Many fantastic science-fiction TV shows from the 1990s have faded into obscurity. While the special effects might not have been as polished and the acting or storylines sometimes felt a bit cheesy, the decade was still a surprisingly good era for sci-fi. After enjoying blockbuster movies like 12 Monkeys, The Matrix, Independence Day, and Total Recall in theaters, you could tune in at home and find these shows on TV.
The 1990s had some fantastic and well-regarded sci-fi shows like The X-Files, Futurama, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. However, many other sci-fi series from that decade didn’t get the same recognition and have since been largely forgotten. While it’s uncertain if these seven shows will ever be revived, they deserve a second look.
7) Strange World (1999)
Originally debuting on ABC in 1999, the show Strange World was cancelled after just three of its thirteen episodes aired, preventing it from reaching its full potential. The series centered on Captain Paul Turner (Tim Guinee), an army doctor who receives intermittent treatment for a rare blood disorder from a shadowy organization. Created by Howard Gordon (24) and Tim Kring (Heroes), Strange World delved into the intriguing and often dark world of chemical and biological warfare, and deserved a complete season to fully develop its compelling story.
6) Lexx (1997-2002)
Often dismissed as simply over-the-top, Lexx was a surprisingly thoughtful and emotionally honest science fiction series. Created by Paul Donovan, Lex Gigeroff, and Jeffrey Hirschfield, it boldly explored the idea of multiple universes long before it became popular. The show followed the crew of the starship Lexx as they traveled through strange and unpredictable parallel worlds. While Lexx ran for four seasons, it never achieved a large mainstream audience, despite its clever writing, dark humor, and relatable themes presented within a bizarre and imaginative story.
5) MANTIS (1994-1997)
As a lifelong movie and TV buff, I recently stumbled upon something incredible – a show called MANTIS from 1994. It’s easy to miss, but it actually gave us the very first African American network superhero! Carl Lumbly, who a lot of us now know as Isaiah Bradley from the MCU, played Dr. Miles Hawkins, a brilliant doctor who builds a high-tech suit after a spinal injury and facing prejudice. What struck me was how bold the show was for network TV in the ’90s, tackling really tough issues with a social conscience – and honestly, those themes still resonate powerfully today. It was developed by Sam Raimi and Sam Hamm, the guy who worked on Batman, which already gave it a cool edge. Sadly, it didn’t get the ratings it deserved, and Fox cancelled it after just 22 episodes. It’s a real shame because it’s been largely forgotten, but it deserves to be rediscovered!
4) Harsh Realm (1999-2000)
Based on the comic book series by James D. Hudnall and Andrew Paquette, Harsh Realm is a show about people unexpectedly pulled into a realistic virtual reality game set in a post-apocalyptic America devastated by a nuclear attack. Though ahead of its time and creatively ambitious—and particularly chilling given current events—Harsh Realm was cancelled by Fox after only three of its nine episodes aired due to low viewership. This series had a strong story, impressive production quality, and unique visuals, making its early cancellation a real loss. Many fans would welcome a reboot or continuation of Harsh Realm.
3) Dark Skies (1996-1997)
Following the huge popularity of The X-Files, NBC created Dark Skies hoping to capture a similar audience, but it didn’t achieve the same success. Dark Skies starred Eric Close and Megan Ward as John Loengard and Kim Sayers, investigating alien activity in the 1960s. The show revealed a world where aliens had secretly lived among humans since the 1940s, with the government covering up their existence – a premise that offered lots of storytelling potential. Though creative, ambitious, and distinct from The X-Files, Dark Skies might have found more success if it had been marketed as a companion show rather than a competitor, as it featured engaging characters and a unique, stylish atmosphere.
2) Prey (1998)
The sci-fi series Prey was unique for its time, centering on Dr. Sloan Parker (Debra Messing) and her discovery that many violent criminals share significant genetic similarities, placing them as evolutionarily distinct from humans as chimpanzees are. Sloan and her team realized these individuals weren’t just criminals, but a new species of hominid – dubbed Homo dominant – potentially capable of replacing humans, just as humans replaced Neanderthals. This created a compelling story about survival, what it means to be human, and the roots of aggression. Though groundbreaking for its serialized storytelling and intriguing mythology, Prey unfortunately never found a large audience.
1) Earth 2 (1994-1995)
As a sci-fi fan, it really bothers me that Earth 2 has largely disappeared from the conversation. It had a fantastic premiere and even racked up Emmy and Saturn nominations, but most people seem to have forgotten about it. Created by some seriously talented people – Billy Ray (who did The Hunger Games), Michael Duggan (Millennium), Carol Flint (The West Wing), and Mark Levin (The Adam Project) – the show followed a team sent to a potentially habitable planet, G889, to find a cure for a deadly illness. It had everything: big sci-fi ideas about colonizing a new world, a stellar cast including Clancy Brown, Tim Curry, Debrah Farentino, and Terry O’Quinn, and really thoughtful themes about family, relationships, and even environmentalism. Honestly, a single season just wasn’t enough for a show with that much potential. It deserved a much longer run back in the 90s.
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2025-12-24 23:44