10 Sci-Fi TV Series That Deserve A Second Chance

Science fiction is a consistently popular genre on television, and it’s easy to see why. It presents imaginative ideas, future possibilities, and otherworldly environments, often featuring unique and thought-provoking characters, all while keeping viewers entertained. This allows audiences to contemplate significant questions about life and the world around them. Many of television’s most cherished programs, such as Star Trek and Doctor Who, are science fiction, with both series running for many years and profoundly influencing popular culture.

However, many sci-fi series didn’t get the opportunity to truly shine. Some suffered from poor management by the channels that aired them, resulting in disappointing results, while others were caught up in unsuccessful attempts at streaming. Still others presented ideas that were perhaps a bit too innovative for their time. Whatever the cause, there are several sci-fi series that merit another look. Whether through a complete restart or simply bringing them back, these shows have a lot more to give-and we’d like to see it.

10) Don’t Look Deeper

Do you remember Quibi? It’s likely you don’t, and that’s a big reason why Don’t Look Deeper is worth revisiting. Originally released in 2020 on the now-closed Quibi platform, Don’t Look Deeper features Marvel star Don Cheadle, Emily Mortimer, and Helena Howard, and was directed by Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke. The short series centers on Aisha (Howard), a high school student who begins to suspect something is seriously wrong with herself, which triggers a chain of events that puts her life at risk. The show delved into topics like artificial intelligence and the meaning of being human, and it would be an ideal candidate for a complete remake today, given how much AI is developing. If you’re interested in watching Don’t Look Deeper, even though Quibi is gone, you’re in luck: the entire series is available on Tubi.

9) Roswell

This suggestion might be a bit of a stretch, since Roswell, New Mexico already gave the story a fresh start in 2019, but the original Roswell still feels like it deserves another reboot. The initial series centered on three aliens disguised as high school students in New Mexico. It was based on the Roswell High book series by Melinda Metz and aired for three seasons on The WB. While the 2019 reboot focused on adult characters, returning to the teenage focus of the original story would likely be more successful, particularly since there isn’t much content aimed at that age group on television right now.

8) Awake

Awake was a truly excellent show that critics loved, but unfortunately didn’t find a large audience. It aired on NBC for only one season in 2012-and even had its first episode released on Hulu two weeks before it premiered on television-and stars Jason Isaacs as Michael Britten, a police detective dealing with a family tragedy. After a terrible car accident, Michael begins to alternate between two different realities whenever he falls asleep. In one reality, his wife dies. In the other, his son. He can’t figure out which reality is the real one, so he starts using information from each reality to help solve crimes and, more importantly, to discover which world is actually true. It’s a really compelling idea, and though the show had a good ending, it deserves a revival-especially if Jason Isaacs could reprise his role.

7) Revolution

I recently revisited Revolution, the post-apocalyptic sci-fi show that originally aired on NBC for two seasons. It’s set in 2027, fifteen years after a complete and permanent global electrical blackout – and it’s surprisingly complex. The show really digs into what life would *look* like if we suddenly lost all electricity, focusing on the pure survival aspect. But it’s not just about that. There’s a strong political thread running through it, showing how society breaks down and new power structures emerge. They also cleverly weave in family drama, tying it all together. And, of course, there’s the central mystery: what *caused* the blackout, and the hint that it might not be irreversible. Considering how much technology has changed since the show first came out in 2012, I think a full reboot with an updated explanation for the blackout would be incredibly compelling. It’s a premise ripe for a fresh take.

6) V

In 2009, V sparked debate about whether it was a reimagining or a cheat, as it was already a reboot of a well-known miniseries from the 1980s. The show centered around the arrival of the Visitors, aliens who seemed friendly and offered humans amazing technology and healthcare. However, a group of people quickly realized the Visitors had hidden, sinister plans – they were actually there to take over Earth. Inspired by real-life conspiracy theories and acting as a warning about fascism, V is a sci-fi staple. Considering how much social media and false information are around today, a new version of this show would be particularly relevant, and honestly, who doesn’t enjoy a good alien invasion story?

5) Almost Human

Almost Human didn’t really get a fair shot. It aired for just one season on Fox in 2013, and the network made some crucial mistakes from the start, most notably airing the episodes in the wrong order. Although each episode had its own separate story, the relationships between the characters were ongoing, and scrambling the order hurt the show significantly. The series centered on John Kennex (Karl Urban), a detective who teams up with a highly advanced android named Dorian (Michael Ealy). Kennex is hesitant at first, but he and Dorian eventually form a genuine friendship. The show deserves to be shown in the correct sequence, and a continuation would allow it to resolve the many unanswered questions left after its cancellation.

4) Jericho

Jericho holds a unique spot in TV history. The show first aired on CBS in 2006 and followed the people of Jericho, Kansas, a made-up town, right after nuclear attacks hit 23 cities across the US. With the town cut off from the outside world, its residents had to adjust to a drastically changed reality, unite to survive, and deal with unexpected dangers from both strangers and within their own community. It offered a believable look at how a disaster affects people and quickly gained a dedicated following. When CBS cancelled the show after only one season, fans responded by sending the network a huge amount of peanuts (a nod to a famous line from the show), which surprisingly led to the series being renewed. The second season focused more on political issues and ended with the country on the verge of another civil war before being cancelled again. Now, almost 20 years later, Jericho is a perfect candidate for a complete revival, particularly if it thoroughly examines the political and social consequences of such a catastrophic event.

3) FlashForward

In FlashFoward, a strange occurrence causes nearly everyone on Earth to lose consciousness for two minutes and seventeen seconds on October 6, 2009. While blacked out, people have visions of their lives six months later, on April 29, 2010. An FBI team unites to investigate the cause of this blackout, understand the meaning of these “flash-forwards,” and, most urgently, determine if it will happen again. The show is incredibly intriguing and boasts a complex premise, but sadly, it only ran for one season on ABC in 2009. It ended on a huge cliffhanger when a subsequent blackout sends people experiencing flash-forwards decades into the future, on various dates. The central mystery was just beginning to unfold when the show was cancelled, making it ripe for a complete reboot. There’s a wealth of material to work with-the series is adapted from the novel of the same name by Robert J. Sawyer.

2) Firefly

No list of influential sci-fi shows would be complete without Firefly. It’s often mentioned as a series that ended too soon, lasting only one season in 2002. Fox cancelled it after just 11 of its 14 episodes were shown. Though a follow-up movie, Serenity, was released in 2005 to resolve some storylines, fans have been hoping for a second season for 23 years. Considering the time that’s passed, a complete reimagining is now more probable. However, given the show’s enduring popularity and the current trend of nostalgia in entertainment, Firefly stands out as a great sci-fi series to revive, allowing us to once again explore the universe with the crew of the spaceship Serenity.

1) The OA

Often praised as a stunning blend of science fiction and the supernatural, The OA only lasted for two seasons before Netflix cancelled it in 2019. Even though six years have passed, fans are still actively hoping for it to be brought back. The OA centers around Prairie Johnson (played by Brit Marling), a young woman who returns after being missing for seven years. Surprisingly, she can now see, despite being blind when she vanished, and refers to herself as “the OA.” The show features a complicated and unpredictable storyline, and the second season concluded with a shocking cliffhanger – the characters seemingly entered the actual world while filming a television program. It was both incredibly creative and strange, and the ending has never been explained.

For years, viewers have wondered about the meaning of the show’s finale and have eagerly asked for more – and they aren’t the only ones. The people who made the series, including its stars, also want to continue the story. Co-creator Zat Batmanglij has shared that Netflix suggested finishing the story with a movie, but they turned it down, as they had plans for three additional seasons. If any science fiction show deserves another chance, it’s this one. The OA really needs a revival so the full story, as originally intended across those three seasons, can finally be told.

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2025-10-04 23:15