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

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The German answer to Stranger Things deliberately takes its time before going to wholly compelling and original locations. A sci-fi noir, Dark combines time travel, conspiracies and separated families in a story that crosses generations and is triggered by the disappearance of a child. If this kind of carefully crafted layering is what you're looking for in your storytelling, be my guest. All three seasons of Dark's meditative look at time travel and its impact on human nature are waiting to hit you full force.

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Hilary Swank is the big star at the center of the space drama Away. She plays Emma Green, a NASA astronaut and commander of an expedition to Mars. Things get off to a bad start, and Emma's international team has her questioning her leadership skills. While the time is divided between earth-based drama and reliable entertainment above the stratosphere, Away succeeds in most cases, going full throttle.

Laurie Sparham/Netflix

During Charlie Brooker's gritty tech anthology seriescan be unpredictableAt its best, Black Mirror packs its mini-films with the exploration of futuristic technological ideas through painfully human stories. One is San Junipero, which follows two women in their 80s (soundtrack thunderous) who fall in love in a way they couldn't in their "real" life outside of the seaside town. The technological aspect is revealed with great timing, and overall the show explores the consequences of our connected lives in a disturbing and sometimes 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 was once the subject of scientific experiments. She develops telekinetic powers to defend herself against monsters invading her from a terrifying alternate dimension. The world of Indiana, Hawkins is carefully fleshed out for anyone in need of an '80s nostalgic hit, and the misfit characters, played by an exceptional young cast, are part of everything that makes this show a tour de force.

JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Netflix terminations are no more criminal than the removal of The OA. This unique story follows Prairie Johnson, a young blind woman who returns after being missing for years and is now able to see. Claiming to be the "original angel", she convinces a small group of villagers to listen to her impossible story, which involves kidnappings and grand escapes. OA is the kind of sci-fi that surprises you and your heroes by showcasing its fantastical concepts. Watch the perfect first two seasons on Netflix and cross your fingers that the third picks up elsewhere.

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This apocalyptic sci-fi from Belgium will likely have you flying soon. Into the Night is set on a plane and features 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 to check out this excellent suspense thriller.

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Full disclosure: Netflix unfortunately canceled Travelers after its third season, but this well-planned sci-fi series from Canada manages to end with an ambitious bang. We begin with Marcy, a disabled woman who is beaten up after helping a friend escape from bandits. She dies, then comes back to life. This powerful, character-driven sci-fi deftly unravels its mysteries as it follows agents of the future tasked with preventing the collapse of society while also navigating the tricky terrain of a double life.

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 they are spiritually and emotionally connected. Not only do these windows into very different lives teach tolerance, but the "reasonable" can take advantage of the abilities of others when faced with a sinister organization out to get them. Have fun with Sense8's many characters and you'll fall madly in love with this serious and sensual sci-fi drama.

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

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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 verge of extinction. The talented Robinson family sets out with a team to colonize a new planet. In addition to 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 Dr. Smith gives Lost in Space plenty of fuel to get off the ground (Seasons 2 and 3 were vastly improved over the first season).

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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. Its purpose: a sample of an unknown substance for unclear purposes. Betrayal, government lies and personal secrets spiral into this addictive space journey.

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Sadly, this sci-fi series doesn't get a second season, another victim of Netflix that died too soon. Two timelines, cults, and a mystery are wrapped up in the alluring package of File 81, which gets much more than it bargained for, embroiled 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 science fiction filtered into its spooky atmosphere.

Screenshot from Warner Bros./YouTube/CNET

If The 100 is anything like your standard teen drama, prepare to exceed your expectations. There's a reason this post-apocalyptic series has seven seasons: The 100 features 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 shot.

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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 city, farmers piloting mech suits and a space mission gone wrong all feature in season one. While the episodes can be hit or miss (some were criticized for their treatment of women), you'll find plenty of impressive and thought-provoking animation.

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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 changes things. The One is based on the book of the same name by John Marrs, published in 2016.

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