Netflix has become the definitive go-to streaming service for fans of science fiction TV shows, old and new. From the 1980’s classics like Knight Rider to the latest podcast-based Archive 81, the media platform always has something in store for everyone. Some of the best sci-fi series on Netflix as of February 2023 are as follows.
Raising Dion
This show has two main characters, Dion and his mother, Nicole, who discover that Dion has superpowers that he must come to understand and practice to learn how to use them. While Dion is the key interest in the series, Nicole’s character is faced with the many challenges of protecting her son, while being layered and given equal time to develop.
Black Mirror
This is one of the best Sci-Fi series on Netflix which will not only thrill you but will also scare you a little. Each episode of this show has a different gripping plot, and most of the stories are based on eerie concepts which may challenge your comfort levels. The main cast of the show includes Hannah John-Kamen, Daniel Lapaine and Michaela Coel.
Away
There are plenty of sci-fi thriller sub-genres, but space travel is the one we think of most often when somebody says sci-fi. The Netflix series Away involves a character played by Hilary Swank who must leave her family on earth to go on a mission to Mars. The show is set in the future, and the series demonstrates what it’s like to be in a spaceship for an extended length of time, leaving your family behind in an emergency, and traveling to an entirely different planet.
Love, Death & Robots
This is one of the top Netflix anime shows involving 26 episodes ranging from 6 to 18 minutes. What makes it unique is that every episode is created by a different team from different countries around the world. This 5-time Emmy award winner is produced by Blur Studio and gives us a mix of stories that sometimes goes beyond sci-fi into the horror and fantasy realms.
Altered Carbon
Are you a sci-fi fan looking for something fresh? Try Altered Carbon, a cyberpunk TV series about the distant future (360 years!) where our consciousness can be digitized and transferred to different human bodies, male or female. Your body dies, but your digitized self can continue indefinitely if the digital form of “you” isn’t destroyed. The digital storage devices seem to be “alien” designed and can be placed inside both human and synthesized bodies. Joel Kinnaman stars in this progressive, R-rated show that completed only one season due to Covid-19 issues and costs. But it is one action-packed, thought-provoking, satisfying season!
Sense8
Sense8 is an action-packed, thrilling sci-fi Netflix series that involves eight strangers from around the world who find out they have a weird connection to each other. They are all “sensates,” which means they feel each other’s emotions and pick up their thoughts. The main cast of the show is Tina Desai, Bae Doona, and Jamie Clayton. Created for Netflix by the Wachowski siblings, Lana and Lily, along with J. Michael Straczynski, Sense8 delves into sexuality, gender, and politics, and was filmed on location around the different represented home countries of the characters.
Dark
If you like TV shows that tickle your cerebral cortex, then you’ll love Dark. Dark is a German time travel thriller that spans multiple decades and is a true mind-bender. The complete story runs three seasons and involves four families with dark pasts that unfold when some kids in the town begin to disappear. Initially set in the 1980s and branded as the “German Stranger Things,” it’s a must-watch for all sci-fi viewers who love to think. Louis Hofmann and Julika Jenkins lead an excellent cast in a story that forces you to pay attention to details or be lost in the dark.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
One of the most popular Netflix anime shows of all time, Avatar: The Last Airbender has become the obsession of an entire generation. It involves individuals who can telekinetically control either earth, air, fire, or water in a process known as “bending.” The show brings together the characters Sokka, his sister Katara, and a boy named Aang who was found inside an iceberg. Aang is the Avatar who is a reincarnated being and is able to control all four elements. His purpose is to create harmony and balance among all four nations, but of course, everything stands in his way. Check it out.
Maniac
The story of Maniac is based upon a clinical drug trial where the participants must swallow certain pills to resolve their traumas. But due to a malfunction, this is not what happens. This Netflix original series deals with the challenges and hardships of mental health issues, but also involves seriously creative science fiction. The lead roles are played by the very talented Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.
The Innocents
When a couple of teen lovers run off to be together to escape the restraints of their parental types, June and Harry find themselves caught up in a dangerous and unexpected world. Harry finds out his true love, June, is no ordinary girl when she begins showing evidence of possessing some unusual powers. That’s when the real trouble begins! This supernatural sci-fi thriller will grip you by the heart and take you on an unexpected journey.
All of Us Are Dead
Released in January 2022, this show has become a favorite of Sci-Fi lovers. Produced in Korea, All of Us Are Dead involves a group of students who are trying to fight off a zombie virus. It shows the courage and fight of the students who must deal with a zombie invasion and still come out of the school alive. With a huge worldwide fan following, this show mostly takes place at a high school when a zombie apocalypse happens. The outbreak is naturally caused by a failed science experiment (those damn scientists!), and the students are trapped without food and water. Even the government has cut them off! This coming-of-age zombie tale stars Yoon Chan-Young, Park Ji-hu, and Jeon Bae-soo.
Alice in Borderland
The premise of Alice in Borderland is similar to that of Squid Game, in which a group of people found themselves involved in a dangerous life-or-death game. Various characters are stuck in an abandoned Tokyo and must complete every challenge to win as many cards as possible. Each card has a number that indicates the total remaining days the players will stay alive before they must collect another card.
Lost in Space
In 2046, humanity is on the brink of extinction. It is now the Robinsons’ turn to take an interstellar journey and join an established colony in the Alpha Centauri system. They are unable to reach the colony because the spaceship is attacked by aliens. As the family evacuates the ship using a smaller spacecraft, they inadvertently enter a wormhole and crash-land on an Earth-like planet. Thanks to a balanced mix of family drama, space adventures, and memorable villains, Lost in Space is a promising reboot of 1965 original.
The 100
Throughout seven seasons, The 100 continues to deliver shocking plot twists and an enticingly rich world-building storyline. Viewers follow the journey of a hundred delinquent juveniles, who have been sent from a space colony to Earth. Those teenagers are all space-born, and the entire planet is considered a hazardous zone due to a nuclear disaster almost a century ago. As it turns out, adapting to the environment is the least of their problem. Some people actually survived the apocalypse; their descendants now live in cult-like societies, including cannibals. The 100 find themselves involved with the conflicting parties.
Sweet Tooth
A half-human half-deer boy is navigating through a post-apocalyptic world. Despite having a 10-year-old boy as one of the main characters, Sweet Tooth tackles some intense mature themes like greed, hatred, and loss along the way. Think of the story as a fairytale geared toward adult viewers. Based on a DC Comic series, the adventures deliver an enjoyable blend of fanciful drama and a generous dose of excitement. There is only one season, consisting of eight episodes.
Manifest
Right around the time that NBC cancelled Manifest after three seasons, Netflix brought the series to its streaming platform, and it has been a big hit since. The story starts with a flight that undergoes some massive turbulence before finally making a safe touchdown at Stewart International Airport. On the ground, the passengers and crew learn that they have been presumed dead for more than five years. They unknowingly disappeared into the turbulence, and now they are back with many baffling questions.
The OA
A blind woman named Prairie Johnson has been missing for five years. She has now returned and has shockingly regained her ability to see. Johnson tells everyone she is the “original angel,” sharing stories of abductions and escapes. Instead of reporting her ordeal to the authorities, she takes matters into her own hands and assembles a team to save the other missing people. The only way to the rescue is through a portal that leads to another dimension.
The Umbrella Academy
One of Netflix’s original series, The Umbrella Academy is based on a comic book series of the same name by Gerard Way, illustrated by Gabriel Ba. It tells the stories of seven children with extraordinary powers. They are now on a mission to figure out the mystery surrounding their father’s death and save the world from an impending apocalypse.
Travelers
Thousands of people from the future have their consciousnesses sent back to the present, so they may prevent the collapse of human societies. Since their physical forms are still in the future, they must inhabit the bodies of present-day individuals to complete the task. Although a time warp is hardly a new sci-fi concept, Travelers should feel refreshingly different thanks to the tricky double-life premise.
Stranger Things
It would be blasphemy to make a list of the best sci-fi series on Netflix without having Stranger Things included. The stories of El and a group of misfit teenagers in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana are among the best Netflix has to offer. No one is safe from the relentless threats of monsters originating from the town’s alternative dimension. Events in the series are set in the 1980s, showcasing a detailed nostalgic glance at the trends and popular culture from the bygone decades. In fact, it is the series’ old-fashioned look and feels that keeps everyone coming for more. The series has concluded its fourth season and is up for another and final chapter.
Are any of these your favorite shows? Do you love the shows we picked? Do you hate them? Either way, let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
Other things you might want to know.
What are shows that have characters with super powers?
According to themoviedb.org here is a list of TV shows that have superpowers.
- Adventures of Superman (1952)
- TheAtom Ant Show (1965)
- Batman (1966)
- Batfink (1966)
- Ultraman (1966)
- The Adventures of Superboy (1966)
- The New Adventures of Superman (1966)
- Perman (1967)
- Super Chicken (1967)
- Aquaman (1967)
- Spider-Man (1967)
- The Adventures of Batman (1968)
- The Tomorrow People (1973)
- Blitz!! Strata 5 (1974)
- Shazam! (1974)
- Wonder Woman (1975)
- The Robonic Stooges (1977)
- Going Bananas (1984)
- Out of This World (1987)
- The Flash (1990)
- Power Rangers (1993)
- The Visitor (1997)
- Night Walker: The Midnight Detective (1998)
- The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998)
- The Avengers: United They Stand (1999)
- Mutant X (2001)
- Smallville (2001)
- Heroes (2006)
- The Lost Room (2006)
- Merlin (2008)
- Being Human (2009)
- Misfits (2009)
- Deadman Wonderland (2011)
- Guilty Crown (2011)
- Hero (2012)
- Gotham (2014)
- The Seven Deadly Sins (2014)
- The Messengers (2015)
- Marvel’s Jessica Jones (2015)
- Stranger Things (2016)
- Marvel’s Luke Cage (2016)
- Legion (2017)
- ROGUE (2018)
- Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger (2018)
- Superman & Lois (2021)
- The Nevers (2021)
- Kamen Rider Black Sun (2022)
- The Power (2023)
Go to themoviedb.org for more information on these super power tv shows.
What are the long term effects of space travel?
According to nasa.gov, there is an acronym they use for the five stressors of space travel: RIDGE.
- Radiation-On Earth we are somewhat shielded from radiation by our atmosphere. But in space, astronauts are exposed to all kinds of different levels of radiation. This exposure can cause an increased risk of cancer and degenerative diseases.
- Isolation and Confinement-Astronauts are trained so they will be able to work for six to 12-month missions. But getting ready to head to Mars will need more preparations. Sleep schedules, heavy workloads, boredom, and missing loved ones are the things that NASA knows need to be developed for safe and successful missions.
- Distance from Earth-The Space Station orbits 240 miles above Earth and the Moon is 1000 times further. Important things to consider are having enough food and medicine. This can be delivered to the Space Station, but going to Mars will require everything to be on board.
- Gravity Fields- “Astronauts will encounter three different gravity fields on a Mars mission. On a six-month trek between the planets, crews will be weightless. While living and working on Mars, crews will be in approximately one-third of Earth’s gravity. Finally, upon returning home, crews will have to readapt to Earth’s gravity.”
- Hostile/Closed Environments-Microbes can change characteristics in space and micro-organisms can be transferred easily in closed spaces. This could lead to more allergies and other illnesses while in space. Every inch of the environment has a very well-thought-out design so it’s not too hot or cold, and the right lighting and the right amount of space for each astronaut to work.
Go to nasa.gov for much for the information about space travel. It’s a very interesting read.
How will robots change our lives in the future?
According to rd.com real robots will take on a larger role in the coming years, thanks to the advancements in robotics. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be a real game changer. Martin Ford, author of Rule of the Robots: How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Everything states that AI will eventually evolve so that it will be a utility just like electricity is today. It will become so inexpensive that anyone can use it to solve just about any problem you may have.
What is a robot? Any automated machine that can replace human effort. Think of classic shows like The Jetsons and Star Wars with robot maids and bleeping droids to help you with everyday needs. We are already using a robot if you have a robot vacuum cleaner or an interactive robot pet.
There are many pros and cons when we think of the future of robots in our lives. Go to rd.com to read about them and more about robot technology. You will want to buy your own robot! The article is called How Robots Could Change the Future by Scott Steinberg (Oct. 13, 2022).
