5 Classic Sci-Fi TV Shows That Haven’t Aged Well
Beloved Sci-Fi TV series like Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica attracted an immense amount of viewers. Those shows paved the way for epic movies like the Star Wars franchise and for other TV shows like the iconic X-Files. Admittedly, special effects in Star Trek, particularly the original series, were maybe a little, well, cheesy. But we still very much took delight in the shows. Let’s take a look at a few of the sci-fi TV series which have aged poorly.
5 Classic Sci-Fi TV Shows That Haven’t Aged Well
Westworld
Most people couldn’t stop talking about Westworld when it first came out in 2016. Inspired by the Michael Crichton series in the 1970s, creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan spun an intricate tale of AI, droids, ethics, fantasy – and all within an… amusement park.
Somehow the premise worked, at least for a while. Unfortunately, the fourth season was a shell of itself. Inconsistent storytelling, plot holes, and failure to recapture what the first two seasons highlighted made this series problematic towards the end.
Logan’s Run
It might be a good thing that the series was mercifully short. Cut after one season, the Logan’s Run sci-fi TV series followed Logan 5 and Jessica 6, played by Gregory Harris and Heather Menzies-Urich. The two escape from The City of Domes and travel to a post-apocalyptic earth, where they’re greeted by a series of dangerous creatures and pervasive aliens.
The series looked at a dystopian planet, alien lifeforms, and explored ageism. An interesting concept, but it never translated well to the small screen. Also, the effects used don’t hold up today. To be fair, the TV series was created in the 70s, so CGI has come a very long way
Stargate SG-1
The beloved sci-fi TV show came a couple years after the success of the movie Stargate. Richard Dean Anderson, best known as MacGyver, took the helm in the show. A dedicated secret US military team is assigned to explore different realms deep in the universe. Able to travel through alien portals called Stargates, the team embarks on a series of missions to further understand the universe.
Stargate SG-1 lasted 10 seasons, primarily due to the premise and its talent. But some of the effects unfortunately aged poorly. If any series would be due for a reboot, this absolutely would be it.
Inhumans
Not even actors like Anson Mount and Serinda Swan could save this doomed series. Inhumans are tasked with fighting for their very survival. This sci-fi TV show only lasted one season with just eight episodes. Sadly, it just didn’t hit the spot with Marvel fans.
Thin plot lines, hollow acting, and underwhelming visual effects didn’t capture the attention of what would be considered a built-in audience. The story of Inhumans is quite interesting, yet the series didn’t make it so. Marvel would probably like to put this down their memory hole.
Lost
Lastly, we get to Lost. Heralded as one of the biggest series at the time, (you remember all the water cooler chatter, right? Or maybe that’s espresso machine…) watching Lost now just isn’t the same. Even though there was an intricate premise, strong character development, and intriguing themes, Lost has not held up well.
Responsible for launching the careers of Josh Holloway, Jorge Garcia, Michael Emerson, and Naveen Andrews, this show drew ridiculous star power. Lost was definitely a thriller, but the last several seasons were not thrilling. Drawn out plotlines, inconsistencies, and ambiguity let viewers down. However, all in all, Lost is quite an interesting concept.
Sci-Fi TV and AI: The Future of TV
We’re now in the era of elevated programming, thanks to streaming platforms. AI advancements, when blended with special effects, can enhance this process. With many more shows on the horizon, including those with dystopian settings and differentiated themes, we’re about to see a whole new world of television, movies, and entertainment in general open up before our very eyes.
