What’s the best thing about winter? A warm blanket, a steaming mug, and a good show to binge-watch during the so-wanted break. How about a space-themed series? They give an excellent opportunity to escape the daily routine. More importantly, space TV shows on this list hold viewers glued to their screens from the first till the last minute. And you do not need to be an astrophysicist fan to enjoy them — so you won’t have to snuggle with your steaming mug all alone!
The Mandalorian (2019-present)
One of the most popular space TV shows 2023 has to offer and an obvious start to this list. If you haven’t watched this Star Wars franchise series, it’s high time to do it!
The Mandalorian is a fully independent product that hooks the viewer right from the start. As you watch the story of a Mando bounty hunter and Baby Yoda, you get to meet plenty of other thought-through characters that always make a lasting impression.
Dark Matter (2015-2017)
If you’ve been wondering, what is the show about going to space? Well, look no further. Dark Matter starts as six people wake up aboard a spacecraft with no memories and have to unwrap how they got there. The show keeps viewers in suspense throughout all three prematurely canceled seasons.
The stakes keep going higher and higher, and the characters will have to find out who’s the hero and who’s the villain — just like the viewers.
For All Mankind (2019-present)
For All Mankind is not a typical show set in a distant future or on some other planet. It is an alternative history series in which the USSR beats the USA in the Moon Race.
This is a show about NASA, its pilots, intricate politics, the science of exploring the cosmos, and the pursuit of greatness. Its unusual plot, smart writing, and relevant social topics make For All Mankind an excellent show for a winter night.
Killjoys (2015-2019)
What is the TV show where they are in space? Most of the time, at least? Killjoys is a great combination of plot and action. The show focuses on three interplanetary bounty hunters working for an organization that issues arrest and search warrants. The hunters mostly operate in a ‘Quad’ region — a system of four planets that happens to be on the brink of war. Their duty demands them to remain neutral in conflicts, but that is not always possible when personal beliefs start interfering with the job.
The Expanse (2015-2022)
The Expanse is set in the future, where the Earth and Mars are the solar system superpowers, while people living in the Asteroid Belt area are toiling in mines and getting more radicalized by the day. Does it ring a bell?
This series is one of the best shows about space colonization because it is so relevant in today’s society. The Expanse raises pressing questions about race, power, surviving in a hostile environment, and many others. All six seasons, with a total of 62 episodes, captivate with every scene.
Andor (2022-present)
Another story set in the Star Wars world and one of the best-rated space TV shows. You do not necessarily need to be a fan or know every other product in the ever-growing Star Wars franchise to appreciate Andor.
The protagonist is an immigrant from an abandoned planet trying to find some work and climb the social ladder. The series has excellent reviews — mostly for Diego Luna’s convincing depiction of Cassian Andor. And, while the story is set in a fantasy world, it feels very real.
Doctor Who (2005-present)
The original version, which ran from 1963 to 1989, is one of the best space TV shows that became a cult classic. Recently, it received yet another new version, which is a decent continuation of the show almost as old as space exploration itself.
Doctor, the time-traveling alien, is played by the fifteenth actor in a row, but his Tardis-looking spacecraft remains almost the same. The visual effects are way better than in the 1960s, though!
Firefly (2002)
This is one of the best old space TV shows that has aged very well. Another prematurely canceled series on this list has only one season and an astonishing number of fans and is worth checking out.
Firefly is set in a distant feature where the two superpowers, the USA and China, form a political and cultural alliance and establish dominance beyond our home planet. The plot revolves around a spaceship captain who lives from cargo deliveries, with an occasional side freight of some smuggled goods… or people.
Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking (2010)
TV shows about space, documentaries at least, can often be too scientifically detailed to watch for fun, but Into the Universe is a lucky exception. Three hour-and-a-half episodes are worth every second of your time!
The show explains some of the most complex aspects of astrophysics in a plain, relatable manner. The stunning visuals and the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch also make Into the Universe an excellent choice for a cozy winter evening.
Futurama (1999-present)
This is the only animated series on this list, but it deserves a spot because, after a ten-year break, the beloved cartoon is back, and it is as good as ever! If you are into satirical comedy, Futurama is for you. Matt Groening and David Cohen, better known as the creators of The Simpsons, did a way better job with Futurama, which is set in a distant future, a thousand years from now.
There is space, aliens, mutants, an alcoholic robot, a crazy professor, and a simpleton delivery boy from the 20th century who accidentally got locked in a cryogenic chamber in 1999 and awoke in the year 3000.
Wrapping it all up, did you ever wonder what was the first space TV show? That was Captain Video and His Video Rangers, an adventure series for kids, running from 1949 to 1955. But soon enough, filmmakers saw the huge potential in this genre, which is why we get a chance to enjoy all of the cool space TV shows described above!
