Since streaming services first became popular in the early 2010s, the landscape has changed in many ways, and not all of those changes have been positive. However, science fiction has actually flourished over the last twenty years, largely due to the rise of streaming. Despite the increasing number of options, one service stands out as the best for science fiction content.
This streaming service has produced several critically acclaimed series that rank among the best dramatic shows of the 21st century. While ‘prestige television’ used to mean realistic dramas like Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, Apple TV+ has proven that science fiction from the 2020s can be just as creatively excellent, widely popular, and influential on the future of television.
TV’s Modern Sci-fi Era Was Shaped in the 2010s Thanks to Shows Like The Expanse
When streaming services first launched, they seemed poised to surpass even established cable TV. Science fiction quickly became a popular choice for these platforms, with each service offering its own sci-fi content. Recognizing the genre’s broad appeal, every streaming service invested in science fiction to attract a wide range of viewers.
Netflix initially dipped its toes into science fiction with Stranger Things, keeping the sci-fi elements fairly simple. The show’s huge success paved the way for more programs in the genre. Since then, Netflix has found a winning formula with fun, lighthearted sci-fi series like Lost in Space, The Rain, and The Umbrella Academy, as well as more thought-provoking and scientifically grounded shows such as Dark, 3 Body Problem, and Travelers.
Other streaming services have also seen great success with adaptations. For example, The Man in the High Castle and the continuing Fallout series have received both positive reviews and passionate fan bases. While Disney+ has impressed Star Wars fans with several live-action TV shows lately, it all started with The Mandalorian in 2019.
Throughout the 2010s, Netflix offered the most compelling science fiction shows, blending complex storylines with stunning visuals. Many of these shows captured the essence of the genre – feeling both predictive of the future and completely unavoidable. Netflix, along with other streaming services, also laid the groundwork for Apple TV+, which has consistently delivered high-quality sci-fi programming.
Apple TV+ Has Released Several Sci-Fi Masterpieces in the Last 5 Years
Apple TV+ launched in 2019 as a new player in the streaming market. Although it didn’t grow as quickly as expected at first, it attracted viewers by offering popular, already-released movies and shows. Early original content appealed to subscribers, and the platform has continued to improve. Apple TV+ has found particular success with science fiction, creating several shows that have become popular with fans.
Apple TV+’s Foundation is the first-ever television series based on Isaac Asimov’s famous novels. Released in 2022, the show successfully captures the spirit of the original books while updating the story for modern audiences. Reviewers have especially praised its stunning visuals, with RogerEbert.com calling it a “grand and impressive production with special effects worthy of the IMAX format.”
The third season of Foundation has been a hit with critics and viewers, making the showrunner’s plan for eight seasons seem very realistic. Adapting the vastness of Isaac Asimov’s universe was a big undertaking, but fans are loving the results. The show has been renewed for a fourth season, and there’s plenty of source material in Asimov’s books to connect the Foundation series to his wider fictional world.
At the opposite end of the science fiction spectrum is For All Mankind, which feels like the foundation for Foundation. Since Foundation‘s history begins at a specific point in time, For All Mankind could be seen as what led to that future. The show presents an alternate version of history, imagining what would have happened if the Soviet Union had landed on the Moon first. Instead of a negative outcome, it explores how worldwide collaboration could have actually benefited everyone.
Interest in the show Silo has grown rapidly over the past ten years, likely because many people are frustrated with traditional power structures and worried about issues like war, mass atrocities, and climate change. Silo presents a believable future where the surface of the Earth is uninhabitable, and the last remnants of humanity are forced to live inside massive, cylindrical structures.
While Foundation is visually striking and bright, Silo creates a much darker and more subdued mood, perfectly matching its unsettling story and making viewers feel trapped alongside the characters. The show explores what part humanity played in damaging the environment, and offers hopeful answers through the actions of those dedicated to saving others. Silo reminds us how delicate our world is, a theme that’s powerfully explored in another often-overlooked Apple TV sci-fi series, See.
Jason Momoa shines in See, a futuristic drama set after a devastating pandemic. Centuries after a disease wipes out most of humanity, the survivors have rebuilt society – but everyone is blind. Sight is considered a legend, and the series explores this unique world in a compelling, high-quality story.
While space and dystopian stories are popular in science fiction, Apple TV+ also delivers thought-provoking drama. The show Severance taps into our current anxieties about separating work and personal life, using a cloning technology to create two versions of a person: one free to live their life, and another stuck working endlessly. This creates a compelling and unusual psychological struggle that keeps viewers hooked.
While Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul redefined dramatic television in the 2000s, Vince Gilligan’s newest show, Pluribus, has been gaining attention since late 2025. After just one season, Vulture called it “a captivating series.” Apple TV+ has taken on several ambitious TV projects, and fans of William Gibson’s Neuromancer are eager to see how the platform will adapt the novel for the screen.
Apple TV+ Is Tackling Its Greatest Challenge with Neuromancer
William Gibson’s first novel, Neuromancer, was a groundbreaking work of science fiction, alongside films like Blade Runner and Akira. For years, it was considered impossible to adapt into a movie. The book relies heavily on atmosphere and suggestion, and Gibson’s writing style focuses on showing rather than telling – the opposite of the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words.
The writing in Neuromancer is strikingly visual, almost blending the senses thanks to Gibson’s skillful use of language. The novel builds a complex and immersive world, introducing new terms and ideas as natural parts of the environment rather than lengthy explanations. For years, its fragmented, fast-paced style, unlikeable main character, and themes that predicted future anxieties made it nearly impossible to adapt into a film or series.
People once said Asimov’s Foundation was impossible to adapt for the screen, but Apple TV+ showed that wasn’t true. While William Gibson’s work is known for being intricate, Asimov prioritized clear storytelling. The big, thought-provoking ideas in Foundation – about society and science – were just as imaginative and unusual as the futuristic, technology-focused concepts in Neuromancer. A successful adaptation might require reimagining the story, potentially changing it significantly, while still capturing its essence.
Despite criticisms about its length, Foundation remains a truly great science fiction story. There’s good reason to believe Neuromancer can achieve similar success, even if adapting it means making changes from the original book.
The Future of Streaming Will Depend on How Apple TV’s Sci-fi Era Ends
A story’s ending is what truly determines its quality. Several popular sci-fi shows on Apple TV+, like Foundation, Severance, For All Mankind, and Silo, are still ongoing. While they’ve all been well-received and renewed for additional seasons, their ultimate success will depend on whether they can reach satisfying and logical conclusions. A strong finish is crucial, even for shows that start out brilliantly.
The final season of Game of Thrones was so rushed and disappointing that it damaged the show’s previously stellar reputation. While the series initially received widespread critical acclaim and was followed by successful spin-offs, the ending ultimately tarnished the show’s overall legacy.
Apple TV+ is currently leading a surge in science fiction on television, and this trend could ultimately determine the future of streaming. However, it’s still early days, and the next few years will be crucial. The platform will either thrive and reach new levels of success, or struggle. Regardless, sci-fi fans are excited to see how it all unfolds.
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2026-01-23 02:12