The best sci-fi TV shows on Netflix (2023)

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The reboot of the 1965 series of the same name takes us to the year 2046, two years after humanity is on the brink of extinction. The talented Robinson family sets out with a team to colonize a new planet. Aside from the inevitable family drama, they are confronted with strange new environments and a strange alien robot who befriends young Will. Mystery, heart, and a memorable villain in Parker Posey's Dr. Smith give Lost in Space plenty of fuel to get off the ground (seasons 2 and 3 are vastly improved over season 1).

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Altered Carbon is set in a cyberpunk world where human consciousness can be transferred into different bodies. In the process, investigator and ex-soldier Takeshi Kovacs is lost transported to the body of Joel Kinnaman in season 1 and by Anthony Mackie in season 2. Love. Altered Carbon can be clunky at times, but its visual appeal and entertainment value make it stand out with exposure and heavy-handed social commentary.

Murray Cerrar/Netflix

From the creators of The Matrix comes another story that plays with reality. Sense8 follows eight strangers from around the world who discover that they are spiritually and emotionally connected. Not only do these windows into very different lives teach tolerance, but the "reasonable" can tap into the abilities of others when confronted with a sinister organization out to get them. Poke fun at the various characters in Sense8 and you'll fall head over heels in love with this serious and sensual sci-fi drama.

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A DNA researcher claims it's possible to match people based on genetics and starts a dating service. A murder investigation turns things around. The One is based on the book of the same name by John Marrs, published in 2016.

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Unfortunately, this sci-fi series doesn't have a second season, another victim of Netflix who died too soon. Two timelines, cults and a mystery are packed into the enticing package of Archive 81 much more than he expected, involved in the investigation of a mysterious cult and a young woman who may or may not be dead. Archive 81 is a supernatural thriller with horror, noir and sci-fi filtered into its spooky atmosphere.

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Yes, Gong Yoo from Squid Game is included. What else do you need to know? This South Korean sci-fi mystery follows a team of astronauts on a mission to an abandoned research facility on the moon. Their goal: a sample of an unknown substance for unclear purposes. Treachery, government lies and personal secrets spiral this addictive space journey.

Screenshot von Warner Bros./YouTube/CNET

If The 100 is anything like your standard teenage drama, prepare to exceed your expectations. There's a reason this post-apocalyptic series has seven seasons: The 100 brings rich world-building and moral dilemmas that place stereotypical characters in unique and compelling locations. The 100 in question are a generation of juvenile prisoners who were sent to Earth to determine if it was habitable after the apocalypse. 100 percent give this one a chance.

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This adult animated anthology series spans a variety of genres, with many episodes hitting the Black Mirror compare button. Robots in a post-apocalyptic town, farmers piloting mech suits, and a space mission gone awry feature in the first season. While the episodes can be hit or miss (some have been criticized for their treatment of women), you'll find plenty of impressive and thought-provoking animation.

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The German response to Stranger Things deliberately takes its time before going to totally compelling and original locations. A sci-fi noir, Dark fuses time travel, conspiracies and estranged families in a story that spans generations and is triggered by the disappearance of a child. If this kind of carefully crafted layering is what you're after in your storytelling, get comfortable. All three seasons of Dark's meditative look at time travel and its impact on human nature are waiting to hit you in full force.

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Hilary Swank is the big star at the heart of space drama Away. She plays Emma Green, a NASA astronaut and commander of an expedition to Mars. Things get off to a rocky start, and Emma's international crew makes her question her leadership skills. Torn between earth-based drama and reliable entertainment high above the stratosphere, Away manages a complete journey.

Laurie Sparham/Netflix

During Charlie Brooker's gritty tech anthology seriescan be unpredictableAt its best, Black Mirror packs its mini-movies with exploring futuristic technological ideas through painfully human stories. One of them is San Junipero, which follows two women in their 80's (cue banging soundtrack) who fall in love in a way they couldn't in their "real" life outside of the beach town. The technological aspect is revealed with great timing, and overall the show explores the aftermath of our connected lives in a disturbing and at times uplifting way.

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It wouldn't be a better list without Stranger Things. If you somehow missed the Duffer brothers' ode to '80s horror and Steven Spielberg, things are about to get tubular. We follow El, an almost mute girl who has been the subject of scientific experiments. She develops telekinetic powers to defend herself against monsters that invade her from a terrifying alternate dimension. The world of Indiana, Hawkins is lovingly detailed for anyone in need of a nostalgic '80s hit, and the misfit characters, played by an outstanding young cast, are part of everything that makes this show a tour de force.

JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Netflix's terminations don't get any more criminal than the removal of The OA. This unique story follows Prairie Johnson, a blind young woman who returns after years of being missing and is now able to see. Claiming to be the "original angel," she convinces a small group of locals to listen to her impossible story, which involves kidnappings and grand escapes. OA is the kind of sci-fi that surprises you and its heroes by showcasing its fantastic concepts. Watch the first two flawless seasons on Netflix and cross your fingers that the third will be picked up elsewhere.

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This apocalyptic sci-fi from Belgium will probably have you flying soon. Into the Night is set on an airplane and sees a Red Eye being kidnapped by a soldier who, along with the rest of the passengers, is surviving a deadly global event on the ground. Can you keep the plane running long enough to get her to safety? That premise alone should be enough to entice you into checking out this excellent, suspenseful thriller.

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Full Disclosure: Netflix sadly canceled Travelers after its third season, but this tightly plotted sci-fi series from Canada manages to end with an ambitious bang. We start with Marcy, a disabled woman who gets beat up after helping a friend escape from thugs. She dies, then comes back to life. This powerful, character-driven sci-fi deftly unveils its mysteries as it follows agents from the future who are tasked with preventing the collapse of society while also navigating the tricky terrain of a double life.

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2023 is coming with new movies from Marvel, Netflix, DC and more