The 11 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows Of The 2000s, Ranked

Summary

• Many popular sci-fi series from the 2000s focused on character-driven narratives rather than relying on special effects.
• The success of these series can be attributed to relatable characters and realistic storylines rooted in humanity.
• The genre saw a shift towards more relatable storytelling, creating beloved characters and memorable stories that resonated with audiences.

The 2000s produced gems within the sci-fi genre and the best TV series of this era focused heavily on character’s stories. For many TV shows today, advanced technology and massive budgets allow creators to rely on special effects to carry the series along. However, the minimal use of special effects in the 2000s meant prioritizing a character-driven narrative instead. Many TV series creators were also aware of the risk that comes with the sci-fi genre. Delving too deep into a series’ lore can become complicated and hard to follow, ultimately turning audiences away.

This shift in focus led to series such as Heroes and Lost creating memorable characters that audiences were able to find parts of themselves in and connect with. Further, the decreased use of special effects often meant that shows, despite falling under the sci-fi genre, were rooted in reality. A bonus to this creative choice meant that casual viewers were likely to buy into a series’ worldbuilding more if it closely replicated their own experiences. Many sci-fi TV series from the 2000s sought to branch out from the conventional format of the genre and, in the process, created some of the more beloved stories.

11 Sanctuary (2008-2011)

Unable To Break Out Among The Sci-Fi Genre

Beginning as a web series, Sanctuary was ordered as a TV series by Syfy and ran for four seasons. Within the sci-fi TV genre, shows tends to lean towards depth and drama or wit and humor, but some critics noted that Sanctuary found itself between the two extremes, unable to stand out among other sci-fi TV shows. Though Sanctuary wasn’t regularly seen in a negative light, it didn’t bring anything new to the genre either.

Yet, Sanctuary managed to pull in a consistent number of viewers. The series premiere of Sanctuary was the highest-rated premiere on Syfy at the time, beating another fan-favorite sci-fi series, Eureka. Much of Sanctuary‘s success can be pointed to the series lead, Amanda Tapping, who also starred in Stargate SG-1 and gave a career-highlighting performance as Dr. Helen Magnus in Sanctuary.

10 Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005)

More Modern Compared To Previous Star Trek Series

As the sixth series in the massive and beloved Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Enterprise set out to differentiate itself from its predecessors, creating a familiar atmosphere for longtime fans whilst inviting a new and wider audience. Star Trek: Enterprise, briefly dropping the franchise prefix and titled Enterprise, gained the attention of viewers by adding contemporary and approachable elements to the sci-fi series. Part of what drew audiences to Enterprise and separated the show from previous Star Trek TV series was the focus on characters and their humanity.

Enterprise is set in the 22nd century and by pushing the series’ setting close to the modern day, audiences are more easily able to recognize parts of themselves in the characters. Additionally, Enterprise‘s theme song was a cover of Rod Stewart’s “Faith of the Heart,” a differing approach to the typical orchestral theme of other Star Trek series. Overall, Enterprise‘s reviews fluctuated, and the series was canceled after four seasons, but it still managed to gain a devoted fan base that petitioned for the series to continue.

9 Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)

A Self-Aware Take Of The Sci-Fi Genre

Stargate SG-1 is something unique among the sci-fi genre that often risks becoming inaccessible if implementing a heavy use of science fiction terminology and storylines. Stargate SG-1, based on the 1994 film Stargate, premiered in 1997 but made a strong impact throughout the 2000s when it competed against other notable sci-fi TV series. Stargate SG-1 follows a United States Air Force special operations team as they work to ensure the safety of Earth against aliens.

Similar to other sci-fi series, Stargate SG-1 saw success due to its character-driven focus and realistic character dynamics. Stargate SG-1 was also self-aware of its genre and was able to have a fun and escapist tone, making multiple references to both pop culture and the creation process of a sci-fi TV series. Stargate SG-1 felt relatable to audiences and is beloved as it’s often described as the comforting antithesis to the more dramatic and darker series in the genre.

8 Heroes (2006-2010)

Individual Characters Were A Priority

Imitating the structure of a comic book, Heroes follows a group of individuals whose lives get turned upside down when they discover they have superpowers. Prioritizing the characters of the series, Heroes allowed each character to have enough time for their separate storylines before coming together with the overall plot of the season. Plot lines were also completed fairly quickly and avoided being dragged out and getting too far into the series’ mythology.

Heroes wasn’t regarded as groundbreaking, but during its first season, critics favored Heroes and some positively compared it to Lost. However, the critical consensus began to become mixed as the series progressed, with many feeling as though the show was losing focus and becoming too dark. Still, Heroes generated a strong fan base, which allowed them to interact with the series through interactive web pages that dove into Heroes‘ mythology and asked for input on the creation of new characters.

7 Dark Angel (2000-2002)

An Addition To 2000s Female Icons On Television

Co-created by director James Cameron, Dark Angel‘s premiere cost $10 million to produce, and the series struggled to live up to its consistently large budget. Dark Angel season 2 had odd storylines and was given a new time slot, which led to lower ratings and its cancelation. Dark Angel is now among the forgotten 2000s sci-fi series, but is still significant in conversations surrounding female icons on TV.

Max, played by Jessica Alba, is another fan-favorite female protagonist during the 2000s, along with Buffy Summers and Xena. Max is a genetically enhanced super solder and following the model of popular Gothic heroines, she often embraces her strength and abilities, opting out of conformity. Additionally, critics praised Dark Angel‘s feminist tones and the series’ incorporation of both feminine and masculine traits exhibited by Max.

6 Eureka (2006-2012)

A Comedic Spin On The Genre

In Eureka, Sheriff Jack Carter stumbles into the high-tech titular town and interacts with the local geniuses. Eureka has a relatively simple concept and, compared to other series in the sci-fi genre, Eureka‘s worldbuilding is not rich in complexity. However, this makes Eureka enjoyable for audiences because the ideas in the series are easy to grasp.

It’s because of Eureka‘s approachable nature that it also doesn’t adhere to the dramatic and serious tone found in much sci-fi content and instead implements the use of humor. Eureka‘s ensemble played a large part in this, as the town is made up of eccentric people that many audiences find comfort in. Still, this is not to say Eureka‘s simplicity makes the series weak, as the series’ writing and performances remained consistently strong.

5 The Middleman (2008)

A Low Budget Allowed For The Series’ Charming Oddity

Running for only one season, The Middleman was a breath of fresh air in the sci-fi genre, leaning into comedy and never taking itself too seriously. The Middleman follows Wendy (Natalie Morales), who is asked to join a secret agency in their fight against evil. The Middleman was canceled after only 12 episodes, but it still managed to provide a fun time and make an impact on audiences.

At times, the writing fell flat, but following the pattern of many sci-fi series from the 2000s, The Middleman included a sense of humor that was aware of the type of show being made. A sufficient number of references were made to classic pieces of sci-fi media throughout the years, in addition to nods to other genres, including The Godfather and Scarface. The lack of a large budget for The Middleman played in the series’ favor as it allowed the eccentric characters and overall odd atmosphere to shine through.

4 Fringe (2008-2013)

Didn’t Shy Away From Complex Mythology And Worldbuilding

Fringe‘s first season received a middling response from critics, but as the series progressed and found its footing, the critical reception increased in a positive light and Fringe established a cult following. The worldbuilding of Fringe led to muddled storylines, but audiences responded well to the series’ characters. The character arcs of Fringe‘s protagonists, as well as the actor’s performances, grounded Fringe even when its mythology caused the series to feel bloated.

The mythology of Fringe was due to the combination of genres found within the series, including fantasy, procedural dramas, and sci-fi. This mix of genres combated early criticisms that claimed Fringe was “dull.” After Fringe embraced the unique storytelling abilities that come from sci-fi and supernatural genres, such as parallel universes, audiences were treated to a rich and engaging plot.

3 Firefly (2002)

Audiences Appreciate The Blend Of Westerns and Sci-Fi

Set far into the future, Firefly was a space Western series that follows a spaceship crew on their travels in space. Melding with the Western genre, Firefly was a promising sci-fi show, a sentiment strongly felt by the series’ passionate fan base. Following the announcement of Firefly‘s cancelation, fans joined together to create online forums and raise money for Firefly‘s advertising.

Despite these efforts, Fox continued with its cancelation of Firefly, but in the years after Firefly had been off the air, critics looked back at the series through a positive lens. Westerns and sci-fi have distinct trademarks as genres and during Firefly‘s initial run, some critics stated the mix of the two genres felt forced. However, years after the series finale, Firefly‘s creative risks are applauded and the series is regarded as one of the best cult TV shows and one that was unjustly canceled.

2 Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009)

Relatable Human Emotions Strengthen The Sci-Fi Elements

Though Battlestar Galactica is a sci-fi TV show and is set in the future, many of its concepts and themes mirror real life. The storylines in Battlestar Galactica are complex and deal with terrorism and war, but because these issues are familiar to audiences, the emotions felt by the characters in Battlestar Galactica appear tangible and relatable. Critical praise regularly given to Battlestar Galactica during its run and in the years since, discusses the heart and humanity brought to the series by its cast.

The ensemble is just one of the many ways Battlestar Galactica helped change the sci-fi genre. Battlestar Galactica had depth within its sci-fi setting, introducing a new structure that was mostly seen before within dramas. Not to mention, considering the early 2000s release date, Battlestar Galactica had impressive special effects for the time, which helped the battles avoid appearing cartoonish.

1 Lost (2004-2010)

Influenced The Narrative Of Many Television Shows

Considered to be one of the greatest TV shows of all time, Lost heavily influenced television. From the start, audiences were immediately hooked on Lost‘s characters, mystery, and supernatural aspects. The latter is part of the reason why Lost‘s ending was divisive, however, when the mysteries and plot points became too complex, audiences could rely on the series’ beloved characters.

Indeed, the complex narrative that stemmed from Lost‘s mythology resulted in a shift from the character-driven series Lost started as, but fans remained invested in the characters’ outcomes. Interestingly enough, the mystery element of Lost is a big part of its impact on the TV shows that followed. Many TV series, such as Manifest and Heroes, have placed their ensemble cast in a mysterious circumstance that calls upon their survival skills. Although this concept is not easy to replicate, the creators of these shows understood the advantage of bringing audiences along on a mystery, revealing the truth bit by bit.