It takes something truly special for a sci-fi show to be worthy of being called perfect; and it’s even more admirable when a series achieves that title with a limited number of episodes. Throughout the years, we’ve seen several sci-fi shows and miniseries that have demonstrated just how close sci-fi television can come to genuine perfection with less than 20 episodes.
From historic achievements in the art of science fiction, like the Battlestar Galactica 2003 miniseries; to shows that are still ongoing, like the incredible Severance, several sci-fi shows over the years have been borderline flawless without going over the 20-episode mark. Those looking for an exceptional sci-fi series that’s not a significant time commitment ought to consider all of these essential viewing.
10
‘Watchmen’ (2019)
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons‘ comic series Watchmen is one of the most important pieces of graphic literature in history, the sort that filmmakers and TV creatives shouldn’t mess with unless they have something of value to add to the material. Not every fan agrees, but there’s a strong argument to be made that Damon Lindelof‘s Watchmen, a direct sequel to the original graphic novel, adds plenty of value to the lore.
It’s one of the best sci-fi miniseries of all time, introducing an exploration of more contemporary themes like systemic racism and historical trauma. In just nine episodes, Watchmen more than justifies its own existence by boldly tackling pressing social issues of the modern day while also paying the utmost respect to Moore and Gibbons’ source material.
9
‘Utopia’ (2013–2014)
The British conspiracy thriller Utopia proved largely controversial upon release, all because of its extreme depictions of violence. In the years since, however, it has grown into more and more of a cult classic. Its sci-fi elements are quite subtle, so people looking for more sprawling works of futuristic science fiction are better off looking elsewhere. Those curious about what the genre looks like when pushed to its thematic and stylistic limits, however, ought to watch Utopia at least once.
It’s one of those forgotten thriller shows that are perfect, an absolute masterpiece of the sci-fi genre that only keeps getting better with age. It’s intense, it’s suspenseful, it’s hugely imaginative, it’s visually stunning, and it’s brilliantly satirical when it means to be amusing. Wonderfully layered without ever ceasing to be brutal, it consists of 12 episodes that are all as perfect as the last.
8
‘Pantheon’ (2022–2023)
Based on a series of short stories by Ken Liu, Craig Silverstein‘s Pantheon is one of the best animated series for adults of the 2020s thus far. It’s one of the precious few perfect hard sci-fi shows on Netflix, a cyberpunk gem which proves that cartoons can be just as smart, deep, and high-quality as any live-action sci-fi television masterpiece.
Due to a massive corporate cost-cutting measure on AMC’s part, Pantheon‘s run was limited to a mere 16 episodes. But even though it deserved to run for far longer, it’s still a can’t-miss sci-fi cartoon that all fans of the genre should watch at least once. Ambitious, mind-bending, and dealing with themes of transhumanism in ways that feel even more relevant with each passing day, it’s all the proof anyone should need that animation can be perfect, too.
7
‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’ (2004)
Just like animation, comedy is at times looked down on as a “lesser” form of science fiction, but all it should take for anyone who thinks that to change their mind would be one look at the British cult classic Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. It’s a genius satirization of low-budget ’80s sci-fi television, also poking fun at the pretentious creatives whose wild imaginations fueled such shows.
Darkplace is the sort of classic sitcom that’s better than most modern shows. Over the course of only six episodes, this brilliant work of parody blends elements of comedy, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Full of absurdist humor and intentionally (and hilariously) low-quality production values, it’s ideal for all those sci-fi fans who love to see their favorite genre lovingly made fun of.
6
‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)
Scavengers Reign was originally pitched as a self-contained sci-fi miniseries, so it fortunately didn’t have to end on any sort of cliffhanger following HBO Max’s cancellation of it after just one season. Though it would have been amazing to watch the creators’ ideas for further seasons in action, this still stands as one of the greatest animated sci-fi TV shows of all time.
Visually striking, brilliantly avant-garde, and packed with some of the most engrossing world-building any sci-fi series has seen in years, Scavengers Reign is one of the best overlooked animated shows that deserve far more attention. A mere 12 episodes were all it took for this to establish itself as one of the highest-rated cartoons of all time on IMDb.
5
‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2003)
The 1978 version of Battlestar Galactica was a highly popular but relatively short-lived hit. From the mid-1990s onward, there were several attempts to get a revival or sequel off the ground, but all of them failed. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that Universal Pictures finally greenlit a remake miniseries of the same name. The result? The miniseries that kickstarted 2004’s Battlestar Galactica, widely remembered as one of the greatest sci-fi TV shows in history.
The thing is, however, that the 2004 version of Battlestar Galactica is so great that it often overshadows the two-part miniseries that gave birth to it. That deserves to change. After all, we’re talking about one of the most perfect sci-fi miniseries the world has ever seen. It’s a grittier, more psychologically and thematically intense sci-fi series than anything the world had ever seen before, and it has aged like fine wine.
4
‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)
Who could have foretold that a Netflix adaptation of League of Legends would end up becoming one of the highest-rated animated shows of all time on IMDb? Indeed, the hype for Arcane is well deserved, and though not every fan would be willing to call its final season entirely flawless, any gripes anyone could have with this masterpiece should be strongly compensated by its many strengths.
It’s one of those new animated shows that are perfect throughout, an absolute masterpiece that’s far better than it has any right to be. The animation? Some of the most striking the small screen has ever seen. The story? Absolutely enthralling from start to finish. The action sequences? Impossible to look away from. It’s admirable that all it took for Arcane to establish itself as one of the most beloved TV shows of the 2020s was 18 episodes.
3
‘The Prisoner’ (1967–1968)
It may not be all that well-known today, but there’s no denying that the British cult classic The Prisoner absolutely revolutionized sci-fi television, and as such, it’s nothing if not a must-see. Blending elements of a spy thriller with elements of avant-garde psychological sci-fi, it proved to be one of the most strongly serialized science fiction shows of the era.
That serialization results in a genre extravaganza that’s still wonderfully mind-bending and thought-provoking today, nearly 60 years after its pilot aired. It’s one of those perfect sci-fi shows nobody remembers nowadays, a prescient critique of the surveillance state that feels even more timely today than it was back in the late ’60s. And all it took to deliver such a genre-defining masterpiece? Only 17 episodes.
2
‘Severance’ (2022–Present)
Apple TV joined the streaming game relatively late, but since then, it’s been proving time and time again that they have what it takes to be a big player—particularly in the realm of science fiction. No more proof should be needed than Severance, one of the greatest TV shows currently airing, a masterful dramedy satire all about the dehumanizing nature of capitalism and the illusion of work-life balance.
It’s one of the most perfect thriller shows shorter than five seasons, and though its 19-episode count will soon be expanded whenever its third season drops, it currently stands as one of the most masterful sci-fi shows with fewer than 20 episodes. Intelligent, perfectly paced, full of exceptional production values, and with some of the best writing of any show currently airing, it’s the sort of pop culture phenomenon that everyone should be watching.
1
‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)
Nowadays, Firefly‘s sole season is perhaps best remembered as one of the most infamous victims of untimely cancellation in television history, but it’s also one of the highest-rated sci-fi TV shows of all time on IMDb, and that’s for good reason. It’s one of the greatest single-season action TV shows ever made, a space Western unlike anything else the small screen has ever seen.
The ensemble is one of the greatest in sci-fi television history, and the characters they play are the whole reason why Firefly has remained so beloved for as long as it has. Add to that incredible production values, a delightful genre-blending tone, and razor-sharp dialogue that’s still hugely quotable today, and you get 14 episodes of pure small-screen science fiction bliss.
Firefly
- Release Date
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2002 – 2003-00-00
- Network
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FOX
- Showrunner
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Joss Whedon
- Directors
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Allan Kroeker, David Solomon, James A. Contner, Marita Grabiak, Michael Grossman, Tim Minear, Vern Gillum
