After nine years, I have finally found a show that can arguably be considered the best Netflix sci-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 all sci-fi shows on Netflix have been hits, some, like Stranger 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 as Stranger Things and 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 the Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe fame, Travelers unfolds in a post-apocalyptic future where special 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, Travelers takes viewers on a tense and emotionally charged adventure.
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 how it portrays today’s world from the perspective of people from the future. While Travelers has 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 though Travelers was 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.
Like many acclaimed sci-fi shows, Travelers remains unpredictable and brings something unique to 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 imaginative shows, like Sense8, The OA, and Travelers, a chance. Although almost all these shows were eventually canceled, they stretched the boundaries of genre storytelling by 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 to Travelers, Sense8 was another fascinating show that featured a massive roster and unapologetically explored themes of identity, human empathy, and sexuality across all cultures. It eventually met the same fate as Travelers but is still remembered as a groundbreaking piece of sci-fi TV. Viewers who love highly inventive sci-fi shows should check out both on Netflix.
