The Peripheral
Launching on October 21, 2022, The Peripheral is a new sci-fi show from the minds behind HBO’s Westworld. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz and set in 2032, this series envisions a universe that is largely true to the real one, albeit with a few tweaks that could plausibly occur over the next decade. Flynne, a capable gamer, is invited to test out a VR headset, one that delivers unprecedented realism along with an opportunity to lead an action-packed existence. However, before long, Flynne begins to question whether this experience is really just fantasy.
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Based on William Gibson’s 2014 novel, The Peripheral presents plenty of exciting concepts and ideas, and the show is taking its time exploring them. While the plot is convoluted in places, sci-fi veterans are unlikely to struggle too greatly to follow along. The acting is also good for the most part, and Moretz delivers a strong performance as Flynne.
The Expanse
If there is one sci-fi show on Prime Video that justifies a subscription all on its own, it is The Expanse. Based on James S. A. Corey’s novel and lasting for six seasons, The Expanse is a hard science-fiction show that deals with politics, war, and human conflict. Balancing multiple storylines at the same time and introducing lofty ideas that it is more than ready to explore to their fullest, this series is ambitious in terms of both its presentation and narrative.
While alien technology plays a significant role in driving the characters, The Expanse’s interest lies in investigating humanity’s reaction to these types of discoveries. Season 1’s opening few episodes can be disorienting since the show has a lot of world-building it needs to set up, but things pick up steam quite quickly after that. Every season after that is arguably better than the last, although seasons 4 and 5 can be polarizing.
Paper Girls
Paper Girls is a character-driven sci-fi series, and an argument could be made that the time-travel aspect is the story’s weak link because it takes too long to pick up momentum. Thankfully, the leads are fully realized characters with well-established backstories, goals, and flaws. They carry this show on their shoulders, and they do it easily.
Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams
Consisting of standalone episodes, Electric Dreams adapts 10 short stories by Philip K. Dick. As the source material is more than a half-century old by this point, this British series is not afraid to take some creative liberties to adjust the stories’ themes for a modern climate. These changes largely work well, even if overall the episodes are hit-and-miss.
Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace
Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace cannot be pigeonholed into one descriptor. This short-lived comedy dips into horror, medical dramas, and science-fiction, and it manages to parody all of these genres expertly. Presented as a fictional ’80s series that was shelved for roughly two decades for being ahead of its time, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace recreates the look and feel of that era’s shows in meticulous detail, be it the inconsistent acting or the cheesy set design.
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While more interested in horror, Darkplace also takes a few stabs at sci-fi clichés, including an alien infection that takes the form of broccoli. Boasting a stellar cast of recognizable British comedians, Darkplace is a loving homage to the corny classics of yesteryear.
Upload
Upload starts with almost a rom-com tone but quickly reveals itself to be closer to a murder mystery. With likable characters, charismatic performers, and social commentary, Upload’s season 1 is an engaging watch that does a stellar job of setting up its sequel, which debuted on March 11, 2022. Season 2 is just as good as its predecessor, and it nicely expands upon the characters, world, and mystery.
The Real Ghostbusters
An animated sequel to 1984’s Ghostbusters, The Real Ghostbusters does a commendable job of capturing the charm of the movie, even though it targets a younger audience. Unlike some other entries in the franchise, this animated series focuses on the original Ghostbusters, and they are still as endearing as ever.
The Real Ghostbusters is hardly hard science-fiction, and the show’s excursions into the genre lean into fantasy. Nevertheless, the cartoon has enough sci-fi imagery to qualify as a representative of the genre. While someone’s appreciation for the show might be influenced by nostalgia, The Real Ghostbusters has enough witty humor and creative designs to be worth recommending even to people who did not grow up on it.
Kamen Rider Black Sun
Released in celebration of the franchise’s 50th anniversary, Kamen Rider Black Sun is a reboot of 1987’s Kamen Rider Black, which is generally considered to be among the license’s better releases. Popular as Kamen Rider might be in Japan, the property is not all that well known in North America, and the extensive range of available seasons and incarnations can put off newcomers looking for an entry point. Kamen Rider Black Sun provides an answer for that issue.
The 2022 reboot can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of Kamen Rider or the original Black. Black Sun opts for a more mature tone than the typical entry in the series, although it still retains some goofy charm. Set in a world where some people can transform into Kaijins and suffer discrimination for it, the story follows two young guys with wildly different ideologies.
Utopia
A short-lived and criminally underrated British sci-fi thriller, Utopia centers around an unpublished sequel to a popular comic book, one that might contain shocking details revolving around a global conspiracy. When a group of obsessed fans try to track down this manuscript, they quickly find themselves facing ethical dilemmas as they try to avoid being taken down by hired killers.
Utopia combines a high-octane conspiracy storyline with an everyday British setting, and this juxtaposition works brilliantly. The show can get overly violent at times, but the story, acting, and visuals are consistently great.
The Man In The High Castle
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Counterpart
Spawning two seasons and starring JK Simmons, Counterpart centers around the conflict between two alternate Earths: Alpha and Prime. An intense thriller that feels ripped right out of the cold war era, Counterpart complements its high-concept premise with biting social commentary and grounded performances.
At just 20 episodes, Counterpart does not overstay its welcome, and the sci-fi series maintains an impressive standard of quality throughout its entire run. While hardly its only selling point, Simmons delivers a performance that is worth the price of admission on its own.
Eureka
Sci-fi stories have a tendency to get heavy, be it through complex storytelling or challenging themes. As captivating as series like The Expanse can be, there is always room for something a touch more lighthearted and easy-to-digest. When it comes to comforting sci-fi shows, Eureka might be the best on Prime Video.
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The title refers to a town filled with scientific geniuses and an “ordinary” sheriff who has to fix the many issues that pop up on a seemingly daily basis. Eureka is not rocket science but it is entertaining.
The Boys
A loose adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s comic book, The Boys envisions a world much like the current one, albeit with a select few figures who possess powers that make them stand out like gods among mortals. The series revolves around two competing forces: The Seven and The Boys. The former are this universe’s equivalent of the Justice League, although their public personas are not entirely accurate representations of their true personalities. Conversely, The Boys are “normal” people that have it out for Supes, and they will do anything to bring them down.
The Tick
The Tick, as a character, seems ripped right out of a Golden Age comic filled with puffed-out chests, catchphrases, and over-the-top destruction. However, The Tick is set in a relatively ordinary world, at least as far as superhero sci-fi shows are concerned. Unsurprisingly, in this setting, The Tick has a habit of making a mess.
Lost In Space
Lost in Space is a classic sci-fi series about the Robinsons, a family that finds itself stranded in the cosmos as they try to make their way back to Earth. Rebooted in 2018 on Netflix, the 1960s Lost in Space is undoubtedly a product of its time, and it is not quite as endearing as Star Trek: The Original Series. The show is corny by any standards, but this element could be seen as a feature rather than a bug.
That said, some of the production design has aged pretty well, in the sense that it is still impressive for a budget project released during the 1960s. Huge sci-fi fans should give Lost in Space a try simply due to its legacy, and the opening two seasons are generally pretty entertaining. The quality diminishes after that point, but some fun can still be had.
Undone
From the same minds behind BoJack Horseman, Undone is a character-driven series about a woman who realizes she might be able to travel through space and time. She learns about this ability from her deceased father, a scientist who was exploring this sort of phenomenon before he died.
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Undone takes the big ideas synonymous with sci-fi and blends them with a family drama that goes back generations. Sequences of extraordinary imagery are sprinkled atop relatable storylines about self-discovery and grief.
Humans
Artificial intelligence is a staple of science-fiction, arguably to the point of overuse. While often depicted in futuristic thrillers, the concept’s appeal also stems from its inevitability. AI capable of thinking and feeling like humans does not seem far removed from current technology, and it could become a reality (relatively) soon.
Humans explores this potential development by taking a grounded look at the notion of AI in the form of synths. These humanoids can be purchased to do their owner’s busy work, and while they generally cannot replicate the full range of human emotion, they are close to gaining consciousness. The British show focuses on this technology’s social ramifications.
Hyperdrive
There aren’t all that many pure sci-fi comedy TV shows, and the ones that do exist tend to be engulfed by Red Dwarf’s shadow. That British series still sets the standard for scientific hijinks, regardless of the quality of its later seasons. While it never quite reaches the heights of its more acclaimed predecessor, 2007’s Hyperdrive also proves that a sitcom in space can work shockingly well, permitting the show comes packed with lovable characters and veteran comedians.
Hyperdrive follows the HMS Camden Lock’s crew as they try to introduce British sensibility to the cosmos, a goal that frequently proves to be beyond the gang’s capabilities. Starring the always charming Nick Frost, this short-lived series has a lot of fun with its premise and also goes out of its way to frequently introduce new alien races.
Night Sky
Blending a number of genres together, Night Sky needs to come with a disclaimer that its sci-fi flourishes can, at times, feel more like a hindrance than an advantage. Franklin and Irene York, portrayed by J. K. Simmons and Sissy Spacek, have lived in a small American town for the majority of their adult days. As the challenges of aging start to take their toll, the couple contemplate leaving behind their home. However, there is one thing holding them back: there is a portal to an alien planet on their estate. Naturally, this artifact eventually complicates things.
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Franklin and Irene’s relationship serves as Night Sky’s heart, and the show is by far at its strongest when this dynamic takes center stage. Spacek and Simmons deliver nuanced performances that brilliantly reflect the lifetime shared between these characters. Whenever Night Sky shifts towards another plot thread, the story loses quite a bit of momentum; nevertheless, the show’s high points outweigh its disappointing moments.
The Man Who Fell To Earth
A continuation of the 1976 movie of the same name starring David Bowie, which was already an adaptation of Walter Trevis’s 1963 novel, The Man Who Fell to Earth revisits many of the same themes that dominated these classic iterations of the story. Once again, the focus is on an alien, this time portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who lands on Earth in the hope of finding a way to salvage his race. This mission proves to be anything but simple.
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Compared to the book and movie, this series has considerably more lighthearted beats, mainly courtesy of Ejiofor’s fish-out-of-water alien. However, these comedic moments do not come at the expense of drama or mystery, two things The Man Who Fell to Earth has in spades. Even though it is a different beast from the movie, the show does more than enough to justify its existence and form its own identity.
Tales From The Loop
Science-fiction and big ideas go hand-in-hand, but some of the genre’s most effective stories are mainly concerned with examining the average person’s reaction to the extraordinary. Tales from the Loop takes place in a town built upon a facility housing a machine called the Loop that can produce strange, unexplainable phenomena.
While the Loop might be the catalyst for many of the show’s plotlines, the town’s residents are its heart. Rather than deciphering the inner workings of a fantastical machine, Tales from the Loop studies human behavior and the way people change over time.
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