Escape Into New Worlds With These 11 Sci-Fi & Fantasy TV Shows

Sci-Fi Fantasy Series to Watch
Matt Kennedy/CBS; Ken Woroner/BBC AMERICA; Courtesy Everett Collection

What better way to escape the world than with a TV show that introduces an entirely new one?

Sure, there might be some sci-fi and fantasy series you want to avoid right now — like The Walking Dead — but there are plenty of other options out there if that’s your genre.

From watching Buffy fight — and fall in love with — vampires to traveling through space and time with Doctor Who to the canceled-too-soon Firefly, we’ve gathered some picks for you below.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel - David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar
Courtesy Everett Collection

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel

It all began on and with Buffy, and you can relive the heartbreaking and tragic romances, sad deaths, and memorable speeches across both shows.

Firefly - Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Ron Glass, Sean Maher, Morena Baccarin, Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Summer Glau
Everett Collection

Firefly

Maybe you’ve checked out shows like Killjoys and Vagrant Queen on Syfy recently. If so, you’ll want to go back and watch the one season (and a movie) of Firefly because there’s something so entertaining about this crew.

Battlestar Galactica Sci-Fi Fantasy Series to Watch
Art Streiber / © SCI FI CHANNEL / courtesy everett collection

Battlestar Galactica

Syfy just so happens to be in the middle of a marathon of this epic sci-fi series, which follows the fight against the robot Cylons with quite a few twists along the way, all the way up until the very end. It’ll keep you hooked and distracted.

Doctor Who Torchwood Sci-Fi Fantasy Series to Watch
James Pardon/BBC Studios/BBC America; © BBC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Doctor Who and Torchwood

What better way to escape than to follow the adventures of an alien across space and time? No matter which Doctor you prefer, there are enough episodes for a good binge. And if you’re looking for something a bit older and darker, check out the spinoff following Captain Jack Harkness. (You might want to skip the much bleaker Seasons 3 and 4, however.)

Clark Gregg as Coulson in Agents of SHIELD
ABC/Mitch Haaseth

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Ahead of its final season, enjoy a dive into the Marvel universe with the series that brought back Clark Gregg’s Coulson (more than once). With seasons split in pods, it’s easier than ever to settle in for a good binge.

Star Trek Discovery Picard Sci-Fi Fantasy Series to Watch
Lilja Jónsdóttir/CBS; Matt Kennedy/CBS

Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek Picard

If you’re a Star Trek fan, these new series are right up your alley. Whether you’re looking to revisit a fan-favorite character or get to know new ones in the universe, you’re in luck.

Orphan Black Sci-Fi Fantasy Series to Watch
Ken Woroner/BBC AMERICA

Orphan Black

Watch this series just to see Tatiana Maslany in multiple roles. She makes each clone so distinct, and you’ll get sucked into their lives as they get to the bottom of how they came to be.

The X-Files - David Duchovny as Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully
Courtesy Everett Collection

The X-Files

Whether or not you were a fan of the revival, there’s nothing like the original series. While there are ongoing storylines, you can also enjoy most episodes as stand-alones and watch believer Mulder and skeptic Scully’s search for the truth.