When it comes to inventive genres, science fiction or sci-fi always get ahead of the pack. After all, it’s only through sci-fi do people get the likes of adventures of space-faring humans, androids living amongst humans, and even life in various dystopias. Unfortunately, given the need to make these sci-fi stories both compelling and immersive, it definitely takes a bit of time to get viewers invested in them. In the realm of television, this can make or break a series.
However, there are actually great sci-fi shows that don’t need shockers just to become appealing on the get-go. Interestingly enough, the sci-fi genre is hiding gems behind a couple of episodes, with some shows dedicated to getting people invested in them before they drop surprising plot points. Here are some great sci-fi shows that take a long time to get good, but are definitely worth the wait:
10 Person Of Interest (2011-2015)
In its unique interpretation of post-9/11 paranoia, Person Of Interest has reclusive billionaire Harold Finch invent an all-monitoring “the machine” for the government that can identify threats to national security but ignores potential domestic crime. After traumatic events, Finch enlists the help of ex-special agent John Reese to get the “machine”’s information on these potential domestic threats and save lives, creating a reasonably-entertaining crime procedural bordering on the sci-fi.
However, as Reese discovers that the “machine” is actually an advanced superintelligence, Person Of Interest begins dabbling into the philosophical and societal implications of inventing such a technology. By the time Season 2 arrives, the plot and tension pick up as enigmatic figures and organizations show a keen interest in the Machine and the slow burn blasts through the tension with questions that soon dabble on the significance of morality and even the nature of existence itself.
9 Orphan Black (2013-2017)
At first glance, Orphan Black seems like a typical drama show involving Sarah Manning and her journey to becoming the guardian of Kira, her daughter. But when she sees a doppelganger of hers taking her life through an oncoming train, Sarah becomes embroiled in a conspiracy that not only involves cloning but explores the many issues surrounding it - identity, transhumanism, and even futurism.
Having won a Peabody Award in 2013 and leading actress Tatiana Maslany earning herself multiple awards and nominations for the role, Orphan Black is an exhilarating ride once viewers finally let the show get its bearings.
8 Humans (2015-2018)
Based on the Swedish sci-fi series Real Humans, 2015’s Humans is a show that explores everything but. While the background has robots called “synths” designed to assist humans with day-to-day tasks, the series begins during the activation of special synths that have seemingly been blessed (or cursed) with sentience. One such advanced synth, Mia, is “purchased” by the Hawkins family, with her “odd” behavior soon dragging the Hawkins family into the dangers that befell Mia and her sibling synths.
The series itself explores various sci-fi themes outside AI and robotics, including superintelligence, human-robot interaction, and the nature of consciousness. And while the series will ultimately get canceled in 2019, its slow pacing with Mia’s interactions with the Hawkins will soon explode into a heart-pounding race against time as humanity’s views on synths lie in the balance.
7 12 Monkeys (2015-2018)
Based on the 1995 film of the same name, which in itself is inspired by a 1962 short film La Jetée, 12 Monkeys tells the story of individuals from a devastating future of 2043 being recruited by Project Splinter to go back to 2015 in order to stop an organization known only as “Army of the 12 Monkeys” from releasing a virus that will kill 7-billion humans in 2017. As he goes back in time, James Cole will ask virologist Dr. Cassandra Railly to help him uncover the secret of the “12 Monkeys” and stop the virus from releasing.
Despite an underwhelming first season that simply adapted the film, 12 Monkeys soon picks up its pace as Seasons 2 through 4 directly opens up new realms of possibilities. As the consequences of time travel soon loom over Cole and the rest of Project Splinter, choices are made that would determine the fate of the future.
6 Fringe (2008-2013)
After the success of The X-Files and The Twilight Zone, TV was graced by yet another sci-fi procedural in the form of Fringe. Lasting exactly 100 episodes, the series talks of the adventures of the Fringe Division of the FBI, led by Olivia Dunham and her peers, as they investigate various cases related to fringe science. As such, a lot of episodes deal with the many oddities usually seen in science fiction, from transhumanism, superintelligences, and even parallel universes.
Despite the rather lackluster first season, Fringe quickly picks up the pace and becomes a more engaging show come Season 2. The introduction of various factions such as the Massive Dynamic and even the Observers make for some intense face-offs, and the threat of some fringe concepts meshing with reality has made Fringe one of the craziest rides in the genre after its rather slow start.
5 The Expanse (2015-2022)
When a sci-fi series is based on a Hugo Award-winning novel series, fans know they’re in it for the fun. However, The Expanse proves to be a challenge to watch, especially given its slow burn of a mystery-thriller weaved into a political narrative of a space crew being dragged into a conspiracy of a cold war coming loose.
One might say the pacing of The Expanse is similar to how the plot picks up in Game Of Thrones, and while future seasons definitely pay off the suspense, it doesn’t help that the bleak background of The Expanse’s outer-space setting can make it seem like an ordinary sci-fi space show. However, if the fourth episode of the first season can’t grab future fans, it’s certainly the finale and the second season where things finally pick up steam.
4 The 100 (2014-2020)
Loosely based on the novel series of the same name, The 100 tells the story of inhabitants from a space habitat being sent to Earth almost a century after a nuclear apocalypse. The name of the series pertains to the first group of people sent back to the planet, a group of juvenile detainees, to determine the possibility of resettlement and to gather supplies.
What they find isn’t just a newly-habitable Earth, but various ways life thrived for the survivors in the process - be it through their own version of organized society, locking themselves before the apocalypse, or those who resorted to cannibalism.
Given its nature as a CW show, it’s easy to attach popular CW tropes such as cheesy dialogue and odd attention to love stories despite The 100 being a sci-fi show. However, after the first season or so, The 100 immediately picks up pace as certain events in the background and throughout the characters begin meshing over one another, creating a much more involved plot that easily adds tension to the narrative.
3 Sloborn (2020-Present)
Sci-fi doesn’t always have to be about grand schemes for a slow burn cycle to work, and Sloborn from Germany is exactly what the concept is about. Penned with the working title “Slow Burn,” Sloborn was intended to show how a catastrophe happens in slow motion, and its premise doesn’t necessarily scream sci-fi either.
While the media is reporting a contagious pigeon flu disease overseas, the fictional town of Sloborn is functioning as normal. However, when a boat containing the bodies of an American couple is found, the disease is suddenly found spreading throughout the town.
After a few “ordinary” episodes, Sloborn suddenly explores the exact same pre-pandemic panic that the world has explored. This time around, audiences see it happening from the perspective of people from an ordinary town, creating a feeling of unease and expectation as viewers will want to check whether Sloborn’s many protagonists can prevail against the pigeon flu.
2 Lost (2004-2010)
While fans of sci-fi could collectively agree that Lost didn’t exactly have an ending worth its six seasons, both fans and viewers could admire the show for its sheer blurring of the lines between science fiction and the supernatural. The series follows survivors of the Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 as they crash land into an uninhabited tropical island. While some of them quickly pick up the pace and attempt to create a makeshift shelter and society, various supernatural threats from within the island begin plaguing them.
Throughout its six-season run, Lost did have its fair share of hiccups, especially a lackluster Season 3. However, things regarding the metaplot - including both mysteries behind the crash and the nature of the island altogether - begin clicking as soon as viewers persevere and get through Season 4 onwards.
While those who watched the series weekly might feel underwhelmed with the series finale, those who binged the show might say otherwise. However, despite its many unsolved mysteries, creator J. J. Abrams said this was deliberate to leave fans wondering about the show.
1 Devs (2020)
Despite lasting a single season, Devs certainly takes a while to get good beyond its air of mystery. The series tells the story of Lily Chan, a software engineer in the quantum computing firm Amaya, as she starts investigating the mysterious death of her boyfriend, Sergei.
While Lily’s investigation seems thwarted at every turn by the enigmatic Amaya CEO, Forest, even viewers may see no hope in Lily’s path towards justice. However, just as things get desperate and otherwise boring, the pacing quickly picks up steam and gets into a climactic ending. Despite its short run, Devs is praised for its handling of themes related to determinism and free will, with its eight-episode run arguably leaving fans craving for more.