Sci-fi, like every other genre, has some iconic, long-running TV shows and plenty of series that ran for only one season. However,just because these projects were cut short, that doesn’t mean they aren’t as high-qualityor memorable as their counterparts. There are many reasons a series might be canceled before its time, with budget constraints and weak audience bases playing a significant role in the decision to end a show after season 1. However, with time, many of these projects have become cult classics with huge followings across genre-divides.
Many of thebest TV shows with only one seasonhad external circumstances working against them. While it can be disappointing to fall in love with a series only to have it canceled,these shows make up for their short runs with excellent world-building and storytelling.Since there’s a limited amount of time to get to know the characters, it’s vital that the viewer understands the tension and relationships from the start. These TV shows deliver all of these elements and transport the audience to fascinating worlds they’ll want to explore forever.
10Flashforward (2009–2010)
Knowing the future isn’t always a good thing in Flashforward
Flashforwardaccomplished a lot in its singular season, with many interweaving story threads coming together to create an unforgettable story. Unfolding in the wake ofan event that shows everyone on Earth a glimpse of their life six months in the future,Flashforwardgrapples with fate and the balance between what can be changed about the future and what’s set in stone. It’s a compelling concept from the beginning, easily drawing the audience into the story’s world.
Joseph Fiennes leads the cast as the FBI agent, Mark Benford, who’s charged with investigating the event and discovering what others saw. ThoughFlashforwardsees Mark uncover many scientific anomalies and unexplainable events, it also touches upon the interpersonal aspects of his story.The audience cares just as much about Mark’s fate as they do about the source of the mysterious flash forwardand what it means for humanity. Though it was cut short,Flashforwardreceived a warm critical reception.
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Though the 2004 iteration ofBattlestar Galacticasuccessfully revived the franchise, the spinoff prequel,Caprica, didn’t continue this trend. However, revisitingCapricatoday demonstrates that there was more to the series than meets the eye, asit makes many interesting comments about the emergence of new technologiesand human evolution. Primarily focusing on the development of the Cylons,Capricawas still intended to be a significant departure from the earlier show.
It’s through the character development thatCapricashines.
Since it takes place before the war,Capricais more concerned with the social and political dynamics of its characters. The events that lead up to the creation of the Cylons are emotionally gripping and shed new light on the eventual downfall of humanity. While the characters inBattlestar Galacticaare pushed to their limits, trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic reality, the characters inCapricahave every luxury, but this makes them arrogant and dangerous. It’s through the character development thatCaprica shines.
Caprica (2009z-2010)
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Aliens aren’t just real but living among humanity inThe Event, even though the government within the story’s world tried to hide this for many years. The series plays with time and the audience’s perception, using different timelines and flashbacks to slowly reveal the mysteries at the heart of the story. Though aliens are the sci-fi element of the story inThe Event,the series is also deeply engaged in political and social conversations about transparency and violence.
Jason Ritter stars as Sean Walker, a man who slowly uncovers the alien conspiracy in the wake of his girlfriend’s kidnapping. ThoughThe Eventintroduces many different plot lines for the viewer to juggle at once,the way the series slowly intertwines them and carefully plots the narrative is impressive. Ritter’s performance helps anchor the sometimes unbelievable series, as he’s an easy hero to like and follow to the end ofThe Event.
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Fans ofWhite Collarwill recognize Tim DeKay inSecond Chance,as the actor portrays the son of the protagonist, Jimmy (Robert Kazinsky). However, Jimmy and his son, Duval, have an unconventional father-son dynamic, as Jimmy was resurrected and made younger by two scientists in a revolutionary experiment. Waking up in this younger and fitter body, Jimmy realizes he has the world at his feet, but this new lease on life might be better used by making up for his past mistakes.
Meant to be a spin on the story ofFrankenstein,Second Chancedoesn’t make Jimmy a monster but a man in search of redemption.
This is the dramatic thrust ofSecond Chance, with the series incorporating many elements of the crime procedural genre into its otherworldly premise. Meant to be a spin on the story ofFrankenstein,Second Chancedoesn’t make Jimmy a monster but a man in search of redemption. While it’s not always easy for him to step back into the role of father and family man, Jimmy works hard to prove himself, andSecond Chanceincorporates many action-oriented adventures for him to test his mettle.
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There’s a reason whyFireflyhas remained so popularand well-known within the sci-fi sphere. Every day,Fireflyreaches new audiences and reconnects with longtime fans revisiting the series. Created by Joss Whedon, the mind behindBuffy The Vampire Slayer,Fireflyis the benchmark for genre-bending sci-fi, as it incorporates the best of science fiction with elements of Westerns and classic interpersonal drama. Its ensemble cast is led by Nathan Fillion as Malcolm Reynolds, the captain of the central spaceship, with a charmingly roguish sensibility.
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Even with its limited number of episodes,Fireflycreates a clear and concrete worldthat audiences want to explore further. The characters are just as vivid, with their traits and relationship dynamics established from their first appearances onscreen. No matter what adventure they’re on, the characters inFireflyare truthful without being predictable. With aFireflycast reunionset for the 20th anniversary of the spinoff movieSerenity, it’s clear thatFirefly's hold on the culture isn’t loosening anytime soon.
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Adapting theWatchmencomics to the screen was always going to be polarizing, but today, the opinion surrounding HBO’sWatchmenis much more unanimous. Audiences and critics have come to recognize that the story at the heart ofWatchmenisn’t meant to be a one-to-one recreation of the comics but a faithful exploration of the deeper themesand meanings introduced by the story. Led by the brilliant Regina King,Watchmenis one of the best comic series of the 21st century.
Watchmentakes the narrative of prejudice and resistance even further, making the series Lindelof’s most poignant work to date.
Created for the screen by Damon Lindelof,Watchmenis similar in style and tone to other series he’s had a hand in, likeThe LeftoversandLost. However,Watchmentakes the narrative of prejudice and resistance even further, making the series Lindelof’s most poignant work to date. Though there’s only one season ofWatchmento enjoy, this doesn’t detract from how intricately the story is crafted and delivered to the viewer. It will be highly influential in sci-fi comic adaptations for years to come.
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Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg,Terra Novahas an ambitious premise that transports the audience to a new world.While this new world might look alien, it’s actually Earth during the Cretaceous period.Terra Novabegins over one hundred years in the future when Earth has been destroyed by climate catastrophes. In response, scientists have started sending people back in time to try and reset the trajectory of humanity while dealing with the terrors of the past.
Though sci-fi usually grapples with the emerging technologies of the future,it was clever to have the characters inTerra Nova, who are so far removed from the dangers of the ancient world, go back in time.Dinosaurs, new environments, and especially the other members of the colony all make the settlement inTerra Novaa dangerous and tenuous place. Visually appealing and original to the final moments of the story,Terra Novais a series that could easily have a resurgence today.
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Fans of another sci-fi-fantasy series will recognize the cast ofAlmost Human, as it’s one of thebest TV shows starringThe BoysactorKarl Urban.Urban plays John Kennex, a detective who’s partnered with the android Dorian (Michael Ealy),to John’s dismay. The show is set in the late 2040s, and the world looks very different inAlmost Human. However, there are some things about life that never change. Dorian’s closeness to humanity and the real personality that John discovers are vital parts of the story.
As John overcomes his prejudice, the two become friends over the course of the series. Touching upon themes of humanity and friendship,Almost Humanis an emotionally charged addition to the sci-fi genre, but this is what helps set it apart. Though the early episodes ofAlmost Humancan bog down the viewer with exposition, once the story hits its stride,there’s plenty of action and drama to accompany the underlying ethical and moral questionsposed byAlmost Human.
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Based on the beloved comic book series of the same name,Y: The Last Manstars Ben Schnetzer as Yoric Brown,the supposed last cis man on Earth after every person with a Y chromosome dies. Developed for television by Hulu,Y: The Last Manwas an enormous undertaking, and this shows. Diane Lane plays Yorick’s mother, Jennifer, who assumes the role of President of the United States. The series follows the aftermath and fallout of a world that must create a new system of power.
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Unfortunately,Y: The Last Manisn’t currently available to stream anywhere in the US, which is a shame, considering how exciting the series was when it first premiered. Since post-apocalyptic dramas have become more popular in recent years,Y: The Last Manwas a unique addition to the genre, with a mysterious twist at the heart of the story.ThoughY: The Last Mandidn’t get the chance to follow through on all of its intricate setup, the episodes that were released paint a picture of a vivid world.
Though the originalBattlestar Galactica’s biggest claim to fame is inspiring the popular 2004 reboot, the initial series has a lot to offer. Premiering in 1978,Battlestar Galacticamight have only run for one season, but it was a great example of thesci-figenre during this period.It’s easy to see why the series became a cult classic in the years following its cancelation,as it was unlike anything else seen on television at the time.
Like other TV series of its era,Battlestar Galacticareceived a full order of episodes,making the single season twenty-four episodes long. This provided ample opportunity for the writers and actors to develop complex characters with compelling dynamics explored throughout the episodes. The development of the Cylons, the antagonistic force in the galaxy, resulted in creative character designs and effects throughoutBattlestar Galactica. Though the series has been critically compared to contemporaneous science fiction movies and TV, it’s carved out a unique niche in media history.
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