At its best, science fiction television is some of the most imaginative, original, and freshly entertaining that the medium can possibly be. Perfectly suited for grand stories of space exploration, technological advancement, and parallel cyber-realities, sci-fi is ideal for bingeworthy TV content. On occasion, however, these shows can also be remarkably intense. Full ofnail-biting suspense, emotionally riveting moments, and even a bit of terror here and there, the most intense sci-fi shows are among the greatest ever made.
From contemporary successes likeStranger Thingsto well-defined cult classics likeBattlestar Galactica, intense science fiction TV series are the most engaging out there. Whether they find their intensity through pure tension, eliciting strong emotional reactions, or offering high-stakes action sequences, they never fail to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
10’Stranger Things' (2016–2025)
Created by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer
One ofNetflix’s most groundbreaking shows, theDuffer brothers’Stranger Thingsis a chilling, thrilling,enthralling tribute to ’70s and ’80s pop culture, from movies to music and television. It’s no walk in the park, though. In fact, despite being about a group of young friends à laE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, it’s often overwhelmingly intense.
Whether it’s the horror caused by the Demogorgon or Vecna; the suspense of never knowing whether one’s favorite character is safe; or the the fast-paced action scenes in the show’s most pivotal episodes,Stranger Thingsnever fails to keep the viewer’s eyes entirely fixed on the screen all throughout each season.
Stranger Things
9’Person of Interest' (2011–2016)
Created by Jonathan Nolan
Created byJonathan Nolan,Christopher Nolan’s younger brother and common collaborator,Person of Interestwas considered by many critics throughout its run the single greatest sci-fi show on broadcast television during the time of its airing. It has aged like fine wine, even if it doesn’t always get the praise it deserves nowadays.
With some of the most riveting storylines of the genre and some ofthe best TV seasons in history, each new one getting more fun and more intense than the last,Person of Interestisthe rare kind of show that only keeps getting better as it goes on. There are plenty of dark moments and character arcs, adding an awful lot to the series' staying power.
Person of Interest
8’Lost' (2004–2010)
Created by J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber, and Damon Lindelof
Throughout its entire run—and even up to its controversial finale—,Lostremained one of the most important and talked-about cultural phenomena that the small screen was home to during the 2000s. Intelligently (and sometimes quite wildly) mixing elements from several genres, from sci-fi to fantasy to survival drama,it was a series that never got boring, even when it got a bit too out-therefor its own sake.
To this day,Loststill has some of the best performances, the best music, the most jaw-dropping twists, and the most engaging characters in the history of broadcast television. With subverted expectation after subverted expectation, as well as plenty of scary moments and more than a few shocking character deaths, the show is nothing if not nail-bitingly intense.
7’Battlestar Galactica' (2004–2009)
Developed by Ronald D. Moore
TheBattlestar Galacticafranchise was born with the original 1978 television series, and it quickly expanded into several other media, from novels to games. It was then reimagined into a three-hour miniseries released in 2003 (one ofthe best sci-fi miniseries ever made), which was followed by a 2004 show that ran for four magnificent seasons.
It’s this modern version of the show thatBattlestar Galacticais best-remembered for, and for plenty of great reasons. It’s simply that good. There are also some pretty intense scenes, from suspenseful action scenes to some pretty dark themes and storylines, something not very often seen in television space operas.Battlestaris all the better thanks to its willingness to go in gloomier directions than most series in its genre ever approach.
Battlestar Galactica
6’Orphan Black' (2013–2017)
Created by John Fawcett and Graeme Manson
The Canadian biopunk thrillerOrphan Blackis filled to the brim with exceptional individual episodes, but it’s when taken as a greater whole that it can reasonably be called one of the best sci-fi TV series of the 2010s. Raising plenty of interesting moral and ethical questions on the topic of cloning and identity, it soon gained a strong cult following that still vouches for its quality to this day.
Tatiana Maslany, who’s given the titanic task of playing several different characters, delivers one of the greatest performances (or several, to be more precise) that the genre has seen in years. ButOrphan Black’s true strengthcomes from how impossible its intensity makes it to stop watchingepisode after episode. This often implies a gritty, disturbing tone and a complex story that audiences are given incentive to try and decipher through some pretty potent scenes. It’s never not a rush.
Orphan Black
5’The Leftovers' (2014–2017)
Created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta
Since pretty close to its inception, HBO has been the king of prestige television. This means that they created some of the greatest shows of the 2010s,which include the gut-wrenching and pitch-black dramaThe Leftovers. Although its sci-fi elements are much more toward the lighter side, to the point that some might argue it’s hard to count it as a sci-fi show, they’re nevertheless present enough for it to easily be considered one of the most intense inallof its genres.
Though it’s so enthralling that it’s remarkablyeasy to binge the whole thing in just a week,The Leftoversis still incredibly intense. It’s not exactly frightening, but the emotional reactions it causes and the deeply thought-provoking themes it deals with make it the kind of series that stays with you for weeks on end after you watch the finale. It’s tough to get through, but oh so worth it.
The Leftovers
4’Watchmen' (2019)
Created by Damon Lindelof
The comic book limited seriesWatchmen, by writerAlan Moore, artistDave Gibbons, and coloristJohn Higgins, is one of the most groundbreaking, important, and influential graphic novels in the history of the medium. As such, it deserves adaptations that are just as great. The recent HBO miniseries adaptation,though controversial, can definitely be argued to fit the bill.
Amust-watch sci-fi miniseries,Watchmenis a richly layered and delightfully complex expansion to the themes and style of the source material. It’s also incredibly intense all across the board. From the nuanced sociopolitical and cultural themes, to the labyrinthine narrative structure, to the powerful action scenes, it’s a miniseries that never lets your heart rate slow down.
3’Severance' (2022–)
Created by Dan Erickson
One of the most culturally relevant TV shows currently airing or streaming, Apple TV+‘sSeveranceis sci-fi mystery atits most enthralling, its most puzzling, its most delightfully absurd, and its most creative. It’s incredibly funny when it gets the chance, but also expertly serious in dealing with its themes, story, and character arcs, all of which tend to get pretty intense.
Thanks to the surrealistic sense of humor, the terrific music, thevisually-stunning cinematography, and the incredible performances, the intensity is made quite digestible—but not any weaker as a result. When it’s not making the audience laugh in exquisite confusion or start theorizing on the story’s countless mysteries,Severancehas them biting their nails in suspense or holding their breath for what twist is around the corner. It’s quite a heart-racing viewing experience.
2’Westworld’ (2016–2022)
Created by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan
Another one of HBO’s modern sci-fi masterpieces,Westworldis a futuristic dystopian Western based on the 1973 film of the same title written and directed byMichael Crichton, author of theJurassic Parknovel. Although fans tend to agree that the show kept getting weaker as it progressed, it’s nevertheless must-see sci-fi entertainment for fans of the genre who can’t get enough of it.
That’s not to say thatWestworldis an easy—let alone a feel-good—show.Quite the contrary, in fact. It’s one of themost disturbing sci-fi shows in history, unflinching in its exploration of complicated themes, profoundly unsettling storylines, and dark character arcs. It’s an enrapturing TV series, but definitely not one that lets the audience off the hook easily.
1’Dark' (2017–2020)
Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese
It’s pretty hard to argue against the statement that Netflix’sDarkis the most iconic and most mainstream German TV show in history. It’s no coincidence, however, thatit’s also one of the most bizarre and mind-bending TV shows in history. One of themost unpredictable crime shows ever made, it’s a brain-melting time travel series that’s worth every last bit of effort put into interpreting it.
However, it’s not just the challenge of keeping track of every character and plot point that makesDarkthe most intense science fiction TV series in history. It’s also the gloomy tone, the complicated themes, and the fact that every episode is one thrilling, suspenseful scene after the other. There’s barely any room to breathe—but, quite frankly, that’s just the way its fans like it. For people who like sci-fi shows that are guaranteed to give them whiplash,Darkis an obligatory watch.
