After nine years, I have finally founda show that can arguably be considered the bestNetflixsci-fi of all time. Since its inception, Netflix has become the streaming home for shows of myriad genres. While some of these TV series are originals that premiered on Netflix for the first time, others are acclaimed productions acquired from other networks.
However, out of all the genres, the one that has been among the most profitable for Netflix is sci-fi. Owing to this, the streamer has not shied away from investing in many original science fiction series. Although not allsci-fi shows on Netflixhave been hits, some,likeStranger Things, have etched themselves into pop culture history.
A nine-year-old Netflix sci-fi series seemingly had the potential to have a similar impact on the genre. Although it failed to last as long asStranger Thingsand other enduring Netflix hits,its bold and compelling storytelling left a lasting impression on me and many other viewers. Netflix has many brilliant sci-fi shows, but this one might actually be its best original.
Travelers Is an Often-Forgotten Sci-Fi Masterpiece That Fans Need to Discover
It Boasts A 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score
Created by Brad Wright, of theStargate SG-1,Stargate Atlantis, andStargate Universefame,Travelersunfolds in a post-apocalyptic future wherespecial human operatives find a way to send their consciousness back in time and transfer it to people of the 21st century. Driven by this mind-bending concept,Travelerstakes viewers on a tense and emotionally charged adventure.
Like many acclaimed sci-fi shows,Travelersremains unpredictable and brings something unique to the table despite adopting several familiar tropes.
While its concept and compelling performances are enough to keep most viewers hooked throughout its three-season runtime, what makes it a brilliant sci-fi series is howit portrays today’s world from the perspective of people from the future. WhileTravelershas an overarching storyline, it often takes a “mission-of-the-episode” approach.
This approach not only keeps its story refreshing but also allows it to explore myriad possibilities with its early setup. Even thoughTravelerswas canceled after three seasons, its final installment ends on a fairly satisfying note where it leaves one pondering over the fragility of human choices and whether humanity can truly change the world if given a second chance.
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Like many acclaimed sci-fi shows,Travelersremains unpredictable and brings something uniqueto the table despite adopting several familiar tropes. However, what makes it one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix is its heartfelt moments and relatable character beats.
Travelers Is Perfect For Sense8 Fans
It Taps Into Similar Concepts & Thematic Elements
In the mid-2010s, Netflix was seemingly taking an experimental approach to science fiction, where it gave some incredibly ambitious and imaginativeshows, likeSense8,The OA, andTravelers, a chance. Although almost all these shows were eventually canceled,they stretched the boundaries of genre storytellingby adopting unconventional narratives and bold concepts.
The titular “travelers” in the Netflix series religiously follow six main protocols: “1. The mission comes first. 2. Leave the future in the past. 3. Don’t take a life, don’t save a life, unless otherwise directed. 4. Do not reproduce. 5. In the absence of direction, maintain your host’s life. 6. No inter-team or deep web communication except in extreme emergencies.”
Similar toTravelers,Sense8was another fascinating showthat featured a massive roster and unapologetically explored themes of identity, human empathy, and sexuality across all cultures. It eventually met the same fate asTravelersbut is still remembered as a groundbreaking piece of sci-fi TV. Viewers who love highly inventive sci-fi shows should check out both onNetflix.
Travelers
Travelers (2016) is a sci-fi television series where operatives from the future are sent back to the 21st century to prevent the collapse of society, inhabiting the bodies of present-day people at the moment of their death. The team, led by Grant MacLaren (Eric McCormack), works to carry out missions dictated by their mysterious director, while coping with the challenges of living in a different time period.
Sense8
Cast
Created by the Wachowski sisters, Sense8 features an ensemble cast playing eight different people from around the world, who discover that they are suddenly mentally linked with one another and begin experiencing each other’s lives and feelings. As the sensates begin to get to know each other, they must face a growing threat to all their lives by using their newfound empathic powers to their advantage.
