7 1980s Sci-Fi Shows You Forgot Were Awesome

by

The 1980s aren’t typically known for their science fiction shows. While the 1970s were a period of big changes in television, with shows like All in the Family pushing boundaries, the 1980s were generally more conservative and are now remembered mostly for family-focused comedies.

Science fiction has been a consistently popular genre since the 1960s, with each decade producing memorable shows. The 1980s were particularly strong, featuring nearly as many science fiction series as comedies – and many of these shows are now considered classics.

7) Starman

The TV show Starman is a follow-up to the film starring Jeff Bridges, which told the story of an alien and a woman named Jenny. In the movie, the alien created a clone to have a child with Jenny, who couldn’t have children naturally. The TV series picks up 15 years later, with the alien returning to Earth as the recently deceased journalist Paul Forrester. He wants to reconnect with his son, Scott, and the two of them set out to find Jenny.

For fifteen years, Starman and his son, Scott, had been on the run from the US government, who were still trying to recapture the alien. Each week, they traveled to a new location, using their abilities to help others. These journeys often forced Starman to confront the questionable actions of his clone – the original Paul Forrester was a flawed man with a lot of enemies. By solving problems and aiding people, Starman gained a deeper understanding of humanity, while Scott learned to master the telepathic powers he’d inherited from his father.

Starman stood out from other shows because it focused on understanding, forgiveness, and kindness. It’s disappointing it only ran for one season, particularly since Starman and Jenny finally got back together, which could have led to many more compelling storylines.

6) Knight Rider

While many remember Knight Rider as an action-packed show, it also included science fiction ideas that set it apart. The series starred David Hasselhoff as a police officer who was given a new life – and a high-tech partner – after being critically wounded. Saved by wealthy philanthropist Wilton Knight, he became Michael Knight and teamed up with KITT, an artificially intelligent car, to battle criminals.

Okay, let’s talk Knight Rider. The basic idea – a talking car fighting crime – sounds ridiculous, I’ll admit. But the show’s been a hit for over four decades, and they’re even planning a movie reboot! It’s funny, because over the years, Knight Rider got a bit of a reputation for being…well, cheesy. A lot of that, unfairly, came from people associating it with David Hasselhoff’s other show, Baywatch. But going back and actually watching it now, that assessment feels way too harsh. What’s really amazing is that, despite being such a high-concept, over-the-top idea, it was genuinely entertaining and accessible to a wide audience. It’s pretty astonishing, actually.

5) V

V began as a TV miniseries featuring aliens who invade Earth. These aliens look like ordinary people, but are actually the classic green, reptilian creatures often seen in sci-fi. They plan to control Earth’s water supply and use humans as a food source.

The story begins with aliens clashing with journalists, sparking a war between humans and extraterrestrials. Following a second short series depicting the final showdown, a 19-episode TV series was created. This series centers around an alien facing trial for her actions, but she’s unexpectedly saved by a tech CEO who hopes to exploit alien technology for profit. This rescue ultimately allows Diana and other aliens to once again threaten Earth with invasion.

Unfortunately, the show was canceled after just one season, meaning the last episode was never produced and plans for a movie conclusion in 1989 fell through. Despite this, V remains a beloved classic. The original miniseries served as a powerful metaphor for Nazism, and the subsequent TV series continued to examine similar ideas.

4) Amazing Stories

Steven Spielberg, the famous producer, created Amazing Stories, a series similar to The Twilight Zone. Each week, it presented a different 24-minute science fiction tale. While The Twilight Zone often focused on social commentary, Amazing Stories was generally more lighthearted and less concerned with delivering a message.

Several episodes of Amazing Stories explored the idea of people with supernatural gifts, like telepathy or other special abilities. A particularly well-remembered story involved three boys who intercepted alien communications using a TV antenna. They discovered the aliens had learned about humanity by watching old television broadcasts from the 1950s.

3) ALF

ALF was a popular and funny show on NBC during the 1980s. It was a family comedy with a unique premise: a friendly alien crashed into the family’s backyard and they took him in. Known as ALF, which stands for Alien Life Form, the show quickly became a hit with children. ALF was famous for his clever jokes and his constant attempts to eat the family cat!

Over the four years the show was on TV, ALF attempted to fit in with the family, learning about people and their customs while being seen as another kid. He also constantly had to avoid their curious neighbors, which caused a lot of funny moments.

2) The Martian Chronicles

The miniseries The Martian Chronicles, based on Ray Bradbury’s novel, tells the story of humans attempting to colonize Mars. It’s often seen as a parallel to the history of colonization in America, particularly the treatment of Native Americans. The first part shows Martians defending their culture from the initial settlers, but as the series progresses, humans take control of the planet and clash with any remaining Martians.

Based on Ray Bradbury’s novel, the 1980s miniseries The Martian Chronicles is a standout production. Adding to its quality, the TV adaptation was also written by Richard Matheson, a talented author known for his excellent work on The Twilight Zone, often rivaling even the episodes penned by Rod Serling.

1) Red Dwarf

Red Dwarf is a beloved British sci-fi comedy about Dave Lister, who wakes up after being in suspended animation for a thousand years. He finds that the only other survivor on his spaceship is a cat that evolved into a human-like being, thanks to Lister smuggling it on board. Together, they navigate life with a holographic version of a frustrating boss, the ship’s computer, and various aliens they meet while traveling to different planets.

Red Dwarf gained a dedicated fanbase in both the UK and the US thanks to its clever, satirical humor and playful take on classic science fiction. Remarkably, the show remains just as funny today as it was 40 years ago, proving what a well-crafted series it is.

What 1980s sci-fi show do you love the most? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans at the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/7-great-sci-fi-shows-from-the-1980s-nobody-talks-about/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-25 23:19