Sometimes you want some science fiction in your life but you don’t want to commit to some epic series with far-ranging plots you have to pay close attention to. And by the same token, you don’t want to invest in getting familiar with new characters if you’re never going to see them again after only two hours. I’ve got you covered with ten case-of-the-week sci-fi gems that have solid mysteries, great character dynamics and overarching mythologies that aren’t all that complicated. (Ok some of them get a little complicated, but you’ll thank me later.)
- X-Files- The O.G. of weird. Sure there were case-of-the-week science-fiction shows before X-Files, but this was the first to go mainstream and become a pop-culture phenomenon. The shows over-arching mythology is a little wonky and inconsistent but some of the individual episodes belong in the television hall of fame. Mulder and Scully are nerd icons, don’t you want to know why?
- Fringe- It’s easy to dismiss this as an X-Files clone, but it is so much more than that. The main difference is John Noble’s Dr. Walter Bishop; the maddest scientist ever to appear on television (yeah, you heard me Rick Sanchez). The first season is a bit muddled but when Fringe finds its footing it is mind-blowing.
- Person of Interest- You would be forgiven for thinking that this was just another CBS procedural with an interesting hook based on the marketing. I did. But it is so much more. A tightly crafted piece of hard sci-fi, POI might just be the most realistic depiction of artificial intelligence we’ve ever seem. And the cast is out of this world. Rock stars every one of them. You’ll burn through all five seasons and find yourself re-watching them only a few months later.
- Eureka- This is comfort television at its best. Eureka is a small town full of genius scientists and one average joe sheriff who is constantly having to clean up their messes.It’s corny, hokey, and full of obvious clichés and tropes. But it is fun. If you just want to smile and not think too hard about what you’re watching this is a good one for you.
- Warehouse 13- With a similar vibe to Eureka (they share a tv universe), this is another comfort tv selection. A pair of secret service agents are charged with recovering artifacts imbued with special qualities. Their cases are funny and have a standard “they all ways get their man (artifact)” by the end of the episode energy. What you’re going to enjoy most here is the banter, which is top-notch. The over-arching plots aren’t bad either and you’re sure to spot some of your favorite actors as guest stars over the series run.
- The 4400- A sentimental favorite. I don’t want to give away too much but basically, 4400 people go missing over the course of 70 years then are returned all at once in the present day. And some of them have powers. It suffers a bit in the budget department from being on basic cable before cable was cool. But the central myth is compelling, and the cast is very talented. A cast that includes Oscar winner Mahershala Ali in his younger days by the way.
- Torchwood- A spin-off of Modern Doctor Who, this series forged its own path ahead. As often times manic as it is tragic, this series did not shy away from going to some dark places. Captain Jack Harkness may be immortal but that doesn’t mean his team is.
- Quantum Leap- You’ve probably heard thousands of pop-culture references to this iconic show over the years, but have you ever actually watched it? It’s sweet and funny and can really pull on the heartstrings. Scott Bakula carries this show with a bit of comic relief from Dean Stockwell. Practically every episode is a stand-alone, so you may not feel the need to binge the whole thing at once. Great for single serving watches whenever you feel you need a break from whatever else you may be doing.
- Continuum– It’s not easy to do time travel right, and to do it right over the course of a whole series. That takes planning and forethought. Continuum is a master class in how to plot time travel stories. There’s plenty of action and some character actor staples of genre series past making appearances. But the best part of this show are the constant back stabs and shifting alliances. And on more than one occasion you’re going to find yourself rooting for the bad guys.
- Stitchers- This is probably the least well known and most oddball of my recommendations. You might hate it, you might love it. Basically, using government equipment a young woman has a special talent for going into dead people’s minds. She sees memory fragments and uses those to solve murders. It’s a freeform show so it all stays pretty PG, but there are some interesting cases and the cast is another collection of Vancouver-based genre tv actors you kinda recognize and like. Oh, and Cameron Britton of Mindhunter and Umbrella Academy fame is here just being a weird background character for most of the shows run. It’s a love it or leave it kind of a show but give it a try.