Sci-fi is always evolving as a genre, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to look back on the best of what sci-fi TV shows had to offer over the years. The 1990s were a standout decade for film and television, and as visual effects improved and the interest in speculative fiction grew stronger, there was plenty of opportunity for TV series to capitalize on this momentum. There is a style that’s unique to sci-fi shows that came out during the ’90s, and revisiting older TV shows can be a fun place to see how visuals have changed since then.

However, many of these hold up well today because of their storytelling and character-driven narratives. The ’90s saw more prestige television and serialized narratives hitting the screen, and this impacted every genre. Every time period has a different focus within the speculative fiction genre, as the progression of technology and anxieties about the future are reflected onscreen. For example, some of the best sci-fi TV shows of the 1970s focused on space travel and adventure, though this is a recurring theme across sci-fi. Similar intersecting themes and tones can be found in enduring pieces of 1990s science fiction.

Twin Peaks (1990–1991)

David Lynch’s iconic series will never get old

The fact that Twin Peaks remained popular enough to warrant the production of Twin Peaks: The Return speaks to how much audiences still love this surrealist drama. Like most works by David Lynch, the mystery at the heart of Twin Peaks is difficult to unravel, but sticking with the complex series until the end is well worth dedicating time to Twin Peaks. Kyle MacLachlan’s performance as Agent Dale Cooper is still some of his best work.

While the sci-fi aspects of Twin Peaks are mixed with the fantastical visuals and supernatural elements, this only adds to the intrigue of the case Coop is looking into.

Twin Peaks season 1 is a near-perfect season of television, and while season 2 isn’t quite as strong, it’s still more original than many of the sci-fi series of its time. While the sci-fi aspects of Twin Peaks are mixed with the fantastical visuals and supernatural elements, this only adds to the intrigue of the case Coop is looking into. The success of Twin Peaks and its enduring legacy is proof that there’s continued interest and appetite for film and television that push boundaries and break the mold of what’s typically seen on TV.

Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

1
91%
96%

2
65%
88%

This refers to the original run of Twin Peaks , not the miniseries Twin Peaks: The Return .

The X-Files (1993–2018)

The supernatural comes into contact with a classic procedural formula in this timeless crime show

Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny star as Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, the skeptic and the true believer in the supernatural crime drama The X-Files. One of the most successful procedurals of all time, The X-Files is a great show with plenty of seasons to get sucked into today. The chemistry between Anderson and Duchovny was one of the most popular aspects of the show, as the series kept up the will-they-won’t-they dynamic for many seasons.

Although The X-Files was originally canceled after season 9, it came back for two strong follow-up seasons in 2016. This continuation allowed audiences to catch up with Mulder and Scully and see where their paths had led them many years later. From investigations of aliens to traditional disappearances and deaths, The X-Files has just enough of the supernatural to keep fans guessing while not alienating any of the viewers who are more interested in the investigative work.

Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

1
83%
96%

2
89%
97%

3
88%
97%

4
100%
96%

5
67%
95%

6
83%
93%

7
78%
85%

8
67%
73%

9
22%
57%

10
64%
72%

11
77%
77%

Babylon 5 (1993–1998)

At the intersection of many corners of space, Babylon 5 shines a light on unique stories

Though Babylon 5 never reached the popularity of the biggest smash-hit sci-fi series of the 20th century, it’s grown as a cult classic and hasn’t lost any of its charm or relevance today. While many older TV shows used an episodic formula, Babylon 5 broke this mold and told an overarching narrative that changed the setting and characters throughout its five-season run. This is a more similar structure to how prestige television unfolds today, making it sure to connect with modern audiences.

Innovative in both storytelling and visual effects, Babylon 5 is one of the most influential series of the ’90s, and without it, the world of sci-fi TV would look quite different.

Innovative in both storytelling and visual effects, Babylon 5 is one of the most influential series of the ’90s, and without it, the world of sci-fi TV would look quite different. The use of CGI looks a little dated today, but for the time, it was revolutionary, and it’s interesting to look back on how VFX has evolved. After watching some of the high-budget sci-fi shows of the modern era, it’s exciting to go back in time to Babylon 5 and see how much these projects owe to the classic series.

Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

1
60%
90%

2
N/A
94%

3
N/A
95%

4
N/A
97%

5
N/A
83%

Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999)

Spike and his friends make the perfect companions to traverse with across space

As soon as Cowboy Bebop premiered, it was clear that it wasn’t a regular anime but a cultural phenomenon. From the visuals and the action to the incredible scoring, there’s no part of Cowboy Bebop that doesn’t work perfectly to immerse the audience in the world of Spike, the bounty hunter, and his friends. Blending elements of film noir and the Western genre while incorporating innovative imaginings of what technology might become, Cowboy Bebop has no shortage of moments that will captivate sci-fi lovers.

Unfortunately, Cowboy Bebop is notoriously difficult to translate from animation, as the recent Netflix version is one of the worst live-action anime adaptations. However, because every element of Cowboy Bebop works so seamlessly, there’s no reason to remake or reboot the series, as viewers can simply revisit the masterpiece. Even audiences who are hesitant to dip their toe into anime will be won over by the relentlessly compelling Cowboy Bebop and wish that there were even more episodes to transport them into the world of the space cowboys.

The Outer Limits (1995–2002)

This anthology series set the tone for sci-fi being taken seriously in the ’90s

A revival of the original 1963 series of the same name, The Outer Limits returned to screens in 1995, and though it received many comparisons to The Twilight Zone, it still manages to stand apart. The anthology format is a large part of the sci-fi genre, and The Outer Limits is a great example of an important period of change for this niche of television. Anthologies have been popular for a long time. However, the series quickly realized that the most important part of its stories was how they related to and reflected the current cultural climate.

Though the final season of The Outer Limits was on a different network and couldn’t feature as much adult content, the first six seasons were a significant departure from the subject matter of the 1960s iteration. The Outer Limits originally aired on Showtime and used plenty of mature situations to capture the attention of older audiences. The Outer Limits established itself as a serious and compelling drama and a creative space for speculative fiction to thrive.

Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

1
75%
83%

2
N/A
60%

3
N/A
N/A

4
N/A
N/A

5
N/A
N/A

6
N/A
N/A

7
N/A
N/A

Dark Skies (1996–1997)

Set in the 1960s, Dark Skies explores an alien version of history

Dark Skies was well ahead of its time in terms of revisionist history storytelling within the sci-fi genre. While iconic series like Doctor Who used time travel to explore important parts of the past, Dark Skies was a period piece set in the 1960s that imagined what this turbulent decade would have been like with the existence of aliens thrown in. The series drew heavily from ideas surrounding conspiracy theories and that the U.S. government was covering up the existence of aliens.

This setting and era allowed Dark Skies to play with the big moments of history and revel in the style and aesthetics of the 1960s.

This setting and era allowed Dark Skies to play with the big moments of history and revel in the style and aesthetics of the 1960s. The series featured many great actors, including Jeri Ryan, who was also part of the Star Trek franchise in Star Trek: Voyager. Despite only running for one season, Dark Skies is a fun, campy addition to the world of sci-fi in the ’90s. Though it was clearly inspired by contemporary works like The X-Files, Dark Skies has plenty of original moments and interesting plot lines.

Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

1
67%
N/A

Farscape (1999–2003)

An award-winning piece of speculative fiction whose storytelling transcends genre

Produced in part by the Jim Henson Company, Farscape is a masterclass in the creation of a fictional universe and the development of realistic alien cultures and life forms. Winning several Saturn Awards throughout its run, Farscape was unlike anything seen on television. The series follows a modern astronaut who’s thrown through a wormhole across space and must adapt to his alien surroundings. His perspective is an effective tool for Farscape and gives the audience the necessary exposition required for such a complex show.

The Jim Henson Company was also a major contributor to the creation of the alien creature in Farscape, which is why it holds up so well today. Unfortunately, the series was cut short before the planned final season, making the last episodes of Farscape end with many questions still in the air. However, the journey is what matters most in Farscape, and the adventures the viewers go on with the characters are plenty satisfying and thrilling throughout the seasons.

Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

1
100%
87%

2
100%
88%

3
80%
87%

4
83%
84%

 

Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007)

This decade-long sci-fi series has become a touchstone for the genre

The impressive ten-season run of Stargate SG1 wasn’t surprising after the success of the 1994 film Stargate that the show was based on. However, it still exceeds expectations and has stood the test of time thanks to the vivid characters and rich world that the narrative creates. Not only was SG1 a hit, but it led to many other installments within the franchise, including the animated series Stargate Infinity. The military aspect of SG1 and its connection to human mythology was an interesting juxtaposition throughout the show.

With several multi-season arcs, SG1 was a complex series that spent a good deal of time developing its antagonists as well as the main characters. The series consistently pushes itself in terms of visual effects, making the travel between planets through the titular Stargate as believable as possible. Though it began as a spinoff to a major movie, Stargate SG1 evolved into a fully formed universe and leans into connecting with contemporary audiences through its humor and preferential dialogue.

Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

1
60%
95%

2
N/A
94%

3
N/A
95%

4
N/A
92%

5
N/A
93%

6
N/A
89%

7
N/A
94%

8
N/A
86%

9
N/A
74%

10
N/A
79%

 

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)

Out of every Star Trek series, DS9 is just as fun to watch today

The long and successful legacy of the Star Trek franchise creates difficult shoes to fill for every new installment of the universe, but Deep Space Nine created a memorable reputation for itself. While every Star Trek show explored social issues through the metaphor of alien life and space travel, DS9 was especially explicit in its interrogations of race, class, and other social inequities. It also differed from the other Star Trek series because it wasn’t set aboard a ship but in a space station.

Despite its strong ratings, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine didn’t receive as much recognition as other shows while it was airing, but this can be changed today by revisiting the classic series.

The best Star Trek: DS9 episodes from each of the seven seasons all illustrate exactly why it’s one of the best installments of the franchise. Part of the reason it remains timeless is because of the human stories that are at the center of every DS9 narrative and the truthfulness with which the actors portray them. Despite its strong ratings, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine didn’t receive as much recognition as other shows while it was airing, but this can be changed today by revisiting the classic series.

Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

1
81%
71%

2
100%
82%

3
100%
90%

4
100%
95%

5
100%
95%

6
57%
95%

7
100%
94%