Not that there aren't enough new shows these days, in the era of Peak TV, to devote your time to, but if you're looking to step back and catch up on some science fiction-focused series that you may have missed over the years, we've come up with a list of some truly stellar sci-fi.
Here are 8 sci-fi shows that you can currently stream - some older and firmly iconic and some newer and destined to be deemed classics. Check it out!
Twilight Zone
This timeless and heavily influential anthology series delivered supernatural and sci-fi stories layered with social commentary, while also helping to mainstream the "twist" ending. Creator, host, and head writer Rod Serling drew us in as unsuspecting protagonists entered tumultuous tales of terror and their nightmarish surroundings taught tough life lessons.
Available on: Hulu and for purchase on Amazon
Black Mirror
From a classic anthology series to a modern one, Charlie Brooker's haunting and sobering Black Mirror examines modern society through the lens of science fiction - sometimes dropping us in a world decades from now, sometimes exploring times that scarily seem right around the corner. Topics like social media, video games, reality shows, the cloud, and more are put under a malicious microscope and turned inside out while stars like Jon Hamm, Hayley Atwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, and more lend their acting talent to soul-shaking stories about the dark side of technology.
Available on: Netflix
Star Trek
The original, ground-breaking Star Trek series is streaming all over the place right now, and it's definitely worth your eye-time. Watch as William Shatner's Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock explore the galaxy, on the look out for strange new worlds and boldly going where no one has gone before.
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, CBS All Access
Firefly
You'll see a lot of big catalogues on this list, including legacy sci-fi shows with tons of episodes. But Firefly is an example of an amazing series arguably made even more special by its unfortunate brevity. Mishandled and mis-scheduled during its short run, this Joss Whedon space western gave us 14 wonderful episodes and an instantly iconic ensemble.
Available on: Hulu and for purchase on Amazon
X-Files
The story of FBI Agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) and the very strange cases they investigated captivated audiences, and lead to FOX trying one genre series after another that failed to find the large audience this one did. The X-Files serves as a brilliant, long-running (albeit perhaps a bit too long-running) sci-fi series that helped create and establish the "mythology procedural" - a show that could be case-of-the-week, but have a serialized spine.
Available on: Hulu and for purchase on Amazon
The Man in the High Castle
At first glance, The Man in the High Castle -- though adapted from a famous novel by acclaimed sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick -- isn't science fiction. It's an "alternative history" series depicting a harrowing timeline where the Axis Powers won World War II and the Nazis now controlled most of America. But as you move through the show, the multiverse aspects expand significantly as the characters witness, and fight for, newsreel footage of alternate dimensions where the Allied Powers won. Namely, our timeline. It's a stark, dark series with moments of both horror and beauty.
Available on: Amazon Prime
Doctor Who
While there's plenty of love for the current series that began in 2005, don't forget there are 26 seasons of the classic series as well, featuring the first 7 Doctors. The effects may be dated, but there's still plenty of charm to these fantastic stories about the ever-regenerating Doctor and his travels through space and time.
Available on: BritBox and for purchase on Amazon (selected episodes)
The 4400
This under-the-radar series -- starring Joel Gretsch, Jacqueline McKenzie, Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, Billy Campbell, and many more -- follows the tale of 4400 people, who vanished over the course of decades, suddenly reappearing, having not aged a day. Smart and intriguing from the start, The 4400 likely debuted at the wrong time -- just missing the more genre-friendly, binge-ready attitude that prevails now -- but remains a hidden gem for many new viewers to discover.
Available on: Netflix
Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association (TCA). Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.