Copyright Screen Rant
Of all the sci-fi subgenres that exist, one of the most versatile is aliens. The idea that we are not alone in the universe offers countless story opportunities, and it's fascinating how the best sci-fi TV shows of all time treat extraterrestrial themes completely differently. The sci-fi genre often explores what ties us together and what divides us. Many sci-fi TV show masterpieces feature extraterrestrial cultures of all kinds, reminding us that we are often more similar than we are different. Shows like The Twilight Zone have even reversed the concept, presenting humanity as alien, reminding us that being alien is a matter of perspective. Rick And Morty Not only have Rick and Morty visited some ridiculous planets on their adventures, but many of these have been populated by equally absurd aliens. Rick and Morty's approach to the sci-fi genre is often influenced by pop culture in much the same way as Futurama's has been, but the show's much more adult themes give it an extra bit of creative freedom. While some of the extraterrestrial species in Rick and Morty have been inspired by iconic sci-fi franchises like Alien, some of the best are the show's own inventions. The Amazonians and their catchphrase, "death by snu-snu" have become known outside the show, and the helpful blue Mr. Meeseeks is one of the best alien creatures in Rick and Morty. Alien Worlds Alien Worlds presents itself as a documentary with a difference. Presented similarly to David Attenborough's nature documentaries and narrated by Sophie Okonedo, each episode of Alien Worlds focuses on an aspect of life on a planet with a very different ecosystem to our own. However, none of it is real, and the show used excellent CGI to create its subjects. The show is grounded in scientific fact, making it one of the best space documentaries on Netflix. The creators took inspiration from the way life works within the atmosphere on planet Earth and imagined the way that life would adapt to other planets with a different kind of atmosphere. The resulting aliens are mesmerizing, cute, and occasionally disturbing within the same episode. Roswell An underrated '90s TV shows that deserve more recognition, Roswell is an amazing hidden gem. Based on Melinda Metz's book Roswell High, Roswell is a teen drama set in a high school where three aliens are attending, disguised as humans. While shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer blended sci-fi with drama, Roswell did this in a way that was very unusual at the time. The series had many comfortingly familiar teen drama tropes, like relationship issues and finding a place in the world, but the alien angle added a new layer of meaning to the central themes. Roswell has some aspects in common with Twilight, like the high school students who aren't fully human, but most of the relationships are much healthier and happier. Love, Death + Robots Netflix's cyberpunk anthology Love, Death + Robots varies greatly from episode to episode, and while not all the entries in each series are about aliens, the ones that feature extraterrestrials are often the most memorable. The first season's "Beyond the Aquila Rift" is nightmare fuel, involving the crew of a ship caught in the ship of an alien creature with mind control. Many Love, Death + Robots shorts deserve feature-length movies, and one of these is "Spider Rose." The episode is just as disturbing as "Beyond the Aquila Rift," but for a different reason. When a cute and cuddly baby alien becomes a lonely woman's companion, it quickly becomes obvious that the innocent-looking creature is much more dangerous than it seems. Resident Alien Sci-fi sitcoms have been done before, with one of the best performances in the genre being Robin Williams' as a lovable alien visitor in Mork and Mindy. That said, sitcoms about aliens are not as common as they could be, but Resident Alien is practically required viewing for fans of sci-fi comedy, and of the classic space Western, Firefly. The shapeshifting alien Harry Vanderspiegle is one of Alan Tudyk's best TV characters, and while his role as Firefly's Wash is still one of his most famous roles, his performance in Resident Alien is spot-on. When an alien crashes to earth, he takes on the shape of the town's doctor and becomes involved in a murder mystery. Futurama Futurama parodies virtually every sci-fi movie in existence and incorporates virtually every sci-fi trope, yet the show still feels fresh and different. Futurama takes a similar approach to integrating its alien populations as Star Trek, with ship crews that include aliens in positions of power and respect, and episodes that take place on other planets exploring alien cultures. The show is still running today, and while it hit a low point with season 12, its most recent season has returned Futurama to its top form, earning it a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for season 13. Its sympathetic, while comedic, approach to alien life makes Futurama one of the best animated sci-fi TV shows of all time. Doctor Who The iconic British sci-fi series features so many different alien races that it can sometimes be a surprise to remember that The Doctor is also an extraterrestrial being. Doctor Who has brought us some of the best sci-fi TV show monsters of all time, from the Nazi-esque Daleks bent on world domination to the terrifying Weeping Angels in the excellent episode, "Blink." While different alien species regularly appear in Doctor Who, the mesmerizing lead character defines the show. The Doctor is an immortal Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who has grieved the loss of friends and seen the extinction of entire planets. Many Doctor Who interpretations later, the Doctor remains one of the greatest alien characters in television. The X-Files The X-Files follows a police procedural format, but the alien theme is at the heart of the entire show, visually represented by Mulder's iconic "I Want To Believe" UFO poster, which is recognizable even to people who have not seen the show. The X-Files features virtually every paranormal subject, from mutants to telepathy, and the episodes involving extraterrestrial life are usually especially significant for the plot. As Mulder believes that his sister was abducted by aliens, the idea of extraterrestrial life informs his every action, which makes aliens central to The X-Files, even in episodes that do not obviously feature them. The developing partnership between the believer (Mulder) and skeptic (Scully) is the best part of the fantastic sci-fi detective show, which changed television forever. Farscape When John Crichton accidentally enters a wormhole and finds himself on a spaceship populated by renegade aliens, his culture shock forms the plot for much of the first season of Farscape. That said, the show evolves quickly as Crichton becomes part of the crew. In Farscape, even the spaceship is an alien in a symbiotic relationship with her pilot, which is a genius detail. Many episodes of Farscape are considered classics, and the best ones perfectly convey the show's sense of humor and attention to the different planetary cultures that Crichton and the crew encounter. Many of the show's aliens were created by the phenomenal Jim Henson Company, which makes the creature design superior to most other sci-fi TV shows airing at the time. Star Trek The Star Trek franchise is surely the best of all sci-fi TV shows about aliens. Star Trek was groundbreaking when it first aired, featuring aliens with no concept of harmful gender roles, a diverse cast with a Black woman in a position of authority, and futuristic technology that inspired creators and engineers at the time. While the show included outlandish aliens, others were more relatable.
