After nine years, the popular series Stranger Things is nearing its end with the upcoming fifth and final season. Since its debut on Netflix on July 15, 2016, the show has become a groundbreaking and highly influential sci-fi hit, often praised as one of the best TV series of all time. Surprisingly, it’s taken the Duffer brothers nearly nine years to create these five seasons, with the finale set to arrive on December 31, 2025.
Even with the long wait between seasons of Stranger Things—almost a decade—we haven’t lacked good science fiction on TV. In fact, many popular shows have started and finished during that time, really showing how lengthy the production has been. Series like Westworld, The Good Place, Superman & Lois, The Handmaid’s Tale, and What We Do in the Shadows have all come and gone, and here are ten more sci-fi and fantasy shows that aired completely during Stranger Things’ run.
10) Raised by Wolves (2020-2022)
As a sci-fi fan, I was really disappointed to hear that Raised by Wolves got cancelled after its second season, especially since critics were loving it. It was such a unique show – it followed two androids, Mother and Father, trying to raise kids on a new planet after Earth was destroyed. I was completely captivated by its incredible visuals and the way it made you think about AI, religion, and what it means to be human. It’s a real shame we didn’t get to see where the story was going, especially with all the interesting ideas it was exploring. The cancellation happened during the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger in 2022, which is always tough for shows, but it still stings!
9) His Dark Materials (2019-2022)
Inspired by Philip Pullman’s novels, His Dark Materials tells the story of Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen) in a world controlled by a powerful authority called the Magisterium. She sets off on a journey with her daemon, Pan (Kit Connor), to find a lost friend and solve a puzzling mystery involving a special, otherworldly substance known as Dust. The show was highly acclaimed for its actors, stunning visuals, impressive quality, and grand music, and it concluded after three seasons, with each season based on one of the books in Pullman’s original trilogy.
8) Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2024)
After a nearly decade-long gap since Star Trek: Enterprise concluded in 2005, Star Trek: Discovery brought the beloved sci-fi franchise back to television with a fresh start. The series starred Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham, a science officer aboard the Discovery who eventually becomes its captain. Over five seasons and 65 episodes, Star Trek: Discovery earned critical praise and, like Stranger Things on Netflix, has inspired several spin-off Star Trek shows.
7) The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024)
Though its fourth season wasn’t as popular, The Umbrella Academy initially earned praise from critics. The Netflix series starred Tom Hopper, Elliot Page, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, and Justin H. Min as the adopted, superpowered Hargreeves siblings, who team up to solve mysteries involving time travel and alternate universes. Based on the comic book series, The Umbrella Academy is a fun and exciting show, and ranks among Netflix’s best sci-fi offerings, like Stranger Things.
6) Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021-2024)
As part of the Star Wars universe and a continuation of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, Star Wars: The Bad Batch centers on a group of clone troopers who defy the Order 66 directive and go on the run after the rise of the Galactic Empire. The show’s three seasons have been consistently well-received, praised for its unique animation, exploration of Star Wars history, and strong voice acting—featuring talents like Dee Bradley Baker and Michelle Ang. Notably, the series also attempted to clarify the events surrounding Emperor Palpatine’s return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which resonated with dedicated fans.
5) Squid Game (2021-2025)
The South Korean series Squid Game quickly became a global phenomenon. First released on Netflix in 2021, the show follows 456 desperate people who compete in deadly games on a mysterious island for a chance to win ₩45.6 billion. Lee Jung-jae plays Seong Gi-hun, the main character, who initially competes in season 1 and then seeks revenge against those who created the games in seasons 2 and 3, which finished airing on June 27, 2025. Squid Game became Netflix’s most popular series ever, surpassing even Stranger Things, and has inspired plans for an English-language adaptation.
4) Loki (2021-2023)
All of the TV series Marvel Studios has created for Disney+ so far have aired while Stranger Things was also on the air. Loki is particularly popular, starring Tom Hiddleston as the mischievous god who went on the run during the time travel sequence in Avengers: Endgame. The series follows Loki as he tries to fix the Time Variance Authority and prevent the collapse of the entire multiverse. Loki was the first Marvel show to have more than one season, and it successfully paved the way for Hiddleston to reprise his role as Loki in a future Avengers film.
Almost every Marvel TV show has been released while Stranger Things was airing. This includes shows like WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Hawkeye in 2021, followed by Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law in 2022. More recently, Secret Invasion premiered in 2023, and Echo and Agatha All Along came out in 2024. Several shows are still to come, including Ironheart, Eyes of Wakanda, and Marvel Zombies in 2025. The animated series What If…? finished its run in 2024, and shows like Daredevil: Born Again, X-Men ’97, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will continue to be released after Stranger Things concludes at the end of 2025.
3) Arcane (2021-2024)
Even though it only lasted two seasons, Netflix’s animated series Arcane has become a huge critical and cultural success. Based on the world of Riot Games’ League of Legends, the show centers on the story of sisters Vi and Jinx, and their involvement in a growing conflict between the cities of Zaun and Piltover. Arcane was widely praised for its stunning animation, compelling story, rich world-building, well-developed characters, fantastic soundtrack, and excellent voice acting. Both seasons achieved a rare 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, solidifying its place as one of Netflix’s best shows.
2) Andor (2022-2025)
Before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the series Andor shows how Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) became a rebel against the Galactic Empire over five years. If you’re looking for a Star Wars show that feels different from the usual adventures, Andor is a great choice. Both seasons have been highly praised for their realistic feel, complex storylines, and excellent quality. Many fans and critics consider it one of the best Star Wars installments ever. Andor is a model for how franchises like Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, and DC should evolve.
1) Dark (2017-2020)
Netflix’s German-language series, Dark, centers around the disappearance of a child in the town of Winden, which sets off a complex, multi-generational mystery. The show jumps across different time periods and follows four families as they become entangled in a time-bending conspiracy. Dark is known for being a highly ambitious series that has received widespread praise from critics, who have lauded its acting, writing, intricate plot, stunning visuals, music, and overall attention to detail. Many consider it to be one of the best TV shows ever made.
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2025-10-21 23:13