If You Can't Name These Sci-Fi Shows, Turn In Your Nerd Card
- by Ben Sherlock
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Science fiction TV shows seem to be the only form of science fiction that you can get away with enjoying without being branded a nerd. If you sit around the schoolyard with a Ray Bradbury book or an Isaac Asimov book in your hand, the bullies will steal your lunch money. If you sit around with your friends discussing 2001: A Space Odyssey or Ex Machina or sci-fi comic books, then they’ll give you a swirly. But if you’ve been binge watching the latest freaky deaky sci-fi opus on Netflix or intently following some new philosophical and mind-blowing and star-studded new sci-fi show on HBO, then you’re safe. No one will call you a nerd, because everyone loves that stuff. The same goes for other nerdy genres like fantasy – no one will make fun of you for liking Game of Thrones, because everyone likes Game of Thrones. Not to sound too much like a nerd, but sci-fi TV shows seem to have some kind of magical power that gets everyone on side and engaged with the storyline and the characters. But how many science fiction shows are you committed to? Take this quiz to see how many of them you can name!
What eerie, UFO-hunting drama is this?
This show, created by Chris Carter, was one of the most popular shows on TV throughout the '90s. It even rivaled The Simpsons at the ratings! It was a great show, but it went on for so long that one of the two lead actors quit. And now that they've brought it back for a kind of reboot series, the other one has quit, too! Together, they're one of the greatest duos in television history – one is a skeptic when it comes to paranormal matters and the other one is dead sure that aliens abducted his sister. The story possibilities were endless! What show is it?
What HBO western series is this?
This show has just come back for its second season on HBO and it's one of the most interesting and philosophical shows to come along in a long time. HBO first introduced it in 2016, when an end date was set for Game of Thrones and they needed to fill the void with another epic genre series. It is based on a novel by Michael Crichton and it touches on the ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence. What show is it?
What is this '80s-set Netflix original series?
There are a lot of good Netflix original series, but only a few of them are good enough to become cultural institutions and capture a huge audience. There's House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and this creepy little sci-fi series created by the Duffer brothers. The show is set in the 1980s and inspired by its popular culture, like the movies of Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter and the novels of Stephen King. It's one of the most acclaimed shows in recent memory. What is this '80s-set Netflix original series?
What futuristic Matt Groening cartoon is this?
After tackling the American family and the future in his previous two shows, Matt Groening will be bringing a third show to Netflix this year – a fantasy story in the vein of a fairy tale. Infused with his Pythonesque style of humor, this should turn out really well. But it’s that second show about the future that still doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s a hilarious show with some very interesting and hilarious ideas. What futuristic Matt Groening cartoon is this?
What spooky anthology series is this?
This show, created and mostly written by Charlie Brooker, has been hailed as the modern day Twilight Zone. It reflects our own fears and paranoias and shortcomings as a society in the form of anthology series, with new characters and new settings and new storylines in every episode, all connected with one theme: technology is scary! It began its life on the UK broadcaster Channel 4 before making the leap to Netflix and getting bigger episode orders and budgets. What spooky anthology series is this?
What space-bound western series is this?
Joss Whedon has given the world a lot of great science fiction, fantasy, and horror stuff over the years, both in movies and on television, but it is very possible that this short lived space western show on the Fox network will always be his crowning achievement. Even after his Avengers movies, people still remember him more fondly for his TV show starring Nathan Fillion about the renegade space crew who get into western-y situations on other planets. Name the show.
Which Star Trek series is this?
It could be argued that Star Trek was the first franchise to found the shared cinematic universe, not Marvel. Okay, Marvel did invent it for the big screen, since the Star Trek movies go more or less in chronological order like a normal movie series (save for all the different timelines and other sci-fi mumbo jumbo). But Star Trek started it decades ago with a connected universe of spinoff TV shows, all bearing the Star Trek name. Which one is this?
What long-running BBC sci-fi series is this?
There’s been a big controversy recently that a woman has been cast as the latest incarnation of this character, who has typically been a male. See, they recast the role every few years, whenever the current guy gets sick of it, and pull it off as a shapeshifted form of this character. So, it’s not like James Bond or Batman or Superman where it’s the same guy every time – this character can shapeshift into anything, including a woman. Anyway, what show is it?
What is this show about intergalactic warfare?
This show originated a long time ago, but when it was revived as a miniseries for the Syfy network starring Edward James Olmos and Katee Sackhoff, it proved to be so popular and beloved that the network decided to keep the miniseries going for years, turning it into a full, proper TV series. It tells the story of a warfare across the stars that is fought between the humans and the robots that took over Earth, the Cylons. What is this show about intergalactic warfare?
What is this show about people stranded on a remote island?
The boss of the ABC network did not initially want this show to be a science fiction series. It was originally conceived as a kind of TV series that would expand upon the premise of the Tom Hanks survival movie Cast Away. The first writer who came on board was inspired by Lord of the Flies and made it pretty grounded. And then Twilight Zone and Twin Peaks fans JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof joined the show, ousted the other guy, and turned it into a dark, twisted, freaky sci-fi epic. What show is it?
Which of these DC heroes does NOT have their own show on the CW?
The CW was not really supposed to become a hub for TV shows based upon characters from the DC Comics universe, just like Man of Steel was not supposed to form the beginnings of an entire shared cinematic universe to rival the MCU. Things seem to just fall into place for DC Comics. Greg Berlanti created one show based on a character from the comics, and then another and they got a crossover episode together, and now, there’s a ton who all cross over with each other. Which of these is NOT one of them?
Which of these Marvel heroes does NOT have their own show on Netflix?
There are some really terrific original series on Netflix right now, like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black and Master of None. Among the very best are the immensely popular Marvel TV shows, which bring a really dark side to the MCU. Last year, they were all teamed up in the show The Defenders, which was like Netflix’s small scale version of The Avengers. Which of these Marvel heroes does NOT have their own show on Netflix?
What is this Margaret Atwood adaptation on Hulu?
There’s been a lot more movies and TV shows being made about a dystopian future world that’s governed by bureaucracy recently, since that’s what America is turning into. This show is one of them, and it’s a difficult watch, what with all the mistreatment of women and the torture and the hangings and the executions, but it is extremely relevant in the current climate. What is this Margaret Atwood novel adaptation on Hulu, returning for its second season this year?
What is this space opera starring Seth MacFarlane?
Seth MacFarlane is generally known for cartoon shows like Family Guy and American Dad! and The Cleveland Show and things like that, but in the last year, he’s been working on a show about a space crew led by a captain who’s forced to work with his ex-wife, which has aired on the Fox network and been met with some mixed reviews. It is a very thinly veiled tribute to Star Trek, one of the creator’s favorite media franchises. What is this space opera starring Seth MacFarlane?
What is this mind-bending Adult Swim cartoon series?
This show was created as a homage to the characters of Doc Brown and Marty McFly from the Back to the Future movies, with time travel swapped for interdimensional travel. It’s one of the most popular and also most incredibly mind-blowing shows on television. It was created by Justin Roiland and Community creator Dan Harmon, the latter of whom calls it a cross between The Simpsons and Futurama, due to the mix of family and sci-fi stuff. What is this mind-bending Adult Swim cartoon series?
What is this intergalactic Swiss Family Robinson on Netflix?
Many decades ago, someone had the remarkably bright idea to do a TV version of the novel Swiss Family Robinson, but instead of being stranded on a remote island, they were stranded in the middle of outer space. The show was a classic gems and a phenomenal hit with both critics and audiences. The same goes for the new Netflix remake of the show, which has been met with the same glowing response, so that's cool. They knocked it out of the park twice! What is this intergalactic Swiss Family Robinson on Netflix?
What is this Marvel police procedural?
The idea behind this show was a pretty great one. It's a little like a police procedural series along the lines of CSI, but the police team that we're following every week is the government agency that put the Avengers together. It's a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and shows us how law enforcement would work in a world that has superheroes and supervillains in it. The show has been a resounding success and has lasted for years and years now. It stars Clark Gregg in his role from the movies. When the movies revealed that this agency was secretly evil, they had to deal with that on the show. What show is it?
What TV space opera is this?
You'd be forgiven for expecting this show to tank and fail miserably when it first aired, because it's a space opera set on an asteroid belt about a wide conspiracy that affects the Earthling colony who we're following in the show. It's an expensive show made exclusively for nerds. But it's actually been a huge hit that's managed to stay on the air for a good few years. It's based on a series of novels with the same premise and characters, which is also good. What TV space opera on the Syfy channel is this?
What post-apocalyptic teen drama is this?
The CW has a knack for mixing a high concept genre premise like the world has ended and some people have been sent down to Earth with the subgenre of teen drama by having teen characters with teen problems in this world and the result attracts a huge audience of millennials. The show has been praised for championing LGBTQ characters in strong roles, but then it had also been criticized for killing them off in very unceremonious ways. So, as it turns out, you simply can't win. What post-apocalyptic teen drama series on The CW is this?
What Nazi-occupied alternative history is this?
Amazon Prime have struggled in the world of original content in a way that Netflix never has. They don't have a Stranger Things or an Orange is the New Black, but they did find a lot of success with this series, adapted from a novel by Philip K. Dick, which imagines what the world would look like today if the Nazis had won the Second World War. Interesting stuff. What Nazi-occupied alternative history drama series from Amazon Prime is this?
What is this mystical Netflix series from the Wachowski siblings?
The team at Netflix have created a lot of great science fiction series over the years, teaming up with some of the best writers and directors out there. For this show, they managed to get the Wachowski siblings, the cinematic geniuses behind The Matrix trilogy, to create a show that did not get huge ratings, but did manage to garner a dedicated cult following during its short run. What is this mystical science fiction Netflix series from the Wachowski siblings?
Which of these is NOT a real Stargate series?
Much like its fellow science fiction TV franchise precursor and the likes of CSI and Law and Order, there are a bunch of different TV series that bear the name Stargate and are set in the same fictional universe. To TV executives, when they see a successful show, they think to themselves, well, people like this one, so let's just make a bunch more of them. That's just how the business works. It's all about brand recognition, because audiences love familiarity and that safety net of feeling like you're in safe hands. Which of these is NOT the title of a real Stargate series?
What is this reality-hopping sci-fi series?
You can always trust JJ Abrams to come up with a wacky idea for a science fiction series. His wackiest is obviously the one with the plane crash survivors stranded on a remote exotics island with government experiments and polar bears and time travel. But this one, about some FBI agents hopping between alternative realities, is a very close second. The lasted for more than a few seasons and was consistently a hit at the ratings, which is always a good thing when the show is good enough to deserve it. What is this reality-hopping sci-fi series from sci-fi mastermind JJ Abrams?
What is this time-traveling sci-fi series?
This relatively new science fiction show puts a pretty unique spin on the premise of a bunch of government agents chasing around terrorists. That premise has been done a million and one times over. But this take on it is very different, because it has time travel. It sees the terrorists steal a time machine with the intention of using it to really screw up history, and of course, it's the agents' job to stop them. The show is divisive, though, since some viewers really love it and tune in every week and some viewers really, really hate it. What is this time-traveling sci-fi series?
What mind-bending show is this?
This show is intriguing and eerie and creepy and addictive from the very beginning. It starts off with a girl witnessing someone commit suicide – and that someone looks exactly like her! Immediately, you want to find out what happens next. How does this pan out? And that's when it dives into the wider conspiracy that only makes it more intriguing and more eerie and more creepy. This show is weirder than Stranger Things and more watchable than The X Files. It's like a perfect science fiction series! It checks all the boxes. What show is it?
What is this mysterious Netflix series?
In this show, a blind girl who's been missing for a few years returns to the town that she disappeared from completely fine and unscathed and able to see. Now, that's a great hook for the beginning of the show, and the plot only thickens when the population is divided among those who believe that the girl's reappearance is nothing short of a miracle and those who believe that she could present a terrifying danger to the world. It only gets deeper and darker from there. What is the name of the show, an original on Netflix?
What is this quirky superhero show?
When this show first aired, it was lauded throughout its first season or so as being the next Lost. It came at just the right time that everyone had Lost fever and it was going to end and they were going to miss it and they needed something to fill the void and fast. So, they stumbled upon this quirky little show about super powered individuals who aren't superheroes in the conventional sense but do have powers and do save lives. Unfortunately, the ratings dwindled and the critical acclaim faded as time went by. Which show is it?
Which of these is NOT the title of a real Star Trek series?
As we addressed earlier, there are a bunch of shows by the title Star Trek that are all connected by the same fictional universe and spaceship (the USS Enterprise – well, most of them share that ship, some others have their own ships), but with different storylines and characters and time period settings (all in the very far off future), because audiences like brand recognition. If they watch on Star Trek show, then they'll watch all of them. But which of these is NOT the title of a real Star Trek series?
What is this family sitcom about aliens in disguise?
The genre of the family sitcom has been tired and worn out for decades, but people still make them, because people still watch them. But it's hard to find a unique angle on this genre. Well, this show starring John Lithgow and a young (very young) Joseph Gordon Levitt found a very original way of doing this premise by having the family be made up of alien beings in disguise as a family. It's like Everybody Loves Raymond meets Mork and Mindy and it's really awesome and funny. What is this family sitcom about aliens in disguise?
What is this post-alien invasion survival drama?
This show was executive produced by the great cinematic mastermind that is Mr. Steven Spielberg. It is essentially The Walking Dead, but the world has suffered from an alien invasion instead of a zombie apocalypse. But it's the same gist: a group of survivors face all kinds of adversaries and struggles in the devastated wasteland that remains of planet Earth. It's been off the air for a few years now, but it was a good show in its day. So, what is this post-alien invasion survival drama series?
What is this dark, freaky show from David Lynch?
TV shows, and especially science fiction shows, always have to start off with an intriguing hook in its pilot episode. For Orphan Black, that was a girl witnessing the suicide of her doppelgänger. For this show, it was the homecoming queen being found dead in a river. It's crazy stuff that isn't grounded in reality at all, but it's so much fun. And it's also pretty darn spooky and terrifying. This show was given a revival last year on Showtime and it did not disappoint the many dedicated fans of the show. But what show is it?
What is this CGI-ridden sci-fi series?
This show is seen as a classic of the science fiction television genre. If you need any more evidence, just flick through The Big Bang Theory, because those guys are nerds and they love the show. They make references to it and rewatch the DVDs all the time. It is also seen as a major turning point in the use of CGI visual effects technology in TV production. So, in theory, we have this show to thank in part for the likes of Stranger Things and Game of Thrones. It started off with a pilot movie to test the audience response and they loved it, so they expanded it into a series. What is the name of the show?
Which future-set Netflix cyberpunk thriller is this?
When movies and TV shows are described as being set in the "distant future," that usually means about 100 years beyond the present day. But this show, which premiered on the Netflix streaming service just a few months ago and is based on an earlier novel that goes by the same name, is set more than 350 years into the future! It's about a world where people don't fear death anymore because when one body dies, then scientists can just put your consciousness into another body and you can theoretically live on forever. The critics weren't too kind to it, but it's a complex and beautifully shot series. Which one is it?
What is this classic anthology series?
This show from the 1960s is often lauded as the greatest television series ever made, and there is a very good reason for that. Rod Serling weaved mind blowing tales of the surreal and the supernatural and the unexpected that captured the paranoias and the fears of everyday human life, as well as being politically timely with the Cold War going on. Every show since then has tried to emulate it. It's like TV Beatles. What is this classic anthology series?
What sci-fi Hanna Barbera cartoon is this?
After the Hanna Barbera animated comedy team had created the very successful family sitcom The Flintstones, which took the premise of the blue collar American family and their relatable issues but put them in the Stone Age, they decided to do the only logical thing with their next show and go the other way, with a family in the future living their lives the same way that we do but with the convenience of future technologies. What show is it?