7 Great Sci-Fi TV Reboots That Surpassed The Originals

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Reboots are a common trend in entertainment, and it’s not because we’ve run out of new ideas. Some stories are simply worth revisiting. Often, a story gains new meaning over time, or advancements in technology allow filmmakers to tell it in a more compelling way.

It’s common for both movies and TV shows to be remade. Many classic shows get a fresh start with reboots – sometimes revisiting beloved favorites, and other times giving promising but previously unsuccessful shows another chance. In the science fiction genre, several reboots have emerged, and while not all succeed, some actually surpass the originals. Here are seven sci-fi reboots that are better than the shows they’re based on, including one at the top of the list that’s so good, you might not even remember the original series.

7) The Tick (2016)

It’s debatable whether The Tick is more of a superhero or sci-fi show, but I consider most superhero stories to have sci-fi elements, so here it is on our list. The Tick first appeared on Prime Video in 2016 and ran for two seasons. Interestingly, it’s a reboot of a reboot! The 2016 series follows the animated The Tick from 1994 and the live-action version from 2001. The show centers on The Tick, a nearly indestructible superhero who arrives in the City to fight crime and investigate the criminal underworld. He befriends Arthur, who becomes his sidekick, and together they uncover a mystery surrounding a seemingly deceased supervillain, The Terror, who may still be active.

The 2001 live-action The Tick was decent, but the 2016 version was truly excellent. It perfectly blended comedy and believability, offering surprisingly smart humor alongside exciting action. This combination made the potentially silly premise feel surprisingly real and engaging. Sadly, like past attempts, it didn’t gain enough traction and was cancelled after two seasons, totaling 22 episodes.

6) Quantum Leap (2022)

The new Quantum Leap premiered on NBC in 2022 as a follow-up to the beloved 1989 series, rather than a complete restart. The show features Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song, a physicist continuing the work of the original Quantum Leap project for the Department of Defense. Thirty years after Dr. Sam Beckett (played by Scott Bakula) mysteriously disappeared while working on the project, Ben finds himself leaping through time, much like Sam did. However, this time, Ben has help from his fiancée, Addison, who plays a similar role to Al in the original series.

It’s hard to say the new Quantum Leap is definitively “better” – the original series is a classic for a reason, and both shows are well-made. However, the 2022 version feels more like one continuous story, while the original was mostly self-contained episodes. This change in structure allowed the revival to explore a larger narrative. Though it was cancelled after two seasons, the new Quantum Leap ended on a more satisfying and hopeful note for fans compared to the original.

5) Lost in Space (2018)

Netflix’s 2018 revival of Lost in Space was a major success. Rather than a direct continuation of the original 1965 series, it was a fresh take on the story. The show spanned three seasons and followed the 24th mission of the Resolute, a spaceship carrying families sent to establish a colony on the Alpha Centauri planets in 2046. This mission was prompted by an event that put humanity at risk in 2044. Unfortunately, the Resolute suffered damage and didn’t reach its destination. The colonists were forced to abandon ship, crash-landing on an unknown planet where they struggled to survive and find a way home.

Let me tell you, this new Lost in Space isn’t your parents’ Lost in Space. While the initial disaster that kicks things off is different, it’s not just that – the whole show feels revamped. They’ve definitely grown up the characters, ditched most of the campy humor, and put the Robinson family in genuinely life-or-death situations. But surprisingly, it still captures what made the original series so special – that core family bond and their determination to survive, even when facing impossible odds. It’s a really compelling blend of old and new.

4) V (2009)

In 1983, NBC’s miniseries V told the story of aliens called Visitors who arrived on Earth pretending to be friendly. They claimed they needed resources in exchange for help, but it was soon revealed they actually planned to conquer the planet, steal its water, and use humans as food. This sparked a revolution. In 2009, ABC revived the concept with a new series starring Elizabeth Mitchell and Morena Baccarin. The reboot followed a similar storyline – aliens arriving peacefully and requesting resources in exchange for technology – but with a twist. These aliens had been secretly living among humans for decades, quietly taking over all parts of society as part of a long-term plan.

The 2009 version of V had more episodes, allowing it to explore themes of media control and widespread deception in greater detail than the original miniseries could. The first season was especially strong, and even though the second season wasn’t quite as good, it was still enjoyable and ultimately put humanity in a similar situation to the original story.

3) Westworld (2016)

HBO’s Westworld stands out because it’s not a remake of a TV show, but inspired by the films Westworld (1973) and Futureworld (1976). The series is set in a futuristic Wild West theme park filled with lifelike androids. Wealthy guests can live out their fantasies without consequence, as the androids are programmed to ensure human safety. However, the story takes a turn when some of the androids begin to gain consciousness after a system update.

The series offers a more complex and thoughtful exploration of its themes compared to the movies, thanks to the format of television allowing for deeper storytelling. It tackles big questions about robots and artificial intelligence, even before these topics became commonplace in everyday conversation. Despite the futuristic setting, the series is also surprisingly human and features plenty of exciting action.

2) Doctor Who (2005)

Doctor Who is a long-running British TV show, and many people don’t realize the version most of us watch today is actually a reboot. The original series started in 1963 but stopped airing in 1989. When it came back in 2005, it was different – instead of long, multi-part stories, episodes were more self-contained, though they still built towards larger storylines. The revival began with Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor, and it kept the core idea of the original: the Doctor is a Time Lord from another planet who travels through the universe and time in their ship, the TARDIS.

The series has seen a welcome resurgence thanks to some changes in its format, and it remains incredibly popular worldwide. It’s perhaps not a reboot that’s necessarily better than what came before, but rather an evolution of an already successful show. While its run on Disney+ has finished, the modern era of Doctor Who is continuing, with a Christmas special planned for 2026.

1) Battlestar Galactica (2004)

Topping this list is undoubtedly Battlestar Galactica. Ronald D. Moore’s reimagining of the 1978 series is exceptional – it’s easy to forget the original even existed, and that’s not a criticism of it! The reboot is simply that well-made. The story takes place far away in space and follows the last survivors of humanity as they search for a legendary thirteenth colony called Earth. They’re on the run after a devastating attack by the Cylons – a race of androids they themselves created – which destroyed the other twelve colonies and nearly wiped out humankind.

The 2004 reimagining of Battlestar Galactica was a significant improvement over the original in nearly every way. From its high production values to its compelling writing and strong performances, the reboot surpassed its predecessor and achieved something rare for science fiction: it became more than just a genre show. It appealed to a broad audience, not just sci-fi fans, and is often considered a benchmark for successful reboots.

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2025-12-09 00:15