Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) in 'Westworld'Image via HBO
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Michael John Petty
Published 34 minutes ago
Michael John Petty is a Senior Author for Collider who spends his days writing, in fellowship with his local church, and enjoying each new day with his wife and daughters. At Collider, he writes features and reviews, and has interviewed the cast and crew of Dark Winds. In addition to writing about stories, Michael has told a few of his own. His first work of self-published fiction – The Beast of Bear-tooth Mountain – became a #1 Best Seller in "Religious Fiction Short Stories" on Amazon in 2023. His Western short story, The Devil's Left Hand, received the Spur Award for "Best Western Short Fiction" from the Western Writers of America in 2025. Michael currently resides in North Idaho with his growing family.
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When it comes to science fiction, it can be challenging to find material that doesn't include aliens in one form or another. Whether they live in the deep blue sea, the far reaches of the galaxy, or on an interdimensional plane that coexists with our world (looking at you, Stranger Things), sci-fi has often been characterized by its commitment to the existence of extra-terrestrials. But if you're looking for something alien-free to binge, you've come to the right place.
The beauty of science fiction is that there are so many definitions of what that might actually mean. Whether we're talking about an alternate future ravished by machines or a dystopia ruled by corporations, alien life doesn't need to be involved. Everything from superpowers and robots to time travel and alternate worlds can fit under the sci-fi umbrella. Even space travel isn't outside the realm of possibility, so long as there aren't any actual E.T.'s involved. So, with that in mind, here are the sci-fi shows worth watching that don't include alien lifeforms — though, full disclosure, even without aliens, some of these get pretty weird.
10 'Heroes' (2006–2010)
Ali Larter as Niki Sanders in 'Heroes'Image via NBC
Although some would argue that Heroes is just as much fantasy as it is science fiction (and, they'd probably be right), the show certainly contains enough genre elements that still allow it to wear the sci-fi label. Following a group of individuals who discover either the existence of people with superhuman abilities or that they have powers themselves, Heroes is a modernized take on comic book lore that firmly places it within our 21st century world. If you didn't watch the NBC drama when it was first on, now's your chance to get back into it.
While the first season of the series is easily the best, Heroes tackles some interesting ideas throughout its four-season run that make it worth the trip, even if the ending is a bit lackluster. If you really love the show, you can continue with the Heroes Reborn miniseries while you wait for Tom Kring's eventual sequel-reboot show, but we don't necessarily recommend it. The original drama features Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere, Masi Oka, Jack Coleman, and Zachary Quinto in leading roles, who it follows until the very end.
9 'Lost' (2004–2010)
Matthew Fox and Daniel Dae Kim help an injured Naveen Andrews in Lost (2004-2010).Image via ABC
Another show that was highly popular for its diverse cast, mysterious premise, and killer marketing campaign that made sure everyone heard about it, Lost is one of those shows that doesn't necessarily scream science fiction, but certainly teeters the line between sci-fi and fantasy. After Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes on a remote island in the South Pacific Ocean, the survivors band together in order to, well, survive. With an insane cast that includes Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, and Terry O'Quinn, there's someone for everyone to connect with.
Television was never the same after Lost due to its serialized plot full of symbology, foreshadowing, and crazy sci-fi twists that had audiences guessing the show's entire run. While some love the ending and others hate it, it's the journey that makes this series worth the adventure. Even if you guess how everything's going to turn out, Lost throws in enough curveballs throughout its six seasons to keep you on your toes.
8 '12 Monkeys' (2015–2018)
James Cole (Aaron Stanford) and Cassie Railly (Amanda Schull) pointing guns in '12 Monkeys'Image via SYFY
If you love movies that expand on popular feature films and include copious amounts of time travel, then 12 Monkeys is the SyFy drama for you. If the show airs on the SyFy channel, it's a pretty good bet that it's actually a sci-fi show, and this four-season drama is no exception. Featuring Aaron Stanford and Amanda Schull as James Cole and Dr. Cassandra "Cassie" Railly, respectively, the pair fight through time to stop a virus from being released by the mysterious "Army of the 12 Monkeys," who aim to destroy the world.
For those who think they know how this will go based on the Terry Gilliam movie of the same name, don't count this drama out. 12 Monkeys is often considered one of the most underrated sci-fi shows of the 2010s, and we can see why. This one was one of the few to make time travel feel like a real possibility.
7 'Westworld' (2016–2022)
Aaron Paul as Caleb Nichols staring at a faceless white robot in Westworld.Image via HBO
In the world of movie-to-TV sci-fi adaptations, HBO's Westworld is probably one of the most intense. Based on the '70s movie by Michael Crichton, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy reimagined the concept for a television series that blew audiences out of the water. Following a fictional "Wild West" theme park where androids pretend to be Western characters (though they are unable to harm human beings), the show evolved over time to deal with the ramifications of artificial intelligence and the dangers of playing God.
The massively stacked cast includes Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Luke Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, and Zahn McClarnon, who all make their powerful mark on the series. Although some have complained about a dip in quality after the first season, Westworld is worth a binge if not just for the artistry involved in putting it all together. It's a strange blend of sci-fi and Western that feels both otherworldly and horrifically possible.
6 'Person of Interest' (2011–2016)
Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel standing next to each other in Person of Interest.Image via CBS
Another sci-fi series by Jonathan Nolan, CBS' Person of Interest likewise deals with artificial intelligence, but in a procedural format that focuses on its benefits rather than its downsides. When former CIA operative John Reese (Jim Caviezel) is hired by billionaire programmer Harold Finch (Michael Emerson) to help him use his "Machine" for the betterment of the world, things get tricky when Reece is forced to consider what it means to pursue "the greater good." Plus, Reese and Finch just make a great team.
What could have easily been a clichéd concept is executed masterfully by its writers and cast, who turned Person of Interest into a must-watch network thriller in an age where superhero programs had largely taken over. While the sci-fi elements are generally limited to "The Machine" here, this five-season drama feels as relevant as ever. In many respects, this series is becoming less science fiction and more science fact over time.
5 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' (2008–2009)
Lena Headey as Sarah Connor in 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles'Image via FOX
If your science fiction series doesn't revolve around aliens, then it probably has something to do with artificial intelligence or cyborgs. In the case of the highly underrated Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, it's both. Set after Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Sarah (Lena Headey) and John Connor (Thomas Dekker) are joined by a reprogrammed Terminator, Cameron (Summer Glau), as they seek to stop Skynet from going online in the 21st century. If you loved the first two James Cameron movies, you'll love this.
Allying themselves with John's uncle, Derek Reese (Brian Austin Green), and several others across Los Angeles, The Sarah Connor Chronicles expands on the world of the first two Terminator films by playing into what made them so great. For two seasons, the Fox drama breathed new life into the dying franchise, with plenty of action, drama, and worldbuilding worth the trouble. Although it was canceled a bit suddenly (and on a cliffhanger, no less), it remains a powerful continuation that fans consider to be the franchise's true sequel.
4 'Continuum' (2012–2016)
The cast of 'Continuum', including Stephen Lobo as Matthew Kellog, Rachel Nichols as Kiera Cameron, Victor Webster as Carlos Fonnegra, Lexa Doig as Sonya Valentine, Erik Knudsen as Alec Sadler, and Roger Cross as Travis Verta.Image via Showcase
Perhaps one of the most recurring tropes in all science fiction is that of preventing a dark future, often through time travel. While that's the basic premise that acts as the foundation of Continuum, this Canadian drama is so much more than that. Following future cop Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols), who travels from 2077 back to 2012 to prevent the terrorist group Liber8 from destroying her home, she slowly begins to understand that the future is not set. With her partner Carols Fonnegra (Victor Webster) and boy genius Alec Sadler (Erik Knudsen) by her side, Kiera fights to stop the space-time continuum from imploding.
Continnum ran for four seasons, airing on SyFy in the U.S., and actually concludes with an ending that brings our heroine full circle. With political overtones about the evils of unchecked corporate greed and the moral questions of whether violence is the answer, there are enough alternate timelines and futuristic technology to satisfy any sci-fi lover. Even better, it's streaming for free.
3 'Firefly' (2002–2003)
Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, and more cast of Fox's Firefly look concerned in a ship.Image via FOX
When you think sci-fi, probably the first image your mind conjures is that of a spaceship. While you'd be hard-pressed to find an alien-less sci-fi series with interstellar travel, Firefly is one of the few that stand out. Following the crew of Serenity as they float around doing odd jobs across the galaxy, Nathan Fillion leads the charge as Captain Malcolm Reynolds, opposing the insidious Alliance in the name of freedom. Together, this unlikely group find themselves in the worst of situations, but somehow they always come out on top.
Firefly only ran for 14 episodes, but creator Joss Whedon made a point to keep alien lifeforms out of it. Although the show was axed by Fox before its time, it continued in the form of a feature film, Serenity, which is just as great as the original series. With plenty of humor and swashbuckling charisma, and a host of characters played by Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, and Summer Glau, you can't go wrong with these Browncoats.
2 'Fringe' (2008–2013)
Peter (Joshua Jackson), FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) and Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) solves a case in Walter's lab on Fringe.Image via FOX
For a show that expertly blends the network TV procedural format with classical sci-fi material, look no further than Fringe. The Fox series follows FBI Agent Oliva Dunham (Anna Torv), Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), and "mad scientist" Walter Bishop (John Noble) as they solve bizarre, unexplainable "fringe" cases for the Bureau. It isn't long before this casual sci-fi procedural turns into a parallel universe adventure, as two worlds become impossibly connected.
Fringe ran for a total of five seasons on Fox, concluding with a final season that brings the entire mythology to a proper close. Though the early years follow a more monster-of-the-week formula, it gets more serialized the more the futuristic Observers (who are technically not aliens, though they act like it) get increasingly involved. Specializing in everything from alternate worlds and timelines to technological marvels and frightening corporations, Fringe is a solid program that is everything you could ask for in a sci-fi drama.
1 'Battlestar Galactica' (2004–2009)
The Battlestar Galactica cast in a group posing for a promo for Season 1.Image via SYFY
While the original Battlestar Galactica had aliens called Ovions, Seraphs, and Boray, the reimagined version, crafted by Ronald D. Moore, didn't feature a single extra-terrestrial species. Okay, maybe there are some angelic-like forces at play in the show, but straight-up aliens never step foot on the Galactica. Instead, the conflict between humans and Cylons is at the forefront of this modern sci-fi classic. With a stellar cast that includes Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Michael Hogan, and Tricia Helfer, there's never been a sci-fi epic quite like this one.
Everything about Battlestar Galactica, from the inaugural 2003 miniseries that kickstarted the program to Bear McCreary's dynamic score, is incredible. As humanity searches for their ancient homeworld on Earth, they battle for their own survival against the very cybernetic species they created. It's a great show, and if there's one sci-fi series without aliens that you ought to give a try, it's Battlestar Galactica.
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TV-14
Action & Adventure
Drama
Science Fiction
War
Release Date
2004 - 2009-00-00
Network
SyFy
Showrunner
Ronald D. Moore
Directors
Wayne Rose, Michael Nankin, Rod Hardy, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Edward James Olmos, Robert M. Young, Jeff Woolnough, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jonas Pate, Allan Kroeker, Anthony Hemingway, Jean de Segonzac, Marita Grabiak, James Head, Paul A. Edwards, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Brad Turner, Ronald D. Moore, Bill Eagles
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Edward James Olmos
William Adama
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Mary McDonnell
Laura Roslin
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Battlestar Galactica
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