Pop culture and entertainment continue to develop in exciting and ambitious ways, but television is a medium that’s experienced tremendous growth. Risky and challenging programming, an emphasis on storytelling and creative auteurs, and several new streaming distribution channels have given television more freedom than ever before.

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These opportunities have been especially generous towards genre programming. In particular, niche science fiction series have increased in popularity and now feel part of the norm. Sci-fi is a rewarding genre, but it can sometimes cater to adults. Fortunately, there are many sci-fi TV shows sure to entertain audiences, young or adult.

Updated January 24, 2023 by Daniel Kurland: Science fiction used to be a polarizing genre on television and the types of stories that were better suited for the silver screen. Television’s ongoing evolution has been incredibly beneficial to genre programming and there’s now just as much success to be found in science fiction series as the grandiose tales that get told in theaters. Sci-fi covers a broad range that includes both mature stories and sillier, lighter fare, both of which have their own benefits and disadvantages. It’s always special when a sci-fi series resonates with audiences of all ages and transcends the typical demographics. In fact, some of the strongest science fiction shows of all time are the ones that can inspire anyone, regardless of age and background.

20 Farscape

4 Seasons, 88 Episodes

Farscape is a bewildering blend of operatic space wars and character-driven silliness that pits a lost astronaut together with a crew of muppet misfits. Farscape follows John Crichton on his pursuit to find his way back to Earth, but in the meantime he becomes an unlikely figure in a vicious battle that spans the entire galaxy.

Farscape trades in heavy themes and serialized storytelling that was ahead of its time. However, Crichton's crew and many of the extraterrestrials in the series are handled by the Jim Henson Company, which creates enough of a warm aesthetic that will connect with all ages.

19 Quantum Leap

5 Seasons, 97 Episodes

Quantum Leap is one of the latest series to gain new life through a modern reboot, but the show's original five-season run with Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett is procedural sci-fi at its best. Each episode transports Sam into the different bodies of random individuals throughout time as he attempts to right wrongs and find his way back home.

Quantum Leap’s stories cover a wide spectrum, some of which are certainly more light-hearted than others. It taps into territory that's thought-provoking for both old and young audiences, but the younger demographic is likely to let their imaginations run wild with the concept of "leaps."

18 The 100

7 Seasons, 100 Episodes

There's a certain stigma that accompanies many CW shows that's kept adults from checking out programming that typically skews towards younger audiences. However, The 100 tackles a nuclear apocalypse survivor story with a surprising amount of tact and nuance. The 100 begins in a fascinating place where 100 teenage outcasts get sent from their space station to Earth with the aim of repopulation.

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Each season of The 100 complicates the scope of this story in seismic ways and it manages to avoid the typical pitfalls of CW series throughout the majority of its seven-season run. If nothing else, The 100 stimulates compelling conversation even when it’s not at its best.

17 Love, Death + Robots

3 Seasons, 35 Episodes

Television has been particularly receptive towards anthology series, many of which focus on heightened genre material like science fiction and horror. Netflix’s Love, Death + Robots has released three “volumes” that all tell diverse stories that feature technology and science in some capacity. There’s a lot of variety in the content of these sci-fi stories, but the visuals are also incredibly eclectic.

Each installment becomes its own animated marvel that’s just a gorgeous sight to behold. Some episodes of Love, Death + Robots are definitely geared for mature audiences, but there’s enough content in the series that appeases mainstream sensibilities that it can still be watched by the entire family.

16 Fringe

5 Seasons, 100 Episodes

Fringe is a sci-fi series that follows in The X-Files’ footsteps when it comes to a paranormal procedural series where monster-of-the-week cases feed into a larger serialized mystery. Fringe maintains a consistency throughout its entire run, despite some of the wilder swings that it chooses to take.

Fringe properly builds upon its ideas and themes so that each season is stronger than the last. Certain Fringe episodes are more frightening than others, but it never gets too aggressive that younger audiences need to be worried. If nothing else, the show’s overwhelming message of the power of family shines through any disturbing darkness.

15 Stranger Things

4 Seasons, 34 Episodes

Stranger Things might be the perfect science fiction series for all ages. The sci-fi series holds a tremendous amount of nostalgia for the 1980s, which adults will appreciate. It also leans into the horror genre, delivering some genuinely disturbing visuals and creatures.

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Stranger Things focuses on a group of children, and it definitely embraces their adventurous innocence when it comes to its demographic. Much like the show’s audience, the young characters in Stranger Things continue to grow up, which facilitates increasingly deeper subject matter.

14 Doctor Who

13 Seasons in the latest run, and 26 Seasons in the classic run. Including Specials, 870 Episodes have aired.

In its initial airing, Doctor Who was famous for being family-friendly, and the same is true of its 2005 reboot. The famous show follows a time traveler and his companions as they explore the universe. Although it features plenty of enemies and monsters, the show isn't a violent one, with its focus being on clever and peaceful solutions to complex problems.

Doctor Who has its suggestive moments, and some episodes are infamously scary, but these are typically well-judged and appropriate for a family audience. The show will challenge younger audiences in an age-appropriate way, while still being entertaining for adult viewers.

13 The Mandalorian

2 Seasons, 16 Episodes

Star Wars is a prolific science fiction property that’s almost impossible to avoid. For decades, Star Wars has been a cinematic endeavor, but Disney+ has become a new home for fresh Star Wars stories, with even more on the way. The Mandalorian is a love letter to the broader strokes of the Star Wars universe that will please the older longtime fans that grew up with the series.

However, The Mandalorian’s episodic approach and its ability to tell more intimate Star Wars stories is perfect for newcomers. Although it has influences from Westerns, crime stories, and other more "adult" genres, the show blends them well with kid-friendly content. This combination is best exemplified by Grogu's cuteness, the Youngling adorably referred to as "Baby Yoda."

12 The Flash

8 Seasons, 171 Episodes

The Arrowverse is largely family-friendly, but some of its series stray into darker territory that some parents may not be comfortable with. For more content-conscious parents, The Flash is a good choice. It's one of the lightest and most entertaining shows in the franchise, but with less of the suggestive content shows like Legends of Tomorrow embrace.

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The Flash focuses on one of DC's warmest and most entertaining heroes, with consistent themes around self-improvement and restraint. It dips into darker moments from time to time, but for the most part, The Flash proves engaging for everyone.

11 Locke & Key

3 Seasons, 28 Episodes

For years, there have been unsuccessful attempts to adapt Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's Locke & Key comic series for television. Netflix recently cracked the formula by taking a rather adult property and reframing it toward a younger audience.

Locke & Key looks at three siblings reunited through trauma and come to terms with the fantastical circumstances that surround their home. The chemistry between the Locke siblings will resonate with both adults and children, while delivering a trippy sci-fi adventure all ages will enjoy.

10 Star Trek: Discovery

4 Seasons, 55 Episodes

Star Trek is one of the biggest science fiction franchises of all time, and it's done an amazing job penetrating television, feature films, and other mediums of entertainment. There's been a recent Star Trek resurgence with multiple new series on the air at once.

Star Trek: Discovery has four seasons under its belt, and it's captured the magic of the original series while displaying an original voice. The new animated series, Star Trek: Prodigy, skews younger and is more child-friendly, but Discovery appeals to adults without alienating younger audiences.

9 Star Wars: The Clone Wars

7 Seasons, 133 Episodes

There are few franchises more universally beloved than Star Wars. Some may think that, as a cartoon, Star Wars: The Clone Wars only holds value for younger audiences. However, it's proven shockingly entertaining for audiences of most ages.

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In some ways, The Clone Wars is more mature than the films — at least the prequel trilogy — looking at the grittier side of war and politics. It has some genuinely emotional or frightening characters, moments, and episodes, but not so much that children can't watch. For fans of the films, The Clone Wars is a must-see.

8 Primeval

5 Seasons, 36 Episodes

Designed to appeal to Doctor Who fans, Primeval follows a government team that deals with creatures from the past and future that are appearing in the present. It shares some similarities with Torchwood, Doctor Who's more adult-oriented spin-off, but in a more toned-down fashion.

The show is frightening, but not in a way older children can't handle. It has some violence, but nothing that couldn't be shown in a PG-13 film. Likewise, its suggestive scenes leave things suggestive. In addition, it actually tries to be educational regarding dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, becoming a prime choice for children who already have an interest in the topic.

7 Lost In Space

3 Seasons, 28 Episodes

It's nothing new for television to take a successful property from several decades ago and give it a modern facelift to appeal to new audiences. The original Lost In Space was classic episodic television that wasn't far removed from a sci-fi version of Gilligan's Island.

Netflix's modern reboot is grittier and more polished, but its greatest asset continues to be its focus on an overwhelmed and estranged family. Netflix's Lost In Space has three seasons, which have gradually gotten stronger and grown more mature each year.

6 The Orville

3 Seasons, 36 Episodes

Seth MacFarlane is best known for his animated contributions to television, Family Guy, and American Dad, but he’s progressively made a push for live-action comedy. The Orville, which will soon drop its third season on Hulu, is a surprisingly passionate love letter to classic Star Trek.

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MacFarlane’s classic juvenile comedic sensibilities are present, but The Orville is much more interested in stylistically paying service to the sci-fi stories that fueled the original Star Trek. It’s more thoughtful than it gets credit for, which helps it appeal to all demographics.

5 Superman & Lois

2 Seasons, 30 Episodes

The Arrowverse remains one of the most popular superhero franchises on TV, but its tonal inconsistency and increasing interconnectedness aren't for everyone. Superman & Lois reflects a conscious step towards more careful stories that are interested in character development and more grounded elements.

One of the biggest twists in Superman & Lois is that the titular couple has several children, who are coming to terms with their own superpowers. This family aspect makes Superman & Lois the perfect equalizer for audiences of all ages.

4 Upload

2 Seasons, 17 Episodes

Death is inevitably tricky territory to expose children to, but some exceptionally thoughtful pieces of television approach death in a manner that's successfully comedic, yet also thought-provoking. Upload, a sci-fi comedy on Amazon Prime from Greg Daniels, touches on this theme.

Upload attempts to break down questions regarding life, death, and identity. Set in the future, the recently deceased can upload their consciousness into a virtual afterlife that's made of their own choosing. Upload maintains an uplifting tone and is psychologically deep enough to entertain adults without overwhelming kids.

3 Loki

1 Season, 6 Episodes

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most popular entertainment franchises in the world, with broad appeal to both children and adults. Its projects aren't limited to the big screen, however. Phase Four has seen a big push to streaming services, with several TV shows available on Disney+.

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Loki is one of the more entertaining MCU TV efforts, both in a storytelling and visual sense. The six-episode series breaks down the concept of a multiverse in an understandable fashion. There are epic action heights that will appeal to the older crowd, but also a bizarre sense of humor for the kids. Season two is already one of 2023's most anticipated Disney+ releases.

2 The Expanse

6 Seasons, 62 Episodes

The Expanse deals with heavier material than a lot of science fiction shows, taking on elements from the conspiracy thriller genre against the backdrop of a Cold War in space. However, it's not gratuitous or unsuitable in these elements. For the most part, the series is an entertaining adventure worth watching.

The Expanse may not be for every younger viewer, with a political and character-driven plot, but it's not beyond the grasp of any older children who may watch. It doesn't patronize its audience. Instead, it trusts them to follow and understand its subject matter.

1 Lost

6 Seasons, 121 Episodes

Lost was one of the biggest sci-fi series of its decade, and it helped kickstart television’s fascination with serialized and mysterious narratives. Lost balances its unpredictable science fiction with gripping character studies, and it culminates into something special.

Lost has become a staple that countless other science fiction shows have desperately tried to replicate. While the show deals with death, addiction, and more adult themes, it handles these topics in a sanitized manner, making it the perfect gateway series to introduce younger audiences to serialized sci-fi storytelling.

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