The 27 best sci-fi shows of all time, according to critics

Abby MonteilMay 17, 2020, 20:37 IST

Regina King stars on HBO's "Watchmen."Mark Hill/HBO

There are thousands of TV shows, and finding the right one to watch can be difficult.
That's why Insider has compiled guides for every type of TV show (and movie) you might feel like streaming.
Here, we've listed the best sci-fi TV shows to watch, according to critics.
Keep reading to see the list of titles, which includes "Orphan Black," "Doctor Who," and more.
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Sometimes you just want to escape your real life and get lost in the mind-bending worlds of science fiction. But what are the best sci-fi TV shows, according to critics?

We looked at critical consensus on the review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes to find out which sci-fi series journalists deem essential.

The results include a range of titles, from classic television like "The Prisoner" and "Mork & Mindy" to more recent hits such as "Stranger Things" and "Watchmen."

Here are the 27 best sci-fi TV shows of all time, according to critics.

Read the original article on Insider

"Wynonna Earp" is a sci-fi Western based on the legacy of Old West lawman Wyatt Earp.

Melanie Scrofano stars on "Wynonna Earp." Syfy

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" follows the events that occur between the "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith" films.

Ashley Eckstein voiced Ahsoka Tano on "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." Lucasfilm

"The Expanse" takes place far into the future, after humans have colonized the solar system.

"The Expanse" began as a SyFy show, but now airs on Amazon Prime. Syfy

"Doctor Who" follows an alien who can travel through time.

Jodie Whittaker currently stars on "Doctor Who." BBC

"The Mandalorian" is a "Star Wars" series about the adventures of a rogue bounty hunter and his adorable companion.

Pedro Pascal stars on "The Mandalorian." Lucasfilm

Tatiana Maslany plays several women who discover that they're clones on "Orphan Black."

Tatiana Maslany plays multiple leading roles on "Orphan Black." BBC AMERICA

"Stranger Things" takes place in the '80s and is one of Netflix's most popular original series.

All three seasons of "Stranger Things" are available to stream on Netflix. Netflix

Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." centers on a division of secret agents referenced in the superhero franchise.

"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." takes place in the Marvel universe. Jennifer Clasen/ABC

"Torchwood" is a "Doctor Who" spinoff about a secret British organization dedicated to protecting Earth from aliens.

Eve Myles and John Barrowman costarred on "Torchwood." BBC Three

"Humans" takes place in a parallel present, where eerily lifelike robots serve human families.

Gemma Chan played a robot on "Humans." Colin Hutton/AMC

"Killjoys" follows three intergalactic bounty hunters.

Aaron Ashmore, Hannah John-Kamen, and Luke Macfarlane costarred on "Killjoys." Syfy

On the "Happy Days" spinoff "Mork & Mindy," a woman teaches an alien to adapt to life on Earth.

Robin Williams and Pam Dawber starred on "Mork & Mindy." ABC

"The 4400" opens as 4,400 missing persons suddenly reappear in a single day.

"The 4400" aired from 2004 to 2007. CBS

"Watchmen" is based on the classic graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore.

Hong Chau and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II star on "Watchmen." HBO

The long-running animated sitcom "Futarama" revolves around a pizza delivery boy who is accidentally transported far into the future.

"Futarama" aired for 10 seasons. SyFy

On the cult favorite "Battlestar Galactica," what's left of humankind fight for survival and search for Earth.

"Battlestar Galactica" ran for four seasons. Sci-Fi

Cress Williams plays a formerly retired superhero who returns to fight crime in "Black Lightning."

Cress Williams stars on "Black Lightning." Bob Mahoney/The CW

Five comic book fans discover an unreleased graphic novel that supposedly foretells global disasters on "Utopia."

Fiona O'Shaughnessy appeared on "Utopia." Channel 4

On the British drama "Life on Mars," a modern police detective suddenly finds himself in 1973.

"Life on Mars" ran for two seasons, from 2006 to 2007. Endemol UK

"Cowboy Bebop" is an anime classic about a futuristic crew of bounty hunters.

"Cowboy Bebop" aired for one season. Bandai

When the protagonist of "Now and Again" is killed in an accident, the government places his consciousness into a new body.

"Now and Again" aired for one season, from 1999 to 2000. CBS/Paramount Network

The '60s show "Thunderbirds" takes place in the 21st century, where a family runs a mechanized emergency response service.

"Thunderbirds" ran from 1965 to 1966. ITV Network

"The Middleman" is based on a comic series, and follows an artist who is recruited into a secret agency.

"The Middleman" aired for one season in 2008. ABC Family

"The Prisoner" is a '60s British mystery about a government agent trapped in a seemingly idyllic village.

"The Prisoner" aired from 1967 to 1968. ITV Studios

The protagonist of "Counterpart" discovers a gateway to a parallel dimension.

J.K. Simmons starred on "Counterpart." Starz

In the world of "Osmosis," people can use technology to identify their soulmates.

"Osmosis" takes place in Paris. Netflix

"Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return" is a reboot of a cult classic '90s show.

Jonah Ray stars on "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return." Netflix

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