10 Great Space Sci-Fi TV Shows That Were Overshadowed By Star Trek

Since the 1960s, major space science fiction television shows have been overshadowed by Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry’s hopeful vision of humanity’s space future is a cultural touchstone which inspired dedicated Trekkies around the world. Reruns and movies kept this dream alive long enough to release many more Star Trek properties. After a long drought, the Star Trek the franchise is stronger than ever in the streaming era, with five shows and more new features Star Trek projects on the way.

Programs that follow any part of the Star Trek formula are inevitably compared to the science fiction juggernaut, even when they try to break away from their inspiration. Sometimes, simply being set in space is enough to push a great sci-fi show into the long shadow cast by Star Trek. The criteria for these programs are the use of Walksimilar tropes of ethical dilemmas, future technology, and humanoid aliens to tell stories about humans exploring and surviving in space; but not achieving the same level of recognition as Star Trek.

10

Red Dwarf (1988–1999, 2009–2020)

Created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor

Set in the distant future aboard the mining spaceship Red Dwarf, this British sci-fi comedy follows the misadventures of Dave Lister, the last known human survivor, and his companions: a hologram of his dead bunkmate, a creature that has evolved of his cat, and a neurotic android. Isolated in deep space, they encounter bizarre phenomena and alien creatures as they traverse the galaxy.

Release date: February 15, 1988
Seasons: 12
Writers: Rob Grant, Doug Naylor
Presenter: Douglas Naylor
Creator(s): Rob Grant, Doug Naylor
Cast: Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn, Norman Lovett, Hattie Hayridge

The British sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf was not widely available in the US during its first run, so it was easily overshadowed by the 1990 trifecta Star Trek show. Red Dwarf stars low-ranking officers dealing with all the nonsense that space has to offer on the eponymous mining ship while generally failing to get along. Like a comedy with a common perspective, Red Dwarf has more in common with Star Trekanimated sitcom, Star Trek: Lower Decks, than its contemporary, Star Trek: The Next Generation.

9

Babylon 5 (1993–1998)

Created by J. Michael Straczynski

Babylon 5 is a science fiction television series that revolves around a group of humans and aliens who work together on a space station known as Babylon 5 during the 23rd century. The show explores intergalactic relations, conflicts, and the crew’s relationships as they try to help their respective species thrive and survive.

Release date: February 22, 1993
Seasons: 5
Writers: J. Michael Straczynski
Presenter: J. Michael Straczynski
Cast: Bruce Boxleitner, Michael O’Hare, Tracy Scoggins, Richard Biggs, Peter Jurasik, Jason Carter, Robert Rusler, Mira Furlan, Patricia Talman, Bill Mumy, Claudia Christian, Jerry Doyle, Stephen Furst, Jeff Conaway, Andrea Thompson, Andreas Katsulas

Accusations of J. Michael Straczynski Babylon 5 plagiarizing Star Trek: Deep Space Nine meant Babylon 5 had difficulty standing on its own merits when it aired. Both shows were set aboard space stations during a pivotal interstellar war, with a human commander fulfilling an alien prophecy. Babylon 5The planned five-year arc tells an ambitious, well-written story with ample political intrigue while various alien species attempt to forge alliances. B5 it may seem Star Trek on the surface, but it’s an early deconstruction of the formula that works.

8

Earth 2 (1994–1995)

Created by Billy Ray, Michael Duggan, Carol Flint and Mark Levin

NBC’s Earth 2about an expedition led by a woman towards a promised destination, coincidentally aired a year before the premiere of Star Trek: Voyager. Earth 2 was as ambitious in production value as its sister show, SeaQuest DSVand also capitalized on the ongoing style of mystery storytelling that made The X-Files so popular. With the DNA of so many hits and Tim Curry as a recurring villain Earth 2 should have been an easy win for NBC, but it only lasted one season.

7

Space: Above and Beyond (1995-1996)

Created by Glen Morgan and James Wong

Space: above and beyond it was the kind of sci-fi space program that, on its surface, seemed like the opposite of Star Trek – at least until DS9of Dominion War played with similar tropes. Above and beyondYoung Marine cadets, the Wildcards, are tested in battle as some of Earth’s last remaining defenses against a hostile alien enemy. which seeks to prevent human colonization beyond our solar system. With morally gray heroes and skepticism, Space: above and beyond was as far ahead of its time as DS9.

6

Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007)

Created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner

Stargate SG-1 is a spin-off science fiction adventure television series set in the Stargate Universe, initially created by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. Set about a year after the events of the film; The story takes place after it is known that Stargate technology allows those who use it to travel to different planets. Featuring various teams sent to conduct reconnaissance and defend Earth from potential extraterrestrial threats, the series follows the titular SG-1 team of the US Air Force as they face various alien threats.

Release date: July 27, 1997
Seasons: 10
Writers: Brad Wright
Creator(s): Jonathan Glassner, Brad Wright
Presenter: Brad Wright
Cast: Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Don S. Davis, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, Ben Browder

SG-1 Stargate applied the Star Trek formula for Roland Emmerich’s 1994 film Stargate, expanding the film’s premise with new alien worlds inspired by Earth mythology. Each week the SG-1 team traveled through the Stargate to visit a new planet, often with a Star Trek-moral dilemma of style. SG-1 StargateThe episodic structure evolved into longer arcs with rich lore and strong character development. Possibly, Stargate it became a franchise with spin-off shows, which further distanced it from the parent film.

5

Farscape (1999–2003)

Created by Rockne S. O’Bannon

Farscape is a science fiction television series that initially premiered in 2004 and was created by Rockne S. O’Bannon. Astronaut John Crichton is sucked into a universe-wide wormhole after an experimental flight goes wrong, placing him aboard a ship with a crew of several different alien races. Stranded in space and on the run from a nefarious organization known as the Peacekeepers, John and company work together to survive day after day as they try to maintain peace throughout the universe – as much as possible.

Release date: March 19, 1999
Seasons: 4
Writers: Rockne S. O’Bannon, David Kemper, Justin Monjo, Richard Manning
Creator(s): Rockne S. O’Bannon
Cast: Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Virginia Hey, Anthony Simcoe, Gigi Edgley, Paul Goddard, Lani Tupu, Wayne Pygram, Jonathan Hardy, Tammy MacIntosh, Raelee Hill, Melissa Jaffer, David Franklin, Rebecca Riggs

Distant landscape is a beautiful fever dream of a show that flew under the radar when it aired on the Syfy Channel, but has since been considered a cult favorite. When John Crichton finds himself the only human among a colorful cast of alien misfits on the spaceship Moya, returning to Earth isn’t really an option. Compared to Star Trek: VoyagerDelta Quadrant, Distant landscape it seems truly strange. Featuring non-humanoid aliens from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and a narrative that pushes the boundaries of science fiction tropes, Distant landscape is deeply strange, unexpectedly funny, and surprisingly full of heart.

4

Firefly (2002)

Created by Joss Whedon

Set in the year 2517, Firefly follows the crew of the Serenity, a smuggling ship operating on the fringes of Alliance space. Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) is a veteran of a civil war, bitter about having fought for the losing side and now making a living as an outlaw smuggler among distant colonies forgotten and ignored by the Alliance. However, after accepting paying passengers, Mal finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that will likely bring the entire Alliance army down on him and his crew.

Release date: September 20, 2002
Seasons: 1

In a strange time for science fiction TV, Firefly it was a risky space western that was unlikely to stand a chance. The 13 episodes that make up FireflyThe only season of it aired out of order on FOX in 2002, spoiling the introduction of Nathan Fillion’s Captain Mal Reynolds’ Serenity crew as a found family of outlaws trying to survive in a more complicated version of the final frontier. While Fireflyhis mysteries were solved and closed in his next film, Serenity, his passionate fan base still criticizes Fireflyearly death.

3

Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)

Created by Ronald D. Moore

The 2004 science fiction TV series Battlestar Galactica is a reimagining of the 1978 series of the same title. Created by Glen A. Larson, the original Battlestar Galactica features a fictional human civilization living in a distant star system called the Twelve Colonies. They are in constant battle against a cybernetic race called the Cylons, who want to exterminate the human race. A massive attack was launched, and only those who managed to get aboard the Battlestar Galactica and its fleet survived. They sail through space in search of the mythical 13th colony called Earth. Battlestar Galactica is under the command of President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Colonial Fleet Officer Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos).

Release date: October 18, 2004
Seasons: 4
Directors: Michael Rymer, Michael Nankin
Presenter: Ronald D. Moore
Cast: Grace Park, Katee Sackhoff, Mary McDonnell, Tahmoh Penikett, Tricia Helfer, Edward James Olmos, Aaron Douglas, James Callis, Alessandro Juliani, Michael Hogan, Jamie Bamber, Kandyse McClure

Battlestar Galactica has gained a large following in its own right, but still owes a debt to Star Trek. BSG executive producer Ronald D. Moore was a TNG and DS9 writer responsible for adding the depth and realism that made DS9 hit differently. Moore took the DS9 approach to remaking 1978 Star Wars-inspired Battlestar Galactica, creating a tenuous political climate loaded with realistic characters after the Cylon war.

2

The Expanse (2015–2022)

Created by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby

The Expanse is a science fiction series set in the distant future where humanity has spread throughout the solar system, but alliances between the three most powerful government bodies have reached a state of cold war. In the series, a co-ed crew find themselves at the center of a dangerous intergalactic conspiracy that threatens to bring war to the colonized worlds.

Release date: November 14, 2015
Seasons: 6
Presenter: Naren Shankar, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Cast: Thomas Jane, Dominique Tipper, Cara Gee, Jasai Chase-Owens, Florence Faivre, Cas Anvar, Keon Alexander, Frankie Adams, Shawn Doyle, Steven Strait, Paulo Costanzo, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Wes Chatham, Nadine Nicole

The Expansionbased on the book series of the same name, hit Star Trek: Discoverythe debut of two full years, but a stronger focus on the franchise name has placed more attention on Star TrekReturn to television. As Discovery, The Expansion took a darker, grittier approach to its mystery. Different Star Trek, The ExpansionThe extrapolation of real-world science and politics imagined space as a harsh, unforgiving environment that requires tenacity to survive.rather than a utopia.

1

The Orville (2017–2022)

Created by Seth MacFarlane

Created by Seth McFarlane and set in the 25th century, The Orville follows the crew of the titular ship and its captain, Ed Mercer (McFarlane) as they explore the galaxy. Inspired by Star Trek, it also mimics the sci-fi classic, taking a comedic approach to its serialized story and sci-fi premise. Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald and Scott Grimes star alongside McFarlane as part of an ensemble cast.

Release date: September 10, 2017
Seasons: 3
Presenter: Seth MacFarlane
Cast: Halston Sage, Adrianne Palicki, J. Lee, Seth MacFarlane, Chad L. Coleman, Peter Macon, Penny Johnson Jerald, Larry Joe Campbell, Scott Grimes, Mark Jackson

The Orville was not only overshadowed by Star Trek; played exclusively in the house that Star Trek built, right down to its color-coded uniforms, moral dilemmas, and technology. When Star Trek: Discovery took a difficult turn into new territory for Star Trek, The Orville delivered a 2010s version TNG, and even involved Star Trek talents like director Jonathan Frakes to ensure that 1990s nostalgia hits just the right note. Surprisingly, The Orville has evolved beyond its initial premise and become much more than a tongue-in-cheek throwback.

Star Trek is one of the biggest science fiction franchises of our time, but Star Trek It’s not the end all be all of science fiction TV shows about space. These space shows are important for their different perspectives and visions of the future, that further capture the “infinite diversity in infinite combinations“that’s right Star Trek she herself defends it as a philosophy.

10 Red Dwarf (1988–1999, 2009–2020)

Created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor

9 Babylon 5 (1993–1998)