beloved for its witty dialogue, lovable characters, and distinctive setting. Although it was short-lived, it constructed a cult following and is broadly thought to be probably the greatest sci-fi reveals.
With humor, motion, and coronary heart, Firefly is a must-watch for anybody craving a contemporary tackle the area opera style.
The Expanse, SyFy/Prime Video (2015 – 2022)
The Expanse is an epic, gritty area opera that takes a tough sci-fi method, set in a future the place humanity has colonized the Photo voltaic System.
Earth, Mars, and the Belters within the asteroid belt are locked in a tense political standoff, and issues are about to get explosive.
The story kicks off when Detective Miller, spaceship captain Jim Holden, and a conspiracy involving an alien menace collide, resulting in intense stakes throughout the system.
Recognized for its gorgeous visuals, advanced characters, and sensible portrayal of area physics, The Expanse isn’t nearly epic area battles—it’s about humanity on the sting.
When you love high-stakes drama with twists that can maintain you hooked, this can be a must-watch!
Battlestar Galactica, Sci-Fi (2004 – 2009)
Battlestar Galactica is an intense, philosophical area drama that redefined what a sci-fi present could possibly be.
The sequence follows the final remnants of humanity as they flee from the Cylons—clever robots who’ve worn out human civilization.
Led by the Battlestar Galactica, the survivors are trying to find the fabled planet Earth. Nevertheless it’s not all battles and explosions; Battlestar Galactica dives into deep questions on survival, humanity, and morality.
With advanced characters, surprising twists, and ethical dilemmas that maintain you considering, this present has earned its place as a sci-fi masterpiece.
Prepare for a darkish, gripping journey that feels all too actual.
Darkish Matter, House/SyFy (2015 – 2017)
Think about waking up on a spaceship with no reminiscence of who you might be or how you bought there.
That’s the premise of Darkish Matter, the place six strangers get up on the Raza, a ship in deep area, and shortly uncover all of them have mysterious pasts and harmful expertise.
With every episode, secrets and techniques unravel, loyalties are examined, and new enemies seem.
This present retains you guessing with its intriguing mysteries, action-packed moments, and the characters’ battle to determine who they’re—each as people and as a staff.
Darkish Matter is ideal for anybody who loves a mixture of suspense, drama, and high-stakes area journey.
Farscape, 9 Community (1999 – 2003)
In Farscape, astronaut John Crichton will get flung throughout the universe by way of a wormhole and finally ends up on a residing spaceship full of alien fugitives.
Sounds wild, proper? It’s!
Farscape is an imaginative, character-driven journey with all of the unusual alien creatures, bizarre planets, and mind-bending storylines you could possibly need.
The center of the present is its ragtag crew—a mixture of unusual, lovable aliens and Crichton himself, who’s consistently looking for his means residence.
Recognized for its distinctive fashion, humor, and impressive storytelling, Farscape is an area opera that’s as emotional as it’s thrilling. It’s unusual, daring, and unforgettable.
Cowboy Bebop, Netflix (2021)
Say what you’ll about this present however Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop is a trendy, live-action reimagining of the beloved anime that takes viewers on a wild trip by way of a future the place bounty hunters roam the galaxy.
The story follows Spike Spiegel, a laid-back ex-hitman with a mysterious previous, Jet Black, the gruff however lovable ex-cop, and Faye Valentine, the sassy con artist with a knack for hassle.
Collectively, they type a ragtag crew on the Bebop spaceship, searching down criminals whereas coping with their very own baggage.
With its mixture of jazz, gritty noir vibes, and over-the-top area motion, Cowboy Bebop serves up a enjoyable, genre-bending journey for anybody who loves their sci-fi with a splash of cool.
Babylon 5, PTEN/TNT (1993 – 1998)
Babylon 5 takes place on a large area station, a hub for diplomacy and commerce between varied alien species.
This present broke new floor in serialized storytelling, weaving an intricate narrative arc throughout a number of seasons.
With political intrigue, ethical dilemmas, and epic area battles, Babylon 5 explores themes of energy, loyalty, and the struggles between peace and conflict.
Its forged of characters—from the idealistic Commander Sinclair to the mysterious Ambassador Kosh—offers life to the station and the conflicts inside it.
When you love a well-crafted storyline and deep character improvement, Babylon 5 is a traditional that’ll maintain you coming again for extra.
Andromeda, International/Syndication (2000 – 2005)
Based mostly on concepts from Gene Roddenberry, Andromeda follows Captain Dylan Hunt, who’s trapped in suspended animation for 300 years and wakes as much as discover the galaxy in chaos.
Together with his sentient ship, Andromeda, and a crew of misfits, Dylan units out to revive order and rebuild the Commonwealth, a fallen intergalactic alliance.
The present combines motion, humor, and epic area battles with a strong dose of philosophical pondering.
Andromeda is a enjoyable, adventurous area opera that doesn’t take itself too significantly. When you’re on the lookout for a mix of Roddenberry-esque idealism and a contact of swashbuckling, that is the present for you!
Stargate SG-1, Showtime/Sci-Fi (1997 – 2007)
Stargate SG-1 expanded the story of the 1994 Stargate film, taking viewers on a wild journey by way of the galaxy utilizing alien portals.
Led by Colonel Jack O’Neill, SG-1 explores new planets, fights alien threats, and uncovers historical mysteries.
It’s the final word mixture of journey, exploration, and army sci-fi, with loads of humor and camaraderie among the many staff.
With ten seasons and several other spin-offs, Stargate SG-1 turned a cornerstone of sci-fi tv.
When you’re on the lookout for an action-packed, episodic area journey that doesn’t take itself too significantly, Stargate has all of it—mysteries, mythologies, and a complete lot of wormhole enjoyable.
The Orville, Fox/Hulu (2017 – current)
Created by Seth MacFarlane, The Orville began as a lighthearted spoof of Star Trek, however shortly grew right into a heartfelt area journey in its personal proper.
Following the crew of the Orville, a mid-level exploratory spaceship, the present combines comedy with significant exploration of advanced points like ethics, relationships, and identification.
It’s humorous, sure, but it surely’s additionally filled with thrilling area missions and real character improvement.
The Orville blends humor with sci-fi drama in a means that’s refreshingly entertaining, making it a must-watch for anybody who loves area operas with a aspect of guffaws.
House: Above and Past, Fox (1995 – 1996)
House: Above and Past was a hidden gem of ’90s sci-fi that adopted a bunch of Marine Corps pilots preventing a conflict in opposition to a mysterious alien species generally known as the Chigs.
Set within the mid-Twenty first century, the present launched us to the “Wildcards” squadron—younger, bold, and thrown right into a brutal interstellar conflict.
It balanced intense area battles with deep character-driven storytelling, tackling themes like loyalty, sacrifice, and what it means to be human in a universe that’s something however welcoming.
Regardless of solely lasting one season, House: Above and Past gained a cult following for its gripping conflict drama and grounded army sci-fi method.
Basis, Apple TV+ (2021 – current)
Adapting Isaac Asimov’s Basis sequence is not any small feat—it’s one of the crucial influential sci-fi sagas of all time. However Apple TV+ swung for the celebrities and delivered an bold, visually gorgeous area epic.
The present follows the battle to protect data and civilization because the mighty Galactic Empire faces inevitable decline.
Mathematician Hari Seldon predicts this fall utilizing “psychohistory,” a science that may forecast large-scale societal occasions. His followers type the Basis, a bunch tasked with shortening the darkish ages that can observe.
With breathtaking visuals, a sprawling narrative, and Lee Tempo completely proudly owning his function because the enigmatic Emperor, Basis is grand, philosophical, and full of intergalactic intrigue.
It’s the type of present that makes you are feeling such as you’re witnessing historical past unfold—throughout all the galaxy.
Lexx, Citytv (1997 – 2002)
Think about Crimson Dwarf bought drunk with Barbarella and had a weird fever dream—that’s Lexx.
This outrageous Canadian-German cult traditional was one of many strangest and most daring area operas ever to hit TV.
It adopted a ragtag crew aboard the Lexx, an natural, planet-destroying spaceship formed like a large bug.
Led by the hapless Stanley Tweedle, the crew included Zev/Xev (a genetically engineered love slave), Kai (a useless murderer from a destroyed civilization), and 790 (a sarcastic robotic head who was creepily obsessive about Zev).
Lexx was over-the-top, irreverent, and downright weird—mixing darkish humor, camp, and jaw-droppingly bizarre sci-fi ideas.
If conventional area operas are Shakespeare, Lexx is an underground punk rock live performance in deep area. And we like it for that.
Blake’s 7, BBC1 (1978 – 1981)
Lastly, earlier than Firefly and earlier than The Expanse, there was Blake’s 7—the British area opera that redefined what sci-fi could possibly be.
Created by Physician Who author Terry Nation, Blake’s 7 adopted a bunch of political prisoners and rebels preventing in opposition to the tyrannical Terran Federation.
Led by Roj Blake, the crew of the stolen alien ship Liberator took on not possible missions, clashed with ruthless villains, and consistently bickered like a dysfunctional household.
What made this present stand out was its morally advanced characters. In contrast to Star Treok, the place the heroes have been noble and principled, Blake’s 7 was all about antiheroes—backstabbing, betrayals, and laborious decisions have been simply one other day on the workplace.
It was gritty, unpredictable, and had one of the crucial surprising finales in sci-fi historical past. When you love rebellion-fueled area adventures with a darkish edge, Blake’s 7 is a must-watch.
Do you agree with our picks for the highest area opera sci-fi reveals? Are there any sequence you’d like so as to add to this checklist? Tell us within the feedback!
