Science fiction series are popular among audiences since they allow them to explore new worlds, to see things that aren’t possible in real life. However, sci-fi shows aren’t as prevalent as other genres since they cost a lot of money to make, and if not successful, they often get canceled after a single season.
The good news is that sci-fi fans who are looking for new, high-quality series have multiple options to choose from. 2022 witnessed the release of several sci-fi shows that did well with viewers and have already been renewed for second seasons, meaning the heroes will come back sooner or later.
5 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
After the dark Star Trek: Discovery and the nostalgic Star Trek: Picard, some fans of the franchise felt it was time for Star Trek to go back to its roots. The latest series managed to do just that. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds offers a modernized version of the original crew, but at the same time, it's the closest in feeling to the very first Star Trek show, Star Trek: The Original Series that aired in the 1960s.
The series combines adventure, humor, drama, and action, and also takes the time to develop the relationships between the characters, both friendship, and romance. Even though it references the previous Star Trek shows multiple times and brings back fan-favorite characters such as Spock, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds can also serve as an introduction to this fictional world. Strange New Worlds has already been renewed for a second season, one that’s supposed to give more space to another iconic Star Trek character, Captain James T. Kirk.
4 Star Wars: Tales Of The Jedi
Considering the fact that Star Trek and Star Wars are two of the most popular sci-fi franchises of all time, it’s only appropriate that shows from both of these universes rank among the best-rated new series of 2022. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi tells the story of two different Jedi, Ahsoka Tano and Dooku, making it a must-watch for all of their fans. However, the animated series is just as pleasant to watch for any fan of sci-fi or those who don’t have much time but still would like to stream something.
With each episode running under 20 minutes, it’s easy to binge-watch the series fast and be left looking for more. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi doesn’t have a second season scheduled just yet, but judging by the show’s popularity and the fact that there are plenty of Jedi it could focus on, it’s likely a new season will arrive sometime in the future.
3 Peacemaker
Superhero shows are a dime a dozen, considering the popularity of the genre. Despite that, Peacemaker managed to bring something new to the TV screens. For one, the show's main character is hated by almost everyone he meets, except for his best friend Vigilante (who is similar to Deadpool in some ways). The colorful cast of characters combined with often over-the-top plots (in the best meaning of the word) ensures that the viewers are never bored. Peacemaker isn’t afraid to make fun of itself and its characters.
At the same time, it can be surprisingly emotionally charged, especially when it comes to the difficult relationship between the titular antihero and his father, portrayed by Robert Patrick. The eight episodes of the first season keep a swift pace. The good news for all fans of the show is that Peacemaker is set to get eight more new episodes in 2023. The only potential downside of the series is that it serves as a sequel to the movie The Suicide Squad (2021) where John Cena’s Peacemaker played an important part. But considering the movie’s high quality, it’s not a sacrifice to catch up on it if viewers hadn’t seen it before.
2 Andor
The Star Wars franchise had a good year in 2022, considering two of its shows rank among the best-rated series of this year. Andor is a live-action adventure story that brings back the character of Cassian Andor, who previously appeared in Rogue One (2016). Andor has a more realistic, gritty, down-to-Earth feeling to it than other Star Wars series and movies which separates it from the rest. It’s an adult story that proves once and for all living in the Star Wars world wouldn’t be such good luck, even though the fans of the franchise might wish for it.
The show's high stakes keep the audience hooked from the start to finish. It helps that the cast includes talented actors, from Diego Luna to Andy Serkis and Stellan Skarsgård, to name just a few. Andor raised the bar high for any future Star Wars shows. Just like with other successful sci-fi shows of this year, it has already been renewed for a second season and is supposed to get new 12 episodes in 2023.
1 Severance
One of the best new series of 2022 shows that sometimes it works for the best to include more subtle science fiction elements in the story. Thanks to this approach, Severance comes across as something that could happen in real life, and that makes the story even more impressive.
The less the viewers know about the show before watching it, the better, since Severance offers more than one surprising plot twist. Its strength lies not only in the mystery and the realistic portrayal of a corporate environment, but also in the strong performances by actors such as Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, and others. The first season has nine episodes in total, and the second is due to come in 2023.