In mainstream media, science fiction programs usually tend to take a backseat to classic sitcoms and popular dramas. Despite this, the sci-fi genre has a wildly loyal community that sometimes defends even the cringiest plots. Regardless of sci-fi's cult following, quite a few series have not stood the test of time.

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While older sitcoms get berated for distasteful jokes that don't align with the values of today's political climate, sci-fi shows are more at risk of aging badly. When battling aliens or menacing AI, "looking cool" is an essential factor that enhances the narrative's believability. When viewers rewatch classics from years ago, however, low production values and dated special effects can be valid targets for criticism.

Updated on February 24th, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: The sci-fi genre is constantly evolving. Concepts and narratives that would have worked earlier may have no place in the 2020s, albeit for widely different reasons. As such, we've revamped this list with some more information about sci-fi series that didn't age very well.

10 Heroes (2006-2010)

4 Seasons, 77 Episodes

An image of the cast of Heroes.

During its prime, Heroes did surprisingly well. A disparate bunch of randoms around the world obtains superpowers for the very first time. Although it sounds corny now, 2006 audiences were raving about the premise. However, with Marvel spamming superhero movies every year, the rest of the entertainment industry had to struggle to keep up.

Sporadically throwing in plot twists and ending almost every episode on cliffhangers wasn't enough for Heroes to stay afloat. By today's standard of superhero shows, anything without decades of comic book history supporting them is deemed unworthy of success.

9 Lost (2004-2010)

6 Seasons, 121 Episodes

Jack, Kate, and the rest of the survivors assess their surrounding in Lost

Lost is the poster child for lack of proper planning. When storyboarding any narrative, it's crucial to consider how the worldbuilding will progress as organically as possible. However, with Lost's already eccentric premise, identifying a naturally developing story progression became relatively more difficult.

Toward the end of the series, it became increasingly clear that the creators never had a plan in the first place. Incorporating bizarre elements like polar bears on a tropical island is about as fascinating as Lost gets. As compelling as the original synopsis was, the series ran its course straight into the ground. Very few viewers want a Lost revival any time soon.

8 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

7 Seasons, 178 Episodes

An image of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek is undoubtedly sci-fi royalty. Cult following aside, Star Trek: The Next Generation employs timeless values that sync perfectly with 21st-century inclusivity politics. The program makes several attempts at diversity and gender equality. Disregarding how these pertinent issues are addressed and reflected in the dialogue, for the '60s, the show took a solid stance on compassionate and harmonious grounds.

Star Trek: The Next Generation mostly ages in terms of its actual production. From hairstyles to amateur lighting, the series' overall aesthetic is incredibly outdated. Combined with stiff acting and slow pacing, Star Trek: TNG may be part of a classic, but by no means has it survived the test of time.

7 Westworld (2016-2022)

4 Seasons, 36 Episodes

An image of Dolores and teddy from Westworld.

Shows that prolong the inevitable are an unfortunately common epidemic. Many deem Westworld's first season as one of the best television has ever seen. A classic case of robots taking over the world, the futuristic amusement park falls victim to machines gaining sentience. This compelling concept was delivered beautifully in the first two seasons, but the same can't be said for the final two.

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With complex worldbuilding and riveting action sequences, Westworld set itself up for failure by placing the bar extremely high. Further, the show's attempt at unveiling its plot twist in Season 2 didn't live up to the immensely suspenseful setup in the prior season. Fans were undoubtedly pleased when HBO decided to cancel Westworld before it could get any worse.

6 Inhumans (2017)

1 Season, 8 Episodes

An image of the cast of Marvel's Inhumans.

Many shows and movies have proven that the Marvel name doesn't guarantee anything but epic CGI. This is why it speaks to how mediocre Inhumans turned out to be. In fact, Inhumans started aging horribly before it was even released. The first two episodes were screened on IMAX and received monumentally negative reviews from both critics and audiences.

Being one of Jack Kirby's most significant works, Inhumans had a lot going for it. Yet, its delivery disappointed even the most hardcore Marvel fans. Criticized as an X-Men knockoff, Inhumans had average production values and cringey dialogue, downgrading an otherwise cool concept in the Marvel Universe.

5 The X-Files (1993-2002)

11 Seasons, 218 Episodes

An image from X-Files.

Once upon a time, conspiracy theorists took center stage in the media instead of hiding under endless Reddit threads or in the deepest, darkest corners of the Internet. By the reputation of its mythology alone, The X-Files has aged poorly. When a series runs for 11 seasons, transcending decades into a new millennium, this outcome is entirely understandable.

From 1993 to 2002 and later from 2016 to 2018, X-Files fans watched countless weekly monsters flop. Alternating between good episodes and downright terrible ones, The X-Files has had its share of polarizing reviews. It can be argued that the show has aged poorly, especially considering the innumerable X-Files variants that have spawned since the original program.

4 The 100 (2014-2020)

7 Seasons, 100 Episodes

An image from The 100.

Unofficially paying homage to Australia's convict past, The 100 sends a hundred juvenile delinquents to planet Earth decades after its apocalyptic devastation. While initially raking in positive reviews left and right, the hype around the once-intriguing premise flickered out fairly quickly.

The plot seemed to lose its train of thought somewhere between Seasons 2 and 3. Killing off beloved characters for insufficient reasons and adding filler plot points effectively stalled the story's pacing. The 100 may have redeemed itself in a couple of their following seasons, but Season 7's controversial premiere was the final nail in the show's coffin.

3 Sliders (1995-2000)

5 Seasons, 88 Episodes

An image from Sliders.

When Sliders first debuted in 1995, the multiverse concept had viewers extremely excited. Exploring every possible corner of the multiverse, the group of four jumps from one Earth to another. Some only varied slightly to Earth Prime, but others featured the USSR being the dominant empire and spider-wasp hybrids slowly killing off the human race.

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Sliders' creators eventually started taking a darker approach to the show's adventures. Dabbling in the horror genre and adding aliens into the mix muddled the series. Despite the creativity, the change in direction basically ruined the once-riveting series. In comparison with the MCU and the Arrowverse, Sliders looks like a confusing and amateur predecessor.

2 Primeval (2007-2011)

5 Seasons, 36 Episodes

An image from Primeval.

Like Westworld, Primeval outlived its expiry date. That said, time-twisting plotlines have always had captivating synopses. Primeval follows a group of eccentric government officials battling time-bending anomalies from across the infinite timeline. However, Primeval only started progressively declining during its controversial third season.

Any show audacious enough to kill off its main character is at risk of aging poorly. Unsurprisingly, the unexpected demise of the protagonist buried multiple unanswered story arcs. Without anything enticing enough for the audience to stick around, Primeval started aging poorly long before the series' conclusion.

1 Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)

10 Seasons, 214 Episodes

An image from Stargate SG-1.

Stargate SG-1 obtained immense popularity and success when it came out in 1997. Unfortunately, their time under the sun was abruptly cut short with Richard Dean Anderson's exit at the end of Season 8, forcing a major shift in character development and plot progression.

Although longtime fans stuck around for the sake of loyalty, the passion they once had for Stargate SG-1 was long gone. Given how much technology has progressed, Stargate SG-1 no longer maintains the same allure. Not even the power of nostalgia can salvage what once seemed revolutionary.

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