With the television industry chugging ahead at full steam, sci-fi fans got to enjoy a wide range of quality shows this year. 2023’s sci-fi collection saw classic franchises return to the small screen, a video game adaptation that actually went well, and a fan-favorite book series finally adapted to live action.
The prevalence of sci-fi TV shows has benefitted from the recent streaming boom, and it appears that the genre’s popularity on the small screen will only continue to grow. Big-name studios no longer seem to fear spending huge sums of money on high-budget sci-fi productions. While 2023 certainly saw some duds in the sci-fi space, this list contains some of the year’s most interesting releases.
5Foundation (season 2)
As just one of the Apple TV shows on this list,Foundationseason 2learned from its season 1 missteps, featuring a more streamlined plot with improved pacing.Foundationseason 2 also spends much more time developing its characters and helping the viewer to understand their motives and backgrounds. Additionally, fans were happy to see the show pay more respect to the book series, as this year’s season delved deeper into the themes presented byFoundation’s author, Isaac Asimov.
Foundationis a sci-fi drama that follows the rise and fall of future civilizations. When the show begins, a mathematician makes a breakthrough discovery that allows him to predict the future through the use of scientific formulas. After realizing that humanity’s Galactic Empire is heading for an unavoidable cliff, he scrambles to organize rebuilding efforts in advance of his peoples' impending doom. Season 1 follows the Foundation’s birth, which is the name of this rebuilding organization. Season 2, meanwhile, follows the hardships and victories that the Foundation goes through as humanity’s collapse approaches.
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4Loki (season 2)
Season 1 ofLokiwas considered one of Marvel’s best small-screen creations. With a lot riding on its back, season 2 delivered. AlthoughLokiseason 2’s viewing numbersdidn’t match its predecessor, it provided fans with tons of multiverse action and interesting sci-fi concepts. Tom Hiddleston’s charismatic performance continued in this season, and his character’s relationship with Sylvie was explored in more depth.
Lokiseason 2 follows the titular hero, also known as the God of Mischief. In this season, Loki joins forces with the Time Variance Authority in an effort to track down his rogue variants across the multiverse.Sylvie, one of Loki’s variants, is featured heavily in season 2, as Loki tries to figure out whether she’s a friend or foe.
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3Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (season 2)
Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2 was another strong follow-up season in 2023. It knew that it had to come out firing to match its highly successful first season, and it delivered. The new season offered 10 exciting episodes that brought bold, unique takes to theStar Trekuniverse. Paying homage to the show’s classic format, each episode is a self-contained story, allowing the show to explore specific themes and genres with each episode. Season 2 introduces some new characters, but also further develops the first season’s cast, which consisted of familiar faces likeCaptain Pike, Spock, and other Enterprise crew members.
Season 2 ofStrange New Worldsseason 2 follows the crew of the starship Enterprise. Taking place a decade beforeStar Trek: The Original Series, the Enterprise’s crew go on various missions, explore new worlds, and journey across the galaxy as they strive to serve and protect its inhabitants.
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2Silo
Silooffers an intriguing premise that leaves both its characters and its viewers in aconstant pursuit for truth. Fans get to follow along as its cast of characters slowly unravel a world-changing (or rather, silo-changing) conspiracy. It successfully pulls off its slow-burn approach, thanks to excellent world building and acting. Based on a popular book series of the same name, fans were happy that the show paid respect to its source material.
Silotakes place hundreds of years after the Earth was rendered uninhabitable due to an unknowncataclysmic event. The only known survivors live in a massive, underground silo that houses about 10,000 people. Its society is segmented, with the silo’s Judicial branch holding significant power over information and daily life. When the show begins, some inhabitants are beginning to question the nature of the silo, and what actually lies outside. As these questions are posed, tensions begin to rise throughout the silo’s society, and its power holders attempt to maintain their control on the underground bunker.
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1The Last of Us
The Last of Ustook the TV world by storm when it premiered. The show made some risky decisions in regard to how it portrayed its source material, but those risks paid off big time. Video game adaptations almost always fail or are received poorly, whether on the small screen or big screen. This time around, thoguh, HBO nailed it. It’s pretty rare that a video game adaptation satisfies its original fan base while also being a hit with the general public. This is thanks toThe Last of Us' excellent source material and the show’s fantastic acting, directing, and writing.
The Last of Ustakes place 20 years after the Earth has been ravaged by azombie-like virus. Although small pockets of humanity are holding onto survival, the future looks bleak, until the discovery of a girl who is immune to the virus. Realizing that her genetic material may be the key to humanity reclaiming the Earth, action is quickly taken. Joel, a smuggler with a dark past, is tasked with escorting this girl across the United States, with the goal of reaching a group of scientists who are working on a cure.The Last of Usfollows the unlikely duo as they navigate across a post-apocalyptic wasteland filled with danger.
Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann
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