One of the most enjoyable aspects of a greatsci-fi TV showis the complexity of its worldbuilding and the way viewers can follow along to unpack its thought-provoking mysteries. In recent years, there have been plenty of astoundingdark sci-fi series that play with viewers' headsand push audiences outside of their comfort zones. From compelling explorations of the very nature of selfhood to dark insights into the depths of existentialism, the limitless potential of sci-fi means it can delve deeper into philosophical themes than practically any other genre.
Thebest sci-fi seriesever made continually deal with mind-bending concepts that stick with viewers well after the credits have rolled. Withdystopian seriesreflecting the societal woes of contemporary times or surreal dreamscapes getting to the heart of unconscious fears and desires, sci-fi television has always been a hotbed for great ideas, creative concepts, and insightful themes.All of these sci-fi series have something special to offerand will make great food for thought for those looking to add something uniquely complex to their watchlist.
Director, writer, and author Alex Garland has created some truly mind-bending worlds across his unique body of work, which included classics such as his script for28 Days Lateror writing and directingEx Machina. While these films have left their mark on popular culture, perhapsGarland’s most interesting project was his sci-fi miniseriesDevs, which explored themes of free will and determinism within Silicon Valley. As a thought-provoking journey into quantum physics, the unknowable nature of time, and the many-worlds theory,Devswas a complex, original, and highly rewarding TV series.
With poignant meditations on relationships and humanity, the slow-burn nature ofDevsmay put off some viewers, but the results were truly stunning. As the kind of series that has audiences thinking about it for weeks after the final episode, the wayDevsexplored a vast secret within the mystery of a woman’s missing boyfriend gave the series enough narrative thrust to carry the weight of its complex scientific content.Devswas a clever show that will appeal to viewers who like to be challenged by cryptic and multilayered television.
Misfitswas a hilarious comedy-drama that starred a group of juvenile delinquents and the results of a freak electric storm that grants them and others superpowers. With a uniquely British sense of humor,Misfitsfeatured early career performances from future stars like Robert Sheehan, Iwan Rheon, and Joseph Gilgun, known for series likeThe Umbrella Academy,Game of Thrones, andPreacher. As a show marketed under the now outdated references of‘SkinsmeetsHeroes,’ the wayMisfitsused its troubled characters' powers to explore their social pressures, relationships, and identities made for compelling viewing.
Misfitswas both sharp and silly as it addressed issues of class, race, sexual assault, and death. Throughout its five seasons,Misfitsshowcased expert worldbuilding as the superpowered teens went through drastic character arcs and even dealt with alternate histories as a time-traveling man accidentally allowed Adolf Hitler to utilize smartphone technology and win the war. With an impressive mix of comedy and drama,Misfitswas one of the best British sci-fi series of all time.
Maniactook viewers on a mind-bending journey of psychological experimentation that got to the very heart of human consciousness. With a stacked A-list cast including Jonah Hill and Emma Stone as experimentees in a risky pharmaceutical trial, along with Justin Theroux and Sally Field as scientists working for Neberdine Pharmaceutical Biotech,Maniacwas a complex and riveting look at selfhood and identity. With a unique visual style, the retro-future New York City setting ofManiacmeant its colorful aesthetic only added to the unnerving nature of its thematic depth.
Maniacwas a sci-fi series of the very best kind, as it was packed with mystery and an infectious sense of adventure, making it intensely bingeable. As Hill, Stone, and the ten other people being experimented on experience a gut-wrenching odyssey through hallucinatory worlds, the lines between what’s real or imaginary begin to blur.Maniacpowerfully dealt with ideas around mental health, surreal dreamscapes, and the buried impulses of the subconscious through its dazzling and exhilarating ten-episode run.
Russian Dollwas a Netflix comedy-drama that took plenty of cues fromGroundhog Dayto present a darkly insightful spin on endless time loops and those caught within them. Starring Natasha Lyonne as Nadia Vulvokov, a woman continually reliving her 36th birthday, the shifting tones of this series seamlessly moved from laugh-out-loud hilarious to woefully sad in its exploration of life, death, meaning, and purpose. As a blend of sci-fi, horror, and trauma-based drama, Nadia’s story became uniquely complex when she discovered she was intrinsically linked to a young man named Alan, who is also stuck in the same loop.
The second season ofRussian Dollpushed things into even more intense territory as Nadia discovered a wormhole to 1982 and traveled to the past while stuck in the body of her own mother, who was pregnant with her at the time. As an unsettling glimpse into generational trauma, the sci-fi concepts withinRussian Dollonly served to exemplify the humanity of its characters and the pain that they carry. With a career-defining performance from Lyonne,Russian Dollwas a complex sci-fi that will mess with viewers' heads.
Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij created one of the most idiosyncratic sci-fi series on Netflix withThe OA, only for it to be canceled just when things were getting really interesting.The OAwas a cult series with an intensely committed following who were deeply engrossed by the story of Prairie Johnson, a young missing blind woman who mysteriously resurfaces after seven years with her sight restored. As a thematically rich series that showcased Prairie’s apparent connection to another dimension,The OAwas a journey in which viewers just had to give themselves over to and go along for the ride.
Despite the second season ending on a fascinating cliffhanger that was never resolved,The OA’stwo-part odyssey of fate, friendship, and self-discovery made for a challenging but rewarding viewing. The premature cancelation of this series led to massive backlash from viewers who conducted several protests, campaigns, and petitions calling for its return. While viewers may never get to see what was in store for season 3, the 16 episodes ofThe OAremain some of the most challenging and unique content offered on Netflix.
With a cynical worldview and deeply philosophical themes,Black Mirrorhas showcased imagined futures that feel eerily close to the present. While there were some examples of more optimistic episodes, such as the classic simulated reality rom-com “San Junipero,” more often than not,Black Mirrorleft viewers feeling hollow and empty. WhileBlack Mirrormay make for uncomfortable viewing, its complex writing and strong themes make it a must-watch sci-fi series.
Westworldcleverly updated Michael Crichton’s original 1973 movie for the modern age as it initially explored a complex story set in a technologically advanced Wild West-themed amusement park. With themes of artificial intelligence, technology, and humanity’s own capacity for barbarism,Westworldwas a clever and satirical look at mankind’s increased need for entertainment and distraction. With a first season that contained multiple connected timelines,Westworldwas a mystery box seriesthat invited viewers to try and make sense of its complex narrative.
WhileWestworldsadly failed to live up to its potential in its later seasons, as its plot point became increasingly complex and it strayed further from its theme park setting, the results were still a deeply thought-provoking series. Featuring stars like Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, and Aaron Paul, the performances inWestworldwere always top tier. Although some viewers may have foundWestworlddifficult to follow at certain points, for those who like to be challenged, this was also part of its appeal.
Few Netflix series have taken audiences on a more complex and twist-filled journey than the German-language sci-fiDark. What starts as a typical mystery involving a missing child soon expands into a sprawling intergenerational, time-traversing expedition into the nature of existence, how emotions influence decision-making, and the unavoidable impact of pain. Throughout its insightful three-season run,Darkonly became more complex and intriguing, although things never got so convoluted that they became alienating or confusing.
With an ensemble cast of talented German actors,one ofDark’sstandout characters was Jonas Kahnwald, whose transformative narrative arc began with entering a wormhole to another time before leading to a cataclysmic event that may signal the apocalypse.Darkcaptured the complexities of human existence and the trauma that can be carried from one generation to the next. Featuring parallel realities and alternate futures,Darkwas a riveting exploration of time, morality, and the trials of simply existing.
One recurring sci-fi theme that never fails to capture viewers’ imaginations is that of doubling or a shadow self taking over a person’s life. This was powerfully represented inDark Matter, a thrilling sci-fi series on Apple TV+ that starred Joel Edgerton as a physicist warped into an alternate reality who must fight to return to normal life and prevent another version of himself from taking over his family. With a litany of intriguing ideas that become increasingly thought-provoking and complex over its first season,Dark Matteris a fascinating thriller that’s not afraid to challenge its audience.
Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by its showrunner Blake Crouch,Dark Matterexpanded upon what was seen in the book to produce a series that was even more complex and thought-provoking. As Edgerton’s character discovers the mysteries of the ethereal place known as The Box, he uncovers an endless corridor filled with alternate universes, only one of which will lead him to where he wants to be. As a thrilling game of cat and mouse between Edgerton and himself,Dark Matterbrought together mystery, family, and identity all wrapped up in a wildly entertaining package.
The modern working world has become so soul-destroying in recent years that many people would likely opt to split their consciousness in two if it meant avoiding the drudgery of corporate meetings and the nine-to-five slog. This was the exact premise of the thought-provoking sci-fi seriesSeverance, which starredAdam Scott as a man whose non-work memories are totally separated from his work memories. While this may sound like a delightful path to endless leisure, the results were a mind-bending journey into existentialism, wage slavery, and the ethics of people exploiting themselves.
Severanceis one of the most interesting series to come out in recent years, as its complex insight into the corporate grind and deeply philosophical mysteries made for engrossing viewing. Executive produced and primarily directed by Ben Stiller,Severanceaddressed questions of free will versus choice head-on and features an impressive cast, including John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Patricia Arquette. With its long-awaited second season only deepening the complexity of its intriguing world,Severanceonly becomes more fascinating as it expands its uniquesci-fiworld.
