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10. Salvage Marines (PopcornFlix/Crackle)

This series takes place in a grim future where mega-corporations have control of much of the known galaxy and most people find themselves in a status of debt servitude. When factory laborer Sam Hyst learns that his wife is pregnant, he decides to join the Salvage Marines in order to pay off his family’s debt and make a better life for his son. This specialized group of foot soldiers is tasked with recovering “salvage” that the company deems to be profitable. But life is hazardous and often short for those who sign up for that service.

A word of warning going on this one: it does not have the mega-dollar production values we see with many streaming originals these days.  It is done on a budget and that shows, but if you can handle stilted acting and cheesy special effects, this delivers a decent military sci fi entry with a bit of social commentary as well.  This show is based on the Necrospace series of books by Sean-Michael Argo, and the first season wraps up its storyline pretty well so it won’t leave you hanging if the show does not continue (no word on a second season yet).  And it is a quick watch at only six episodes, so it is worth your time.  You can read more about the show at this link.

9. The Peripheral (Prime Video)

In the near future, a young woman who is an expert VR gamer tests out a new virtual interface and finds her consciousness transported to a post-apocalyptic future.  Once there, she finds herself involved in a power struggle that also affects her family in the past, and she must decide who she can trust in both realities.

This series is based on the William Gibson novel of the same name and it comes to us from Christopher Nolan and Lisa Joy who also bent our minds for four years with HBO’s Westworld.  The Peripheral does follow their pattern of dense storytelling with plenty of twists and turns, and that may not appeal to all viewers.  But the show explores some pretty interesting sci fi concepts, and it has a good cast along with a Prime Video mega-budget to bring it to life.  I’m not ready to call this one a great sci fi series just yet, but it is intriguing and unique enough to make it worth checking out.

Weekly LIstings: See the current schedule of sci fi and fantasy shows

8. Undone (Prime Video)

After a traumatic accident, a woman starts seeing her deceased father and finds herself unstuck in time.  As she comes to believe her visions are real, he works with her to solve the mystery of his death and also to bring their family back together.

The second season of this roto-scoped animated series arrived this year, and it is worth going back to re-watch the entire time-bending series (sixteen 30-minute eps make it a quick watch).  The first season seems to drift between paranormal and science fiction while also taking some trippy twists and turns.  But by the second season, it moves more heavily into sci fi territory.  The angsty, family drama may get a bit thick at times, but if you stick with it you will find that this one delivers a gem of a genre entry.  It wraps up its story at the end of the second season, so it won’t leave you hanging.  But if more seasons follow, I am definitely along for the ride.  Read more about the series at this link.

7. Pantheon (AMC+)

A bullied teenager starts receiving strange messages online, and she discovers that they are from her father who died two years ago but had his intelligence uploaded.  She seeks the help of others to gain custody of his U.I. (Uploaded Intelligence) but discovers that the company that possesses it has other plans for the U.I. and the technology that made it happen.

This Anime series gets off to a slow start, but after its second or third episode it really picks up steam and ends up delivering a pretty epic tale.  Based on The Apocalypse Triptych series of stories by Ken Liu, it delivers an interesting bit of hard sci fi with a dose of cyberpunk that poses some challenging questions on mortality as well as how far we should go with our technology.  And while you might think that it will veer into angsty teen drama based on the early episodes, the show heads in a different direction as it takes a roller coaster ride through an intriguing cyberverse while remaining grounded in reality throughout.  A second season of this show is in the works (as long as AMC+ does not pull the plug like it did with Moonhaven, see below), and it has definitely set up an interesting universe to continue its story.  You can read more about the series at this link.

Keep up with the latest news and updates with Johnny Jay’s Sci Fi TV Week in Review posts

6. Quantum Leap (NBC)

This revival of the classic ’90s TV series takes place in the present and follows a team that has been studying the work of Samuel Beckett and trying to figure out if they can bring him home. However, lead scientist Dr. Ben Song makes an unauthorized jump ahead of schedule and finds himself in the same predicament that Beckett was in, leaping into the bodies of people he knows nothing about. Ben’s fiance Addison Augustine acts as his liaison to the present, though he does not remember their relationship because the jump has affected his memory. The team also discovers that Ben had been carrying on research they were unaware of and that his jumps are following a pattern.

Reboots and revivals are all the rage these days, and this show is a rare example of where that works out pretty well.  It continues from the original with a new cast while also paying homage to the show that has since been recognized as a sci fi classic.  It has an episodic format that focuses on the jump-of-the-week while also building an ongoing story arc focusing on the mystery of why Ben jumped ahead of schedule.  And it cuts back on the cringe-worthy moments of the original where Sam awkwardly tried to learn about the body he had leaped into.  So far the show has done a good job of revitalizing the basic premise of the parent series, and it has been renewed for a second season.  If it continues on its current path, perhaps it will count as a classic on its own someday.  Read more about the show at this link.

5. Severance (Apple TV+)

This corporate dystopia follows a group of people working at Lumon Industries who have agreed to undergo the “severance” procedure which separates their work consciousness (their “innies”) from their non-work consciousness (their “outies”).  The main focus is on the Macrodata Refinement group which consists of four people: Mark Scout, Dylan George, Irving Bailiff, and newcomer Helly Riggs.  Their job tasks seem rather mundane and they are rewarded with various perks like finger traps, coffee mugs, and the ultimate prize, a waffle party.  But as Helly rejects this corporate existence, they start to uncover the darker side of their reality.

The show takes some stabs at corporate America and offers some subtle satire with the mundane work environment and the overly pleasant management guiding the worker bees almost like children.  But it also ventures into some Prisoner-esque territory with the main characters starting to question their leaders as well as the reality they seem to live in.  And the show goes into some pretty dark territory pretty quickly.  It also delivers a lot of twists and turns in its first season, and it is shaping up to tell a hell of a good story.  It has been renewed for a second season, and I consider this a must-watch for sci fi fans.  Read more about the show at this link.

Cancellation Watch: Keep up with the Cancellation/Renewal status of the current sci fi TV shows

4. The Orville: New Horizons (Hulu/Disney+)

The story of the crew of The Orville continues in this show’s third season as the implications of the war with the Kaylons are felt throughout the known galaxy and new alliances emerge that will shape the future of the Planetary Union.

The third season of this show arrived on Hulu this past Summer (after shifting over from FOX) with very little promotion, and it did not seem to get much attention after an extended hiatus (the second season wrapped up in April 2019).  But it is worth jumping back onboard because this show delivered some of its best moments in its third year.  It has veered away from the more comedic tone of the first two seasons as it ventures into epic sci fi with a streaming original budget.  But it still has the same heart that hearkens back to the Star Trek: TNG days, and its stories can pack a punch when at their best.  The episodes did seem to get a bit bloated at times (several went well over an hour in length), but it is worth the investment of time, and hopefully more seasons (or movies) will be forthcoming from this franchise.

3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)

The U.S.S. Enterprise sets out on its mission to boldly explore strange new worlds, but this time with Captain Christopher Pike, Number One, and Mr. Spock leading the crew.  This series is a prequel to Star Trek: TOS and includes characters that were introduced in Star Trek: Discovery.

The newer Star Trek shows which have been streaming on CBS All Access/Paramount+ have been a mixed bag so far with Discovery and Picard often succumbing to their excesses while the animated Lower Decks has been a fun trip back to the TNG days.  Strange New Worlds has tried to bridge the gap between old and new among the live-action shows, and it did a decent job in its first season.  It went back to the mostly-episodic format and it drew heavily on Trek lore, but it does still bring in some of the excessive action and CGI overload of the newer shows.  Still, it has a good cast and a healthy respect for a franchise which has this show off to a good start, and it should appeal to Trek fans old and new.

2. Moonhaven (AMC+)

This show takes place 100 years in the future when civilization on Earth is on the verge of collapse.
A utopian community had been established on the Moon years prior to that called Moonhaven, and its goal was to develop the technology and cultural changes to revive the Earth.  But as they are set to make their historic trip to the planet, a murder occurs and the fate of the mission is put in jeopardy.

This is one of the most unique genre entries I have seen on television in sometime, and it should be receiving more attention from the sci fi community.  With an excellent cast, it delves into some interesting science fiction concepts–delivering a nice twist on utopian/dystopian tropes–while bringing a breath of fresh air to the genre.  It does get off to a rather slow and confusing start, but stick with this one for a couple episodes because it does pay off.  Sadly, AMC+ reversed the Season 2 renewal for the show amidst shakeups at AMC networks, so its future is uncertain.  But if the sci fi community can rally behind this one, it could possibly continue on a new venue.  Read more about the show at this link.

1. The Man Who Fell to Earth (Showtime)

This series acts as a sequel to the 1976 film of the same name, taking place nearly forty years after the events of that film which followed an alien coming to Earth to utilize the resources of our planet to help his own.  In the series, an alien taking the name of Faraday comes to present-day Earth hoping to complete the mission of his predecessor who took the name Thomas Newton.  Faraday contacts former physicist Justin Hall looking for her help in completing Newton’s efforts to create a powerful energy source that would make it possible to transport water back to their home planet where it is desperately needed.  But there were reasons that Newton never completed his mission and now Faraday is running into the same obstacles.

The Man Who Fell to Earth delivers an old-style, slow sci fi story that is thoughtful and explores some interesting concepts, and it also has a great deal of respect for its source material.  Add to that a spot-on cast, and you have a nearly perfect genre show that wraps up its story in one season.  Interestingly, the show was co-created and co-written by Alex Kurtzman, the man that many blame for the excesses of the newer Trek shows and their divergence from the franchise’s prior direction.  With The Man Who Fell to Earth, he managed to deliver the good sci fi many were hoping for from Discovery and Picard, so perhaps he works best outside of the constraints of a corporate-controlled franchise.  The Showtime series was cancelled after one season, but it resolved most of its main storylines.  Whether the characters will return on a different venue at some point is uncertain.  But this show is definitely must-watch sci fi TV and you can read more about it at this link.

There are even more sci fi show worth mentioning, not all of which I have gotten around to watching yet.  Disney+’s Andor has been getting some good buzz (assuming you consider that science fiction and not science fantasy), the time-bending series Kindred just got started on Hulu, Netflix’s Anime Exception looks interesting as well.  Chime in below with your thoughts on the shows I have recommended above, and feel free to make your own suggestions as well.

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What Is It?

A bullied teenager starts receiving strange messages online, and she discovers that they are from her father who died two years ago but had his intelligence uploaded.  She seeks the help of others to gain custody of his U.I. (Uploaded Intelligence) but discovers that the company that possesses it has other plans for the U.I. and the technology that made it happen.

Starring: Katie Chang, Paul Dano, Aaron Eckhart, Rosemarie DeWitt, Chris Diamantopoulos, Daniel Dae Kim, Ron Livingston

Created By: Craig Silverstein

Bottom Line: This series delivers an interesting bit of hard sci fi with a dose of cyberpunk that poses some challenging questions on mortality as well as how far we should go with our technology.

Why Is It Worth Watching?

Epic sci fi and fantasy has become all the rage these days on the streaming services with tons of money poured into productions like Stranger Things, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Sandman, The Boys, Foundation, Andor, and more.  Not all the streamers have that amount of money to throw at their originals, but that doesn’t mean that a good story might not be lurking around there on the second-tier services that could verge into epic territory as well.  AMC+’s Pantheon–which is based on the series of stories The Apocalypse Triptych by Ken Liu–goes the Anime route in order to keep costs manageable, but it still tells a story with a pretty grand scope while also presenting some challenging questions on mortality and technology run amok.

This one gets off to a slow start, and I am going to recommend that you give it some leeway and stick around through at least the second episode in case you waiver on the premiere.  It starts out in typical Anime fashion with a young girl having troubles at school and at home and finding herself captivated by strange messages she receives online.  You might think that it will veer into angsty teen drama or cringe-worthy encounters with a cyber-stalker, but this show starts taking some twists and turns early on as it takes a roller coaster ride through an intriguing cyberverse while remaining grounded in reality throughout.

As the story progresses, so does the scope of the narrative as it tackles some pretty grand concepts amidst battles between corporations, governments, and cyber-beings with immortality as the ultimate stake.  It does cover some familiar territory by throwing in unscrupulous companies and overeager antagonists along with some copy-and-paste dialog, but it never feels like a retread as there is enough unique about the show to allow it to overcome its swipes from the genre.  And the first season builds to a pretty epic conclusion that rivals anything the big-budget streaming originals have delivered so far.

The show does wrap up many of its storylines, but still has plenty more packed away that could cover multiple additional seasons.  Whether we will get more of this one, though, remains to be seen.  AMC+ just back-tracked its renewal of the well-received Moonhaven amidst shakeups across AMC Networks.  Pantheon did not receive much promotion and has not stirred up much buzz even though it has been well-received by critics.  For fans looking for full-on science fiction, this certainly fits the bill.  And those looking for some epic sci fi will not be disappointed either.  It may not have the money or promotion that the top streamers can afford, but Pantheon is certainly a genre entry worth checking out.

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What Is It?

The Man Who Fell to Earth acts as a sequel to the 1976 film of the same name, taking place nearly forty years after the events of that film which followed an alien coming to Earth to utilize the resources of our planet to help his own.  In the series, an alien taking the name of Faraday comes to present-day Earth hoping to complete the mission of his predecessor who took the name Thomas Newton.  Faraday contacts former physicist Justin Hall looking for her help in completing Newton’s efforts to create a powerful energy source that would make it possible to transport water back to their home planet where it is desperately needed.  But there were reasons that Newton never completed his mission and now Faraday is running into the same obstacles.

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Naomie Harris, Clarke Peters, Bill Nighy, Jimmi Simpson, Kate Mulgrew

Created By: Jenny Lumet, Alex Kurtzman (based on the book by Walter Tevis

Bottom Line: This is a thoughtful series with some interesting concepts and characters and a spot-on cast and it respects its source material while telling a good science fiction story in its one season.

Why Is It Worth Watching?

There are far too many reboots, revivals, and remakes out there these days trying to capitalize on the name recognition of a known property, all the while proving that the entertainment industry has lost its ability to capitalize on new concepts and original ideas.  But there are a few movies and TV shows worth revisiting showing that revivals can work from time to time.  The Man Who Fell to Earth is a cult sci fi classic which had David Bowie in the lead role, and I only vaguely remembered watching it years back on cable in the ’80s.  I seemed to recall that it was a retro-70s sci fi film that could really get kind of freaky at times, and when I recently rewatched the movie, it lived up to pretty much exactly to how I remembered it.

It might seem like an odd selection for a reboot/revival seeing as it never counted as a huge hit, but apparently Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumett believed it had some potential to attract a modern-day audience or they were just huge fans and really wanted to revisit the property.  Kurtzman has become notorious of late among sci fi fans for his work on the Star Trek TV shows which has involved large amounts of action and special effects and which have diverged from the spirit of the franchise’s past.  And yet The Man Who Fell to Earth is an intelligent and thoughtful series with interesting sci fi concepts and a story that respects the original film while also finding the potential to carry it into an ongoing tale.  He and Lumet contributed to the writing of all the episodes and the show hearkens back much more to his work on Fringe with little of the excesses we have seen from the recent Trek entries.  The Man Who Fell to Earth does drag at times and it might have delivered a tighter story with a couple of less episodes, but for the most part it is engaging throughout and delivers an excellent example of sci fi TV.

Of course, the cast is key to that with Chiwetel Ejiofor delivering an Emmy-deserving performance as Faraday.  He provides a nuanced and engaging portrayal of an alien who has little understanding of Earth and its people but who slowly adapts and learns how to deal with his surroundings.  Naomie Harris offers a good counterbalance to Ejiofor’s Faraday, but it would have been nice if they gave her more to do than just object to everything going on all the time (count that as a nitpick, though).  Bill Nighy does an excellent job of stepping into Bowie’s shoes as the elderly Thomas Newton, I just wish he had more screen time.  And the entire cast–including Westworld‘s Jimmi Simpson and Star Trek: Voyager‘s Kate Mulgrew–steps up in this production to help take this show to the next level, and I believe it will eventually become a cult classic on its own.

Sadly, The Man Who Fell to Earth was cancelled by Showtime after only one season.  The network did not do a good job of promoting it and apparently the property did not have enough nostalgia value to draw an audience on its own.  But it did wrap up its storylines so as not to leave the audience on a cliffhanger.  There was definitely more story to explore, but the one season ends on a satisfying note and is definitely worth checking out.  It is available for streaming on Showtime’s website and app and will likely have encore runs on the cable channel as well.

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What Is It?

Salvage Marines takes place in a grim future where mega-corporations have control of much of the known galaxy and most people find themselves in a status of debt servitude. When factory laborer Sam Hyst learns that his wife is pregnant, he decides to join the Salvage Marines in order to pay off his family’s debt and make a better life for his son. This specialized group of foot soldiers is tasked with recovering “salvage” that the company deems to be profitable. But life is hazardous and often short for those who sign up for that service.

Starring: Casper Van Dien, Armand Assante, Jennifer Wenger, Kevin Porter, Linara Washington, Peter Shinkoda

Created By: Rafael Jordan, Jamie R. Thompson (Based on the book Necrospace by
Sean-Michael Argo)

Bottom Line: While this show is definitely quite cheesy, it is driven by a good story and well-assembled cast and overcomes its limitations to deliver a decent military sci fi tale.

Why Is It Worth Watching?

Before addressing the strengths of this series, I will level-set and warn that it is certainly a cheesy affair, so set expectations appropriately before venturing forth. It does not have that mega-budget that Netflix and many of the other streamers throw at their originals, and that is apparent right from the start. The CGI looks like retro-Babylon 5 effects when at its best (which is fine for me since I am a huge B5 fan) and bad video game renderings at its worst (the trailer above gives a good idea of what to expect). The acting can vacillate from downright wooden to camp excess at times. The dialog has its share of copy-and-paste as well as just outright bad lines, and the directing can be choppy and stiff. Basically, much of what you would expect from a B-grade sci fi movie or series. (I grew up with films and shows like that, so my tolerance level is high.)

But if you stick with the show, it proves that it has a decent story to tell, an interesting universe, and characters that will quickly grow on you. It pulls in many of the expected military tropes, though it does not descend too far into cliche and manages to keep the viewers attached to the characters. The series focuses on Tango platoon of the Salvage Marines and shows the tough decisions they must make as well as the consequences that follow. Personaly, I consider it to be descended from the same stock as Space: Above and Beyond and fans of that ’90s entry will probably enjoy the newer show. Some may feel that it pushes a bit hard on the pro-union message, but I look at that more as anti-megacorp and I don’t believe that it takes the story too far into unnecessary socio-political commentary. And you have to expect some of that from the dystopia setting it delivers.

Casper Van Dien does a good job of leading the cast and I don’t understand why he got relegated to B and Z movies after starring in 1997’s Starship Troopers. But even though he is the main focus, this is very much an ensemble show with all of the cast pulling their weight. The first season only runs six episodes, so it is a quick watch. And it wraps up most of its storylines so it does not leave you hanging at the end. But there are six books in the Necrospace series, so there is more story to tell should this one continue into a second season and beyond. It is currently streaming for free on PopcornFlix and Crackle which are available on multiple platforms and directly on the internet. For fans of military sci fi, this is definitely one to check out. And anybody who likes a good, gritty dystopian tale should enjoy it as long as you can deal with the cheese factor.

Stream Salvage Marines on PopcornFlix

Stream Salvage Marines on Crackle

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What Is It?

Moonhaven takes place 100 years in the future when civilization on Earth is on the verge of collapse.
A utopian community had been established on the Moon years prior to that called Moonhaven to develop the technology and cultural changes to revive the Earth.  But as they are set to make their historic trip to the planet, a murder occurs and the fate of the mission is put in jeopardy.

Starring: Emma McDonald, Dominic Monaghan, Joe Manganiello, Amara Karan, Kadeem Hardison, Ayelet Zurer

Created By: Peter Ocko

Bottom Line: Moonhaven is a very unique series that blends some interesting science fiction concepts with an excellent cast and it is a breath of fresh air for the genre.

Why Is It Worth Watching:

With so many spaced-based shows, fantasy epics, and supernatural dramas out there in Peak TV, it is hard to find a genre entry that is truly unique.  And there are probably not too many venues willing to take the chance on something that diverges to far from expectations for a sci fi/fantasy show.  But AMC’s streaming arm AMC+ has given us Moonhaven which definitely stands out among genre entries.  It presents what at first looks like a utopian community on the Moon, a Garden of Eden of sorts separated from the ravaged Earth it is expected to one day rejuvenate.  But a murder is committed on Moonhaven, and as two unprepared “‘tectives” start investigating the crime along with the envoy that has arrived from Earth, a conspiracy starts to unfold revealing the dark side of this Lunar utopia.

The first episode of this show is a little tough to get through, as a lot of information is thrown at the viewers with little explanation and the show seems to veer into psychedelic weirdness.  But it settles down pretty quickly with the second episode, so be sure to stick it out.  And first impressions of characters will change as the show progresses, particularly with Dominic Monaghan’s Paul Serno and Kadeem Hardison’s Arlo who become central to the story (and you will find yourself routing for them) along with Emma McDonald’s Bella Sway.  It does have elements that may seem more fantasy than science fiction, so I wouldn’t count this as a hard sci fi show.  But it is still a good representation of the genre that travels its own path and you will find yourself invested in if you stick with it.

The first season consisted of six episodes, so it is a quick watch.  Sadly, AMC+ reversed its Season 2 renewal decision, though the show could get shopped to a different venue.   You can sign up for AMC+ for only $8.99 (more about that streamer at this link) and you can also check out the animated sci fi series Pantheon which just started.  Moonhaven is certainly worth a look, just give it an episode or two to pull you in.  (Rate this show and all the current sci fi can fantasy entries at this link.)

Stream Moonhaven on AMC+

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What Is It?

For All Mankind takes place in an alternate history where the Russians are the first to set a man on the Moon. That accomplishment sets off a cascade of changes to the course of the U.S. space program and the show follows the American astronauts as they attempt to match and even overtake the achievements of their rivals in the space race.

Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Wrenn Schmidt, Sarah Jones, Shantel VanSanten

Created By: Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, Ben Nedivi

Bottom Line: For All Mankind takes the history of the space race and turns it on its head while using that as means to look deeper into a country still struggling to create a society that values equality as much as accomplishment.

>Keep up with all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Sci Fi TV Schedule

Why Is It Worth Watching:

Not only does this series present an interesting look at how the space race could have progressed if the Russians had made it to the Moon first, but it also uses that pallet to dissect the American Zeitgeist and give us a window on ourselves. This is not the dark sci fi that co-creator Ronald D. Moore delivered with Battlestar: Galactica, as it still presents a hopeful look at the space program and its accomplishments. But it does offer a glimpse into the darker side of America at a time that it was still trying to overcome the outdated biases that have kept it from being a truly socially equitable country. And this goes beyond the standard sexist and racist views that were predominant during the eras that the show has covered. The astronauts have to fit the image of the All-American hero and their spouses have to play the role of the perfect partner. And something as simple as being gay (mostly a social anathema in those days and sadly still to an extent today) was seen as being a security threat. The pressures–both social and professional–placed on the astronauts and those that support them play a large part in the drama that unfolds throughout the first season.

But there is also a sense of triumph throughout the series as the Americans are driven to be better because of what the Russians have done. Not only does the U.S. Space Program catch up to its rival and make its own advancements in the space race, but we also see the attitudes of several of the characters change as they start to overcome their own biases and/or limited viewpoints (if only in small steps). All of this comes together with a spot-on cast and near-flawless production values to deliver a show that stands well above the average fare cranked out by Peak TV these days. For All Mankind does exactly what you want science fiction to do. It uses science and a believable scenario to set up an interesting story that also takes a deeper look into the human condition. The second season jumps to the early ’80s and drifts more into soap opera without as much of the underlying social commentary, but it still delivers plenty of poignant moments and the show has established itself as a strong example of sci fi television.

The first two seasons are currently available for streaming on Apple TV+, and the third season–which moves ahead to the ’90s with the race to Mars–premieres on June 10th.

Stream For All Mankind on Apple TV+

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What Is It?

After a traumatic accident, a woman starts seeing her deceased father and finds herself unstuck in time as he works with her to solve the mystery of his death.

Starring: Rosa Salazar, Bob Odenkirk, Angelique Cabral, Constance Marie

Created By: Greg Daniels

Bottom Line: This series delivers a genre-bending tale that challenges the mind and raises some interesting questions about living in the “real” world.

>Keep up with all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Sci Fi TV Schedule

Why Is It Worth Watching?

This odd and surrealistic animated series comes from BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg as well as series scribe Kate Purdy. Some may not count it as sci fi at all, but it uses scientific theories to carry its narrative and should certainly appeal to genre fans. Alma starts having visions and appears to be unstuck in time following a car accident, but those may only be the symptoms of her head trauma and/or related her family history of schizophrenia. The story raises those questions and more and ultimately leaves the answers up to the viewers as the first season comes to an end. Has Alma actually risen to another level of consciousness that allows her to do amazing things with her mind? Or is this all just a hallucination and should she take her meds to try and live a “normal” life? The series asks some pretty heady questions and uses its roto-scope animation creatively to bring the story to life. Throw in wonderful performances by Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel), Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul), and the rest of the cast and you have a unique and intriguing original that stands apart from the crowd.

Where Can You Watch It?

The first and second season total up to sixteen episodes and the show is available for streaming on Prime Video.  There is no word on a third season at this point, but it wraps up its storylines pretty well.

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What Is It?

In a near-future world, people can choose to have their minds uploaded to a virtual afterlife before they die and still interact with the human world once they have passed away. Nathan Brown makes the deathbed decision to upload himself into a glamorous afterlife known as Lake View, but then finds himself under the thumb of his still-living girlfriend (who is paying for his upload). This becomes a problem when Nathan starts to develop feelings for his “Angel”, a living customer service rep who interacts with those in the afterlife.

Starring: Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Allegra Edwards, Zainab Johnson, Kevin Bigley

Created By: Greg Daniels

Bottom Line: Upload delivers a fun little sci fi dramedy with an interesting premise and a cast well-tailored to their roles.

>Keep up with all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Sci Fi TV Schedule

Why Is It Worth Watching?

This series comes from Greg Daniels (Saturday Night Live, The Office, Parks and Recreation) and delivers a sitcom with  a delightful little bit of sci fi fun. The afterlife story is handled with the appropriate amount of satire (poking fun at the formerly rich “living” in Lake View), and the relationship story works in nicely without descending too far into angsty or soap-opera-like territory. The show actually covers quite a number of genres as it throws a murder mystery into the mix as well. But all of it combines together to make for an enjoyable bit of light viewing that still has a bite to it. Robbie Amell (cousin of Arrow star Stephen Amell and also a former Arrow-verse veteran himself) does a good job in the male lead role and Andy Allo holds her own while developing a nice chemistry with her co-lead.  And the show throws in a fair share of bit characters that amp up the fun as well.  Upload may not count as must-watch sci fi, but it offers a nice little distraction and delivers some laughs along the way.

Where Can You Watch It?

The first season, which consists of ten episodes, is available for streaming on Prime Video.  The second season is currently scheduled to be released on March 11th, so you have plenty of time to catch up before that arrives.

SciFiTVSite.com: Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and keep up with what is airing/streaming each week with our Weekly Listings.

CancelledSciFi.com: Keep up with the status updates of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Sci Fi TV Update posts. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site  for breaking news and updates.

The post Recommended Sci Fi TV: Upload appeared first on Sci Fi TV Site.

What Is It?

This epic fantasy series with a basis in history is set in Celtic England at the time that the Romans invaded the country. Roman commander Aulus Plautius leads an imperial force to take control of the British Isles but faces strong resistance from the Celtic tribes and the mysterious druids who support them.

Starring: David Morrisey, Annabel Scholey, Eleanor Worthington-Cox, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Mackenzie Crook

Created By: Jez Butterworth, Tom Butterworth

Bottom Line: This historical fantasy definitely strives for a Game of Thrones vibe, and actually succeeds to some extent, while delivering an epic tale populated with intriguing characters.

>Keep up with all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Sci Fi TV Schedule

Why Is It Worth Watching?

This overlooked series landed on Amazon in January 2018 and set out to deliver Game of Thrones in a Celtic setting.  And while it did not quite match up to that George R.R. Martin fantasy series in its first season, it definitely delivers an excellent example of fantasy on television. As with GoT, the story weaves through many different characters, giving us perspectives from both the Celtic and Roman sides of the conflict.   The Walking Dead‘s David Morrissey plays the Roman commander and he is surrounded by an excellent cast well cut for the epic tale they populate.  Particularly notable are Eleanor Worthington Cox as Cait and Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Divis who have a contentious relationship as they are forced together to fulfill the prophecy of saving their lands from Rome.  The first season focused on the attempts of the Celtic tribes to stand against Rome while fighting amongst themselves, while the second season focused more on the schism amongst the druids that threatens to allow Rome to secure its hold on the lands.  The third season is airing/streaming in the U.S. now (it already aired in Britain in Fall 2021).

The series is produced by Sky in Britain, and Amazon was onboard for the first season. But the streamer bowed out and the second season was produced exclusively by Sky. Epix has since joined with Sky as a partner on the show and it is now available on that channel’s website and streaming app (you can watch the first episode on the website for free). There is no word at this point on a fourth season, but the EPIX partnership could help keep the show going. Britannia is definitely worth a look for fantasy fans, and you know that you have at least three seasons available to watch with possibly more are on the way!

Where Can You Watch It?

The show is available to stream on EPIX, and new episodes for the third season are currently being released each Sunday on the linear channel then streaming the next day on the app.  The first and second season are also available for streaming on Amazon and episodes of the third season are releasing there weekly as well.

SciFiTVSite.com: Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and keep up with what is airing/streaming each week with our Weekly Listings.

CancelledSciFi.com: Keep up with the status updates of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Sci Fi TV Update posts. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site  for breaking news and updates.

The post Recommended Sci Fi/Fantasy TV: Britannia appeared first on Sci Fi TV Site.