The landscape of television has changed dramatically over the past decade. With the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, and the introduction of “prestige” shows, there’s nerve been a better time to watch TV. One of the biggest changes in the last ten years is the rise of genre television with smash hits like Game of Thrones and The Handmaid’s Tale taking viewers on entertaining and inventive rides through new worlds.
In terms of genre, though, the 2010s produced some of the best science fiction shows in recent memory. With the major changes in how television is produced, sci-fi plots were able to become more expansive and ambitious. Don’t know where to start in this sea of shows? Here are the five best sci-fi series of the last decade.
Orphan Black
A science-fiction thriller hailing from Canada, Orphan Black follows Sarah Manning, a well-meaning con artist, who assumes her doppelganger's life only to find out that she was one of many identical clones of herself. Over five seasons, Orphan Black reveals answers about Sarah's past and the lives of her clones, who become key characters as the show progresses. The series explores the ethics of cloning, as well as the emotional toll being a clone, could take on a person's identity. If Orphan Black's premise isn't enough to warrant a watch, do it for lead Tatiana Maslany's Emmy-winning performance as Sarah and her clones.
Doctor Who
While it's true that this British mainstay of science fiction has been around since the 1960s, we're talking about the reboot of the series that began in 2005 and continues today. Doctor Who follows the titular Doctor, an extraterrestrial Time Lord who travels through time and space via a blue police box lovingly called the TARDIS with companions he picks up along the way. The show is known for its deep lore and deep imagination, creating characters like the Daleks and Cybermen. 2010 marked a major shift for Doctor Who, with the departure of David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and the arrival of Matt Smith as the Eleventh. Smith's turn at the famous Doctor was praised, as were Amy and Rory Pond, his newest companions. The series began to take a more personal stance in its storytelling, while still managing to give the charm fans expected from this science fiction institution.
Black Mirror
Netflix really started to take off as a streaming service in the 2010s thanks to the inclusion of science fiction shows like Stranger Things, but it's a beloved anthology series that lands a spot on this list. Black Mirror is a British series with standalone episodes focused on the good and bad that comes with advancing technology. Inspired by classic The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror is science fiction at its finest — using plotlines and speculative fiction to comment on our ever-changing world. Some of the series' most memorable episodes like "San Junipero" and "USS Callister" have garnered critical praise, including three consecutive Emmys.
The OA
This short-lived Netflix series may be the platform's best-kept secret. Premiering in 2016 and lasting only two seasons, The OA begins as a mystery drama about a young woman resurfacing after disappearing for years, and avalanches into a fantastical science fiction odyssey about human connection and existentialism. The series follows Prairie Johnson (played by the series' co-creator Brit Marling,) who now calls herself the OA after her seven-year disappearance. Besides the name change, Prairie was blind before she went missing and can now see. Instead of telling her parents or the FBI her story, she enlists the help of four high school students and one of their teachers to open a portal and save those still missing.
One of the best aspects of The OA lies in its unapologetic storytelling. The plot itself is deeply formed and refuses to spell out the answers for viewers, which can alienate some but feels refreshing to others. According to Marling and co-creator Zal Batmanglij, The OA was envisioned with five parts but was canceled after its second. Fans were crushed by the decision and still hope to one day see the end of the story.
Westworld
Our final entry blends science fiction and classic Westerns. Based on the 1973 film of the same name and released on HBO in 2016, Westworld takes place in the not-so-distant future at an amusement park populated with "hosts," human-like androids that cannot retaliate against human guests — no matter what they put them through. When the hosts start to question their roles, the park and its workers begin to unravel as they question essential parts of a person's life. The series has breathtaking cinematography and is full of amazing performances from actors like What If...?'s Jeffrey Wright.