The year 2023 treated sci-fi fans to a plethora of top-notch television shows that catered to their tastes. The small screen was graced with the return of classic franchises, a successful video game adaptation, and the long-awaited conversion of a fan-favorite book series to live action.
The surge of sci-fi TV shows can be attributed to the recent surge in streaming platforms, and the genre is only expected to grow in popularity. Major studios are investing significant funds in high-budget sci-fi productions without fear. Although not every sci-fi show in 2023 was a hit, this list features some of the most compelling releases from the year.
5 Foundation (season 2)
One of Apple TV's impressive offerings, Foundation season 2, learned from the missteps of its first season. It featured a more refined plot with improved pacing and allocated more time to developing its characters and their backgrounds. This season also honored the book series more, delving deeper into the themes introduced by the author, Isaac Asimov.
Foundation is a sci-fi drama that captures the rise and fall of future civilizations. It begins with a mathematician making a groundbreaking discovery that enables him to predict the future using scientific formulas. Upon realizing that humanity's Galactic Empire is hurtling towards an inevitable catastrophe, he hurries to organize preemptive rebuilding efforts. The first season depicts the birth of the Foundation, the rebuilding organization. Meanwhile, season 2 portrays the challenges and triumphs that the Foundation endures as humanity's collapse looms.
4 Loki (season 2)
Considered one of Marvel's finest small-screen creations, season 1 of Loki set high expectations for season 2, which it dutifully met. While the viewership of season 2 didn't match its predecessor, it provided fans with an abundance of multiverse action and captivating sci-fi concepts. Tom Hiddleston's magnetic performance continued in this season, and his character's dynamic with Sylvie was further explored.
In season 2 of Loki, the titular hero, also known as the God of Mischief, teams up with the Time Variance Authority to track down his rogue variants across the multiverse. Sylvie, one of Loki's variants, plays a significant role in season 2 as Loki grapples with determining whether she is a friend or foe.
3 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (season 2)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 continued the trend of strong follow-up seasons in 2023. It stepped up to match the success of its highly acclaimed first season and delivered 10 thrilling episodes that infused fresh, distinctive elements into the Star Trek universe. Embracing the classic format of the show, each episode presented a self-contained story, enabling the exploration of specific themes and genres. Season 2 introduced new characters while also further developing the original season's cast, which included familiar figures like Captain Pike, Spock, and other Enterprise crew members.
The second season of Strange New Worlds followed the adventures of the starship Enterprise's crew. Set a decade before Star Trek: The Original Series, the crew embarked on various missions, discovered new worlds, and journeyed across the galaxy as they sought to serve and safeguard its inhabitants.
2 Silo
Silo presented a captivating premise that left its characters and audience in constant pursuit of the truth. Viewers followed along as the cast slowly unraveled a world-altering conspiracy. The show successfully executed a slow-burn narrative due to excellent world-building and acting. Based on a popular book series, fans appreciated the show for paying homage to its source material.
Silo unfolds hundreds of years after Earth became uninhabitable due to an unknown cataclysmic event. The only known survivors reside in a massive underground silo accommodating around 10,000 people. Society in the silo is compartmentalized, with the Judicial branch wielding significant power over information and daily life. As the show commences, certain inhabitants begin to question the nature of the silo and what lies beyond it. As these queries arise, tensions escalate within the silo's society, and the ruling authorities strive to maintain control over the underground bunker.
1 The Last of Us
Upon its debut, The Last of Us took the TV world by storm. The show took daring approaches in its portrayal of the source material, and those risks paid off immensely. Video game adaptations often disappoint or are received poorly, whether on the small or big screen. However, HBO hit the mark this time. It's a rarity for a video game adaptation to satisfy its original fanbase while also captivating the general public, a feat attributed to the show's exceptional source material and outstanding acting, direction, and writing.
The Last of Us unfolds two decades after Earth has been ravaged by a zombie-like virus. Although small pockets of humanity cling to survival, the future appears bleak until the discovery of a girl immune to the virus. Realizing that her genetic material may hold the key to reclaiming the Earth for humanity, swift action is taken. Joel, a smuggler with a troubled past, is tasked with escorting this girl across the United States to a group of scientists working on a cure. The Last of Us follows the unlikely duo as they navigate a post-apocalyptic wasteland fraught with danger.