I'm a big fan of Sci Fi movies, and I'm a huge fan of great war movies. Sometimes, those two genres meet. It's not always with spectacular results, if I'm honest, but I still end up looking forward to movies and shows that bring them together. I'm talking about movies like Dune and Starship Troopers, and TV shows like Battlestar Galactica and Silo. This is a list dedicated to movies like that. So grab your gear and let's get into the action.

Dune

There are a lot of things that make Dune one of the best science fiction stories of all time. War is a major theme throughout the whole series and certainly something the recent movies have focused on. The politics of war and various armies across the universe feature heavily.

Ender's Game

Despite a stellar cast, including Hailee Steinfeld, Harrison Ford, and Viola Davis, and rich source material from the original novel to draw on, Ender's Game was a critical and box office disappointment, some of which is because of some controversy surrounding the book's author. However, if you're like me and enjoy this kind of movie, about the young trainees in a futuristic army, you will certainly find things to like about the movie.

Avatar

I'll be the first to say that while many love Avatar, I am not among them. That said, it's a movie that definitely belongs on this list. It's about a military mission, though the critiques of the military are a little heavy-handed, and it's one of the biggest box office draws of all time, so whether I like it or not, I'm including it.

Star Trek

This one is a little tricky, as I'm sure fans of Star Trek will be immediately noting in their heads. The United Federation of Planets, and by extension the crew of the USS Enterprise, are primarily a political organization with a mission to promote peace. That said, the ship has a military-like hierarchy, and the crew often finds themselves battling hostile elements in the galaxy. So there are heavy military overtones in every Star Trek series and movie.

Firefly

Like some others on this list, Firefly is a bit of an edge case. While most of the crew of the spaceship Serenity are ex-military, the show itself doesn't have many of the elements of a futuristic army, more a rag-tag crew of space explorers. It's as much a space western in the style of Star Wars as anything else.

Halo

You knew this one had to be here. Halo, based on the video game of the same name, ran for two seasons on Paramount+ and was a moderate success, though it never reached the same popularity as the game it was based on.

Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1, which was a show that was born on the heals of the movie Stargate. It ran for 10 seasons, first on Showtime and later on Syfy.

Aliens

One of the most beloved sci-fi movies of all time, Aliens has some of the coolest military scenes featuring the crew of Marines on the mission with Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). One of the most iconic moments in the movie comes when the Marines all wake up from their long trip and Sgt. Apone says. "Another day in the core!"

Battlestar Galactica

The classic sci-fi show Battlestar Galactica is one of the best examples of a futuristic military, even if it's really just a small piece of what its space force used to be. Led by Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos), the military members run the ship, and by default, the last of humankind, in partnership with civilian leadership.

Starship Troopers

Are you doing your part? There may be no more obvious movie to include on this list than the cult favorite Starship Troopers. The recruiting video alone puts it near the top of the list of movies about the military in the future, to say nothing of the political overtones and satire of the rest of the movie.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 And 2

The Hunger Games didn't start with a military of the future as a key component, but it certainly ends with two militaries, both the revolutionaries and the army from The Capitol, in the final two movies of the original franchise. It's a great example of two different kinds of armies, as well.

Pacific Rim

I'm not the biggest fan of Kaiju movies, but I absolutely love Pacific Rim from director Guillermo del Toro. This is a bit of an edge case, because it's not really set in the distant future (the 2013 movie was actually set in 2020), the presence of a great military leader like Marshal Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) means it absolutely demands to be on this list. It's not like we have technology like the Mechas in the movie anyway, so it feels very futuristic.

The Terminator Franshise

Throughout the entire Terminator franchise, even when the movies aren't about the coming war between humans and machines, there are heavy military overtones, to say nothing of when we do see the actual war in some of the latter movies. The fourth movie, Terminator Salvation, is especially militaristic.

Doom

When I first saw 2005's Doom, based on the notorious video game from the '90s, I couldn't help but be reminded of Aliens in the way the futuristic Marines are portrayed as they travel to Mars to assist the UAC scientist after the attack. John "Reaper" Grimm and Sgt. Mahonin (Karl Urban and Dwyane Johnson, respectively) ooze the same kind of energy that Hicks and the other Marines in Aliens have.

Edge Of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow seems to either be revered or ignored by film fans, but include me in the former. It's such a great sci-fi war movie. Led by Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, the movie, though not set in the distant future, sees humanity's military come together to fight off invading aliens.

Star Wars

Obviously I had to include Star Wars here. Not only do we get to see the military apparatus of the Empire (and its successor) in all ten of the movies thus far released, but we also see the hierarchy of the Rebel Alliance. The scene at the end of the first movie, when Chewie doesn't get the medal that Han and Luke receive, but that he also deserves, is very much a military-looking ceremony as well.

And yeah, I will acknowledge that technically the movies are "a long time ago" and not in the future...but....c'mon.

Stargate

I'm a huge Kurt Russell fan, and while I loved Stargate when I first saw it, I did not expect it to spawn a franchise. Director and writer Roland Emmerich loves to make movies about futuristic armies, and Stargate is a perfect example of when he is at his best. It's a little cheesy, sure, but that's part of the charm of a good Emmerich popcorn flick.

Babylon 5

Set about 250 years in the future, Babylon 5 is one of those classic '90s TV shows that feels like it's adjacent to the Star Trek universe, but in this case, much more directly military-related. The titular space station is filled with both military personnel and civilians, but it was always the military plotlines that grabbed me the most.

Jupiter Ascending

2015's Jupiter Ascending, from writers and directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski, is a wild movie. It's kind of hard to explain, except to say that the protagonist, a soldier played by Channing Tatum, is part man and part...dog... is a great military character from the future.

Soldier

Kurt Russell and director Paul W. S. Anderson teamed up for 1998's Soldier, about a dystopian military project that turns orphans into killers for the military until things get really weird in the future. Yeah, it's a wild movie, and it was written by David Peoples, who also wrote Blade Runner and considered Soldier to be in the same universe. Yikes

Terra Nova

Terra Nova is a show that got canceled way too soon. It was a big-budget show that looked fantastic and told a super interesting story about a dystopian future that led humanity to open up a portal to another Earth. The military in the show, led by Commander Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang) wasn't the focus, but played a huge role. It's just too bad we didn't get to see more, as the show was canceled after just 13 episodes.

Universal Soldier

Roland Emmerich's first big-budget Hollywood movie, Universal Soldier, has a ton of the DNA that the polarizing director would be known for throughout his career. It's a pretty ridiculous, over-the-top movie about soldiers in the future, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as the primary soldiers.

SeaQuest DSV

The simplest way to describe SeaQuest DSV is to say it's Star Trek in a submarine. The cast was led by Jaws star Roy Scheider, and the show ran for three seasons in the mid-90s. It was a fun NBC show, and like Star Trek, it was exactly military, but the organization the sub crew represented was similar to the U.N. and acted in a very militaristic way. Though it took place in 2020, that was 25 years in the future when the show aired.

The Matrix Revolutions

The final Matrix movie in the original trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions, is when things really got militaristic. Throughout the whole series, there were always some aspects of a futuristic military, but the series really leans in with what I would consider the weakest movie of the franchise, but still a really fun movie.

Snowpiercer

Imagine living your whole life in the back of an endless train trip as 5th-class "citizens" of the last people on Earth. That's where we find our heroes in Snowpiercer, who are finally forced to take on the train's military when the horrible conditions bring them to a breaking point.

Andromeda

Set hundreds of years in the future, Andromeda was loosely based on work from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, so as you would expect, it feels like his most famous show, but it also feels a little cheap. Like many shows about spaceships, it's not exactly military, but has a militaristic hierarchy..

The Tomorrow War

The Tomorrow War is a little tricky for this list. It's set in 2022, but it tells the story of time-traveling soldiers from the future. So it kinda counts, right? Sure, why not!

Silo

This is another tricky one, but it's such a great show, I had to include it. Common plays the head of security in Silo, and while they aren't strictly a military organization, they operate very much like one. They are also oppressive and scary, as the military is often shown to be in dystopian futures, like the one in Silo. So it works for me.

Farscape

Farscape is another example of a wild show that was born in the '90s. Though it was canceled after four seasons, cutting short the story, it had legions of fans who still love it today. The story was finally wrapped with a three-hour made-for-TV movie in 2007, called Farscape: Peacekeeper Wars.

The Chronicles of Riddick

Though The Chronicles of Riddick is actually a sequel to Pitch Black, it is far more militaristic in its style than the first movie in the series, which was more of a horror flick. Vin Diesel plays a former bounty hunter on the run from a crew of other hunters who operate very much like a military unit.

The Creator

2023's The Creator is a movie that not enough people have seen. Set in a near-ish future (2065), it stars John David Washington as Sergeant Joshua Taylor, who is part of a force helping to shut down all AI, which has turned against humanity. It's a complicated movie, but it looks amazing, and you should see it just for that.

Defiance

Dystopian futures are always a popular way for shows and movies to show what the future of the military looks like, and sometimes those shows feature rag-tag groups of veterans of a past war just trying to survive, as in Defiance. It's another show that didn't seem to get the kind of attention it deserved from the general public when it ran from 2013 to 2015 on Syfy.

Hollywood has conditioned audiences to expect two central characters of similar romantic preferences and with great chemistry to fall in love by the end of a film or at some point in a TV series’ run. Thus, it is typically more refreshing to see these protagonists remain compatible but without giving in to a forced will-they-won’t-they dynamic. In that spirit, here is a thankful tribute to pop culture’s best platonic couples.

Max And Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)

For the fourth installment of his beloved franchise of post-apocalyptic thrillers, 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, writer and director George Miller introduced a female hero to serve as the title character's equal in another road war. Not once is there a hint of any romantic connection between Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) and Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), and the modern action movie classic is beloved all the more for it.

Jerry And Elaine (Seinfeld)

One key way Seinfeld established itself early on as a groundbreaking comedy was doing away with any will-they-won't-they gimmick between Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) and Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) by starting them off as a couple, breaking them up before the show even started, and seeing them remain friends through the run. While the beloved TV sitcom occasionally dropped hints at rekindling their romance for laughs (such as when they became friends with benefits or Jerry's impromptu marriage proposal), there is no doubt they are stronger as pals.

Marlin And Dory (Finding Nemo)

Finding Nemo could have easily incorporated the typical "widowed father finds love again" trope by seeing Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) fall into a charming interbreed romance during their search for his eponymous son (voiced by Alexander Gould). However, I think most would agree that making the clownfish and Blue Tang nothing but friends is an essential aspect of what makes the Oscar winner one of Pixar's best movies.

Leslie And Ron (Parks And Recreation)

At the Paley Center for Media, Parks and Recreation co-creator Michael Schur shared that Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson were initially conceived as the "mom and dad" of the Pawnee Parks Department office, but without any intention of giving them romantic chemistry. The closest the co-workers have ever come to being more than professional is when Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman pretend to make out for the sitcom's gag reel.

Harry And Hermione (The Harry Potter Movies)

The Harry Potter movies may be named after Daniel Radcliffe's "Boy Who Lived," but the young wizard would not be able to achieve what he does at Hogwarts without the help of his very best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). In any other blockbuster franchise, the title character might end up with the girl in the end, but the thought never seems to cross their minds, and instead, Hermione and Ron come to develop feelings for each other.

Joey And Pheobe (Friends)

There always seemed to be romance in the air for the members of the Friends cast, from Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) rocky, on-again-off-again relationship to Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry) marriage, and even Rachel and Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) attempt at being more than roommates. However, Joey and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) were practically brother and sister, even though they did kiss when he thought she was her twin sister, Ursula, and he did offer to marry her when he thought she was pregnant. That is, thankfully, the closest they ever came.

Hawkeye And Black Widow (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Natasha "Black Widow" Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Clint "Hawkeye" Barton (Jeremy Renner) share a deeper bond than most characters from the Marvel movies in order can claim, having known each other long before forming the Avengers together. The ultimate sign of their undying, platonic love for one another is in 2019's Avengers: Endgame when neither is willing to let the other sacrifice themselves to retrieve the Soul Stone, only for Clint to fall apart when he is forced to say goodbye to Nat.

Liz And Jack (30 Rock)

They may have gotten off on the wrong foot in the pilot for 30 Rock, but TV writer Liz Lemon (series creator Tina Fey) and her boss, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), eventually come to form a respectable professional team. I cannot imagine anyone would have ever expected these characters to fall for one another, but it was the mere unlikelihood of their romance that made their bond one of the comedy's strongest elements.

Bob And Charlotte (Lost In Translation)

I honestly feel like I might be cheating by including Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson's characters from the 2000s-era movie classic, Lost in Translation, because the oft-discussed ending of Sofia Coppola's Oscar-winning dramedy suggests their bond evolves into something more. However, up until then, they share a friendship that each desperately needed and anyone would be lucky to have.

Mal And Zoë (Firefly)

One of the many issues that led to the premature cancellation of cult sci-fi series Firefly was creative demands from Fox executives, such as one note requesting that Zoë (Gina Torres) not be married to Wash (Alan Tudyk) to leave room for any romantic potential with Nathan Fillion's Captain Mal Reynolds. Thankfully, creator Joss Whedon stood his ground and adamantly refused, allowing the interplanetary outlaws to remain thick and thieves in the purest sense.

Ripley And Hicks (Aliens)

Writer and director James Cameron's second chapter of the Alien movies franchise introduced one of cinema's most revered platonic couples in the form of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and Cpl. Dwayne Hicks (Michael Biehn). There are more than enough hints at the Xenomorph survivor and the marine sharing a romantic connection, but the sci-fi movie classic leaves their level of affection ambiguous instead of ending with a big, celebratory smooch like any other filmmaker might have pushed for.

Don And Peggy (Mad Men)

With how many women on the Mad Men cast Don Draper (Jon Hamm) had affairs with, one might have expected something to happen between him and his assistant/protege, Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss). Of course, that was never on the cards for them, as the 1960s ad executive saw her as more of a daughter, sharing with her many winning professional successes and tender personal moments throughout the hit AMC series' run.

Daisy And Hoke (Driving Miss Daisy)

Driving Miss Daisy from 1989 traces the longtime relationship between a grumpy older woman, Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy), and her chauffeur, Hoke Colburn (Morgan Freeman). Seeing their friendship survive racial and ageist adversaries in the mid-1900s South makes this Best Picture Oscar winner an enduring inspiration.

SpongeBob And Sandy (SpongeBob Squarepants)

As a marine biologist like SpongeBob Squarepants creator Stephen Hillenburg would know, sea sponges do not require mates to reproduce (which does make the inclusion of the title character's parents a bit nonsensical, admittedly). Nonetheless, nothing could have ever happened between SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and his squirrely pal, Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence), anyway, even if some adult viewers of Nickelodeon's beloved animated series have theorized their shared passion for martial arts was a form of foreplay.

Rey And Finn (The Star Wars Movies)

It took some time for the Star Wars movies to embrace the idea of purely platonic relationships between characters of the opposite gender, specifically when the franchise was revived in 2015. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, loner Rey (Daisy Ridley) and reformed Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) become fast friends and remain allies in the fight against the First Order in the last of the sequel trilogy.

Will And Jack (Will & Grace)

During the revival seasons of Will & Grace, there were hints at Will Truman's (Eric McCormack) relationship with his friend, and fellow gay man, Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes), evolving into something more. However, that would have undermined the entire spirit of the sitcom because, as Will, the duo are meant to be "girlfriends, not boyfriends."

Jimmy And Dottie (A League of Their Own)

According to SlashFilm, director Penny Marshall shot a kissing scene between Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan and Geena Davis as catcher Dottie Hinson for the 1992 sports movie favorite, A League of Their Own. The scene was ultimately cut, maintaining the characters' strong bond as a baseball player and her coach.

Ted And Rebecca (Ted Lasso)

In the hit Apple TV+ original series, Ted Lasso, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) initially hires the eponymous American football coach (played by Jason Sudeikis), hoping that he will ruin the football team her ex-husband cherished. Instead, she comes to appreciate the good he does for the team on and off the field, and a trusting, loving friend in and out of the office develops.

Shang-Chi And Katy (Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings)

Succeeding Black Widow and Hawkeye as the definitive platonic couple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is arguably Xu "Shaun" Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina). In 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, when Shaun tells his best friend/co-worker/karaoke partner that he has to leave town to help protect his younger sister, she insists on coming with him without a second's hesitation.

Jake And Rosa (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Having come up at the police academy together, Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) share one of the closest bonds among the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast. Refreshingly, the New York detectives' relationship never evolves into anything beyond strict professionalism and deeply supportive friendship, as Jake eventually marries Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) and Rosa goes through various relationships with both men and women, having come out as bi-sexual in Season 5.

Drax And Mantis (Guardians Of The Galaxy Movies)

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Drax (Dave Bautista) makes it abundantly clear that he has no romantic interest in Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and, in fact, is physically repulsed by the idea of being with her. In turn, the cosmic Marvel heroes prove to have a great brother-sister dynamic, especially when they team up to find Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt) the perfect holiday gift in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

Jack And Chloe (24)

No one had Jack Bauer's (Kiefer Sutherland) back like Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) on 24. The CTU agent's relationship with the analyst was, essentially, one-sided at first before they became strong allies and even best friends.

Dredd And Anderson (Dredd)

To even describe Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) and Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) from 2012's underrated comic book flick, Dredd, as friends would be far from accurate. However, as law enforcement officials, they could not be a better match as partners, evidenced by their impeccable compatibility while working to bring down the wonderfully over-the-top action villain, Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), and her drug operation.

Joan And Sherlock (Elementary)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson make up one of the most iconic and influential partnerships in pop culture history. A modernized, gender-swapped reinterpretation of the characters in CBS's Elementary, starring Johnny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu as Joan Watson, has also been recognized as a pairing for the ages.

Arthur And Iris (The Holiday)

In the acclaimed rom-com, The Holiday, Iris Simpkins' (Kate Winslet) love interest is Jack Black's L.A. film score composer Miles Dumon. However, the visiting Brit spends most of her time in the States with elderly former screenwriter Arthur Abbott (Eli Wallach), which quickly becomes the most charming relationship in Nancy Meyers' 2006 holiday season favorite.

Lexi And Stefan (The Vampire Diaries)

In his many, many years as an ageless creature of the night, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) took many lovers throughout the years, but there was one female The Vampire Diaries character he called one of his best friends. Arielle Kebbel plays fellow bloodsucker Lexi Branson, who, essentially, serves as Stefan's moral compass and bonds with him over the shared passion for the music of Bon Jovi.

Edgin And Holga (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves)

What made 2023's Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves such a blast, especially for experienced players of its namesake role-playing game, was the strong sense of unity and teamwork among its cast of heroes. No characters in the fantasy adventure represent those qualities better than Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), who are endlessly loyal to one another from the start.

Veronica And Wallace (Veronica Mars)

Kristen Bell's title hero from the teen mystery drama Veronica Mars first met Wallace Fennel (Percy Daggs III) when she saw him duct-taped to a flagpole and came to his rescue. This marked the beginning of a friendship that few high schoolers can claim.

Charly And Mitch (The Long Kiss Goodnight)

In The Long Kiss Goodnight, amnesiac mother Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) discovers, with help from private eye Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson), her past as a deadly top agent. From then on, the 1996 thriller from director Renny Harlin becomes a fun buddy action flick as "Samantha" embraces her true identity as Charly Baltimore.

Maddie And Simon (School Spirits)

The acclaimed Paramount+ original series School Spirits is a ghost story from the perspective of a ghost, namely 17-year-old Maddie Nears (Peyton List), who is unable to interact with the living... except for one person. Her unbreakable bond with her best friend, Simon Elroy (Kristian Ventura), allows him to see her, making him the only one who can help solve the mystery of her death, which she has no memory of.

Preston And Denise (Can't Hardly Wait)

Any other fun party movie would have the nerdy teen protagonist pining for the popular girl end up with his female best friend instead. However, in Can't Hardly Wait, Preston (Ethan Embry) does end up with his dream girl, Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt), while his best friend, Denise (Lauren Ambrose), forms an unexpected connection with Kenny (Seth Green) after getting locked in a bathroom together.

Meredith And Alex (Grey's Anatomy)

On a medical drama in which most people seemed to be getting into bed with each other, it was refreshing to see two characters from the Grey's Anatomy cast, namely Justin Chambers' Alex Karev and Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, sharing a relationship that was purely friendly.

Alan Tudyk shared some bold words in regards to Netflix's canceled Cowboy Bebop, and his take may have seemed like a good one until he realized it applied to Firefly as well. The actor took shots at the series (available to stream with a Netflix subscription) in an interview while also explaining how his acclaimed series totally differed from the anime adaptation, outside of both being canceled after one season.

Netflix axed the live-action Cowboy Bebop after it was panned by fans and critics for diverging from the anime, but Tudyk mentioned during an interview on Mythical Kitchen that the show often gets lumped in with Firefly. Below, he explained why the two differ, stumbling briefly when realizing the cancelation connection.

He understandably also mentioned Firefly's follow-up movie, Serenity, but his point is made well enough all the same. I would say there are far more people in the world asking that Firefly be brought back for a revival or another movie than the people asking for Netflix to renew Cowboy Bebop. The streamer has heavily leaned on adapting anime as of late, but it seemed to move on from that one rather quickly.

While there were rumblings of a potential Firefly revival being in the works back in 2020, it seems far more likely we'll continue to see more live-action anime adaptations than the return of the Nathan Fillion-led series. The star remains active in Hollywood, starring in ABC's The Rookie and his upcoming role as Guy Gardner in James Gunn's Superman.

Additionally, the rallying cry to bring back Firefly subsided substantially in light of controversies surrounding creator Joss Whedon. Fillion has defended Whedon, but I think it's fair to say the court of public opinion reigns supreme. I can understand the hesitation by Disney to push for a revival, knowing there's a chance people may have opinions on whether Whedon is involved.

Alan Tudyk talking about Firefly doesn't necessarily mean he's dying for it to come back, as he's been working on other projects. His voice work in everything from Moana 2 to Creature Commandos keeps him plenty busy around Hollywood, and there's word that he's also appearing in Superman as well. Considering his schedule and what the rest of the Firefly cast is up to these days, the odds of it ever returning feel slim. All this to say, it also seems unlikely Cowboy Bebop will return, so that's another thing they have in common!

Those with a Hulu subscription can binge Firefly should they choose to do so, and it's also available for free currently on The CW app. As mentioned, Cowboy Bebop is over on Netflix, and as someone who really liked the series, I would recommend anyone who skipped out on it to give it a shot.

Some people might like to argue that streaming, in becoming our dominant form of media consumption, has ruined the television industry. Well, there is no doubt that it has changed the industry in many ways and, in some cases, for the better. 

There are many TV shows that are now regarded as classics but might not have earned such an honor if not for audiences discovering it on a streaming platform, helping boost its appeal in a way traditional television could not for whatever reason. Let's take a look at some of the most beloved TV shows that were made more popular (or even saved) by streaming. 

The Wire (2002-2008)

In its initial run, The Wire was already considered one of the best shows on HBO, if not of all time, for its refreshing grounded depiction of urban crime in modern Baltimore from both sides of the law. However, thanks to having a Max subscription (formerly known as HBO Max and, earlier, HBO GO), new generations of viewers have been able to witness David Simon's masterpiece.

You (2018-2024)

Even many of the biggest fans of You might not realize that the serial killer drama starring Penn Badgley is not a true Netflix original. It was canceled after one season on the Lifetime Network and, after becoming a surprise hit on Netflix, the platform picked it up for four more seasons.

Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

Despite achieving instant success in its home nation of Canada on CBC, creator Dan and Eugene Levy's sitcom following a family's riches-to-rags story went underseen in the States for years on the Pop Network. Luckily, when the series dropped on Netflix, America suddenly could not get enough of the Schitt's Creek cast, the comedy's remarkable quotability, and surprisingly heartfelt moments.

The Expanse (2015-2022)

Based on a series of novels by Daniel Abrahams and Ty Franck (and James S. A. Corey), The Expanse quickly found a following on SyFy as one of the network's smartest and most exciting dramas and, yet, it still got the boot after three seasons. Fortunately, the adventures of James Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew's defense against a conspiracy affecting the colonized solar system were able to continue as one of the best sci-fi TV shows on Amazon Prime for three more seasons.

Suits (2011-2019)

Despite being one of the longest-running series on USA Network, Suits really became a hit in its later years after gaining traction as one of the most-watched TV shows on Netflix. Of course, Suits cast member Meghan Markle's marriage to Prince Harry likely had an influence on the legal drama's success.

The Office (2005-2014)

Greg Daniels' Americanized update of the hilarious British sitcom was certainly a hit on NBC, but its fanbase grew exponentially when it became one of the highest-viewed series on Netflix. It is no wonder why Peacock paid the platform $500 million for the streaming rights to The Office and even released special Superfan cuts of select episodes.

Letterkenny (2016-2023)

To be honest, Letterkenny, which follows the day-to-day lives of people from the titular rural town in the Great White North, already originated on a streaming service: the Canadian-exclusive platform, Crave. However, when it became available in the United States with a Hulu subscription, the quirky sitcom's fanbase took a Texas-size expansion.

Firefly (2002-2003)

There is a variety of reasons why Firefly was canceled after Fox aired only 11 episodes, from a doomed time slot to misguided marketing. Luckily, even before streaming helped widen its fanbase, the now beloved sci-fi TV show following a crew of outlaws traveling beyond the stars released a DVD set that allowed audiences to see the epic Western-style cosmic adventures they missed out on.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Following the journey of a young man born with the ability to manipulate the elements air, earth, fire, and water, Avatar: The Last Airbender was a huge hit during its initial run on Nickelodeon. It would only become even more popular when it became available to stream on Netflix, which would go on to produce a live-action series update in 2024.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

According to Variety, after Breaking Bad won the Best Drama Series Emmy in 2013, creator Vince Gilligan admitted he owed the success of his groundbreaking drama to Netflix, which later produced El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. The thriller, following a terminally high school chemistry teacher (played by Bryan Cranston) turning to crime to support his family, could barely be called a hit during its few years on AMC.

 Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)

One of the first titles that come to mind when people think of series that ended too soon is Freaks and Geeks, which was canceled by NBC after one season for the typical reasons: misguided marketing and a poor time slot. Since most of the Freaks and Geeks cast went on to take Hollywood by storm, the coming-of-age dramedy has become one of the most acclaimed series of its time by fans who discovered in the digital age.

Criminal Minds (2005-Present)

After lasting a whopping 15 seasons on CBS, Criminal Minds continued to captivate audiences as one of the most popular crime TV shows on Netflix. The procedural drama's enduring success eventually led to its revival, on Paramount+.

Manifest (2018-2023)

When NBC canned it after just three seasons, fans prayed that Netflix would swoop in to renew Manifest and, luckily, their wish came true. A fourth and final season of the sci-fi drama, about a commercial jet that suddenly reappears five years after mysteriously vanishing, debuted on the streaming platform, allowing it to have the smooth landing creator Jeff Rake intended.

Lucifer (2016-2021)

Based on a DC Vertigo comic book, Lucifer — starring Tom Ellis as the Devil, taking human form to be an LAPD consultant — debuted on Fox, where it lasted only three seasons. Soon after, it would be hailed as one of the best DC TV shows on Netflix when it was renewed for three more seasons exclusively on the platform.

Community (2009-2015)

Ironically enough, when Dan Harmon's comedy about a close-knit group of community students first transitioned from NBC to a streaming exclusive on the now-defunct Yahoo! Screen, it was considered a disaster. However, fans would go on to revisit the best episodes of Community on Hulu, Netflix, or Peacock, keeping the #SixSeasonsAndAMovie dream alive. 

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

One of the most popular shows on The CW (when it was still called The WB) was Gilmore Girls, which would only remain popular and acquire more fans who discovered it with their Netflix subscription. The streaming platform would even serve as the home of a four-episode sequel series called Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Friends (1994-2004)

Could Friends have been a bigger bit than it was during its ten-year run on NBC? As it turns out, yes, since the popular '90s TV show became a monster hit on Netflix and, once it left the platform, likely inspired many fans to get a Max subscription just so they could keep the binge going.

Luther (2010-2019)

Some of the best evidence of the enduring popularity of Luther — an acclaimed British crime thriller starring Idris Elba in the brilliant but cantankerous title role — can be found on Netflix. In 2023, the platform distributed a feature-length spin-off called Luther: The Fallen Sun, which quickly became its highest-watched movie and led to a deal for more films.

Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Despite never getting the ratings it needed to be a hit during its three-season run on Fox, Arrested Development was remembered fondly as one of the most hilarious cult favorite TV shows of all time. That enduring legacy led to its revival in 2017 as "a Netflix semi-original series."

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

In its prime, Boy Meets World was one of the must-see comedies from ABC's TGIF Block in the 1990s and would later spawn a sequel series following Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga's (Danielle Fishel) daughter, Riley (Rowan Blanchard) called Girl Meets World. The success of the Disney Channel series, also starring Sabrina Carpenter, inspired a new generation of fans to check out the original with their Disney+ subscription. 

Futurama (1999-Present)

Creator Matt Groening's animated satire about an average 20th Century man who wakes up from an accidental, 1000-year cryogenic slumber initially ran for just four seasons on Fox, was revived on Comedy Central from 2008 to 2013, and then, a decade later, became an exclusive on Hulu where it is more popular than ever. At this rate, it looks like Futurama might last well into the future.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

MTV's darker take on a funny coming-of-age creature feature from the '80s was a surprise hit, even as one of the best horror TV shows on Hulu in the years since it ended. The continued interest in the series on streaming would lead to a feature-length continuation that premiered on Paramount+ in early 2023.

iCarly (2007-2012, 2021-2023)

Miranda Cosgrove followed her role as the mischievous Megan on Drake & Josh by starring on the Nickelodeon sitcom as a teen internet sensation. People who grew up with the show would rediscover their love for it as adults when Paramount+ revived iCarly with more mature audiences in mind.

The Mindy Project (2012-2017)

Creator and star Mindy Kaling's first major follow-up after playing Kelly Kapoor in NBC's The Office cast was the aptly titled The Mindy Project, in which she plays an OB/GYN struggling to balance her personal and professional life. It premiered on Fox, where it remained for three seasons, before moving exclusively to Hulu for the latter half of its run.

Longmire (2012-2017)

Based on a series of novels by Craig Johnson, Longmire is a neo-Western drama starring Australian actor Robert Taylor as the titular Wyoming sheriff who brings his own brand of justice to his county. Despite debuting on A&E as the cable network's highest-rated original drama, it was not renewed for a fourth season, leading Netflix to step in and become its home for another three years.

Trailer Park Boys (2001-2018)

A show that Letterkenny fans would enjoy if they have not heard of it already is Trailer Park Boys — another comedy set in rural Canada which, for its first seven years, aired on a channel exclusive to the country called Showcase. A newfound interest in the documentary-style series and its feature-length spin-offs in the United States led Netflix to acquire the show in 2012, lasting several more seasons and even spawning more specials and an animated series.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

Before a new Star Wars TV show premiered on Disney+ every few months or so, one of the most beloved small-screen titles to come from a galaxy far, far away was Star Wars: The Clone Wars. However, the Force initially could have been stronger with this one as it was canceled by Cartoon Network in 2013 before gaining newfound popularity on Netflix (where a new season was distributed) the following year and, later, getting revived for one more batch of episodes on DIsney+ in 2020.

Parks And Recreation (2009-2015) 

Despite being the brainchild of The Office producers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur and starring former SNL cast member Amy Poehler in the lead, Parks and Recreation struggled to find its footing on NBC for its first couple of years. The mockumentary-style political satire got a bit of a boost in popularity once it dropped on Netflix and, for years after it ended, earned a reputation as one of the most popular series on the platform.

White Collar (2009-2014)

The show that made a star out of actor Matt Bomer is White Collar, in which he stars as a suave professional criminal who works with the FBI to catch other cons like him. Like many other USA original series, the dramedy was a much bigger hit on Netflix than it was during its initial run on the network.

Designated Survivor (2016-2019)

Kiefer Sutherland stars in Designated Survivor as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who is suddenly appointed President after everyone in the chain of command above him is killed in a catastrophic attack. The political drama was canceled after only two years on ABC but would go on for one more season on Netflix.

The Nanny (1993-1999)

Co-creator and star Fran Drescher is best known for playing Fran Fine on The Nanny, which had a strong run on CBS in the 1990s. The sitcom is noted for appealing to a new generation when it dropped on Max.

The Killing (2011-2014)

The American version of the Danish television series Forbrydelsen, The Killing, originally premiered on AMC, which would cancel the dark crime drama after its third season, which almost did not happen. The series then made an official transition to Netflix, where its fourth and final season was distributed.

The term “Geek God” — a title I like to designate to some of the most iconic celebrities you might find at a convention — is synonymous with Nathan Fillion. The actor has starred in some of the most worshipped cult favorites of both the big and small screen, especially in the realm of sci-fi, but his celebrated, eclectic career is defined by so much more.

The question is, what is his best work yet? I am sure you have your own opinion on the matter if you are a fan of the actor. So, let’s see if your choices match my choices for the best Nathan Fillion movies and TV shows, ranked in ascending order.

14. Con Man (2015-2017)

Nathan Fillion pokes fun at his career (and geek culture in general) in a highly exaggerated and quite cynical nature in Con Man. The similarities between himself and his character Jack Moore — the lead of a cancelled sci-fi TV show called Spectrum — are few and far between but totally obvious.

Moore plays a major role in the satirical web series (also one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows), even in episodes he does not appear in, since his former co-star, Wray Nerely (Tudyk, who also created the show), often struggles to escape his shadow. These are definitely not the former Firefly cast members’ most likable roles, but they are easily some of their funniest.

13. Monsters University (2013)

Seeing John Goodman and Billy Crystal reprise their roles as Sully and Mike Wazowski made Monsters University — a prequel to one of the best Pixar movies, Monsters Inc. — worth seeing. However, Nathan Fillion steals the show as the voice of Johnny “The Jaw” Worthington III.

The leader of Sully and Mike’s rival fraternity is brought to life with the signature snark that the actor has perfected over the years. He demonstrates a lot of commitment to voicing the Roar Omega Roar president in a way that almost earns your respect upon introduction, but with an unlikable sleaziness that makes him a worthy antagonist.

12. Super (2010)

Nathan Fillion has starred in quite a few great superhero movies, more of which we will cover soon. Yet, none of them are anything like one of his earliest (and craziest) collaborations with writer and director James Gunn, Super.

The pitch-black comedy boasts another signature example of the actor playing a smaller (but memorably hilarious) character with a pivotal role in the story. In this case, it is fictional, Christian-based superhero The Holy Avenger, who inspires the depressed and mentally unstable Frank (Rainn Wilson) to become a wrench-wielding vigilante in hopes of rescuing his wife, Sarah (Liv Tyler).

11. A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2017-2019)

Nathan Fillion has played a few unsavory characters in his day. One of his more noble roles, surprisingly, comes from none other than Netflix’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events, which the actor was excited to star in for its non-dismissive treatment of younger audiences.

His delightfully brash performance as the Baudelaire orphans' ally and VFD member, Jacques Snicket (indeed, the brother of author and in-universe character, Lemony Snicket, played by Patrick Warburton), is one of the few uplifting elements of the comically bleak series adaptation of the popular books, despite his tragic fate.

10. Big Mouth (2017-2024)

Another one of Nathan Fillion’s best-known voice acting roles is one that is very close to his heart: himself. More accurately, he voices a caricature of himself, dressed as Firefly’s Captain Malcolm Reynolds, on one of the best animated TV shows of all time, Big Mouth.

To be even more clear, his appearances on the Netflix original, coming-of-age comedy exist purely in the romantic fantasies of Missy Foreman-Greenwald (formerly voiced by Jenny Slate and later by Ayo Edebiri). The mere fact that the real Fillion is the one providing the voice of this cleverly meta parody that borders on self-mockery makes it one of the most hilarious recurring roles on a show chock-full of brilliantly constructed characters.

9. Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019)

It is funny how many of Nathan Fillion’s best shows were canceled too soon, such as Netflix’s romantic, comedic, and brainy reinterpretation of zombie lore, Santa Clarita Diet. He had yet another hilarious, scene-stealing recurring role as Gary West.

The real estate agent's professional rivalry with undead Sheila Hammond (Drew Barrymore) and her husband and partner, Joel (Timothy Olyphant), comes to a head when Sheila consumes most of his body. Fillion would play the role for the first two seasons, only for his more severely deteriorated self to be portrayed by none other than Alan Tudyk in the third and final season.

8. The Guardians Of The Galaxy Movies (2014-2023)

Nathan Fillion has worked with his friend James Gunn many, many times and, in fact, it may be more times than you realize. In 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, he voiced “Monstrous Inmate,” who threatens Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), and later appeared as The Orgosphere’s head security guard, Master Karja, in Vol. 3.

These dual roles — along with his Deadpool & Wolverine cameo as Headpool — make him one of a handful of actors who have portrayed more than one character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He almost had the bragging rights to say he was in every installment of the Guardians trilogy but his cameo as Simon “Wonder Man” Williams was cut from 2017’s Vol. 2.

7. Justice League: Doom (2012)

Nathan Fillion’s next collaboration with James Gunn will be in the filmmaker’s new Superman cast as Guy Gardner, better known as the Green Lantern. However, that will not be the first iteration of the intergalactic lawman he has portrayed since the actor has voiced Hal Jordan numerous times.

He has portrayed the role in various beloved DC animated movies and even several episodes of Robot Chicken, but my choice for the best example and overall best movie of the bunch would have to be Justice League: Doom. Also featuring one of the late Kevin Conroy’s best performances as Batman, the thrilling film sees Earth’s mightiest heroes fall prey to a contingency plan executed by Bane (Carlos Alazraqui), but actually designed by the Dark Knight himself.

6. Waitress (2007)

One of Nathan Fillion’s all-time best performances in a live-action feature film does not see him playing some intergalactic hero, but one of his most grounded and, admittedly, deeply flawed characters. In Waitress, he plays Dr. Jim Pomatter — a married obstetrician who engages in a passionate affair with pregnant and unhappily married diner server, Jenna Hunterson (Keri Russell).

For several reasons, their romance is doomed from the start. Yet, it provides each of them with a sense of much-needed comfort that makes the late writer and director Adrienne Shelly’s dramedy, as CinemaBlend's Waitress review calls it, "a delectable treat."

5. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)

As established, Nathan Fillion has played quite a few superheroes in his day. The most unique, distinct, and iconic of the bunch might be Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.

Fillion hams it up beautifully as the professional and romantic rival of Neil Patrick Harris’ titular, wannabe supervillain in Joss Whedon’s three-part web series, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. He also proves he has some decent pipes as a crimefighter only in it for the glory in the musical comic book fiction parody that cleverly sneaks up on you with its haunting conclusion.

4. The Rookie (2018-Present)

Clearly, we all love seeing Nathan Fillion play smarmy jackasses. Of course, that might be what made seeing him play a genuinely kindhearted and optimistic human being in The Rookie so refreshing.

His post-Castle return to TV sees him play John Nolan, who moves to L.A., seeking to turn over a new leaf by becoming a police officer but not without facing adversity for his age. As a crime procedural that trades in grimness for heart and mystery for character-driven storytelling without schmaltz, it is no wonder it became one of Fillion’s biggest small-screen hits.

3. Slither (2006)

James Gunn's first collaboration with Nathan Fillion is also the only time, so far, that he has cast him in a lead role. The actor gives one of his most badass performances as a sheriff struggling to do the right thing in a small town with a big problem.

Said problem involves an unstoppable horde of parasitic extraterrestrial worms transforming local citizens into grotesque mutants. That may sound like a pretty one-note B-movie description but Gunn makes Slither into one of the best horror-comedy movies of its time (if not all time) with some very inventive and cheekily hilarious uses of creature feature elements.

2. Castle (2009-2016)

I think that some of the previous entries on our list and a great chunk of the actor’s filmography so far prove that no one portrays snark quite as charmingly as Nathan Fillion. That being said, I do not believe he has ever portrayed snark quite as charmingly as when he starred on ABC’s Castle.

He plays the title role of a popular crime novelist whose partnership with feisty, by-the-book detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), as research for his latest project, becomes more than just professional over time. It is more of a common procedural drama than The Rookie, for sure, but it is easily one of the most clever, fun, and romantic of its kind, made all the more compelling by Fillion and Katic’s electric chemistry.

1. Firefly And Serenity (2002-2003, 2005)

After all these years, the role that remains Nathan Fillion’s best-known and most-loved is Captain Malcolm Reynolds. Not to mention, the character originates from a series that also remains his best-known and most-loved by most fans, despite being cancelled after 11 episodes on Fox.

What makes the premature ending such an especially heartbreaking affair is the refreshingly creative concept behind Firefly: a space Western set centuries into the future and following a group of outsiders traveling the colonized solar system. Luckily, the Serenity crew’s story was given some closure in a spectacular, theatrically released film named after the ship and the franchise’s popularity has only continued to rise in the years since.

So, what do you think? Have we nailed Nathan Fillion’s best movies and TV shows on the head, or would you take Richard Castle over Mal Reynolds any day? Check out the actor's recent 2024 movie, Skincare — which reunites him with Slither's Elizabeth Banks — and, of course, the upcoming DC movie, Superman.

If you’re an avid TV watcher, then you probably know the pain that comes with a favorite show being canceled. Though that crushing feeling is even greater when the program has only been on the air for a single season. This happens quite often and, while you can argue that it’s warranted in many situations, there are plenty of excellent series that shouldn’t have been canned after just one season. With that, we’re going to discuss a handful of them.

Battlestar Galactica

Decades before the 2004-2009 reboot of Battlestar Galactica with Edward James Olmos, self-proclaimed “frakin weirdo” Katee Sackhoff and more debuted, the original show premiered in 1978 on ABC. Glen A. Larson’s intriguing sci-fi series focused on a group of humans – including Captain Apollo and Lt. Starbuck – hurtling through space in the eponymous starship, searching for a new place to call home and dodging the villainous Cylons. It was a ratings hit, but it was ultimately axed in 1979, with execs chalking it up to high production costs. 

Pitch

Pitch, which launched in 2016, should’ve been a home run. Centered around a young pitcher who became the first woman to play baseball in the Major Leagues, it featured a strong cast and producing team. (The latter included eventual This is Us creator Dan Fogelman.) Alas, despite strong reviews, it sustained low ratings and was canceled by Fox after 10 episodes. Despite that, a small-screen offering like this deserved more time to show its stuff.

Stumptown

Few shows are as charming as Stumptown – a crime drama that saw Cobie Smulders playing a military vet-turned-private eye struggling with PTSD and financial hardships. The comic book adaptation earned solid ratings after its debut on ABC in the fall of 2019, which is why it was greenlit for Season 2 in the spring of 2020. However, the renewal was reserved due to COVID-related delays. I still believe another network should’ve given it a shot at new life.

The Flash (1990)

You can’t talk about entertaining DC Comics adaptations without mentioning the ‘90s-era classic that is The Flash. John Wesley Shipp famously played the titular Scarlet Speedster taking on the likes of The Trickster and Mirror Master in Central City. After premiering on CBS in the fall of 1990, the superhero series shifted between time slots before it was canceled in the spring of 1991. While fans still enjoy it today and Shipp even reprised his role for Arrowverse crossovers years later, another season of the show would’ve been great.

Emerald City

There have been more than a few Wizard of Oz offshoots over the years, and Emerald City is arguably one of the more entertaining ones. NBC’s 2017 fantasy series about Dorothy Gale’s epic adventures in Oz just couldn’t draw a crowd, leading to its demise after only 10 episodes. It’s not a perfect show, even upon a rewatch, but it arguably could’ve improved with time.

My So-Called Life

My So-Called Life was ahead of its time, as it provided a realistic look at adolescence, using the character of Angela Chase (Claire Danes) as the conduit through which to present such growing pains. The teen drama didn’t earn massive ratings during its sole season on ABC during the 1994-1995 broadcast season but did amass a strong fanbase. But not even an online fan campaign (amid the early years of the Internet) could save the cultural touchstone from the chopping block.

The Rookie: Feds

When it comes to procedurals, it’s not unusual for a hit TV show to spawn a spinoff. That was the case when ABC’s The Rookie spawned The Rookie: Feds, which premiered in 2022. The incomparable Niecy Nash-Betts led the proceedings as Simone Clark, a former school counselor who fulfilled her dream of becoming an FBI special agent. There was a lot of promise with this production, though it was unfortunately axed in November 2023, with the SAG-AFTRA and WGA writers' strikes reportedly playing roles in its demise.

I Am Not Okay with This

Netflix has had a lot of great one-season shows, and I’d count 2020’s I Am Not Okay with This among them. An adaptation of Charles Forsman’s graphic novel of the same name, it told the story of awkward teenager Sydney Novak, who grappled with the discovery of her telekinetic abilities. An entertaining superhero-esque dramedy,  it was canceled after only seven episodes due to the COVID pandemic. What’s worse is that it ended on a cliffhanger and, if you haven’t guessed yet, I am not okay with this.

Swamp Thing (2019)

Although there have been a few TV shows to bear the title of Swamp Thing, the 2019 iteration that aired on the DC Universe streaming platform may be the best. The Protector of the Green was brought to stunning life (via an excellent practical costume) for the thrillingly scary series. Sadly, the faithful comic book adaptation was axed with only 10 episodes under its belt due to creative issues between the producers and execs.

Freaks And Geeks

Few one-season shows manage to become cult classics like Freaks and Geeks, which aired on NBC from 1999 to 2000. The Paul Feig-created and Judd Apatow-produced ensemble teen dramedy focused on eclectic teens navigating various facets of the social scene in 1980s Michigan. It famously launched the careers of Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, Jason Segel, and more and provided a nuanced look at the high school experience. While it’s been widely appreciated since its demise decades ago, it’s sad that it didn’t get to live longer than it did. 

The Get Down

The ‘70s-set coming-of-age drama The Get Down provided a burst of nostalgia and compelling storytelling when it grooved onto Netflix in 2016. This two-part, single season was about the exploits of an aspiring musician who sought to make a name for himself in New York alongside his buddy and girlfriend. It was announced in 2017 that the Baz Luhrmann-co-produced show had reached its end, with its high budget being cited as a reason for the decision.

Firefly

With Firefly, Joss Whedon spun a space western yarn about the rogues that make up the crew of the Serenity starship and their exploits in the year 2517. Critics mostly shared positive sentiments about the program ahead of its demise after 14 episodes in 2002. After Fox decided to cancel Firefly, it spawned comic books, novels, and even a follow-up movie. Despite all of that, many still lament the fact that additional seasons didn’t happen.

Wolverine And The X-Men

After X-Men: Evolution in 2003, Nicktoons delivered the stellar Wolverine and the X-Men in 2009. The show saw Wolvie reuniting his former colleagues after an accident caused the disappearances of Jean Grey and Professor X. A second season was ordered but ultimately scrapped amid The Walt Disney Company’s purchase of Marvel. And, to add insult to injury, scripts, and concept art were already completed at the time.

Lovecraft Country

Bringing the scares and drama in 2020 was Lovecraft Country, which earned critical acclaim for HBO upon its debut. The 10-episode show saw a young Black man travel across the 1950s Jim Crow south with his friend and uncle to locate his father. And, along the way, they encountered monsters inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s work and the horrors of racism. This one had a lot of potential and could’ve branched out in some intriguing ways had it not been canceled.

Good Morning, Miss Bliss

It was in 1988 that Good Morning, Miss Bliss debuted on the Disney Channel. Hayley Mills played the eponymous school teacher, who taught an impressionable group of youngsters at an Indiana-based junior high school. Only 13 episodes were produced before the network pulled the plug. Another season would’ve been great but, at the very least, the characters of Zack Morris, Lisa Turtle, Samuel “Screech” Powers, and Mr. Belding moved to Saved by the Bell in the fall of 1989.

No Ordinary Family

Just ahead of the glut of superhero shows that filled the mid-2010s, No Ordinary Family soared onto ABC in 2010. It was co-created by future Arrowverse godfather Greg Berlanti and tracked the Powell family – a seemingly normal brood that gained superhuman abilities after a plane crash. Light on its feet and filled with endearing characters, the series started with strong viewership and earned solid reviews but ultimately hit the chopping block in 2011.

Gidget

Before she headlined The Flying Nun, the iconic Sally Field was tapped to play the lead role on Gidget in 1965. Not to be confused with the 1959 movie of the same name, the sitcom followed the adventures of Fields’ fourth wall-breaking character, who had a strong bond with her widowed father. The studio canned the show after 32 episodes in 1966, just as it was starting to resonate with younger audiences.

The Chicago Code

One could definitely argue that The Chicago Code is an underrated gem. Developed by The Shield's Shawn Ryan, this Fox crime drama chronicled the exploits of the officers of the Chicago Police Department, as they sought to prevent crime in their town. The well-reviewed show only aired 13 episodes in 2011 before the network shut it down.

Constantine

DC Comics and NBC gave fans a nice dose of horror in 2014 with Constantine, which saw Matt Ryan play the fan-favorite demon hunter. Sadly, despite good reviews and Ryan’s winning performance as John Constantine, the series was axed after one 13-episode season. At the very least, it was retroactively added to the Arrowverse and Ryan reprised his role in that continuity.

FlashForward

Based on Robert J. Sawyer’s 1999 novel of the same name, FlashForward focused on individuals in the aftermath of an event that caused everyone on Earth to lose consciousness for a fixed period of time. The show, which debuted in 2009 on ABC, earned mostly positive reviews but was cleared out in 2010 due to dwindling ratings.

Saved By The Bell: The College Years

The cast of teens from Bayside High graduated to Saved by the Bell: The College Years in the fall of 1993 on NBC. This spinoff/sequel series didn’t have all the charm of its predecessor, though it was still a hoot to see Zack, Kelly, Screech, and co. navigate college. After it ended it was sacked in 1994, and the TV movie Wedding in Las Vegas wrapped its storylines up, yet more seasons would’ve been nice.

Willow

Premiering in 2022, Disney+’s magical and epic Willow effectively expanded upon the world established in Ron Howard’s 1988 fantasy flick Despite strong reviews and a passionate group of fans, the streamer canceled it in 2023 and, even worse, it was dropped from the platform entirely in 2023 as part of cost-cutting measures. Warwick Davis and the cast deserved way better.

Undeclared

After working on Freaks and Geeks, Judd Apatow created Undeclared, a comedy about a group of college freshmen balancing academia and their social lives at a California-based university. It was critically acclaimed after debuting in 2001 but met its end in 2002 after just 17 installments. While it's been gone for a while, it maintains a heavy cult status.

Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation

1997’s Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation didn’t reach the heights of the live-action TMNT movies, but it was still plenty of fun. It saw the totally tubular turtles – along with new ally Venus de Milo – battling Shredder and the Foot along with various other baddies. They even teamed up with the Power Rangers at one point. Ultimately though, Fox Kids scraped it from its schedule in 1998.

1899

It’s sad to say that 1899 was canceled by Netflix after a sole season that streamed in 2022, and that batch of eight episodes was truly intriguing. The show depicted a group of European immigrants making their way to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. However, there’s more to the situation than meets the eye, and a key twist in the finale set the stage for what might’ve been a wild second season.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip shed light on the behind-the-scenes personalities that helped keep a fictional sketch comedy show running. Marked by Sorkin’s signature writing style and led by the late Matthew Perry, the dramedy was a fun piece of work from NBC, which ultimately axed it after its run during the 2006-2007 TV season. 

Terra Nova

Fox’s 2011 sci-fi drama Terra Nova has also gained a cult following since it was canceled in 2012. Set in 2149 at which point the Earth is dying, the Steven Spielberg-produced series followed the Shannon family and their attempts to live life in a Cretaceous “time stream.” Dinosaurs and family drama were in ample supply.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

It still boggles the mind that The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance – a prequel to Jim Henson and Frank Oz’s 1982 dark fantasy film – was shuttered at Netflix after only one go-around in 2019. Considering the compelling story, stellar cast, and high production values, the loss of this Emmy-winning show still stings.

Forever

The notion of Ioan Gruffudd playing an immortal medical examiner who solved crimes and sought to become mortal may sound wild. However, that’s what Forever offered on ABC during the 2014-2015 TV season. While conventional in several respects, this was a fun show that had plenty more to say.

The Grinder

In 2015, Rob Lowe took on the role of an actor-turned-lawyer working for his family’s law firm on The Grinder. The Fox legal comedy earned strong reviews, and Lowe put on a strong show along with the rest of the cast. Despite that though, the show was dismissed in 2016 due to low ratings.

M.O.D.O.K.

It’s likely that even Marvel fans didn’t expect Hulu’s M.O.D.O.K. to be a stop-motion series, but the Patton Oswalt-led family romp proved to be a breath of fresh air when it dropped in 2021. The comedy ended far too soon and left a void as big as the main character’s head.

Drive

Drive came and went faster than the cars it featured when it premiered on Fox in 2007. Starring Nathan Fillion, an up-and-coming Emma Stone, and more, it focused on the competitors of an illegal cross-country race. It only aired four episodes before it was sent to the scrapyard, but it left an impression on a portion of viewers. 

Fans will likely continue to miss these TV shows and more as time goes on. Although they ended prematurely, I suppose it’s better to have had them than to have never had them at all.

I try not to be a person of many grudges, as those sorts of feelings don’t exactly get you anywhere. But there’s a special place in my heart that harbors a good number of bad feelings pertaining to the cancellation of TV shows I really happened to dig. So pull up a chair and prepare, as I’m about to rattle off 32 TV cancellations I’m still mad about.

Alcatraz

One 13 episode season in 2012 was all we got of this supernatural mindbender, where prisoners that randomly disappeared from Alcatraz returned decades later. When this show vanished, it left one of its leads in a potentially fatal cliffhanger, and deprived the world of weekly doses of Sam Neill. 

The Last Tycoon

Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book of the same name, The Last Tycoon entertained Prime Video subscribers in 2017. Nine episodes was all we got of Matt Bomer’s tragically dreamy studio head, in a series that used old Hollywood to scratch the itch that Mad Men left behind. Scripts for Season 2 are sitting somewhere in writer Billy Ray’s office, waiting for someone to call “Action!”

Resident Evil

When your story depends on jumping back and forth between the present and the future, the gap in the middle is where the fun lies. And for Netflix’s Resident Evil, we’ll never get the full story about what the Wesker family went through between pre and post-apocalyptic events. Though with the untimely passing of Lance Reddick, it would have been daunting to find a new Albert to fill his shoes.

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip

Aaron Sorkin’s dramedy take on the behind the scenes of an SNL clone failed to capture the energy of actually funny sketches. That could have easily been worked on, as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was a very effective drama, with Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford anchoring an amazing ensemble that included Amanda Peet and Sarah Paulson, among others.

Perry Mason

Perry Mason’s Season 2 finale became a series finale, thanks to HBO’s surprise cancellation. Which means Matthew Rhys’ titular detective will be cooling his heels in prison indefinitely, with no updates on how he picks up the pieces in the aftermath of his latest bombshell of a case. Another period-set beauty that’s been yanked too soon.

Westworld

One more season. That’s all Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy needed to close out Westworld properly. I don’t care if Season 4’s finale seems to tie things off, there was one more season of robot madness to be had, and as a Michael Crichton fan I feel cheated.

Lovecraft Country

While there were some serious rumors behind the possible reason for Lovecraft Country's cancellation, I still mourn what was supposed to happen in Season 2. With a radically different United States forming what Blavity reported to be the story behind Lovecraft Country: Supremacy, Mischa Green’s wild visions were too awesome to cancel this early.

Drive

There was a time when Fox was known for its cancel-happy nature, and 2007’s Drive was caught up in that era. An illegal cross-country race had several pairs of contestants racing for glory and survival, with Nathan Fillion, Melanie Lynskey, and Emma Stone among them. Only six episodes were made, with two being aired as online exclusives, and the overall story remaining unfulfilled.

Castle

You know it’s a problem when you’re an eight season show like Castle and your series finale is still a rush job. I still get whiplash when considering Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) going from a near fatal shooting to a happily ever after, one scene long time jump, set seven years into the future.

Counterpart

J.K. Simmons learning to live with his parallel universe self, in a Cold War-tinged espionage thriller. That’s all I should have to say when it comes to Starz’s Counterpart, which was cancelled after two seasons. This is the type of show that definitely should have had a longer life, even if it was just a five season wonder like Alias. 

Agent Carter

Somehow, somewhere in the ABC boardrooms, Agent Carter just wasn’t doing well enough to stay on the air. Meanwhile, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. went on for seven seasons. Not to knock that other series, but Hayley Atwell’s Sharon Carter deserved a lengthier run that enriched the MCU.

Human Target

Watching Human Target was, almost literally, a blast of weekly entertainment. Mark Valley, Jackie Earle Haley, and Chi McBride’s DC Comics action/comedy was light, fun, and packed with thrills. Each new assignment for their team was a treat to behold, and the “mission of the week” style varied things up enough that it was exciting to learn what was next.

Dark Angel

here was a mythos in play in James Cameron's Dark Angel, and plans for a third season of Jessica Alba’s genetically engineered hero Max already in the works. Cameron wrote and executive produced on the show, as well as directed what became the series finale for Season 2.

M.A.N.T.I.S.

Legendary actor Carl Lumbly got to be a TV superhero in M.A.N.T.I.S., and the role fit him like the suit that gave Dr. Miles Hawkins the ability to walk again. A superhero/man of science that flies around in a cool stealth ship and fights crime? And he’s played by Carl Lumbly? This two season epic never got its due, with a bummer ending supposedly closing the loop, and that’s an injustice.

Gentefied

I’m sensing the old fashioned Netflix 28-day viewership rule was what canned Gentefied, a glorious dramedy about the Morales family and their ups and downs in California. Celebrating the Latinx experience, while also focusing on the sociopolitical issues the family faced, it was a heartwarming as it was hysterical. 

I Am Not Okay With This

You shouldn’t legally be allowed to end a series like I Am Not Okay With This on a cliffhanger that massive. With Sydney (Sophia Lillis) moving into an uncertain future with her telekinetic powers, and after that shocking departure of a main character, Netflix’s one season wonder still has me wanting to see the next chapter.

Pen15

I got attached to Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle’s awkward adventures through middle school in Pen15. There was still a lot of ground for the girls to cover, and not having them around makes my Hulu subscription a little less funny.

I Love You America, With Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman’s I Love You, America was a mix of sketch comedy and discussion that tackled issues of the modern world in 2017. Running for only one season, it was a great compliment to other shows like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, as it helped us all see the world a bit clearer through laughter.

Free Agents

Remakes of international shows like Free Agents don’t always work. But when they do, it’s usually because of amazing teams like Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn. Playing co-workers awkwardly navigating a workplace romance, half of its 8 episodes aired on TV, until its cancellation.

The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien ended way too soon, full stop. NBC’s decision to revert the show to its previous host, Jay Leno, was one of the most upsetting late night decisions in history. A little over half a year was all Conan got in the big chair, but wow did he make it work. 

The Tick

Amazon’s attempt at making The Tick into a series was absolutely worth the time and energy given to making its two season run. Peter Serafinowicz and Griffin Newman’s The Tick and Arthur were a match made in comedy heaven, and the constant questioning of reality made it all even more enjoyable to follow. 

The Critic

Even before I became a professional entertainment journalist, The Critic was the type of sarcastic animated comedy I have always dug. Jon Lovitz’ Jay Sherman was bounced around between networks, and even got a short lived run of online shorts. None of it was ever enough, as the sharp writing and movie parodies never missed.

Mr. Mayor

NBC’s Mr. Mayor ended after two seasons, setting up the ultimate cliffhanger with Mayor Neil (Ted Danson) and Deputy Mayor Arpi (Holly Hunter) squaring off in a mayoral race for control of L.A. But at least Jayden (Bobby Moynihan) got some good news to close things out, which left me with one last precious laugh before the curtain. 

The Mick

Fox’s two-season sitcom The Mick was flat out hysterical on its own merit, as Kaitlin Olson’s irresponsible aunt made for a problematic babysitter. However, fan theories that it was secretly the show that It’s Always Sunny’s Sweet Dee imagined herself a part of in “The Gang Saves The Day” episode only makes me miss it that much more.

The Millers

Will Arnett, Beau Bridges, J.B. Smoove, and Margo Martindale formed a solid main bench for CBS’s The Millers, and to the show’s credit it did last two seasons. At the same time, that wasn’t nearly enough for me; and this is coming from someone who’s super picky about their sitcom preferences.

Mr. Sunshine

Matthew Perry running a sports arena sounds like a fun logline. The reality lived up to the potential, as one season of ABC’s Mr. Sunshine banked on Perry’s sarcastic charm. Surrounding him with co-stars like Andrea Anders, Nate Torrence, and Allison Janney only sweetened the pot, but the show didn’t even get to air all 13 episodes produced before cancellation.

A.P. Bio

A.P. Bio always seemed to be fighting to make the grade, even after making the jump from NBC to Peacock. Four seasons saw Glenn Howerton scheming to make his life better, while developing somewhat of a heart over time. Unfortunately, this series has sat down and shut up forever.

The Strain

The Strain was supposed to last for four to five seasons, with FX ultimately ending the series in Season 4. Adapting Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s trilogy depicting a vampire apocalypse, the trimmed episode orders and four season run was satisfying to a degree. At the same time, I still wonder what new twists could have happened in that phantom Season 5.

Firefly

Will the cancellation of Firefly ever be forgiven? I certainly don’t think so. Even with the confusing episode order and Fox’s lack of support for the show, the adventures of the Nathan Fillion-led crew of outlaws was pure joy. And no, Serenity didn’t curb my appetite for future chapters; it only made it grow.

The Crazy Ones

Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar as a father/daughter ad exec team was almost like capturing lightning in a bottle. CBS had that lightning with The Crazy Ones, and its single 22-episode season is all the proof one needed. For a sitcom to be this funny, and to have equally funny outtakes to run each week, is nothing short of a miracle.

Dark Shadows (Revival)

It wasn’t NBC’s fault that the Dark Shadows revival happened to debut at the same time the Gulf War was raging in 1991. Ratings were hard to secure, and we only got 12 episodes of Barnabas Collins (Ben Cross) and the supernatural/gothic happenings that surrounded his family. Don't expect the Johnny Depp reboot if you seek this one out, because this revival was closer to the serious tone of the original.

Quantum Leap (OG)

Look, I know we have the new Quantum Leap, and everyone wants the potential return of Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula). That still doesn’t make up for the final episode of NBC’s original series in 1993 ending with nothing but a title card telling us that Sam never made it home. Ziggy tells me that’s still 100% not cool, and needs to be fixed pronto.

And there you have it: a bushel of TV cancellations that still, to this day, has me wondering "what if..." It'll never stop either, as there's always a new series or an ongoing narrative just waiting to be plucked before its time. Again, while I don't like to hold grudges, it's almost a sure-fire conversation starter if you mention one of these shows while I'm around.

For as much as fans like to complain about disappointing series finales — such as the Game of Thrones ending or the confusing conclusion of Lost, to name a couple — at least those TV shows can say they had the opportunity to have their final curtain call on their own terms. There are even more TV shows cancelled way too soon that were unable to complete their stories as intended and the following are some of the most notable examples.

Agent Carter (2015-2016)

Before Marvel TV shows were available with a Disney+ subscription, ABC was the home of series like Agent Carter, which followed the adventures of Hayley Atwell’s covert operative in the 1940s. Unfortunately, the series only lasted two seasons because, as Atwell told The AV Club, the network wanted to put the actor in something more “mainstream.” At least we got to see more of Peggy Carter in subsequent MCU movies and the animated anthology series, What If…?

Archive 81 (2022)

One of many, many examples of prematurely canceled Netflix TV shows you will see on this list is Archive 81, which ended on a shocking cliffhanger that had fans itching for more. Unfortunately, the mysteries surrounding that finale will be left unanswered by the horror series’ cancellation after one season. Plus, fans won’t find the closure they seek in the podcast it is based on, which ended its own first season in a much different way.

Ash Vs. Evil Dead (2015-2018) 

Bruce Campbell retired his most iconic character, Ash Williams, after Starz chainsawed this continuation of the Evil Dead movies after three seasons. According to Bloody-Disgusting, there were plans to build off of the Ash vs. Evil Dead finale’s apocalyptic cliffhanger for a Mad Max-style fourth season.

DC's Legends Of Tomorrow (2016-2022)

After seven seasons, acclaimed DC TV show, Legends of Tomorrow, was unexpectedly given the boot, much to the dismay of the cast, crew and fans, as EW reported in 2022. The time-traveling Arrowverse series left on a cliffhanger that saw the live-action debut of Booster Gold.

The Event (2010-2011)

What is The Event? We’ll never know for sure because NBC took this sci-fi thriller — starring Jason Ritter and Blair Underwood — out of orbit after one season due to low ratings, as Deadline reported. According to Assignment X, there was talk of wrapping up its mysterious story — about a conspiracy involving aliens — with a SyFy original movie that never happened.

Firefly (2002-2003)

In one of the most heartbreaking instances of a TV show ending too soon, Firefly was cancelled by Fox after 11 episodes, being a victim of an unfavorable time slot, a mixed-up episode order, a misleading marketing strategy, etc. While the 2005 feature-length spin-off film, Serenity, provided some closure, fans remain unsatisfied, knowing what great potential this clever fusion of a cosmic setting with western themes had.

First Kill (2022) 

This intriguing series based on a Romeo & Juliet-esque short story with a twist involving vampires and LGBQT+ themes only lasted one season on Netflix. First Kill showrunner Felicia P. Henderson told The Daily Beast that she believes the marketing — which downplayed the series’ supernatural elements in favor of highlighting its core teen romance — hindered its potential to gain more interest.

Forever (2014-2015)

ABC’s Forever turned out to be misnomer, as this crime drama starring Ioan Gruffudd as an immortal medical examiner met an early demise due to low ratings. Creator Matt Miller later revealed on Twitter (via TV Line) plans he had for Season 2, which included delving into the main character’s family history, hints that he inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes, etc. 

Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)

There had never been a teen TV comedy quite like Freaks and Geeks, which was expelled by NBC after suffering bad time slots and fierce competition for 12 episodes (out of the 18 that were filmed). However, it spawned a stunning legacy, inspiring coming-of-age TV dramedies since and jumpstarting the stellar careers of the Freaks and Geeks cast. 

The Get Down (2016-2017)

According to Esquire, Netflix declined to comment on exactly why The Get Down became the platform’s first original series to be cancelled after just one season. However, co-creator Baz Luhrmann would share in a Facebook post that the stylish dramatization of hip-hop's roots would not continue in part because of his commitment to his next feature-length effort, which turned out to be Elvis. 

The Glades (2010-2013)

The Glades had a Season 4 finale similar to Dallas’ iconic Season 3 cliffhanger, in which the main character gets shot. However, Dallas was actually given to opportunity to reveal who shot J.R. Ewing, but Jim Longworth’s shooter would remain unknown since A&E would cancel the acclaimed crime procedural. TVLine reported that Matt Passmore — who led the show as the Chicago-based cop transferred to the Everglades — claimed he knew the shooter’s identity, but was unable to say at the time.

Hannibal (2013-2015)

Developer Bryan Fuller’s reinterpretation of author Thomas Harris’ epic crime saga had a Season 3 finale similar to the ending of Thelma & Louise — Mads Mikkelsen’s Hannibal Lecter and Hugh Dancy’s Will Graham lunge themselves off the side of a cliff in each other’s arms — but with less satisfying results. Since NBC pulled the plug, Hannibal fans have since been hungry for a fourth season, which Dancy told Collider he would be open to, but adds it would be unlikely due to the financial cost.

Heels (2021-2023)

Stephen Amell followed his long tenure leading the Arrow cast by starring in this drama offering an inside-look at the professional wrestling word that Starz tossed out of the ring in 2023. Showrunner Mike O’Malley shared with EW his ideas for Heels Season 3 if the series wer find a new home.

Heroes (2006-2010)

Despite its stellar debut, EW reported that Heroes was on a steady decline in viewership before NBC sealed its downfall after four seasons. While the acclaimed twist on comic book lore series would continue in 2015 in the the form of Heroes Reborn, even that was cancelled and was ultimately dubbed a “limited series revival,” according to TV By the Numbers.

How I Met Your Father (2022-2023)

Fans were not happy that Hulu cancelled How I Met Your Father before it could confirm the identity of the man Hilary Duff’s Sophie was destined to marry. At least it lasted longer than the previous attempt at a gender-swapped How I Met Your Mother spin-off, which never made it past the unaired pilot.

I Am Not Okay With This (2020)

Showrunner Jonathan Entwistle was certainly not okay with Netflix axing his adaptation of Charles S. Forsman’s graphic novel, I Am Not Okay With This, due to the Covid-19-related costs, apparently. According to Insider, the plan was to complete the story of a 17-year-old discovering she has special powers in two seasons, only to learn it would be not renewed after the scripts were written.

Joan Of Arcadia (2003-2005)

While critics likely prayed to see it continue, CBS opted not to renew Joan of Arcadia for a third season. According to EW, the Emmy nominated series starring Amber Tamblyn as teenager visited by God in human form suffered a major ratings slump in its sophomore run.

Julie And The Phantoms (2020) 

The supernatural musical series, Julie and the Phantoms, ended it first season on a spooky cliffhanger that raised questions which will never be resolved, unfortunately. According to MovieWeb, Netflix pulled the plug on the show — following an aspiring teen musician and her three ghostly bandmates — because it failed to appeal to its target demographic, despite proving popular among viewers 18 and older.

The Last Man On Earth (2015-2018)

After four seasons, star and creator Will Forte’s post-apocalyptic comedy, The Last Man on Earth, ended with a bizarre cliffhanger in which a large group of unidentified survivors in gas masks emerge from an underground bunker. The former SNL cast member shared with Vulture’s Good Ones podcast his plan to explain who those people were and how the story would evolve from there.

A League Of Their Own (2022)

Based on one of the best sports movies of all time, A League of the Their Own was also a fresh take on the true story of the World War II professional women’s baseball league. Despite its acclaim, it struck out with Amazon, which suddenly and shockingly cancelled it after one season.

Lockwood & Co. (2023) 

Mere months after it premiered, Netflix exorcised the inventive supernatural mystery thriller, Lockwood & Co., which based its first season on the first two books of the five-part series that inspired it. Fans of the show — which followed a group of teen ghost hunters in London — petitioned for its revival after it was cancelled.

The Midnight Club (2022)

Most of Mike Flanagan’s best shows have been limited series, which is why it was a surprise when his adaptation of Christopher Pike’s novel, The Midnight Club, ended with a tease at a second season. When Netflix chose not to renew the heartbreaking coming-of-age horror series, Flanagan posted his plans for Season 2 in full detail on his Tumblr blog.

My Name Is Earl (2005-2009)

Despite literally ending Season 4 with a “To Be Continued” caption, NBC opted not to continue My Name is Earl. Ethan Suplee, who played Earl’s brother, Randy Hickey, explained on the Slick and Thick podcast (via TikTok), that the network refused to give Fox (which owned the property) more money to license the show for another year. He then shared that the series finale would have revealed that Jason Lee’s titular reformed criminal was the unwitting catalyst of an entire movement of people making lists of amends.

Revolution (2012-2014) 

According to Deadline, the lights went out on Revolution — set in a post-apocalytpic future without electricity — after its long hiatus between its first and second seasons on NBC caused a dip in popularity. Creator Eric Kripke later told Buddy TV he envisioned Season 3 as a treasure hunting adventure, which — as THR reports — was adapted into a four-part digital DC comic in 2015.

Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019)

The Season 3 finale of Santa Clarita Diet saw Drew Barrymore’s undead real estate agent Sheila Hammond take a bite of her husband, Joel, played by Timothy Olyphant. What major changes that cliffhanger might have led to remain a mystery since Netflix buried the funny, inventive take on zombie lore, reportedly due to increasing production costs, according to Deadline.

The Secret Circle (2011-2012)

Despite being the network’s third highest-rated series at the time, The Secret Circle was cursed with cancellation after just one season on The CW. According to CBR, it was on a steady decline in viewership since its premiere that led to the teen supernatural fantasy’s premature demise, despite a cliffhanger season finale.

The Society (2019) 

Also one of the best Natasha Liu Bordizzo TV shows, The Society — which followed a group of teens mysteriously cut off from the rest of the world — was cut off from continuing its story in a second season. Creator Christopher Keyser shared with Variety how upsetting the “abrupt” cancellation of the Lord of the Flies-esque sci-fi series was after spending months preparing for the second season.

Southland (2009-2013)

Acclaimed cop drama Southland was cancelled right before its second season aired on NBC, but was picked up soon after by TNT, which would eventually drop the series after Season 5. EW later reported that there were talks of a movie that would resolve a cliffhanger in which Michael Cudlitz’s John Cooper gets shot, but nothing came to fruition.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008-2009)

One of the best shows Fox should be embarrassed about cancelling is Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which deviated from the initial Terminator movies’ canon in ways that fans and critics responded well to. Unfortunately, the sci-fi series met an untimely fate when it was cancelled after its second season suffered a significant drop in ratings.

Pushing Daisies (2007-2009) 

A beloved romantic-comedy series that ended too soon was Pushing Daisies, which starred Lee Pace as a baker with the ability to bring people back from dead by touching them, but only once. If only the quirky, creative, multi-Emmy-nominated show could be brought back from the dead so fans could see where the story was meant to go past its two season on ABC.

Warrior Nun (2020-2022)

Based on a popular comic book, Warrior Nun fell victim to Netflix’s habit of cancelling some of its most acclaimed series after its second season dropped to less than half its average viewership just three weeks after it premiered, according to Variety. 

The Wilds (2020-2022)

Despite being praised as one of the best Amazon Prime original TV shows, the coming-of-age survival drama, The Wilds, did not survive past a second season at Amazon. ComicBook.com later reported that fans voiced their disappointment that the cliffhanger season finale would go unresolved.

These TV shows were not here for a long time, but it was a good time while they lasted.

It is interesting when you think about how some of the most beloved sci-fi TV shows of all time never even got the chance to tell their story to completion. Indeed, among the many great series cancelled far too soon, one of the most oft-referenced examples is Firefly — a unique take on space odyssey stories by incorporating styles and themes reminiscent of classic Western movies and TV shows.

Unfortunately, even with a talented cast led by Nathan Fillion and being the brainchild of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, this 26th century tale of a misfit crew of outlaws traveling a distant, colonized solar system was tragically halted before its journey had reached its intended destination. So, why exactly did Fox pull the plug on Firefly after airing just 11 of the 14 episodes that were filmed? Let’s see if we can answer that question below by analyzing the most essential factors of the cult favorite’s brief broadcast history.

The Time Slot

In an oral history published by The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, in celebration of Firefly’s 15th anniversary, Adam Baldwin — who played sharp-shooting former mercenary, Jayne Cobb — recalled how finding an audience for the series was a challenge from the very beginning due to when it aired. Fox put “the Little Show That Could” on at 8 p.m. on Fridays — a time slot that TVTrope.org has described as an immediate death sentence in most cases. 

In fact, Fox is guilty of airing several short-lived, but mostly loved, series on Fridays, including another Whedon creation called Dollhouse, starring Eliza Dushku. However, in a turn of irony, Syfy (when it was still called Sci-Fi) would find decent success airing reruns of Firefly on Friday nights after its cancellation.

The Competition

Another factor to keep in mind is what else was on network TV at the same time as Firefly in 2002. According to TVTango.com, the time slot was also occupied by America’s Funniest Home Videos on ABC, 48 Hours on CBS, Providence (which would also end abruptly on NBC that year), and one new sitcom (the Amanda Bynes-led What I Like About You) and one on its seventh season (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) on The CW (when it was still called The WB).

Despite a few notable, long-running hits among the mix, none of these shows were anything like Firefly and would not seem like the kind that would ultimately kill such an action-packed, cosmic adventure. That being said, another thing that Baldwin also notes in the aforementioned THR oral history is that 2002 also saw the debut of American Idol — a show that would go on to become TV’s top-rated show for several years straight and had immediately attracted more attention than anything else on Fox. It is not completely unlikely that if Firefly had premiered a year earlier, it might have had better chance.

The Network Notes

There is not a single TV show that has never been subjected to creative demands from its parent network and it surely should come as no surprise that a show as conceptually ambitious as Firefly is no exception. A retrospective by Business Insider even claims that a disagreement over a major plot point almost led Fox to shelve the show as a 2003 midseason replacement option.

The article cites a quote by Whedon from Serenity: The Official Visual Companion recalling that the network did not want second-in-command Zoe (Gina Torres) to be married to ace pilot “Wash” (one of Alan Tudyk’s most iconic roles) to leave room for any romantic potential with Serenity captain, Mal Reynolds (Fillion). Whedon adamantly refused this change, but would concede Fox’s request to lighten up a few darker details, such as merely alluding to, but never showing, how sex worker Inara Serra (Morena Baccarin) injects herself with a serum that kills anyone who attempts to sexually assault her. 

The Marketing

Time has proven that any piece of media tends to live or die by its marketing — one famous cinematic example being a woman who successfully sued FilmDistrict for trailers that made the 2011 Neo-noir drama, Drive, resemble a Fast and Furious-style action thriller. Apparently, anyone who saw the promotional material for Firefly in 2002 might have assumed it was a comedy.

Based on an excerpt from Amy Pascale’s Joss Whedon biography included in the aforementioned Business Insider article, Fox’s TV spots gave special attention to the series’ more humorous moments and even exaggerated some of its more serious elements as comical. For instance, fan-favorite telepath, River (Summer Glau), is simply described as, “a girl in a box,” in reference to the sleep chamber her scientist brother, Simon Tam (Sean Maher), is forced to hide her in while being pursued by the government. Tudyk also recalls to THR a promo set to Smash Mouth’s “Walking on the Sun,” which may seem thematically fitting as a reference to outer space, but is completely from another world tonally.

The Episode Order 

However, no amount of misleading marketing could have prepared viewers for the confusion they must have felt when Firefly premiered on September 20, 2002 with “The Train Job” — an otherwise thrilling episode that lacks necessary exposition because, chronologically, it counts as the series second chapter. Producer Tim Minear tells THR that Fox was not impressed by the two-hour pilot — which AV Club’s series review notes for its “admirably relaxed (but TV-lethal) pace” — and requested that he and Whedon pen something snappier to debut with.

Business Insider states that the network would continue to air episodes out of their true order and with many delays in between, as a result of it airing the MLB playoffs that took place at the same time. It would not be until Firefly had reached the end of its season when Fox finally aired its proper first episode.

Firefly's Legacy Beyond Cancellation 

As E! News reported in December 2002, Fox officially stomped on Firefly after it averaged 4.7 million viewers and ranked 98th in the Nielsen ratings for the season. However, this bitter end — which Whedon and co. learned about during the season’s last three days of shooting —  turned out to be just the beginning of the show’s impact on pop culture. 

The series’ DVD release proved successful and helped widen its fanbase, whose demand for more led to the development of Serenity — a feature-length continuation that Universal put into theaters in 2005 — and later inspired a Dark Horse comic depicting the crew’s further adventures. The cast have also reunited in person several times at conventions, where they also remain a hot ticket when appearing individually, which is what inspired Alan Tudyk to create and star in his satirical, Emmy-nominated web series, Con Man. Firefly’s cult following only continues to grow more than 20 years later, making us continue to wonder if we truly have seen the last of the Serenity crew.

The potential of a Firefly revival is not something I am too concerned about, personally — and not because recent on-set abuse allegations against Whedon may prevent the creator from being involved. I like to think of this series as a somewhat rare instance of something truly one-of-a-kind that got to be seen by the public, if not for an unfairly brief and (due to its non-chronological airing) confusing moment. 

Still, it is a moment that I and, I am sure, many others cherish on its own and satisfyingly so, because the feeling I get from just watching those 14 episodes — which you can do with a Hulu subscription — and one movie is nothing short of serenity.

We all know that there are a lot of messages that women receive about what they should or shouldn’t be and do when they start getting older. While ideas about how long our hair should be or what we supposedly can and can’t wear are, thankfully, becoming more and more unaccepted, there are still a lot of unwritten, so-called, rules about how we should look as we age. Of course, part of this is based on what one classifies as “older,” and now Firefly cast member Jewel Staite (who now stars on 2022 TV schedule entry, Family Law) has roasted a post that added her to the “pretty older women” category at just 40 years old.

What Did Firefly’s Jewel Staite Say About Being Labeled A Pretty Older Woman?

Societal messages about how we’re all supposed to present ourselves to the world affect pretty much everyone. However, age and how old we look to people also usually comes into play when ideas of attractiveness are brought up (with stars like Jennifer Lopez continuing to wow into her 50s), and after the Kaylee Frye actress landed in a “pretty older women” Twitter post from a sub-reddit of the same name, she roasted the post in her response:

Obviously, Staite looks great in the photo, which features a dreamily lit image of her posing on some stairs in nude lingerie. I think her response gets at two things, though. For one, who says that having such recognition for the sexy photo was even important to her? Maybe she just wanted a way that she could enjoy the look of her own self without staring into a mirror. Secondly? Who’s decided that she’s now “older”?

There’s nothing wrong with hitting more advanced ages. It is, after all, something we should all hope for, seeing as how our only other option in life is…well, not so great as far as we can tell. And, it’s not like she turned 40 in 1900, when the average life expectancy for white women in the U.S. would have given ladies of her age just a little over eight more years. She’s 40 now, when people typically have a lot more living they can do for many, many years (Janet Jackson had a baby in her 50s). We’re not living in a Logan’s Run society (yet), people! Staite continued, responding to a follower who also seemed nonplussed by the post:

As mentioned earlier, though, some of this could just be because of whoever runs this account. If you’re 20, someone of Staite’s age is already likely to seem wise, experienced, and, yes, maybe even “old” beyond belief. But, it’s also just a symptom of the world we live in, where a The Watcher cast member like Naomi Watts was warned that her career would decline when she hit 40, way back when she did Mulholland Drive, and Oscar nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal was told (at 37) that she was “too old” to play the lover of an actor who was a whopping 55 years old!

Even the widely thought to be sexy as hell Helen Mirren has spoken out about this issue, calling it “fucking outrageous.” And, Good Luck To You, Leo Grande’s body-baring star, Emma Thompson, called the one-two punch of ageism and sexism women face “completely and utterly unbalanced.” After doing a cursory search on reddit, the channels there that talk about older men (surprise, surprise) appear to only ask advice for one thing or another, and aren’t posting pictures of men who are thought to have held up well for their age, so it’s clear we have a pretty long way to go on many fronts when it comes to women and how they’re viewed once they’re no longer in their 20s.

Brendan Fraser has already made a great impression with DC Comics fans thanks to his brilliant work on the excellent HBO Max streaming series Doom Patrol, and the wait is on for him to impress us again. In the upcoming movie Batgirl, he will be given the spotlight as the serial arsonist Firefly, and there are high hopes that he will wow in the antagonist role. That being said, Fraser had to recently clarify exactly which version of the comic book villain he is playing, and in doing so he revealed a bit of backstory about his character in the new film.

The Mummy star was a guest on a panel this past weekend at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, North Carolina (via YouTube), and it was while answering audience questions that Brandon Fraser talked a bit about his role in Batgirl. The actor was asked by a fan if there was a hero or villain from the long history of Marvel Comics that he would be interested in playing, and while pivoting away from that question he talked a bit about Firefly and the version of the character that we'll soon see in live-action. Said Fraser,

When it was first reported in October 2021 that Brendan Fraser had joined the cast of Batgirl, the trades only identified his character as Firefly and didn't mention his alter ego. With no other information to go on, there has been an assumption that Fraser was going to be playing Garfield Lynns (the identity of the original version of the villain from DC Comics, introduced in 1952), but now that record has been set straight with the actor confirming that he will be playing the Ted Carson iteration of Firefly.

The Ted Carson version of Firefly was introduced much more recently – specifically in 2013 – and he is a version of the character who wears a robotic suit while committing his flame-centric crimes. You probably shouldn't expect to see that robotic suit in the upcoming DC movie, though, as set photos of Brendan Fraser in costume didn't give off a high tech vibe.

Firefly is a character with an interesting history in comics and live-action, and he will be featured alongside a stellar cast in Batgirl. Leslie Grace is playing the titular hero, and she will be joined by Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner James Gordon, Ivory Aquino as Alysia Yeoh (Barbara Gordon’s best friend), and more. The directing team of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah is currently in post-production on the film, fresh off their work on the Disney+ Ms. Marvel series and introducing mutants to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Batgirl doesn't have a release date yet, but it is being produced as an HBO Max exclusive.

The past few years have seen a complete career turnaround for writer and director Joss Whedon, who has been the subject of numerous allegations related to problematic behavior on the set of projects like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Justice League, with actors Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher and Charisma Carpenter among those having the most to say about (and in response to) Whedon. The list of former colleagues who have sided with Whedon’s accusers has grown with time (and includes David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar), but don’t count on seeing Nathan Fillion joining that bunch. The Rookie star broke his all-around silence on the matter and spoke with praise of his former Firefly boss.

With Season 4 of his ABC drama having wrapped in May, though not before setting up the Niecy Nash-starring spinoff titled The Rookie: Feds, Nathan Fillion settled in for a solid conversation with Smallville vet Michael Rosenbaum for the latter’s Inside of You podcast. After the topic of Firefly came up, Rosenbaum posed the question of the cancelled-too-soon fave returning in some form without Joss Whedon, which Fillion said would be “heartbreaking,” while questioning how it could happen. 

At this point, Rosenbaum asked for Fillion’s thoughts on the aforementioned controversies involving Joss Whedon, which sparked a very specific response from the Malcolm Reynolds portrayer:

When then asked what his experience with Joss Whedon was like regarding Firefly, here’s now Nathan Fillion responded:

To be clear, in sharing his own feelings about Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion in no way discounted the claims and reports of those who spoke out regarding other Whedon projects. So he wasn’t exactly denying the notion that such allegations are legitimate, even though he didn’t exactly show support to anyone either by avoiding the topic altogether. On the flip side of that coin, Dollhouse star Eliza Dushku previously shared a lengthy statement of support after her Buffy co-star Charisma Carpenter spoke out about her alleged experiences, though without calling Whedon out directly in the way she went about her claims against former Bull co-star Michael Weatherly.

So just in case anyone wondered if Fillion would still put future distance between himself and Whedon on a professional level, that’s clearly not the case. There’s no telling what the director will bring to light next from a creative standpoint, but if he needs anyone to fill the top spot on the call sheet, he knows where to look. 

Any Word On A Firefly Revival?

It's unclear if Firefly will ever make a return to fans in any live-action form following the Serenity feature, but it's safe to say that those chances got even worse after the Joss Whedon backlash. And while it sounds like he'd be skeptical about returning as Captain Mal with anyone other than Whedon as the spearheader, he'd clearly jump right into gear if someone picked it up with its creator's involvement intact. But is that something the two of them ever chat about? Here's how Fillion put it:

It's hard to think of any show that has anchored more "revive this show" conversations than Firefly, with its single season having launched a comic book mini-verse. Not that fans of the Fox series have allowed such two-dimensional fare to sway the calls for the show's crew to get back together for one last mission. (Or 8-13 last mini-missions, as it were.) 

Just as Nathan Fillion and Joss Whedon still keep in touch, The Rookie totally featured a sweet reunion between Fillion and his former Firefly (and Con Man) co-star Alan Tudyk back for the Season 4 finale. Granted, some storytelling magic would need to happen for Tudyk to return, but such is the world of sci-fi. Still, it's probably best not to get one's hopes up too high. 

Firefly is available to stream with a Hulu subscription.

I often like to use the term “Geek God” or “Geek Goddess” to describe an actor who has made an impressive impact on the sci-fi genre, superhero movies, etc., and earned a devoted fanbase in the process. One of the quintessential names that falls under this category is Alan Tudyk, although his eclectic filmography is not limited to great sci-fi TV shows and comic book adaptations. See for yourself by taking a look at our picks for some of the best Alan Tudyk movies and TV shows and where to find them on streaming, for digital rental, or on physical media - starting with…well, a sci-fi TV show.

Firefly (2002-2003)

An eclectic crew of outlaws travel between the terraformed planets of their galaxy in search of whatever work they can find while also steering clear of government detection in the 26th Century.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: The heart and soul of the Firefly cast just might be Alan Tudyk’s performance as Serenity’s ace pilot, Hoban “Wash” Washburne, on this short-lived, but much-loved futuristic take on the Western genre and its 2005 feature-length follow-up named after the ship the crew called home.

Stream Firefly on Hulu.
Buy Firefly digitally on Amazon.
Buy Firefly on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Con Man (2015-2017)

An actor (Alan Tudyk) who is best known for a short-lived cult TV series struggles to achieve the success he believes he deserves while navigating the world of sci-fi conventions.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: Tudyk’s career following the cancellation of Firefly served as a loose inspiration for Con Man - an often dark satire on Hollywood and geekdom from an actor’s perspective that he also created and which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.

Stream Con Man on Freevee through Amazon Prime.
Buy Con Man digitally on Amazon.

A Knight’s Tale (2001)

A peasant (Heath Ledger) poses as a knight to participate in a jousting tournament to achieve the fortune and glory he has long desired.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: One of Alan Tudyk’s most beloved films from before he starred on Firefly is A Knight’s Tale, in which he plays a friend-turned-faux royal servant to Ledger, who also gives one of his best and most underrated performances in Oscar winner Brian Helgeland’s unique medieval drama.

Stream A Knight’s Tale on Starz.
Rent/buy A Knight’s Tale digitally on Amazon.
Buy A Knight’s Tale on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Death At A Funeral (2007)

The gathering of an English family to pay their respects to their recently passed patriarch takes a few unexpected and disastrous turns.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Just like in A Knight’s Tale, the Texas-born Alan Tudyk blends in perfectly among his predominantly U.K.-based co-stars when giving an uproarious, scene-stealing performance with a faux British accent in the original Death at a Funeral - a wonderfully chaotic dark comedy from director Frank Oz.

Stream Death At A Funeral on Hulu.
Stream Death At A Funeral on Tubi.

Rent/buy Death At A Funeral digitally on Amazon.
Buy Death At A Funeral on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

The owner of a rundown gym (Vince Vaughn) tries to save it from being acquired by an eccentric fitness guru (Ben Stiller) by entering himself and his friends and colleagues into an elaborate dodgeball tournament in Las Vegas.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Three years before Death at a Funeral, Alan Tudyk stole the show with another bizarre performance as a man who thinks he is a pirate in  Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story - a laugh-filled sports comedy from director Rawson Marshall Thurber.

Stream Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on Hulu.
Stream Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on Amazon Prime.

Rent/buy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story digitally on Amazon.
Buy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil (2010)

An innocent hillbilly (Alan Tudyk) and his best friend (Tyler Labine) become victims of a horrifying misunderstanding when their plans to clean up his new cabin intersect with some college students’ vacation.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk puts on another convincing faux accent as one-half of the titular duo in Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil - one of the most clever, refreshing, inventively gory, and simple best horror-comedy movies of its time.

Stream Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil on Tubi.
Rent/buy Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil digitally on Amazon.
Buy Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Suburgatory (2011-2014)

For the first time in her life, a cynical teenage girl (Jane Levy) begrudgingly leaves the city with her single father (Jeremy Sisto) to live in a quaint suburb with an eccentric population.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: After sending up the horror genre in Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil, Alan Tudyk shared the screen with future Scream Queen Levy on the cast of Suburgatory - a fun, short-lived ABC sitcom - as an ordinary suburban dad who undergoes an extraordinarily painful mid-life crisis.

Stream Suburgatory on CW Seed.
Buy Suburgatory digitally on Amazon.
Buy Suburgatory on DVD on Amazon.

I, Robot (2004)

A technophobic detective (Will Smith) suspects that a revolutionary robotics engineer’s own creation is responsible for his death in 2035 Chicago.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk proved himself to be a talented motion capture performer when playing cybernetic murder suspect Sonny in I, Robot - director Alex Proyas’ clever, visually stunning, Oscar-nominated dystopian crime thriller inspired by a collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov.

Stream I, Robot on HBO Max.
Rent/buy I, Robot digitally on Amazon.
Buy I, Robot on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

A mismatched, ragtag crew of rebel forces conspire to steal the plans for the Galactic Empire’s moon-sized, planet-destroying weapon known as the Death Star.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Another time Alan Tudyk gave an inspired motion capture performance as a robot (and got to use his British accent again) was in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - a direct prequel to 1977's original Star Wars - as reprogrammed imperial droid K2-SO.

Stream Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Disney+.
Rent/buy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story digitally on Amazon.
Buy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Wreck-It Ralph Movies (2012, 2018)

A video game villain (John C. Reilly) aspires to abandon his destructive reputation, only to nearly cause the destruction of the World Wide Web itself years later.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: One of Alan Tudyk’s earlier collaborations with Disney is when he voiced King Candy, the main villain of the heartwarming animated redemption story, Wreck-It Ralph, before later appearing in the hilarious sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, as KnowsMore - the personification of a search engine.

Stream the Wreck-It Ralph Movies on Disney+.

Rent/buy Wreck-It Ralph digitally on Amazon.
Buy Wreck-It Ralph on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Rent/buy Ralph Breaks the Internet digitally on Amazon.
Buy Ralph Breaks the Internet on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Frozen Movies (2014-2019)

The adventures of a red-headed princess (Kristen Bell) and her older sister (Idina Menzel) who is gifted with a mysterious ability to alter the weather to cold temperatures and freeze things at will.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk also leant his voice to multiple characters for Disney’s most successful animated franchise, most notably as the Duke of Weselton in both Frozen and in the sequel, Frozen II.

Stream the Frozen movies on Disney+.
Buy the Frozen movies digitally on Amazon.
Buy the Frozen movies on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Doom Patrol (2019)

A group of people, each made superhuman by traumatic circumstances, are given a home by a mad scientist (Timothy Dalton) and a chance to save the world from a man of nigh-omnipotence and malicious intent.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk has starred in countless comic book adaptations, including Marvel movies (namely Big Hero 6) and various DC TV shows - such as the refreshingly unique Doom Patrol, in which he chews the scenery as the reality-warping main antagonist of Season 1, Eric “Mr. Nobody” Morden. 

Stream Doom Patrol on HBO Max.

Resident Alien (2021-Present)

An extra-terrestrial (Alan Tudyk) begins to question the malicious nature of his initial reason for coming to Earth (to destroy it) after disguising himself as a human doctor and establishing trust with the citizens of a small Colorado town he became stranded in.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: A more recent example of Alan Tudyk’s talent for also playing a good villain (of sorts) can currently be seen on the Syfy original series, Resident Alien - developer Chris Sheridan’s considerably lighter and much funnier take on Peter Hogan’s Dark Horse comic book series 

Stream Resident Alien on Peacock Premium.
Buy Resident Alien digitally on Amazon.
Buy Resident Alien on Blu-ray on Amazon.

These cult favorites and new classics alike just barely scratch the surface of what makes Alan Tudyk an undeniable “Geek God” to so many of his fans.

WARNING: The following may contain SPOILERS for Outer Range, so just be sure you know what you are in for before going down this hole.

For me, it can be a really good sign when you are watching a sci-fi TV show and the more grounded and believable story elements are just as interesting as when things get weird, if not even more interesting. That is how I feel so far about Outer Range - an intriguing series from creator Brian Watkins that feels like Rod Serling’s version of Yellowstone.

The Amazon Prime original stars Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin as a Wyoming rancher whose battle with a wealthier rival family over control of his land is worsened by a series of concerning circumstances, including one startling, otherworldly discovery in his west pasture. If you have found yourself captivated by the unique blend of the Neo-Western genre with bizarre fantasy on Outer Range (or by each of these styles on their own) and you are curious to see what else like it may be out there, let’s dive in - starting with the most obvious choice.

Yellowstone (Peacock) 

A headstrong Montana rancher (movie star Kevin Costner leads the Yellowstone cast) and his family fight to protect their land from greedy companies, tourists, and more - often incorporating Wild West tactics to do so.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Admittedly, the aforementioned Paramount Network hit from creator Taylor Sheridan is, in no way, a sci-fi show, but Outer Range has been referred to as a sci-fi fan’s answer to Yellowstone by many (myself included) and has earned the comparison by also having a rural setting, a major storyline involving a volatile feud over land control, and casting Will Patton as a main antagonist.

Stream Yellowstone on Peacock.
Buy Yellowstone on Amazon. 

Hell Or High Water (Netflix)

A divorced father (Chris Pine) and his loose-canon, ex-convict brother (Ben Foster) pull a string of bank heists in attempt to save their family ranch, which attracts the attention of a veteran Texas lawman nearing retirement (Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: The gripping 2016 crime thriller and Best Picture Oscar nominee, Hell or High Water, is another Neo-Western favorite from writer Taylor Sheridan that Outer Range draws comparisons to, particularly in the more grounded storyline in which brothers Perry (Tom Pelphrey) and Rhett Abbott (Lewis Pullman) struggle to conceal their involvement in a crime from the local sheriff (Tamara Podemski) as other threats loom over their family’s ranch.

Stream Hell or High Water on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Hell or High Water on Amazon. 

No Country For Old Men (HBO Max)

In the early 1980s, a married hunter and war veteran (Josh Brolin) becomes the target of a loose-canon killer (Academy Award winner Javier Bardem) after finding millions of dollars in drug money, which also attracts the attention of a veteran Texas sheriff considering retirement (Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: The captivating 2007 crime thriller and Best Picture Oscar winner, No Country for Old Men, is another Neo-Western favorite Outer Range draws comparisons to, particularly for the casting of Brolin (who also executive produces the show) in the lead role of Royal Abbott, who seems like the kind of person Llewellyn Moss (his character from Joel and Ethan Coen’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel) might have become.

Stream No Country for Old Men on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy No Country for Old Men on Amazon. 

Signs (Amazon Prime) 

A widowed former minister (Academy Award winner Mel Gibson), his brother (Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix), son (Rory Culkin), and daughter (Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin) begin to suspect that they are being taunted by visitors from another planet after a crop circle appears outside their home.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Writer and director M. Night Shyamalan’s creepy alien invasion thriller, 2002’s Signs, has more in common with Outer Range than most movies for also following a faith-stricken, rural land owner and family man who finds something very strange on his property - not to mention how the show has offered a few hints of there being an extra-terrestrial presence.

Stream Signs on Amazon Prime.

Midnight Mass (Netflix) 

After he is released from prison, a recovering alcoholic (Zach Gilford) returns to the secluded island community where he grew up at the same time that a mysterious, charismatic priest (Hamish Linklater) arrives and brings forth what initially seems to be an astonishing series of miracles.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: The theme of someone struggling with, or even renouncing, their own faith (which Josh Brolin’s Royal Abbott deals with on Outer Range) is a heavily prevalent theme of the brilliant, seven-part Netflix original horror series from Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass, which also follows the very strange and deadly events surrounding a small town and some of its rivalrous inhabitants.

Stream Midnight Mass on Netflix.

The Leftovers (HBO Max) 

A divorced father and police chief (Justin Theroux) struggles to hold his community and his sanity together in the midst of the sudden, unexplained vanishing of millions of people from the face of the Earth years earlier.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Once again, faith or the absence of it plays a major role in The Leftovers - HBO’s thought-provoking, inventive fantasy series that Damon Lindelof co-created with original author Tom Perotta - which also, initially, follows the bizarre circumstances affecting a small town (but as a result of a strange global tragedy), including an uptick in cult practices - which Outer Range has also hinted at.

Stream The Leftovers on HBO Max.
Buy The Leftovers on Amazon. 

Resident Alien (Peacock Premium)

After crash-landing in a quaint Colorado community, an extra-terrestrial (Alan Tudyk - known for playing various other sci-fi characters, including K-2S0 in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) disguises himself as a human doctor to blend in and earn the trust of its citizens, which soon causes him to have second thoughts about the reason he was sent to Earth in the first place: to destroy it.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Another series similar to Outer Range in how it follows a small town plagued by a bizarre, otherworldly secret (but also offers a comparatively lighter take on the subject) is Resident Alien - a Syfy original hit from developer Chris Sheridan which, itself, is a much lighter take on the sci-fi graphic novel that inspired it. 

Stream Resident Alien on Peacock Premium.
Buy Resident Alien on Amazon. 

Frequency (Amazon Rental)

In 1999, a New York City homicide detective (Jim Caviezel) is, at first, delighted that he is somehow able to use an old ham radio to speak to his late father (Dennis Quaid) in 1969, until their unusual reunion leads to a tragedy that they must work together to prevent.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: One of the strange circumstances affecting the Wyoming setting of Outer Range is time travel, although its constructs within the world of the show still have yet to be fully explained, which is similar to how there is never much of an explanation for how Quaid and Caviezel’s characters can reconnect across time in Frequency - an otherwise clever, heartfelt, and gripping sci-fi crime thriller.

Rent/Buy Frequency on Amazon. 

Firefly (Hulu)

A war veteran turned outlaw (Nathan Fillion) and his mismatched spaceship crew travel from planet to planet looking for work and evading government detection hundreds of years after Earth became uninhabitable.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: While certainly unique in tone to its contemporaries, Outer Range is really just one of a handful of TV shows that combine Western styles of storytelling with sci-fi themes - the most essential of which would have to be the short-lived, but much-loved Firefly, which is a Wild West adventure first and a space odyssey second.

Stream Firefly on Hulu.
Buy Firefly on Amazon. 

Westworld (HBO Max)

The citizens of a town from the Old West discover that they are actually mechanical beings created for a theme park in which guests can live out their wildest fantasies in an authentic, 19th century-style setting.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: One of the more recent and acclaimed examples of an essential sci-fi/Western hybrid is the Emmy-winning HBO series, Westworld - which, unlike Outer Range, incorporates a more traditional aesthetic before revealing itself as a dystopian, technophobic parable loosely inspired by a cult favorite B-movie from 1973.

Stream Westworld on HBO Max.
Buy Westworld on Amazon. 

Wynonna Earp (Netflix)

The great, great-granddaughter of legendary gunslinger Wyatt Earp (Letterkenny cast member Melanie Scrofano) and the real, immortal “Doc” Holliday (Tim Rozon) team up to defend the Earth from deadly creatures and evil paranormal entities with their own unique abilities and the same kind of rough, unforgiving fighting style that would have been used at the O.K. Corral.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Another more recent example of a sci-fi TV show that borrows heavily from the style and tone of a classic Western story is Syfy’s series adaptation of the Image Comic book, Wynonna Earp, which also relates to Outer Range for having its fair share of high-stakes fantasy elements in a modern-day Western setting, but is entirely different in how it uses them.

Stream Wynonna Earp on Netflix.
Buy Wynonna Earp on Amazon. 

Who knows? Maybe one day Outer Range could incorporate some more adventurous, traditional Western style into its plot, too. See for yourself by streaming its debut season on Amazon Prime, with new episodes arriving every Friday until May 6, 2022.

Every superhero needs at least one formidable supervillain to clash with when they’re starring in a movie. In the case of Batgirl, Leslie Grace’s version of Barbara Gordon will face off against Garfield Lynns, a.k.a. Firefly, played by The Mummy’s Brendan Fraser. This will be the DC Comics antagonist’s live-action cinematic debut, and some Batgirl set photos have emerged showing that Fraser’s Firefly costume looks downright creepy!

You can head over to Batgirl Film News to see the photos for yourself, but basically Batgirl is delivering a Firefly costume that’s a nice blend of looking homemade while still honoring how the villain is usually depicted in the comics. Brendan Fraser’s Firefly is well equipped to unleash his pyromania on Gotham City, with flamethrowers attached on each arm hooked up to a massive fuel tank on his back, enough padding and insulation so he doesn't catch on fire, and a helmet with a proper breathing apparatus so that he doesn’t choke on smoke. As if being caught in a massive blaze wasn’t bad enough, seeing that this guy was responsible for it could cause further psychological trauma.

The Garfield Lynns version of Firefly debuted in 1952’s Detective Comics #184, and Batgirl will be the character’s second live-action appearance, the first being an Arrow Season 1 episode (a female version of Firefly named Bridgit Pike was a recurring villain on Gotham). Considering that Firefly was one of the leading baddies in the Batgirl: Year One take on Barbara Gordon’s entry into crimefighting, it’s fitting that he’ll be wreaking havoc in her DC Extended Universe adventure, and has me wondering if Killer Moth, his partner-in-crime from that comic book story, will also show up. This is Fraser’s second DC media outing, as he also plays Cliff Steele/Robotman in HBO Max’s Doom Patrol.

The Batgirl movie entered development back in early 2017, when Joss Whedon was attached to write and direct. Following his exit a year later, Birds of Prey and The Flash’s Christina Hodson was later brought in to tackle the script, and by May 2021, Bad Boys for Life directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were hired to helm the movie that will be accessible with an HBO Max subscription. No specific plot details have been revealed for Batgirl yet, including whether this will depict Barbara Gordon’s superhero origin story or if she’s been wearing the cape and cowl for a while when we meet her.

Batgirl also features the return of J.K. Simmons’ Commissioner James Gordon and Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne, with the former having previously appeared in Justice League and the latter being brought back into the DC film space beforehand in The Flash this November. Other Batgirl cast members include Ivory Aquino as Barbara’s best friend Alysia Yeoh, as well as  Jacob Scipio, Rebecca Front, Corey Johnson and Ethan Kai in undisclosed roles. Cameras have been rolling in Glasgow since late November.

We’ll let you know what date Batgirl ends up being slotted in on the upcoming DC movies calendar, but for now, the next offering in this corner of the superhero film market is The Batman, which starts screening to the public this Thursday night and is set in its own universe. The next DCEU entry will be Black Adam, which arrives on July 29.

It is an absolute joy to see Morena Baccarin back on TV again leading The Endgame cast as criminal mastermind Elena Fedorova. Once again, she proves to be the MVP of just about every project she is associated with, from stealing scenes in Deadpool and its sequel to… well, doing the same thing in several other superhero movies and TV shows.

Of course, the Brazilian native's association with various comic book adaptations is not the only reason she has acquired undisputed status as a “Geek Goddess.” Let’s take a deep dive into more of the best Morena Baccarin movies and TV shows available to stream or digitally rent right now, starting with the series that really made her a star in the first place.

Firefly (Hulu, Tubi)

With government agents hot on their trail, a mismatched crew of outlaws (led by Nathan Fillion’s Cap. Mal Reynolds) find danger, prosperity, and close kinship with one another while traveling the further reaches of the galaxy.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: While this inventive, sci-fi twist on the Western genre was not quite the success it deserved to be (Fox cancelled it after 11 episodes in 2003), the series’ subsequent, enduringly loyal cult following made beloved stars out of the Firefly cast, including Morena Baccarin as a lovely escort named Inara Serra.

Stream Firefly on Hulu.
Stream Firefly on Tubi.
Buy Firefly on Amazon.

Serenity (Amazon Rental)

The cat and mouse game between a crew of mismatched outlaws and government agents hot on their trail reaches its peak when an assassin (Chiwetel Ejiofor) invades their ship with ruthless intent to capture its telepathic passenger, River (Summer Glau).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: Morena Baccarin would reprise her role as Inara Serra, along with the rest of the Firefly crew, in this equally action-packed and emotionally impactful feature-length continuation of the short-lived, but much-loved, series’ story that was theatrically released 2005 and is named after Cap. Mal’s ship, Serenity.

Rent/Buy Serenity on Amazon.

V (Tubi)

Earth is shocked by the arrival of an extraterrestrial race that bears a humanoid appearance and relieved by their claims of peaceful intentions, until they begin to show signs of not being quite what they seem.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: Years after the cancellation of Firefly, Morena Baccarin would return to sci-fi television, but in a more prominent and also more insidious sort of role, in 2009’s V - ABC’s remake of another short-lived, cult favorite sci-fi TV show that itself was based on an acclaimed limited series

Stream V on Tubi.
Buy V on Amazon.

The Deadpool Movies (Hulu)

After attempts to cure his cancer prove advantageous (immortality) and disastrous (ugliness), a sarcastic mercenary (Ryan Reynolds) with a unique awareness of his fictitious existence seeks to punish the man responsible for his new look (Ed Skrein) and, later, seeks to avenge a young mutant (Julian Dennison) targeted by a vengeful widower (Josh Brolin) from the future.

Why they are worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: One of Morena Baccarin’s most notable big screen roles to date is Vanessa Carlysle, the fiancée of the titular Merc with a Mouth in 2016’s hilarious Marvel Comics adaptation Deadpool, whom she would also reprise (with considerably less screen time) in the arguably funnier and more action-packed Deadpool 2 two years later.

Stream Deadpool on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Deadpool on Amazon.

Stream Deadpool 2 on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Deadpool 2 on Amazon.

Gotham (Netflix)

A promising, young cop (Ben McKenzie) arrives in a metropolis overwrought with crime and corruption hoping to make a difference around the same time a wealthy child (David Mazouz) is driven to do the same thing after witnessing his parents’ murder.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: Before the Deadpool movies, Morena Baccarin would star in a number of other comic book adaptations - such as when she joined the Gotham cast as Leslie Thompkins, who eventually marries Jim Gordon (the actress’ real-life husband, Ben McKenzie) on this hit series the chronicles how Bruce Wayne became Batman, among other DC character origins.

Stream Gotham on Netflix.
Buy Gotham on Amazon.

Son Of Batman And Batman: Bad Blood (HBO Max)

Bruce Wayne (Jason O’Mara) learns that he has a son (Stuart Allan), who is trained to become the new Robin and, later, must enlist the help of Nightwing (Firefly’s Sean Maher) and newcomers Batwoman (Yvonne Strahovski) and Batwing (Gaius Charles) to locate his missing father.

Why they are worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: Leslie Thompkins is not the only Batman-related character played by Morena Baccarin, who also lent her voice to the role of the Dark Knight’s  on and off lover (and mother of his child, Damian), Talia Al Ghul, in two DC animated movies: 2014’s Son of Batman and Batman: Bad Blood in 2016.

Stream Son of Batman on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Son of Batman on Amazon.

Stream Batman: Bad Blood on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Batman: Bad Blood on Amazon.

To Your Last Death (Tubi, Vudu, IMDb TV)

A woman faces off against the powerful Gamemaster (Morena Baccarin) and her own sadistic father (Ray Wise) in hopes to rescue her siblings, who have been unwillingly forced to participate in a series of deadly challenges.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: In 2019, Morena Baccarin gave one of her more underrated and deliciously wicked voice acting performances in To Your Last Death - a thrilling, animated action-horror hybrid that will certainly appeal to fans of the Saw movies or Squid Game on Netflix.

Stream To Your Last Death on Tubi.
Stream To Your Last Death on Vudu.
Stream To Your Last Death on IMDb TV.
Rent/Buy To Your Last Death on Amazon.

The Flash (Netflix)

A freak accident involving a lightning bolt strike puts a young forensic scientist (Grant Gustin) into a coma, but wakes up with the ability to move faster than anyone else on Earth and uses his power to fight crime.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: In the same year that Morena Baccarin first played Talia Al Ghul, she also lent her voice to one of the most beloved DC TV shows, The Flash, in the uncredited role of an AI hidden in STAR Labs named Gideon, whom Barry Allen created in the future, for the first of 24 episodes (so far).

Stream The Flash on Netflix.
Buy The Flash on Amazon.

Homeland (Hulu)

A CIA operative (Emmy winner Claire Danes) will stop at nothing to prove that a recently released, American POW (Emmy winner Damian Lewis) has been brainwashed by his captors and is planning to engage an attack on the United States.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: In 2013, Morena Baccarin earned an Emmy nomination for her performance on the Homeland cast as a woman haunted by suspicions that her own husband is a terrorist on this harrowing hit Showtime original political drama inspired by the Israeli series Prisoners of War. 

Stream Homeland on Hulu.
Buy Homeland on Amazon.

Last Looks (Amazon Rental)

A disgraced former LA detective (Charlie Hunnam) is thrown back into the game when he is asked to help investigate the murder of a woman whose prime suspect is her own husband (Mel Gibson) - an alcoholic, British actor who was supposedly too drunk the night of the crime to know if he is guilty or not.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: In 2021, Morena Baccarin starred in the quirky crime thriller Last Looks - based on the novel by Howard Michaeld Gould, who also wrote the screenplay - as a private eye, and the former lover of Hunnam’s character, who recruits him into strange the investigation.

Rent/Buy Last Looks on Amazon.

Ode To Joy (Hulu)

A man (Martin Freeman) with a neurological disorder that causes him to faint when overcome with strong emotions, especially happiness, is put in an unfortunate situation when he meets the woman of his dreams. 

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: While not quite as well known for starring in romantic comedies, Morena Baccarin absolutely shines as the love interest to Martin Freeman’s luckless in love central character in 2019’s Ode to Joy - a fascinating and unique film loosely inspired by a true story.

Stream Ode To Joy on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Ode To Joy on Amazon.

Greenland (HBO Max)

As the fate of the world is threatened by an impending natural disaster, a man (Gerard Butler), his wife (Morena Baccarin), and their son (Roger Dale Floyd) struggle to survive as they search for sanctuary.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Morena Baccarin: After Ode to Joy, Morena Baccarin shared the screen with another fellow comic book movie star (300’s Butler) in the 2020 disaster movie favorite Greenland as Alison Garrity, whom she is slated to reprise in the upcoming sequel, Greenland: Migration.

Stream Greenland on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Greenland on Amazon.

Other upcoming Morena Baccarin movies to look out for include another survival thriller called Beast, which will more of a one-woman show for the actress, and the spy thriller Tropico, also starring Pedro Pascal and Willem Dafoe. Fans can also watch the actress on The Endgame Mondays at 10/9 c on NBC or stream it on Peacock the next day.

Netflix has been coming out with some awesome originals, and one of those is the amazing sci-fi drama, Lost in Space. A remake of the classic sci-fi TV show from the 1960s, this Netflix original tells the story of humans who are, as you would guess, lost in space, and struggle with a strange alien universe as they try to overcome issues as they arise. 

With fun effects, a great story, cool-makeup and much more, Lost in Space was one of Netflix’s best shows, in my opinion. But, with all these episodes coming out all at once, one might wonder what to watch once they’re done binging the latest season. Look no further, because we have some awesome shows that are like Lost in Space that you just might want to see next. 

Firefly (Hulu)

In this one-season sci-fi show, Firefly tells the story of a group of humans who are a part of a crew aboard a Firefly-class ship, showing their adventures in a different solar system, far away from the world we know now. 

Firefly is one of those shows where I will never forgive the network for cancelling it. While I was too young at the time of its original airing, watching it now makes me so mad because this could have been great. Firefly could have been the Star Wars saga of television for its effects, the Firefly cast, and more. For fans of Lost in Space, this show is perfect, as it not only has the space adventures you would expect, but a great cast as well. I want it to come back so badly. 

Stream Firefly on Hulu.

The Mandalorian (Disney+)

Disney+ has a runaway hit with this one. The Mandalorian, taking place after Return of the Jedi, follows Din Djarin, a lone Mandalorian bounty hunter, whose life is turned upside down when he encounters a strange alien creature (who looks like a little baby Yoda), and takes it upon himself to try and return it to its home. 

The Mandalorian has become immensely popular for a reason. Jon Favreau created a masterpiece with this show, with not only a talented cast but an essential story that feels like it’s ripped right out of the Star Wars movies. For fans of Lost in Space, you’ll love the story of Din Djarin and his space travels, but what really makes this show so good is the relationship he has with Grogu - otherwise known as baby Yoda. With plenty of jaw-dropping moments, this is one you can’t miss.

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Battlestar Galactica (Peacock)

Another classic sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica is a re-imagining of the '70s series of the same name. In this world, humanity is in another star system, where humans are settled on planets, called colonies. However, their homes are attacked by Cylons, humanoid machines that wish to take over. The last of humanity escape and are led by the Battlestar Galactica, one of the last battleships, as they try to survive constant attacks, while looking for a new home. This is their story of survival.

For a long time, I only ever really knew this show from that The Office quote (“Bears, beats, Battlestar Galactica”), but after actually giving it a watch, it’s such an entertaining series. For fans of Lost in Space, you’ll love the human connections that are formed here. It’s all about survival and trying to make sure that their loved ones are okay, something that fans of the Netflix series can relate to. Plus, the visual effects are really cool. There just might be a new series coming soon, so keep an eye out for it. 

Stream Battlestar Galactica on Peacock.

The First (Hulu)

Ever wondered what it will be like when humans make it to Mars? The First explores that, telling the story of how humans are trying to settle the planet, and the trials and tribulations it takes to do it. 

To me, The First feels like a much more grounded look into space travel. It’s not the most edgy or action-filled show, like Lost in Space is, as it focuses on that human connection at a more naturalistic level. It shows the stresses of trying to do what is best for humanity, while moving forward with innovation rather than letting setbacks continuously stop them. Sean Penn gives a great performance as the lead character, along with the rest of the cast. It’s a shame it only last for one season. 

Stream The First on Hulu.

The Expanse (Amazon Prime)

One of my favorites on the list. The Expanse is an Amazon Prime original series, telling the story of humans hundreds years in the future, where we've colonized our solar system. But, as a strange disappearance arises and unlikely allies have to come together to solve the issue, the threat of interplanetary civil war rises, exposing more dark secrets that could threaten everyone's very lives. 

This is one of those shows I don’t want to say too much about before you watch it. For fans of Lost in Space, The Expanse has plenty of awesome space travel, cool set designs, and everything else you would expect, but what I really love about it is the story. From the first episode on, there’s so much to love, and you’ll want to watch the next episode every time. 

Stream The Expanse on Amazon Prime. 

Futurama (Hulu)

You gotta love Futurama. In this hilarious sci-fi sitcom, Futurama tells the story of Fry, a normal pizza delivery boy who is accidentally frozen, and then reawakens in the year 2999. Now, he must adapt to working in a new place, living in a new world, and having new friends. 

When I think of adult animated shows, Futurama is one of the first that comes to mind. It’s so funny and features such fun stories that you can’t help but love it. For fans of Lost in Space, there are plenty of great moments that scream sci-fi that you’ll enjoy, but it’s all about that human connection again, and creating valuable relationships that you’ll want to root for until the very end. I mean, you even learn to love a wise-cracking robot. It’s such a fun show. 

Stream Futurama on Hulu.

For All Mankind (Apple TV+)

If you ever wanted a cool alternate-reality show, For All Mankind is the way to go. This Apple TV+ original series asks this question: what if the Soviet Union had beaten the U.S. to the moon in the 1960s? But, instead of the space race dying down, the discovery of water leads to it being more high stakes than ever. 

Apple TV+ has been knocking it out of the park with their original series, from the beloved Ted Lasso, to its animated shows like Central Park. However, For All Mankind is such an interesting one to watch. I’ve always been a huge fan of alternative histories and this one takes it to another level with the amount of detail, lore, and effects it uses. For fans of Lost in Space, I think you’ll enjoy the exploration and the stories about the missions to the moon. But, you should watch it regardless. Such a cool, interesting take. 

Stream For All Mankind on Apple TV+.

Steven Universe (HBO Max)

This popular cartoon is always a hit. Steven Universe tells the story of Steven, a young boy who is also half-Gem. The Gems are alien fighters who are tasked with keeping humanity safe from threats of terror and monsters. Steven looks to these Gems to learn how to understand his powers, growing as a person while doing so. 

Steve Universe is a masterclass in animation. For fans of Lost in Space, there isn’t much space exploration, but you’ll love the stories that are told, often with special powers, cool graphics, and beautiful animation. Not only that, but Steven Universe teaches valuable lessons about love and family (like Lost in Space) and learning to accept yourself for who you are. The series is such a great watch for both kids and adults alike.

Stream Steven Universe on HBO Max.

Away (Netflix)

In this Netflix original series, Away tells the story of a group of astronauts, led by Emma Green. Their main goal is to become the first crewed spaceflight to Mars after years of trying to make it happen, but in order to do so, they have to commit to being away from their loved ones for three years.

Away is the perfect one-season binge for fans of Lost in Space. Not only does it deal with space travel, it also shows the effects of being away from the ones that we care about, and what we’re willing to do to protect them. Something I also adore about Away is its cast. Led by the talented Hilary Swank, the cast has wonderful chemistry, compelling story arcs and plenty of interesting character moments that will keep you entertained. It’s a shame the series didn’t last long.

Stream Away on Netflix.

Star Trek: Voyager (Hulu)

You can’t have a sci-fi list like this and not include Star Trek: Voyager. This popular sci-fi series is a part of the Star Trek franchise, follows the Starfleet vessel, aptly called “Voyager,” as it tries to return home after being stranded for many, many years. But of course, as every Star Trek crew does, they run into problems along the way. 

Star Trek is just one of those franchises that I’m sure most sci-fi fans have watched. For viewers of Lost in Space, this series has a lot of the same beats and character moments you would expect, with several different storylines and relationships for you to root for. And, when it comes to Star Trek, you know there’s always going to be some ridiculously campy villain at some point, but they’re so much fun to watch and see our protagonists fight against. Starring Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Voyager is a ton of fun. 

Stream Star Trek: Voyager on Hulu.

Raised By Wolves (HBO Max)

Last but not least, we have Raised by Wolves. This HBO Max original series follows two robots who look human, named Father and Mother. Together, they are programmed to raise young human children after Earth was completely destroyed by war, alongside a human colony. Soon, the robots learn that the older humans are volatile, and it’s not easy to keep them from harming each other, whether because of religious differences, or more.

Raised by Wolves is such an interesting concept for a sci-fi show. For fans of Lost in Space, this also shows humans in a completely different environment, trying to adapt, but it’s so much more than just that. Famed director Ridley Scott serves as an executive producer, and even directed the first two episodes, so you know it’s really good. Both Amanda Collin and Abubakar Salim give amazing performances as Mother and Father, and with a second season on the way, now is the perfect time to watch. 

Stream Raised by Wolves on HBO Max.

There are truly so many amazing sci-fi shows out there for you to watch if you’re feeling up to the challenge after finishing Lost in Space. Maybe you just might have found a new TV series to love. Regardless, you’ll have a fun time watching no matter what you pick.  

When it was announced that Netflix was going to be developing a new Cowboy Bebop live-action series as part of the new upcoming Netflix shows, it was met with a bit of skepticism from long-time fans. Thankfully, the adaptation of the popular anime series has proved to be successful, and many fans have said that it’s a worthy watch, even for people who aren’t familiar with the original product. 

The Cowboy Bebop live-action show on Netflix isn’t that long, and one could go through those episodes very quickly - as I did. However, if you’re looking for a show that might be similar in tone or in themes to that of Cowboy Bebop, be sure to check out this list for some awesome choices to pick from. 

The Original Cowboy Bebop (Netflix)

I feel like this should be a no-brainer. This popular anime from the 1990s, titled Cowboy Bebop, is set in the year 2071, and follows a crew of bounty hunters aboard their spaceship - aptly named “Bebop,” as we follow their adventures through space. 

You know, to me it’s surprising that there are only twenty-six original episodes of this fantastic series, because I could easily see it turning into one of those extremely long anime, because it’s seriously that good. Cowboy Bebop incorporates so many genres, from super cool sci-fi effects to western themes, while also providing depth and emotion to these characters that we really come to love over the show’s short timespan. While I do wish there were more episodes, it’s truly one of its kind, and deserves to be watched just as much as the live-action. 

Stream Cowboy Bebop on Netflix. 

The Mandalorian (Disney+)

I knew I had to mention The Mandalorian on here. This show, taking place in the Star Wars universe, follows Din Djarin, a bounty hunter whose life is suddenly changed when his path crosses with a lost child (looking awfully familiar to Yoda). 

This is perfect for Cowboy Bebop fans because The Mandalorian feels very much like the show. Din Djarin is a bounty hunter for hire, hopping from planet to planet in hopes of another gig while trying to keep him and the people he cares about safe. The cinematography is amazing, and the story is so much fun and especially entertaining if you’re a fan of Star Wars. But as someone who started watching The Mandalorian just for fun as a Disney+ show, it’s definitely up your alley to view. 

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+. 

Firefly (Hulu)

I will never forgive Fox for cancelling this amazing show before it could live to its full potential. Firefly is a space western set in the year 2517, following the adventures of the crew of Serenity, a spaceship that is in the “Firefly-class” of ships.

For fans of Cowboy Bebop, this show is perfect for you due to its characters. What really drives Cowboy Bebop is the familial relationship between the main characters and how much they care for each other, which is very similar to what Firefly does with its main characters. They are as heroic as they are flawed, and the show isn’t afraid to talk about that, just like Cowboy Bebop. There’s just something about these outlaws that make me want to cheer for them - much like what the characters in Cowboy Bebop make me feel. While it was a short-lived series, it’s worth every second to watch. 

Stream Firefly on Hulu. 

Space Dandy (Hulu)

You want to hear the most basic premise in the world? Space Dandy is literally a space opera about a dandy guy in space. He is an alien hunter who is searching for the rarest of them all with his robot and his feline-friend - named Meow. 

Believe it or not, Cowboy Bebop creator, Shinichiro Watanabe, also created Space Dandy. And while the premise is much simpler than some of his other shows, Space Dandy is so much more once you dive into it. Each episode shows different planets, fascinating aliens, and weird animation that is absurdly awesome. It’s incredibly impressive that with each new area Dandy and his team visit, it looks completely different. And while it’s not as action packed as Cowboy Bebop, the story is just as engrossing as ever. 

Stream Space Dandy on Hulu. 

Outlaw Star (Hulu)

Next up, we have Outlaw Star, a show that actually aired during the same time as Cowboy Bebop. This space opera follows Gene Starwind, a captain on his spaceship, called Outlaw Star, as he and his crew search around the galaxy for a treasure trove that is called “Galactic Leyline,” running into hilarities and adventures as he does so. 

I’ll always feel that Outlaw Star and Cowboy Bebop have a certain connection to each other since they aired so closely together, and to be honest, it’s the perfect short series to watch that’s pretty similar in tone to Cowboy Bebop. There’s space pirates, assassins, bounty hunters - the whole nine yards, all of which probably sound quite familiar (*cough, Cowboy Bebop, cough*). Gene Starwind is an easy person to root for, and with each episode showing a new adventure, you’ll never get bored. 

Stream Outlaw Star on Hulu. 

Samurai Champloo (Hulu)

In this anime series set during the Edo period in Japan, Samurai Champloo follows Fuu, a young woman who ends up hiring two samurai after she helps stop their public execution, needing them to find a mysterious samurai that Fuu wants to find, but requests aid in doing so. 

While Samurai Champloo isn’t really the same setting as Cowboy Bebop, I think this show is great for fans of the series because it feels like the same sort of vibe. Created by the same man who did Cowboy Bebop, Shinichiro Watanabe, Samurai Champloo is a period piece set to a super cool soundtrack that gets you pumped up from the very beginning. Seriously, the music alone will make you want to watch this. Plus, the Samurai sword fights are some of the coolest animation I’ve ever seen. 

Stream Samurai Champloo on Hulu. 

Psycho-Pass (Amazon Prime)

Moving on, we have Psycho-Pass. This anime series follows Akane Tsunemori, who is introduced as a novice inspector to the Division One of Public Safety Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division (otherwise known as police officers in charge of solving crimes), in a far-off dystopian Japan. 

When I think of Cowboy Bebop characters, I always think of Spike Spiegel first, and then I think I really don’t know if the show would work as well if he wasn’t such a well-written protagonist, creating such a contrast in the heroism in him as well as the negatives in his character arc. One of my favorite characters from Psycho-Pass is Shinya Kogami, another well-written male lead, alongside Akane, and their story together is so well-written that it makes me want to re-watch this over and over. If you think you’ve fallen in love with Spike, wait until you meet Shinya. 

Stream Psycho Pass on Amazon Prime.

Samurai Jack (HBO Max)

If you want an incredibly animated series, check out Samurai Jack. In this series, we follow a Japanese samurai prince with a mystical sword, as he fights to get his kingdom back from the forces of evil, traveling through time to do so. 

While Samurai Jack isn’t an anime compared to many of the other animated shows on this list, it’s still such a great series, and the art style is absolutely beautiful. Like Cowboy Bebop, we often watch Samurai Jack fight against several different evil people, drawing the line between good vs bad, and creating some entertaining fight sequences anyone could watch. With five seasons, and not super long episodes, it’s definitely a great binge. This fantasy series is a hit.

Stream Samurai Jack on HBO Max. 

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix)

Hear me out. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a prequel to the 1982 film, The Dark Crystal, known for its special effects and master puppetry. The show lets us see more of the planet of Thra, and follows three siblings who are trying to save their planet from destruction. 

I know - a series that stars puppets that look strangely real doesn't seem like it would be an obvious replacement for a crazy intense and badass show like Cowboy Bebop, but there are many moments where I see some good parallels between the shows. Like the justice seekers in the anime and the live-action who are trying to fight against horrible people, the people of Thra are trying to prevent something similar, fighting anyone to prevent what is called ‘The Darkening’ from happening to their planet. 

The story is rich with lore and the puppetry is truly astounding. It’s a shame it was canceled so soon, but it’s certainly worth the time to watch now. 

Stream The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on Netflix.

Trigun (Hulu)

Lastly, we have Trigun. Set on a planet that is called “No Man’s Land,” Trigun is all about Vash the Stampede, a gunman who is always on the move and always fighting bounty hunters due to the large bounty that follows him. And as we start to fall in love with his badassery, we start to learn more about his past, and what he’s done. 

Trigun is yet another space western - I feel like there are so many on this list, you’ll have content for hours. However, I do feel that Trigun is a fantastic one to watch. Like many of the other anime on this list, the soundtrack is banging and paired amazingly to the gorgeous animation, mixed in with some impressive dubs that will make it easy for anyone to watch. It’s certainly an investment, with several seasons to watch, but it’s worth every moment of your time. 

Stream Trigun on Hulu. 

While a Season 2 hasn’t been greenlit yet for the live-action Cowboy Bebop, I personally think it’s only a matter of time before we see John Cho and everyone else again aboard that spaceship, kicking ass and taking names. But until that’s official, we can spend our time watching some of these awesome shows instead. 

The DC Extended Universe is always growing, with Warner Bros. making a ton of plans for its streaming future on HBO Max. This includes shows like Peacemaker and upcoming movie projects like Batgirl. And thanks to some fan art we can see what Brendan Fraser might look like as the villainous Firefly.

While much of Batgirl’s contents remains a mystery for the time being, DC fans were thrilled to learn that Brendan Fraser would be playing the Batman rogue Firefly. Fraser has been having a bit of a renaissance lately, and fans of The Mummy and Doom Patrol can’t wait to see him in the main DCEU. Now we can see what he might look like, check it out below.

Well, that’s certainly a bold look. Firefly is a Gotham City villain known for burning the city, and occasionally himself. It’s unclear what design Batgirl directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have for Brendan Fraser’s villain, but this offers a grim look akin to Anakin Skywalker.

The above image comes to us from the Instagram of a photoshop artist that goes by the name m.design34. They’ve got over 6k followers, largely due to renderings of comics book characters or fan castings. With Brendan Fraser set to arrive in the DCEU shortly, anticipation over his Batgirl look is at a fever pitch.

Production on Batgirl only recently kicked off, to the delight of the generations of Batman fans out there. The Bat-family are some of the most popular heroes in the entire DC catalogue, and the upcoming streaming movie will mark the first time one of Bruce Wayne’s protegees will appear in the DCEU timeline. While Ben Affleck isn’t expected to have a role, Justice League’s J.K. Simmons will be back as James Gordon.

While filming only just began for Batgirl, the cast and crew have been keeping their cards close to the chest for the time being. At the time of writing, the plot remains a mystery, as does the remainder of the cast. But that hasn’t stopped the directors and actress Leslie Grace from hyping up the mysterious project.

The upcoming Batgirl movie will mark the first time Warner Bros. is producing a DCEU installment for streaming. But there will seemingly be a continued focus on HBO Max, with a Blue Beetle movie expected to follow suit. We’ll just have to wait and see if these new characters get to crossover with DCEU favorites like Harley Quinn.

Batgirl is currently expected to arrive sometime in 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

An essential highlight of Brendan Fraser’s recent career comeback was his casting on one of the most popular DC TV shows, Doom Patrol (as Cliff Steele / Robotman), and it looks like the DC movies are part of the next stage of his career. The No Sudden Move cast member has, reportedly, been brought on to star in HBO Max’s upcoming Batgirl movie, with rumors suggesting he will play DC’s Firefly. In case you were wondering: yes, he does dress as the very insect his alias suggests, but there is far more to learn about this comic book villain than that, such as his interesting career before he became a professional criminal.

Firefly Is A Former Movie Special Effects Expert

Created by comic book writer France Edward “Ed” Herron and artist Dick Sprang, Firefly made his DC Comics debut in Issue #184 of Detective Comics in 1952, when he still known only as Garfield Lynns. When his career creating special effects for movies was not working out as successfully as he needed, he decided to see if he could use his best skill, pyrotechnics, as a means to profit off of the wealthy in Gotham City. His first criminal act was staging a fake fire in a movie theater so he could steal whatever belongings the audience left as they escaped to safety - which would, of course, attract the attention of the city’s most trusted duo of superheroes.

A Funny Mistake By Batman And Robin Inspired Firefly’s Name 

While Batman and Robin successfully prevented Garfield Lynns from robbing the Gotham City moviegoers with his otherwise impressive incendiary illusion, he was able to avoid capture - and likely a good beating from the Dark Knight himself - for what is honestly a pretty hilarious reason. The dynamic duo thought they spotted the burning tip of Lynns’ cigarette and began following its path, only to discover once they were close enough that they were actually chasing a little firefly all along. When Lynn learned about the superheroes’ mistake, he took that as a sign to give his criminal persona a proper name and aesthetic and, thus, DC’s first iteration of Firefly was born.

Firefly Was Reimagined As An Arsonist In 1993

I say “DC’s first iteration of Firefly” because the character we were introduced to in 1952 is not necessarily the same character we see in many of the villain’s subsequent appearances - something that the DC Multiverse is obviously notorious for. In fact, when he was reimagined in 1993 in Detective Comics #661 and #662, it was still Garfield Lynns in the winged suit and he was also still a Hollywood special effects expert, but he was actually very successful and it was his obsession with fire that ended up driving him to a life of crime. 

According to further research found out by Robin, and a tesitmony by Lynns’ sister Amanda, his objective was to vengefully set ablaze all the places in Gotham City which he was promised he would be able to visit as an orphaned child (such as theme parks and the local zoo) before his potential adoptive parents decided not to take him in.

Batgirl And Nightwing Teamed Up Against A New Version Of Firefly

At this point you may have noticed that there is nothing really concrete to connect Firefly to Batgirl. That's because the hero and villain would not officially cross paths in the comics until the release of Nightwing Annual Vol.3 - as part of the New 52 - in 2013. Partnered with Nightwing, she took on Garfield Lynns, whom famous actress Cindy Cooke claimed burned her former boyfriend, Ted Carson, to death and had been stalking her ever since. 

As it turned out, it was really Carson who murdered Lynns, used his corpse to pose as his own, and took on the Firefly persona as part of an elaborate scheme to get Cindy to run away with him - which Batgirl and Nightwing promptly foiled. Bonus fact: Ted Carson was originally created by Batman co-creator Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff and debuted in Batman #126 in 1959.

A Female Version Of Firefly Was Introduced On The TV Series Gotham

One of the more recent iterations of the Firefly character is actually an apprentice of Ted Carson’s, named Bridgit Pike, who would go by the name “Lady Firefly” after she was introduced in the DC Comics universe in Detective Comics #988 in September 2018. However, that was not the character’s official debut, because (in an origin story similar to Harley Quinn’s transition from Batman: The Animated Series to the comics) she was originally created for Gotham and was played by Ecuadorian actress Michelle Veintimilla, who joined the Gotham cast in Season 2 before later reprising the role on its fourth season. 

The hit Batman prequel TV show saw the injured arsonist team-up with the likes of Camren Bicondova’s Catwoman, the clownish Valeska brothers, and additional criminals, before her ultimate defeat at the hands of young Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz.

Firefly Has Also Appeared In Several Other Iterations On Screen

However, Ted Carson and Bridgit Pike’s partnership was not the first time Firefly made the transition from the comics to the screen, which was actually on The New Batman Adventures as voiced by Young Justice’s Lex Luthor actor, Mark Rolston. Other DC animated movies (like Batman: Bad Blood) and TV shows (like The Batman and HBO Max’s Harley Quinn) have taken a swing at the character, but his only other notable live action appearance until now was on Arrow. 

The Season 1 episode, “Burned,” introduced the very different (but thematically appropriate) interpretation of Garfield Lynns (played by Netflix’s There’s Someone Inside Your House star Andrew Dunbar) as a former member of the Starling City firefighter unit called “The Fireflies,” who goes on a spree killing his old colleagues after an accident that left him assumed dead really made him a badly burned, vengeful recluse.

Now, it appears that good, old Brendan Fraser is about to become the next one to don the Firefly suit and the first to do so in a live-action, feature-length film. Will this be the same Hollywood pyrotechnics expert we first met in 1952, or will it be yet another version of Garfield Lynns we have not seen before? We shall find out when Batgirl premieres on HBO Max in 2022.

Before she was Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega on 9-1-1: Lone Star or managing partner Jessica Pearson on all seven seasons of Suits, Gina Torres portrayed Zoë Washburn on the Fox sci-fi series Firefly. Although only lasting one season, the series has received strong fan support, put up strong home video sales, and won an Emmy in 2003. Nearly two decades later, Torres is speaking out about what her initial thoughts were on the short-lived drama.

With Firefly currently available to stream on Hulu, fans new and old are discovering and rediscovering the series. Gina Torres spoke to Newsweek about how it holds up as a fan favorite all these years later, and how it’s resonated with people over that period. Said Torres,

Created by Joss Whedon and Tim Minear, Firefly was set in the year 2517, after the arrival of humans in a new star system, and follows the crew of Serenity: a “Firefly-class” spaceship. Besides Gina Torres, the series stars an ensemble cast including Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Jewel Staite and Sean Maher. The sci-fi series lasted for a single, 14-episode season from 2002-2003. However, a film, titled Serenity, came out in 2005 that was a continuation of the series and took place after the events of the finale.

The Firefly alum revealed earlier this year how the series brought her to other Fox drama, 9-1-1: Lone Star, as co-creator of the on-going hit Tim Minear wrote and directed multiple episodes of the sci-fi series (not to mention was an executive producer). Gina Torres has also recalled one of her favorite scenes, which was a pretty epic moment for Zoë, and has relished the opportunity to work with other Firefly alums, which occurred when she reunited with Nathan Fillion on Castle.

As mentoned, Gina Torres is currently starring on 9-1-1: Lone Star. The show is on hiatus for another few weeks but then it will return on April 19 to finish off Season 2. Given her continued relationship with Firefly's Tim Minear, who knows if there will be a reunion sometime in the future, like how there’s been reunions on Nathan Fillion’s ABC cop drama, The Rookie. Only time will tell – but even when she is saving lives as Captain Vega, Torres will always be Zoë Washburn. Hopefully it won’t be long until she’s reunited with some former co-stars!

Firefly creator and prolific writer/producer/director Joss Whedon has experienced a wave of allegations about him from both film and television stars in recent months. While Whedon has made no comments about the allegations, others have come out against him. A Firefly writer commented on his alleged behavior on set after Charisma Carpenter’s allegations became known.

Along with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Firefly is one of Joss Whedon’s most celebrated television series. One of the biggest writers on the series’ brilliant episodes was Agent Carter’s Jose Molina. But according to Molina, the beloved series has its problems. The television writer took to Twitter to make his own allegations about Whedon's on-set behavior. He spoke up about things that went on in the Firefly writers' room. Check out his allegations against Whedon below:

Jose Molina’s Twitter post made some accusations against Joss Whedon that fall in line with other allegations. Molina allegedly witnessed some inappropriate behavior against women on the set. But Molina’s allegations remain unconfirmed so far as no investigation has been launched against the director. Given the writer’s career post-Firefly, he was able to move on but never forgot his experience crafting a beloved series. Only time will tell if these allegations will be taken seriously and investigated.

Jose Molina’s tweet was one in a series of allegations launched against Joss Whedon in recent months. Molina’s post came just as Buffy and Angel star Charisma Carpenter spoke up about her alleged experience with Whedon while filming both series. After coming forward with her story, other Buffy and Angel actors such as Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar, Angel lead David Boreanaz and Eliza Dushku came forward to support Carpenter. Some castmates even spoke up about their own experiences while others choose to refrain from commenting for personal reasons.

Charisma Carpenter’s allegations came out in support of Justice League star Ray Fisher’s allegations against Joss Whedon, with Carpenter using the #IStandWithRayFisher hashtag on Twitter. But things between Fisher and Warner Bros have apparently broken down after the investigation results. It’s been reported that Fisher’s Cyborg was written out of the upcoming Flash movie with talks of the actor potentially leaving the DCEU. There were even reports that Warner Bros. knew how disappointing Joss Whedon’s cut of Justice League was before the film’s release.

With Jose Molina coming out against Joss Whedon, the allegations against the creator have grown even further.

Gina Torres is widely known for a number of the roles she’s played over the years, yet one of her most famous and revered performances is that of Zoe Washburne in the short-lived Firefly. In the years since the series was prematurely cancelled, Torres has gone on to play a number of other notable roles, and she recently joined the second season of Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star in the role of Tommy Vega. But as it turns it, it was her role on Firefly that helped her land her 9-1-1 gig.

9-1-1: Lone Star was co-created by Tim Minear, who previously wrote and directed episodes of Firefly years ago. While speaking to TVLine, cites Minear as being the person who brought her onto 9-1-1, and the actress couldn’t help but express gratitude to him for reaching out about the show, especially when Hollywood is currently dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic:

It’s not uncommon for actors to reteam with collaborators on projects, whether it be in television or film. It’s always nice to see Gina Torres on TV, but it’s even sweeter knowing that she’s reunited with a creative that she loves.

Torres still seems to have a lot of love for Firefly and has looked back on the show on more than one occasion. For instance, she once recalled one of her favorite scenes, which is a pretty epic moment for Zoe. The actress also relishes the opportunity to work with other Firefly alums, which occurred when she reunited with Nathan Fillion on Castle.

Following its initial debut in 2003, the love for Joss Whedon’s Firefly runs deep, as many wonder what could have been had the show not been canned after a single 14-episode season. Although fans did get to see more of the franchise through the 2005 film Serenity, they probably wouldn’t mind more adventures with the intergalactic crew.

Until any such project happens, Gina Torres will have plenty of things to keep her occupied on 9-1-1: Lone Star, as the explosive new season is only just ramping up. And let’s hope Tim Minear and his collaborators give Torres some great moments that rival the ones she had on Firefly.

Keep it here at CinemaBlend for more news from the world of TV and movies.

Spoilers for the latest episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “Adapt or Die” – lie ahead.

The final season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has certainly been a wild ride up to this point. In an attempt to prevent the Chronicoms from conquering Earth, Coulson and the team have been traveling through time and attempting to preserve key events as they do so. Along the way, the team has also encountered new characters like Patton Oswalt’s Ernest Koenig and returning faces like Enver Gjokaj’s Daniel Sousa. Now, as the show enters a new decade, a few new agents will come into the fray and one will serve as a nice tribute to a late Firefly star.

When we last left our favorite agents, they had just dealt a blow to the Chronicom army by blowing up their ship. However, this came at a great cost, as LMD Coulson apparently sacrificed himself to destroy the ship. Meanwhile, Mack, having saved his parents from HYDRA, learned that the two the team rescued were Chronicom impersonators and his real parents are actually dead. Following the Zephyr’s jump to 1982, Mack would leave to mourn, with Deke heading out after him, but the two would be left stranded when the Zephyr suddenly time jumped again.

This week’s episode, “The Totally Excellent Adventures of Mack and the D,” will see Mack and Deke join forces with a group of ‘80s agents to battle the Chronicoms. One of these agents will be played by Tipper Newton and, while her full name has yet to be revealed, her first initial and surname are “R. Glass.” This is a nod to the late Ron Glass who starred as Shepherd Derrial Book on Firefly and appeared during the first season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Dr. Streiten:

S.H.I.E.L.D. fans will likely remember that Streiten was the head doctor who oversaw Phil Coulson’s resurrection following his initial death at the hands of Loki. And after Coulson would learn more regarding the circumstances of his return, Streiten would break down and reveal everything to him. The choice to name a new agent after an actor who played a key character is a sweet move on the producers’ parts.

Given the actor’s working relationship with Joss Whedon and S.H.I.E.L.D. showrunners Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen wanted to pay homage to him. You can check out Newton’s character down below:

Of course, Tipper Newton’s R. Glass will be joined by a team of ragtag S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. This includes a currently unnamed agent played by Jolene Anderson. Nothing is known about the character at this point, but she definitely looks tough:

Rounding out the group is the Chang siblings, who are played by Matt Yuan and John Yuan and, if they’re anything like the Koenig brothers, they’re sure to be a lot of fun:

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has always been a show that’s looked forward, but it’s never had a problem looking back, either. The show has lost a few notable actors during its run like Bill Paxton and Powers Boothe, but the show has always set aside time to pay tribute to them in some way. It’s nice that the same is being done for Ron Glass, and it’ll be exciting to see how Tipper Newton’s character lives up to her namesake.

This newest episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will air on Wednesday, July 8 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

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There's almost never a show that gets cancelled and doesn't leave a legion of fans behind who spend significant amounts of time mourning the demise of said show. But, few cancelled shows in recent memory have had the fan-fueled afterlife of Firefly. The sci-fi series only lasted for one, very brief, season on Fox in 2002, but those who had dedicated themselves to watching it weekly still clamor for a reunion, reboot or anything that will give them more of the story. And, star Morena Baccarin believes she knows why.

Firefly's creator, Joss Whedon, was able to reassemble the cast for the film, Serenity, which served to wrap things up with its 2005 release. But, fan desire for more tales featuring the rag tag crew and passengers of the film's namesake spaceship weren't quite sated, as plenty of people still feel a deep connection with the space Western dramedy, and bemoan the loss of the series.

Morena Baccarin (who starred alongside Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Ron Glass, Summer Glau, Jewel Staite, Adam Baldwin and Sean Maher) recently spoke to Entertainment Weekly, and when asked why Firefly is still so beloved, said:

Morena Baccarin made a lot of good points about Firefly, here. I've watched a several sci-fi shows in my day, and I can't think of another series that blended the sensibilities of a Western (which were not in their heyday by the time Firefly began), with that of the idea of colonizing other planets. On top of that, as Baccarin pointed out, while there was, obviously, some amazing technology on the show, most regular people didn't have easy access to much of it, so daily life didn't look too much different from what we knew of frontier life.

Plus, the show was a pretty big leap from what even most hardcore sci-fi fans would usually see, as there were no alien races to deal with or ships that shot giant lasers in battle. Everything on Firefly was very focused on people trying to eke out a living in harsh conditions while trying to stay out of the way of the central government which went to war to control the various planets and moons people were now living on. But this, of course, is one of the many things that attracted a dedicated fan base to the series in such a short time.

As you might imagine, talk quickly turned to whether or not Morena Baccarin would consider a return to Firefly, should an actual opportunity arise. While there don't seem to be any firm plans on that front right now, fans can take heart in the fact that the cast seems to still be good friends, and that they look back on their time on Firefly fondly:

I know we all want more Firefly, but isn't it at least nice to hear that everyone who was on the show still likes and supports each other? Besides, I think we all know that this fandom won't die any time soon, so even if it takes another 18 years for them to come back together on screen, we'll be waiting.

You can stream Firefly on Hulu, and for more to fill out your television viewing time, check out our 2020 Netflix guide and see what's coming to TV this summer!

Being an animated send-up of genre conventions, it is surprising that Rick and Morty is now considered one of the best sci-fi TV shows of its time, if not all time. Perhaps, outside of its refreshingly complex plotting and clever references to many great sci-fi movies (and other classics of a wide variety), it is the grounding detail of relatable family drama from many of the best Rick and Morty episodes that has helped it achieve almost universal accessibility.

Adult Swim recently put out an anime version of Rick and Morty that is wildly different from the original series from creator Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland but, fortunately, there are plenty more TV shows with similar themes and tones that you can also “get schwifty” with as we wait for Rick and Morty Season 8 to premiere in 2025. The following are just a few series that remind me of this beloved animated TV show for one reason or another.

Inside Job (2021-2022)

Starring: Lizzy Caplan

What it's about: An anti-social technology expert named s having an especially difficult time helping maintain elaborate cover-ups of the world’s most damning secrets and concerning conspiracies at Cognito Inc..

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: If Rick and Morty was more of a workplace comedy, it might be something like the bizarre animated satire Inside Job, which is a TV show Netflix cancelled too soon from creators Shion Takeuchi and Alex Hirsch.

How to watch Inside Job

• Stream Inside Job on Netflix

The Legend Of Vox Machina (2022-Present)

Starring: Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson

What it's about: A ragtag group of heroes for hire becomes the last hope for the survival of their enchanted realm.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: If Rick and Morty took place in a more traditional fantasy world, it might be something like Amazon Prime’s off-beat adventure comedy series, The Legend of Vox Machina, which is inspired by the creators’ own Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

• Stream The Legend of Vox Machina on Amazon Prime

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)

Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

What it's about: A young, emotionally shallow musician is forced to fight seven powerful enemies if he wants to have a relationship with the woman of his dreams.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: Based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s acclaimed graphic novel series and featuring the voice talents of the original Scott Pilgrim vs. the World movie cast, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is another high-energy, fantastic animated comedy series that convinces you to root for a relatively unlikable protagonist, similar to how fans still have some affinity for the emotionally shallow, verbally abusive, hard-drinking Rick Sanchez.

How to watch Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

• Stream Scott Pilgrim Takes Off on Netflix

Invader Zim (2001-2006)

Starring: Richard Steven Horvitz, Andy Berman

What it's about: In an attempt to secretly get rid of him, a species of aliens sends an overly ambitious member and a faulty robotic assistant to Earth with a mission to infiltrate and conquer it.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: For any Rick and Morty fan looking for something similar but more suitable to show younger viewers, Invader Zim is certainly a more kid-friendly sci-fi comedy but is also one of the darkest and absolute weirdest Nicktoons ever conceived, especially for the early 2000s.

How to watch Invader Zim

• Stream Invader Zim on Paramount+
• Rent or buy Invader Zim on Amazon

Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

Starring: Jason Ritter, Kristen Schaal, Alex Hirsch

What it's about: Dipper and his twin sister, Mabel, are sent to live with their great uncle Stan in a town where there is more than meets the eye.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: Also created by Alex Hirsch Disney Channel’s Gravity Falls is also more family-friendly than Ricky and Morty but is also another multi-layered animated comedy fantasy with a legion of devoted fans that follows the adventures of a couple of kids and their eccentric relative.

How to watch Gravity Falls

• Stream Gravity Falls on Disney+
• Stream Gravity Falls on Hulu

Solar Opposites (2020-Present)

Starring: Dan Stevens, Thomas Middleditch

What it's about: A family of extraterrestrials struggles to make a stable living after crash landing on Earth.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: Before a domestic abuse charge led to his exit, Rick and Morty co-creator and former Rick and Morty actor Justin Roiland served as the voice of Korvo (now played by Dan Stevens) and co-creator (along with Michael McMahan) of another animated sci-fi family comedy called Solar Opposites, which some say surpasses Rick and Morty is a few areas.

How to watch Solar Opposites

• Stream Solar Opposites on Hulu

Community (2009-2015)

Starring: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs

What it's about: A suspended lawyer is forced to attend a community college where he forms a close bond with his diverse study group.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: Before co-creating Rick and Morty, Dan Harmon hit it (pretty) big with a live-action comedy that seamlessly balances pop culture references, deconstructive self-awareness, and relatable social themes like Rick and Morty, as many of the best episodes of Community can prove.

How to watch Community

• Stream Community on Peacock
• Buy Community on Amazon
• Buy Community on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Mandalorian (2019-Present)

Starring: Pedro Pascal

What it's about: An interplanetary bounty hunter becomes the protector of an abandoned creature of great power.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: An iconic duo one could compare Rick and Morty to is the testy Din Djarin and the endearingly innocent, yet sometimes troublesome, Grogu in The Mandalorian – Jon Favreau's Star Wars universe series that also crosses streams with other genre styles and sprinkles comic relief into its action-packed moments.

How to watch The Mandalorian

• Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+

One Punch Man (2015-Present)

Starring: Makoto Furukawa, Max Mittelman

What it's about: A teenage vigilante whose unfailing ability to defeat any enemy with a single attack forces him into an existential crisis.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: A funny thing about Rick is that he is so knowledgeable and resourceful that he finds most dire threats merely tedious, which is similar to the title hero of the popular anime, One Punch Man, which is based on the manga by Yusuke Murata that pokes fun at the superhero lifestyle in some hilariously inventive ways.

How to watch One Punch Man

• Stream One Punch Man on Hulu
• Buy One Punch Man on Amazon
• Buy One Punch Man on Blu-ray on Amazon

Ash Vs. Evil Dead (2015-2018)

Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ray Santiago, Dana DeLorezno

What it's about: Aging, chainsaw-handed "Deadite" hunter Ash accidentally unleashes another wave of malevolent, possessive forces.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: Any Rick and Morty fan who wants to see more of its signature dark humor and graphic violence in a live-action setting should look no further than Ash vs. Evil Dead – a series continuation of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead movies which lasted three seasons of non-stop, explosive demon-busting action.

How to watch Ash vs. Evil Dead

• Stream Ash vs. Evil Dead on Starz
• Buy Ash vs. Evil Dead on Amazon
• Buy Ash vs. Evil Dead on Blu-ray on Amazon

Spaced (1999-2001)

Starring: Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes

What it's about: Two platonic friends must pose as a couple to live in an apartment building overrun with some odd characters in London.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: Pegg and Hynes teamed up with Edgar Wright to craft one of the best sitcoms of all time, Spaced, which is similar to Rick and Morty in the way it incorporates inventive references to pop culture iconography with relatable storylines of common human struggles.

How to watch Spaced

• Stream Spaced on Amazon Prime for free
• Stream Spaced on Tubi
• Buy Spaced on DVD on Amazon

Adventure Time (2010-2018)

Starring: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio

What it's about: The escapades of Finn the Human and Jake the Dog in a bizarre fantasy land.

Why it is a great TV show to watch if you are a fan of Rick and Morty: While not quite as plentiful with pop culture Easter Eggs and dark adult humor, Pendleton Ward’s Adventure Time is a ceaselessly witty and cleverly exciting animated fantasy series that will easily appeal to all ages.

How to watch Adventure Time

• Stream Adventure Time on Hulu
• Stream Adventure Time on Max
• Buy Adventure Time on Amazon
• Buy Adventure Time on DVD on Amazon

What do you think? Would these movies and TV shows go well with a side of Szechuan sauce, or are they just the inferior copies of Rick and Morty you feel would be best if kept in the Citadel?

In the future… people are more likely to be blue or green than Asian, Hispanic, Black, or Native American. At least that’s how it seems when you watch sci-fi movies and TV shows, since the medium hasn’t really been all that representative to people of color. Sure, Star Trek was putting a Japanese man and a black woman on the Starship Enterprise back in 1966 with Sulu (George Takei) and Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), respectively. But overall, POC were often more alien in Sci-fi movies and TV shows than the actual aliens themselves.

I’d love to say that things have changed dramatically today, but they really haven’t. Sure, you’re much more likely to see more diverse casts now than you ever did before (and sci-fi shows like Black Mirror are making a better effort than most). But for the most part, the future doesn’t look too rosy if you’re a person of color. That’s why I want to highlight some of my favorite POC in movies and TV. Because in space, nobody can hear you scream Black Lives Matter.

John Cho as Sulu

John Cho had some big shoes to fill when he took on the role of Sulu in the Star Trek remake (reboot? Reimagining?), but thankfully, he managed to fill them quite nicely. John Cho, using his trademark charm and unassuming coolness, made the role his own in all three movies.

And next up, in what can only be described as perfect casting, John Cho will be playing the bounty hunter, Spike Spiegel, in the live-action Netflix series of Cowboy Bebop. No white-washing, Ghost in the Shell here. No siree.

Michelle Rodriguez as Trudy Chacon

Michelle Rodriguez might be most famous for her work in the Fast and the Furious series as Letty Ortiz, but she’s also made quite a few contributions to the sci-fi genre as well. She was of course in one of the biggest movies of all time as combat pilot, Trudy Chacon, in Avatar.

She also played Rain Ocampo in the first Resident Evil movie, Technical Sergeant, Elena Santos, in Battle: Los Angeles, and also Ana Lucia Cortez on the TV show, Lost. You go, girl!

Gina Torres as Zoe Washburne

Any sci-fi fan worth their Browncoat knows Gina Torres as Captain Mal’s second-in-command, Zoe Washburne on Firefly. There, she kicked ass and took names, and always looked tough doing it.

But she also appeared in The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions as Cas, and also had roles in the TV show, Cleopatra 2525 as Hel, and as Arnold Weber’s wife, Lauren, on Westworld. Cool.

Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus

Speaking of The Matrix, can I offer you a pill? They come in two colors. Red or blue. Laurence Fishburne, of course, played a prominent role in the Matrix trilogy as Morpheus, the captain of the Nebuchadnezzar.

But late in his career, he also found himself in two comic worlds—one as Perry White in Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman, and one as Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp. And let’s not forget him as Captain Miller in Event Horizon. Chilling stuff!

Ken Watanabe as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa

Mr. “Let them fight,” himself, Japanese actor, Ken Watanabe, is a serious actor, playing serious roles in movies like The Last Samurai and Letters from Iwo Jima. That said, he’s not above being in a movie where giant monsters slam into each other, as he also played Dr. Ishiro Serizawa in both MonsterVerse Godzilla movies.

He’s also no stranger to other sci-fi films, as he played Lieutenant Hide Yoshida in Pokemon Detective Pikachu, voiced Drift in Transformers: Age of Extinction, and also played Saito in the masterpiece, Inception. In other words, he’s dreamy.

Edward James Olmos as William "Bill" Adama

Set it and forget it, Edward James Olmos has been putting in work since 1974. I first saw Olmos in Stand and Deliver as he played real-life teacher, Jamie Escalante. Great work to be sure, but Olmos will probably most be known for his portrayal as Admiral William “Bill” Adama on the super popular reimagining of Battlestar Galactica. Of note, his son, Bodie Olmos, also played Brendan “Hot Dog” Costanza, another character on the show, so it was a family affair.

Olmos also spent some time in the Marvel Universe as Robert Gonzales in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He was also the police officer, Gaff, in both the original Blade Runner, and Blade Runner 2049. The verdict is still out on whether he’s a replicant or not.

Donnie Yen as Chirrut Imwe

Mr. Ip Man himself, Donnie Yen is definitely more known for martial arts than he is for sci-fi, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t dipped his space boot into the genre. Case in point, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Yen played Chirrut Imwe, a blind, spiritual warrior monk who is one with the force. The force is with him!

But like pretty much everybody in existence, Donnie Yen is ALSO in a Marvel movie. Just not in the Cinematic Universe. He played Snowman in Blade II. Because if you can act, then you’ve probably been in a Marvel flick. It’s just facts.

Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville

Big Willie Style. It’s crazy to think that one of the biggest movie stars on the planet is also big into Sci-fi movies. He played Dr. Robert Neville in I Am Legend, Agent J in Men in Black, a drunk superhero in Hancock, Del Spooner in I, Robot, Captain Steven Hiller in Independence Day. God, what else?

Oh, yeah! Cypher Raige in After Earth, Deadshot in Suicide Squad, Henry Brogan AND Junior in the recent Gemini Man, and even James West in Wild, Wild West, which is steampunk, a sub-genre of Science Fiction. I’m sorry, but when you’re starring in sub-genres of science fiction, you’ve made it, man. You’ve made it.

There are other people of color in sci-fi movies and TV shows that I haven’t mentioned (like Michael Pena and Zoe Saldana), but this list wouldn’t, unfortunately, be all that much longer if I had included them. Sci-fi is a fascinating genre, but it would be so much better if there were more people of color in it. Oh, well. Hopefully, this current generation will boldly go where people in the past never went before. So there’s always hope, and hope is good.

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Many remember the first time they laid eyes on Christina Hendricks as the 2007 the debut of Mad Men, on which she starred as Joan Holloway (later Harris). However, if you ask any fan of Firefly the same question and Joss Whedon’s cult sci-fi western might be their answer.

Excluding a select few, including the aforementioned fans of Firefly, most people seem to have forgotten about the decade-long career that Christina Hendricks led prior to landing her six-time Emmy-nominated role on AMC’s acclaimed period drama exploring the inside world of 1960s-era advertising. As Joan Holloway Harris is often considered the Good Girls star’s breakout role, it is easily forgivable as it also bears an opportunity for a deeper dive into the earlier moments of her career.

The following are seven notable TV appearances of the stunning, talented redhead before she broke out on Mad Men. Let us start by taking a trip back to a time when music videos were still played on television.

Bar Maid - Angel

In 2000, Christina Hendricks made her debut in a creation by super-producer Joss Whedon, in this case Angel, starring future Bones star David Boreanaz as the vampiric title character. In a 2000 episode from the first season of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off titled "The Prodigal," we get a glimpse of Angel's past as a reckless, drunken mortal in the 18th Century. In one flashback, we also catch a glimpse of Hendricks as an unnamed bar maid with an Irish accent who gives a very intrigued Darla a poetic explanation as to why his "charm" is not worth falling for.

Joyce Westlake - ER

Christina Hendricks' character from the eighth season of ER probably could have used some similar advice. The actress appeared in four episodes of the hit NBC medical drama as Joyce Westlake, a young, friendly, recently moved-in neighbor of Dr. Abby Lockhart, played by series regular Maura Tierney, who discovers that her new friend is a victim of violent domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, Brian (future Gossip Girl star Matthew Settle). When Joyce refuses to report him, Abby goes to dangerous lengths to help her escape any further attacks.

Saffron - Firefly

In her second collaboration with Joss Whedon, the producer decided to give Christina Hendricks a character with screen time that lasts longer than 30 seconds and a name... well, more than one name, in fact. While primarily referred to as "Saffron," Hendricks' recurring role on the cult sci-fi western TV series Firefly assumes multiple identities (including known aliases "Bridget" and "Yolanda Haymer") to con unsuspecting men out of their own riches by seducing and feigning matrimony with them. However, Saffron managed to fool Serenity captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds, played by Nathan Fillion, after drunkenly participating in a real marriage ceremony with him and taking advantage of the "relationship" to infiltrate the spacecraft and cause trouble.

Esther Davis - Cold Case

Before Christina Hendricks played a bombshell in the 1960s, she played a bombshell in the 1940s. In "Colors," from the fourth season of the CBS retrospective crime procedural Cold Case, Lilly Rush (Kathryn Morris) takes the case of Clyde Taylor (Arlen Escarpeta), a black baseball player beaten to death with his own bat in August of 1945. The investigation leads to the discovery of Clyde's forbidden romance with a white woman named Esther Davis (also given the nickname "Legs") played in modern day by Elinor Donahue and in flashbacks by Hendricks.

Connie - Las Vegas

Vegas sounds like just the place that Don Draper would have a field day at, but it was a different Mad Men regular who got to pay Sin City a visit on the hit NBC drama named after the beloved city. In "Chaos Theory," a Season 3 episode of Las Vegas, Christina Hendricks plays Connie, who finds herself to be a subject of interrogation at the Montecito Resort and Casino by Danny McCoy (Josh Duhamel) and Mike Cannon (James Lesure), who believe she is linked to a gambler making the suspicious request to play a game of Blackjack at $1 million dollars per hand.

Loopy - Everclear: One Hit Wonder

Going back to the earlier days of her on-screen career, this 1998 music video for the song “One Hit Wonder” by Everclear, which is directed by music video veteran and future blockbuster helmer McG, Christina Hendricks plays Loopy. The young woman is a hopeful contestant on a The Price is Right-esque competition program hosted by game show veteran Wink Martindale, the object of which is ambiguous, to say the least. When Loopy is selected to move onto the next round of the game by correctly guessing the winning lyrics to the titular song, apparently, she eventually comes out on top and goes home with the grand prizes: a brand new, shining mobile home and the alternative rock trio themselves, dressed in equally shiny golden tuxedos.

Tanya - Jake in Progress

As Full House was reaching the peak of its popularity (in syndication, that is), Uncle Jesse actor John Stamos returned to ABC for a whole different kind of a role in the short-lived mid-2000s dramedy Jake in Progress, in which he played the titular aging womanizer seeking a change to his romantic lifestyle. Before you ask - no, Christina Hendricks' character Tanya is not a love interest for Stamos, but instead plays the unwitting temptress of Jake's married friend, Adrian, (Ian Gomez), who has just been hired as his new dental assistant. She continues to be a distracting presence for the dentist for four episodes of the second season until Adrian makes the official decision to break the awkward by firing her.

Be sure to check back for more information and updates on the Mad Men and Toy Story 4 actress, as well as other retrospectives on your favorite celebrities’ pre-fame acting roles, here on CinemaBlend.

Few shows define the term “cult TV favorite” as perfectly as creator Joss Whedon’s Firefly, which follows a group of outlaws traveling through the stars in a colonized solar system. The series is heralded today as one of the best sci-fi TV shows of all time – despite being cancelled in 2003 after airing 11 of its 14 produced episodes – for its unique incorporation of traditional Western elements into a space odyssey.

Luckily, fans would receive some closure in the form of the space movie favorite, Serenity – a feature-length continuation released in theaters in 2005. So, what has the Firefly cast been up to since then? Buckle up and read on to find out.

Nathan Fillion (Capt. Malcolm Reynolds)

To many, Firefly is still the best TV show starring Nathan Fillion – whose performance as Serenity’s no-nonsense captain, “Mal” Reynolds, made him a “Geek God.” He would maintain that reputation by voicing Green Lantern in many animated DC titles and stealing the show as morally corrupt superhero Captain Hammer in Joss Whedon’s musical web series, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, to name a few. 

He would expand his audience as the lead of popular crime series Castle, which ran for eight seasons, and The Rookie, which has its seventh season on the way, as well as memorable recurring roles on Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet and Big Mouth (the latter of which he voices himself in). He is about to make his live-action debut as Green Lantern (the Guy Gardner version) in James Gunn’s Superman cast, which marks his latest of many collaborations with the filmmaker – including 2006’s horror-comedy movie favorite, Slither, and his two MCU roles in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

Gina Torres (Zoë Washburne)

Even before playing Serenity’s first mate, Zoë, Gina Torres was already living the cult sci-fi hero lifestyle. She had recurring appearances on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and a main role on the obscure, short-lived dystopian series, Cleopatra 2525, in addition to playing Cas in The Matrix franchise the same year Firefly was cancelled. 

Her career has since been blessed with an intriguing variety of projects – from voicing Wonder Woman in some animated DC ventures, to playing Jessica Pearson in USA’s Suits cast (and later leading her own spin-off in the role), and playing Arnold Weber’s wife, Lauren, on Westworld. Torres would return to network television with a main role on Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star, starred in a Netflix rom-com in 2023 called The Perfect Find, and her latest film, The Everything Pot, recently premiered at 2024’s Tribeca Film Festival.

Alan Tudyk (Hoban Washburne)

Another one of Firefly’s undisputed “Geek Gods” is Alan Tudyk, who broke through on the series as “Wash” – Serenity’s pilot and Zoë’s husband. This would lead to a wonderfully eclectic career of voice acting (including many Disney animated movies like the Frozen films), playing numerous DC characters in live-action and animation, and reuniting with almost all of his Firefly co-stars on Con Man – an Emmy-nominated satirical web series he also created.

The Resident Alien star is coming back as Hei Hei for 2024’s upcoming sequel, Moana 2 and is also lending his voice to the upcoming DC TV show, Creature Commandos, as Doctor Phosphorus. Also, based on Tony Gilroy’s comments to Collider, we might be able to expect to see him reprise his role from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, reprogrammed imperial droid K-2SO, in Andor Season 2 for Disney+.

Morena Baccarin (Inara Serra)

Another Firefly alum with extensive experience in things nerds love is Morena Baccarin, whose sex worker role, Inara, had a “will they, won’t they” dynamic with Mal. She would go on to play the love interest to more iconic heroes, such as Talia Al Ghul in several animated Batman movies and Wade Wilson’s beloved Vanessa, whom she is reprising in the MCU’s Deadpool & Wolverine. 

The Brazilian actor has also played her fair share of heroes and villains, such as the voice of Gideon (an A.I. character from The Flash) and her leading role in NBC’s The Endgame cast as expert thief Elena Fedorova. Baccarin has another upcoming 2024 movie called Elevation on its way, as well as Greenland: Migration – a sequel to her 2020 disaster movie hit.

Adam Baldwin (Jayne Cobb)

Before playing Serenity’s trigger-happy mercenary Jayne Cobb, Adam Baldwin was best known for classic ‘80s movies like Full Metal Jacket and ‘90s movie favorites like Independence Day. After Firefly, he found more regular roles on series like Chuck as CIA Agent John Casey and TNT’s The Last Ship, and lent his voice to many video games – including Injustice: Gods Among Us, for which he got to play Green Lantern.

Baldwin starred in the 2021 Kurt Warner biopic, American Underdog, as Coach Allen and has reunited with some of his Firefly co-stars on the likes of Castle and 9-1-1: Lone Star. He also recently starred in the 2024 war history drama, Love, Courage, and the Battle of Bushy Run. 

Jewel Staite (Kaylee Frye)

Before playing Serenity’s young mechanic, Kaylee Frye, Jewel Staite unwittingly found the perfect way to practice for Firefly’s interplanetary environment on Nickelodeon’s teen sci-fi adventure series Space Cases in the late 1990s. Sci-fi television would continue to be her bread and butter in most cases – having been cast in Stargate: Atlantis, guest starring on Legends of Tomorrow, and landing a recurring role on SyFy’s The Magicians in 2019. 

Staite, more recently, found a regular role on a more grounded type of series as a member of a dysfunctional family of lawyers on the Canadian drama, Family Law. She is also starring opposite Bryan Austin Green in an upcoming feature-length thriller called Chasing Midnight. 

Sean Maher (Dr. Simon Tam)

After playing Serenity’s resident doctor, Simon Tam, Sean Maher led a career path similar to his co-stars, in the sense that Firefly would remain one of his better known credits while finding more roles of a nerdy variety. For instance, he has voiced Dick Grayson (a.k.a., Nightwing) in multiple animated DC movies and starred in a couple episodes of Arrow as Shrapnel.

In 2011, Maher came out as gay (via CNN) after playing a closeted man on the short-lived series, The Playboy Club in 2011, reunited with Joss Whedon for the director’s modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing the following year, and has also reunited with the likes of Fillion on The Rookie and Tudyk on Con Man. His most recent acting credit is a scripted Stranger Things podcast spin-off called Rebel Robin: Surviving Hawkins, from 2021.

Summer Glau (River Tam)

Being a lifelong ballet dancer helped Summer Glau earn her first job as a dancer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s acclaimed spin-off, Angel. She would be able to use those skills in a different way when Whedon cast her on Firefly as Simon’s intellectually gifted, but socially challenged sister, River. 

The fan-favorite role led her to play more ass-kicking characters – including a cyborg named Cameron on another short-lived, but much-loved TV show, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, a supervillain on Arrow, and a larper who must fight an actual demon in the 2013 fantasy comedy, Knights of Badassdom. Glau’s most recent acting credit is Netflix’s Wu Assassins from 2019, but as she insinuated in a video shared on YouTube by a paparazzi, the mother of two is putting most of her attention into family these days.

Ron Glass (Shepherd Derrial Book)

When Ron Glass got his first acting job as a guest on All In the Family in 1973, some of his Firefly co-stars had not even been born yet. Prior to playing Shepherd Derrial Book – whom you could call Serenity’s resident chaplain – the actor rose to prominence from 1975-1982 in his Emmy-nominated role on the funny, classic TV mystery series, Barney Miller. 

Most modern audiences not familiar with Firefly may recognize his voice as Susie Carmichael’s father in Rugrats and All Grown Up or God’s cousin, Rod, on ABC’s short-lived Teen Angel. His more recent notable roles include the 2010 remake of Death at a Funeral (the original of which starred Tudyk) and a reunion with Whedon on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2014, but sadly, Glass has since passed away in 2016, at the age of 71, due to respiratory failure.

There has actually been much talk of a Firefly revival off and on for years, which may not be the same without Shepherd or Washburne (both of whom died in Serenity). However, for fans who wish to see more than the 14 episodes available to stream with a Hulu subscription and Serenity, it would be a dream come true.

Alan Tudyk will forever be known as Wash from the short-lived, but much loved, TV series, Firefly. But since then, the actor and voice performer has become part of many other film universes. Most of his work in recent years has been as a voice actor and in that role he's made regular appearances for Walt Disney Animation Studios and he was even the voice of Iago in the recent live-action version of Aladdin.

However Alan Tudyk's most popular role of the last few years is probably another outer space based character, the droid K-2SO from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. For May the Fourth, the voice actor combined his two galactic roles into one great scene, where K-2SO reenacts what is probably Wash's most popular moment from Firefly. Check it out.

The scene us actually the introduction of Wash in the Firefly series. We see him in the pilot's chair of the Serenity playing with his toy dinosaurs. The dialogue in the clip is exactly what we hear Wash say, only this time, it's K-2SO, and instead of playing with dinosaurs, he's got Stormtrooper action figures. Because apparently, even within the Star Wars universe, merchandise is a thing. I suppose it's the equivalent of playing with green army men in real life?

It's a funnier scene, if only because K-2SO is not a character you'd expect to see playing with toys. Or at least, he'd make very sure nobody caught him doing it.

If you liked the clip, you can thank Industrial Light & Magic. In a tweet posted by ILM director Hal Hickel, we learn that animator Maureen Seng, who was also an animator on Rogue One itself, is the one who created the digital short.

I'm certainly not the first person to say it, but it's still remarkable just how popular Firefly is for a TV show that didn't last a complete season nearly two decades ago. Even if you're not directly familiar with this scene, odds are you know it by reputation. It's a moment that gets frequently quoted and meme'd. It's also surprising how it seems literally nobody has ever gotten over what happened to Wash in Serenity.

While we're not likely in store for more Firefly anytime soon, we are going to get more K-2SO. Alan Tudyk has been confirmed to return as the voice of the sardonic droid in the new Disney+ series that will follow Diego Luna's Cassian Andor in a period prior to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Of course, the truth is that's about all we know about the show at this point, and with production on that series stalled out along with everything else, it might be some time before we learn any more.

At least one of Alan Tudyk's characters will return, despite having met an unfortunate fate in their previous big screen adventure.

You can get a lot out of what Disney+ has to offer, and there may be some more exciting options on the way. Could live-action series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Modern Family be among those added to the streaming service? That is the question as Disney+ looks to the future of its library.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a cult favorite that has built a legendary fanbase as the cast has celebrated many milestones over the years. Meanwhile, Modern Family is readying to draw to a close after eleven seasons. Disney+ may be preparing to welcome those two shows and several more into the fold if a recent survey is any indication.

According to What’s on Disney Plus, Disney has run a survey to gauge subscriber interest in the comedies black-ish, How I Met Your Mother, and Malcolm in the Middle, along with the titles mentioned above. That is not all! The cult-favorite sci-fi series Firefly was also on the list! Does this mean Disney+ could soon welcome episodes of the series?

It is undoubtedly a move in a positive direction for Disney+ subscribers ready for more live-action content. Of the series mentioned, only black-ish is currently ongoing. Modern Family, while still airing new episodes, is set to leave the air during 2020. Also of note is that black-ish has spinoff shows that could potentially make great additions.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is one of the many animated offerings that Disney+ has. There are live-action TV options as well, especially in the Star Wars franchise with The Mandalorian. Could shows like Modern Family help Disney+ keep bolstering its live-action appeal?

It seems that Disney+ is interested in knowing if it is worth bringing the shows onto the service beforehand. Modern Family and Buffy the Vampire Slayer both have a considerable following, so they should be a big win. With Modern Family getting ready to end, Disney+ should anticipate that fans may grow nostalgic and want to binge earlier seasons.

Did enough people answer the survey positively for Disney+ to warrant bringing them aboard? Time will tell. Although you would have to imagine the affordable streamer will rely on more than a survey to make its final decision. One thing is for sure: if How I Met Your Mother ends up on Disney+, you can prepare for new reactions about its controversial ending.

Let the debate commence! I cannot see where Disney+ could go wrong adding Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Modern Family, and the other series that the survey mentions. There is a devoted audience for all of them, and you know what that means! More reasons for people to keep watching Disney+ besides Baby Yoda!

There is a lot of content currently on Disney+. While you wait to see if these live-action shows make it to the streamer, check out this spring’s premieres.

Earlier this week, HBO premiered Season 3 of their expensive, much-discussed science-fiction/western series, Westworld. Created by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, based on the 1973 movie of the same name directed by the late novelist Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park), the sci-fi/western series is often celebrated for its strong visuals and intriguing story turns, among other aspects. While not everyone was on-board with Season 2, the start of the third season suggests that the mature series is going to take some interesting new turns in the new episodes ahead. Whether or not that's the case, there are certainly a lot of TV viewers out there who love Westworld. And they're likely looking for another show like it. Don't worry, we can help. Here are 12 shows available for streaming that you might also enjoy!

The Leftovers (HBO Go)

What The Show Is About: Created by Damon Lindelof (Lost, HBO's Watchmen) and Tom Perrotta, based on the latter's novel of the same name, The Leftovers takes place three years following the "Sudden Departure," a global event where two percent of the world's population suddenly disappeared.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: Compared to a few other shows on HBO, The Leftovers didn't get as much attention, though it certainly got a good bit of acclaim. While the first season wasn't quite as well-regarded, many viewers were quick to praise Seasons 2 and 3 as extraordinary TV. If you enjoy Westworld for its thoughtful atmosphere, heady commentary, and resonate thematics, then you will definitely want to dig into The Leftovers.

Where To Stream: All three seasons of The Leftovers are available on HBO Go.

Altered Carbon (Netflix)

What The Show Is About: Based on the 2002 novel of the same name, Altered Carbon is a cyberpunk streaming series showcasing a futuristic world where technological advancements allow consciousness to be transferred into different bodies, as we follow an investigator trying to solve a murder.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: Incorporating noir elements into the sci-fi genre has been seen before, notably with the Blade Runner movies, and Altered Carbon is exactly that sort of show. Certainly, TV viewers who like how Westworld is a mature sci-fi vehicle with heady ideas will find a lot to appreciate in this expensive blockbuster streaming series, which stars Joel Kinnaman and Anthony Mackie in the lead role. If you love Westworld for how it explores aspects of identity and technology inside a futuristic setting, you'll definitely find yourself enticed with what Altered Carbon has to offer.

Where To Stream: Altered Carbon Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix.

The Expanse (Amazon Prime)

What The Show Is About: Based on the novels of the same name by James S. A. Corey, The Expanse is a futuristic series showing life after mankind colonized the solar system. It follows a disparate band of anti-heroes, including a police detective, ship's officer, and United Nations Security Council member, who are now at the center of a conspiracy which threatens peace, civility, class balance, and survival as humanity knows it within the system.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: Similar to Altered Carbon, The Expanse is another series that blends sci-fi and detective noir elements into one streaming package. Acclaimed for being a smart, thrilling, and imaginative program with gorgeous production values, compelling character arcs, and politically intriguing narratives, The Expanse should suitably satisfy anyone who finds themselves engrossed in the big ideas at the center of HBO's Westworld. Particularly if you're invested in Westworld's class warfare commentary, you'll find quite a bit to enjoy in Amazon's The Expanse, which was already renewed for a fifth season and recently wrapped production. This newest season is expected to make its premiere at some point later this year.

Where To Stream: All four seasons of The Expanse are available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Watchmen (HBO Go)

What The Show Is About: Based on the acclaimed graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, HBO's Watchmen takes places 34 years after the events of the book and centers around a detective known as Sister Night (Regina King) who investigates the murder of her friend and superior, Judd Crawford (Don Johnson). She then discovers a bunch of information regarding vigilantism in a time of ongoing social and political unrest.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: Ever since Game of Thrones became a massive worldwide success, HBO has strived to push for more mature genre shows, particularly those that lean into both fantasy and sci-fi. Indeed, viewers saw that with Westworld. They also saw it with Watchmen too. As soon as it premiered on the paid cable station, it was considered one of the best shows on television, as well as one of the best superheroes stories in an era that seems to be defined by them. Both audiences and critics alike celebrated Watchmen for its sharp writing, strong direction, and its masterful performances from its top-tier cast. Certainly, if you love Westworld for its adult-orientated takes on its various genres, you'll likely love Watchmen too.

Where to Stream: Every episode of Watchmen Season 1 (which might be the only season we'll see) is available on HBO Go.

The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)

What The Show Is About: Set in a dystopian version of the future and within a totalitarian society where, following the Second Civil War, every fertile women, i.e. "Handmaids," are placed into child-bearing slavery, The Handmaid's Tale is a series adaptation of the novel of the same name from Margaret Atwood.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: While certainly not lighthearted, The Handmaid's Tale is celebrated critically and commercially for its beautiful photography, suspenseful storytelling, relevant social commentary, and its strong performances, notably from Emmy-winning actress Elisabeth Moss in the lead role. If you like visually-stunning shows set in a near future where things just aren't quite right, and the underclass fight for their freedom, you'll find a lot to appreciate and engage with in Hulu's compelling, thoughtful, and well-acclaimed adaptation of Margaret Atwood's best-selling 1985 novel.

Where to Stream: All three seasons of The Handmaid's Tale are available on Hulu.

Black Mirror (Netflix)

What The Show Is About: In the vein of anthology series like The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror examines different stories regarding humanity's troubled or often dangerous relationship with modern/futuristic technology, with narratives set in the near present, an alternate past, or a not-too-distant future.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: Certainly, if you enjoy Westworld for how it explores humanity's unease relationship with technology — new, alternative or futuristic in their design — and the implications found therein, you'll certainly value the bleak and/or satirical stories found in Black Mirror.

Where to Stream: All five seasons of Black Mirror, including the interactive standalone movie Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, are available on Netflix.

Firefly (Hulu)

What The Show Is About: From creator Joss Whedon, Firefly is a space western set in the year 2517, where the U.S. and China are the only surviving superpowers. Firefly follows the renegade crew of Serenity, a nine-team group of adventures exploring the recesses of space and the dangers therein.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: If you love shows that blend western and sci-fi elements with wit, heart, humor, and ease, then Firefly is one of the best shows you can find. While it didn't find its due on the tube, Firefly has gone on to be one of the biggest cult classic TV shows of the '00s, most notably with many Joss Whedon fans clamoring for more. Alas, Fox only gave 14 episodes in total to Firefly, but that makes it a quick, enjoyable binge.

Where To Stream: All 14 episodes of Firefly's first season are on Hulu. Additionally, Serenity, the film continuation, is available with the Starz add-on.

Godless (Netflix)

What The Show Is About: A criminal (Jeff Daniels) and his band of outlaws pursue revenge on a former protege (Jack O'Connell) who betrayed their trust. They seek refuge in an isolated mining town mainly governed by women, where they find company with a tough-willed widow (Michelle Dockery).

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: If you're a big fan of the western aspects of Westworld, notably in the first season, and you love how the HBO show explores gender politics, particularly in typically male-driven genres, then you'll find a lot to enjoy in this acclaimed Netflix seven-part mini-series.

Where To Stream: All seven episodes of Godless are available on Netflix.

The Son (Hulu)

What The Show Is About: Based on the novel of the same name by Philipp Meyer, The Son follows the extensive McCullough heritage, most notably following Eli McCullough (Pierce Brosnan), a charismatic Texas rancher who transforms from being a hard-working family man to a paranoid murderer.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: If you love Westworld's beautiful Western elements and find yourself itching for more shows that cater to that itch, you might want to check out The Son. While not exactly as critically acclaimed nor as well-viewed as some other shows found throughout this list, the Pierce Brosnan-led series is a quick and easy watch, particularly with only 20 episodes in total, and it should hopefully satisfy the desire you'll have.

Where to Stream: Both seasons of The Son are available on Hulu.

Hell on Wheels (Netflix)

What The Show Is About: Hell of Wheels is western TV series about the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: Similar to The Son and Godless, Hell on Wheels is another recent western series that should appease to fans of the genre. If you find yourself most engrossed with Westworld whenever it's centered around characters in the (not so) vast west, this is one for you.

Where to Stream: All five seasons of Hell on Wheels can be found on Netflix.

Rick & Morty (Hulu)

What The Show Is About: Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon (Community), Rick & Morty is an animated sci-fi/dark comedy centered around an alcoholic, cynical mad scientist named Rick and his fretful, good-natured grandson, Morty, as they travel through several strange inter-dimensional adventures throughout the recesses of space, time, and alternate universes, while also spending time together in their domestic life. Basically, imagine if Back to the Future was cruder, louder, more rambunctious, and prone to random antics involving one's fleetingly thin threshold on control and sanity.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: If you like all the strange futuristic technology, mechanical wizardry, and other sci-fi elements found inside Westworld but you want a show that, well, has a better sense of humor about itself, then you'll probably enjoy yourself immensely with Rick & Morty.

Where to Stream: All four seasons of Rick & Morty are available on Hulu.

Dollhouse (Hulu)

What The Show Is About: From creator Joss Whedon, Dollhouse revolves around a corporation running numerous underground establishments around the world known as Dollhouses wherein individuals known as Actives (i.e. Dolls) are given temporary personalities, identities and skill sets. It primarily centers around the character of Echo (Eliza Dushku), who is an active trying to forge a path towards self-awareness, away from her creators.

Why Fans Of Westworld Would Like It: Certainly, if you are compelled with the role of artificial intelligence inside Westworld and you are particularly enamored by the show's desire to show the uprising and self-actualization of its robotic characters, you'll find a lot to like in the short-lived Dollhouse.

Where to Stream: Both seasons of Dollhouse can be found on Hulu.

Which of these shows are your favorites? Which ones would you recommend to TV viewers who can't get enough of Westworld? Let us know below!

Sometimes, all you need to do to make a great escape is put on one of the best sci-fi movies of all time for a glimpse at a whole different kind of world. But, if you are wishing for an extended stay in these far off galaxies, futuristic societies of a utopian or dystopian nature, or even ordinary, modern places encountering extraordinary phenomena, we recommend some of the small screen’s most beloved contributions to the genre. Allow us to point you in the direction of where the most die-hard sci-fi fans have gone before with our following guide to the best sci-fi TV shows now streaming.

Doctor Who (1963-Present)

The last member of an immortal, human-looking alien species with regenerative abilities travels to different times, dimensions, and planets, often with a companion at their side.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: One of the small screen’s longest-running, most influential franchises of all time is Doctor Who, which stars a frequently changing rotation of actors – from Tom Baker to David Tenant to Jodie Whitaker and more – as the titular Time Lord.

Stream Doctor Who on Max.
Stream Doctor Who on Tubi.

Severance (2022-Present)

A group of office workers (played by Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Christopher Walken and more) start to develop suspicions about the true nature of their company, which keeps its employees' personal and professional memories separate.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: From creator Dan Erickson and executive producer Ben Stiller, Severance is one of the most inventively bizarre, absorbing, and simply best TV shows on Apple TV+, let alone in recent memory, and has a highly anticipated second season in the works.

Stream Severance on Apple TV+.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

The chronicles of the vicious war between the Republic (as aided by the Jedi) and the oppressive Separatist army in a galaxy far, far away.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Taking place between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith on the Star Wars timeline, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is one of the most widely beloved installments of the franchise as a whole.

Stream Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+.

Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999)

The adventures of a crew of bounty hunters in space in the distant future.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: As far as Japanese anime TV shows go, Cowboy Bebop – which was later adapted for live-action by Netflix – is an essential for its dazzling blend of cosmic action with noir-inspired tonal elements.

Stream Cowboy Bebop on Hulu.
Stream Cowboy Bebop on Crunchyroll.

Quantum Leap (1989-1993)

A freak accident sends a brilliant scientist (Scott Bakula) on a journey inhabiting the bodies of strangers from different time periods to right wrongs of the past.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Later rebooted for modern audiences with Raymond Lee in the lead, Quantum Leap is one of the most unique stories about time travel ever conceived, and only made greater by the wonderful chemistry between Bakula and the late Dean Stockwell as his holographic guide, Al.

Stream Quantum Leap on Peacock.
Stream Quantum Leap on The Roku Channel.

Silo (2023-Present)

A woman (Rebecca Ferguson) from a community of people driven to live underground questions what she has been told about the uninhabitable environment above.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Showrunner Graham Yost’s adaptation of Hugh  Howey’s bestselling book series is a wonderfully suspenseful dystopian treat, especially with killer performances by the Silo cast, which also includes Common, Tim Robbins, Rashida Jones, and more.

Stream Silo on Apple TV+.

Andor (2022-Present)

A man (Diego Luna) becomes part of a secret movement to overthrow the oppressive imperial authority over his and other planets.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: One of the most beloved Star Wars spin-off TV shows, Andor – which has a second season in the works – serves as a prequel to one of the franchise’s most acclaimed prequels, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Stream Andor on Disney+.

Black Mirror (2011-Present)

The best Black Mirror episodes so far include futuristic cautionary tales, morality dramas, and even bizarre supernatural fantasies.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: This list is meant to highlight science-fiction shows, but most stories featured in Charlie Brooker’s Netflix exclusive, technophobic horror anthology series, Black Mirror, feel almost too frighteningly plausible to be considered “fiction.”

Stream Black Mirror on Netflix.

Firefly (2002-2003)

Centuries after mankind left Earth to colonize the rest of the galaxy, a ragtag crew of smugglers and fugitives led by a rebellious ship’s captain (Nathan Fillion) offer their services to those in need while on the run from the government.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Oddly enough, most sci-fi series with the most devoted fan bases are the kind of shows that were cancelled too soon, like Firefly –  a groundbreaking of space operas with the Western, which later spawned a feature-length follow-up called Serenity.

Stream Firefly on Hulu.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-Present)

The sole human aboard an interstellar satellite is forced by his captors to watch cinema’s worst with his sarcastic robot companions.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: No series pokes fun at low-tier B-movies better than Mystery Science Theater 3000, which has gone through various hosts and distributors and even spawned a theatrical movie in 1996. 

Stream Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Peacock.
Stream Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Pluto TV.
Stream Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Netflix.

Rick And Morty (2013-Present)

A dysfunctional grandfather-grandson duo embark on increasingly dangerous and potentially cataclysmic adventures – including planet-hopping, reality-swapping, and even just trying to impress a classroom crush.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Despite being a crude, blatant send-up of Back to the Future at its surface, co-creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland (who formerly voiced to title characters) made Adult Swim’s Ricky and Morty into something special that many consider to be one of the best animated TV shows of all time.

Stream Rick and Morty on Max.
Stream Rick and Morty on Hulu.

Stranger Things (2016-Present)

Ordinary children and adults take on extraordinary matters (such as telepathic beings and interdimensional beasts) happening in their small Midwestern town in the 1980s.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Heavily inspired by classic ‘80s movies like E.T. or The Goonies, the magnificent Stranger Things cast and creators Matt and Ross Duffer have pushed this blockbuster-level Netflix hit beyond just another fun piece of nostalgia

Stream Stranger Things on Netflix.

The Mandalorian (2019-Present)

An interstellar bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal) becomes a fugitive after he takes it upon himself to be the protector of his own bounty: an innocent child of extraordinary ability. 

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: From creator Jon Favreau, the Emmy-winning Disney+ exclusive series, The Mandalorian, is unique to previous stories to come from a galaxy far, far away for its western-style tone, moving, character-driven plot, and, above all, the cutest alien baby you have ever seen.

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+.

The X-Files (1993-2018)

Two FBI agents (David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson) investigate cases a little stranger than your typical homicide – such as alien abductions, interspecies mutation, or extra sensory perception, among other things.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Originally lasting nine seasons before its two-season revival in 2016, creator Chris Carter’s Emmy-winning hit The X-Files has the tone of a crime procedural and pulse of an eerie midnight movie, resulting in one of the genre’s most exquisitely constructed and phenomenally original creations. 

Stream The X-Files on Hulu.
Stream The X-Files on Freevee through Amazon.

Twin Peaks (1990-2017)

A special agent of the FBI (Kyle McLachlan) is sent to investigate the death of a young woman in a small Washington town, which proves to be the site of an even stranger variety of mysteries.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Drama Series in 1991, creators David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks became a touchstone of addictive episodic television in only two seasons before its short 2017 revival on Showtime for its unprecedented idiosyncrasies and delicious surrealism.

Stream Twin Peaks on Paramount+.
Stream Twin Peaks: The Return on Showtime through Paramount+.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D continues Starfleet’s exploration of uncharted areas of space.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Widely considered to be a spin-off as good as the original – or even the strongest iteration of Gene Roddenberry’s iconic franchise overall – is the multi-Emmy-winning Star Trek: The Next Generation, especially with Sir Patrick Stewart as Enterprise captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Stream Star Trek: The Next Generation on Paramount+.
Stream Star Trek: The Next Generation on Pluto TV.

The Expanse (2015-2022)

In an entirely colonized and seemingly peaceful solar system, a space freighter crew makes a dark discovery that gives them a reason to rebel and become heroes.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: Based on James S.A. Corey’s celebrated novels, The Expanse is lauded by critics and audiences alike as one of the best sci-fi TV shows on Amazon Prime and one of the genre’s smartest shows of its time in general.

Stream The Expanse on Amazon Prime.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

A collection of fantastic, mind-bending character studies that are often reflective of the pressing matters from the era.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: While it would later inspire multiple reboots, most would agree that nothing beats Rod Serling’s original classic anthology series, The Twilight Zone, in terms of its outstanding depth and imagination.

Stream The Twilight Zone on Paramount+.
Stream The Twilight Zone on Freevee through Amazon.
Stream The Twilight Zone on Pluto TV.

The Jetsons (1962-1987)

An average family gets themselves into bizarre situations in a futuristic utopia.

Why it is one of the best sci-fi TV shows: After receiving (probably inaccurate) lessons about the Stone Age from Hanna-Barbera, children could also indulge in the animation studio’s vision of the future with The Jetsons – one of the most beloved marriages with the traditional sitcom structure with the sci-fi genre.

Stream The Jetsons on Max.
Stream The Jetsons on Tubi.

What do you think? Are these the best sci-fi TV shows of all time (that are available for streaming) or do you find our lack of your favorite series disturbing?

Out of all the more recent installments to the Star Wars franchise, one of the more acclaimed is The Mandalorian. The Disney+ original TV show from creator Jon Favreau follows a bounty hunter named Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), who becomes the adoptive father to a powerful “child” named Grogu, who was widely referred to as "Baby Yoda" before his actual name was revealed. 

What is it about this series – which has spawned its own upcoming Star Wars movie spin-off, aptly titled The Mandalorian and Grogu – that has helped it earn nearly intergalactic acclaim? The secret, beyond the usual themes and tones associated with a galaxy far, far away, could be its refreshing combination of sci-fi with elements of action, drama, Western, and even some dark comedy. There are plenty of other TV shows that boast a similar feel to them for one reason or another and the following are some of our favorite choices in the matter.

The Last Of Us (2023-Present)

Years after a fungal outbreak turns most of the human race into rabid flesh-eaters, a hardened survivor (played by Pedro Pascal) becomes the travel companion to a teenage girl (played by Bella Ramsey) who may hold the key to a cure.  

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: Even before Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann’s series adaptation of the hit video game, The Last of Us, premiered on HBO, people were drawing comparisons to The Mandalorian as another show starring Pascal as the guardian to a special child in a lawless world.

• Stream The Last of Us on Max
• Buy The Last of Us on Amazon
• Buy The Last of Us on Blu-ray on Amazon

Altered Carbon (2018-2020)

In a time when human consciousness can be digitized and re-used, a former special forces agent is downloaded into a new body (played by Joel Kinnaman and later by Anthony Mackie) to solve the murder of a wealthy businessman.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: Admittedly, Altered Carbon has much more in common with Black Mirror than The Mandalorian on a narrative or even thematic level, but the futuristic thriller is similar in the way it fuses sci-fi elements with a strongly contradictory genre – in this case, noir.

• Stream Altered Carbon on Netflix

Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999)

In the distant future, a group of bounty hunters travel through space in search of adventure.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: The idea of a bounty hunter hopping from planet to planet is what attracted many non-Star Wars fans to The Mandalorian in the first place and would surely attract similar audiences to Cowboy Bebop – a classic Japanese anime also praised as one of the best sci-fi TV shows of its time for incorporating Noir and Western elements of into a cosmic setting.

• Stream Cowboy Bebop on Hulu
• Stream Cowboy Bebop on Crunchyroll
• Buy Cowboy Bebop on Amazon
• Buy Cowboy Bebop on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Witcher (2019-Present)

The adventures of a lone hunter of monsters (Henry Cavill) who finds himself at odds with humans who prove to be an even worse threat.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: If you throw out Mando’s helmeted anonymity and obvious soft spot for Grogu, he and Cavill’s portrayal of the socially-disinterested Geralt of Rivia from Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher are pretty much one in the same. 

• Stream The Witcher on Netflix

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and others fight to defend the Grand Army of the Republic against the oppressive Separatists.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: For a list of TV shows related to a Star Wars spin-off series, of course, we would have to recommend another Star Wars spin-off series and The Clone Wars is already a must for die-hard fans for its thrilling action and unique animation, but also relates to The Mandalorian for introducing key characters like Ahsoka Tano and Bo-Katan Kryze.

• Stream Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+
• Buy Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Amazon
• Buy Star Wars: The Clone Wars on DVD on Amazon

Farscape (1999-2003)

Astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) is accidentally thrown into a deep stretch of the universe that is a long, long way from Earth, where he must make allies with a group of aliens outrunning an oppressive military race.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: Like Mando, John Chrichton’s adventures on SyFy’s cult favorite series, Farscape (of which James Gunn is a fan) involve encountering various bizarre creatures on different planets, with the exception that Chrichton had no experience with such dangers when he found himself stuck in a galaxy far, far away.

• Stream Farscape on Amazon Prime
• Stream Farscape on Tubi
• Stream Farscape on Peacock
• Stream Farscape on Pluto TV
• Buy Farscape on Blu-ray on Amazon

Firefly (2002-2003)

The adventures of a ragtag crew searching the colonized solar system for a job while avoiding government detection.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: You cannot talk about The Mandalorian’s Western influences without bringing to mind one of the first full-blooded space Westerns (and, arguably, Nathan Fillion’s best TV show), Firefly, which was unlike any adventure series on TV at the time, which must be why it was doomed from the start and cancelled before it could complete its first season.

• Stream Firefly on Hulu
• Buy Firefly on Amazon
• Buy Firefly on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Expanse (2015-2022)

The crew of a commercial space freighter comes across a conspiracy affecting their seemingly peaceful, colonized solar system that changes their lives forever.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: Based on James S.A. Corey’s novels, The Expanse (originally a SyFy before it became exclusive with an Amazon Prime subscription) boasts a protagonist similar to Din Djarin in Jim Holden (Steven Strait), who is usually one to follow orders, until a dark discovery gives him reason to rebel. 

• Stream The Expanse on Amazon Prime
• Buy The Expanse on Blu-ray on Amazon

Killjoys (2015-2019)

The adventures of a trio of bounty hunters (played by Hannah John-Kamen, Aaron Ashmore, and Luke MacFarlane) trying to remain independent in the wake of interplanetary conflict.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: Here we have yet another story of space bounty hunters in Syfy’s Killjoys, which will surely satisfy any Mandalorian fans looking for a little more comic relief in their sci-fi.

• Buy Killjoys on Amazon
• Buy Killjoys on Blu-ray on Amazon

Justified (2010-2015)

A rebellious, Miami-based U.S. Marshall (played by Timothy Olyphant) is relocated to his hometown in Kentucky.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: One of The Mandalorian’s most celebrated guest stars, in the role of cosmic gunslinger Cobb Vanth, is Olyphant, whose defining role then, as the lead of the FX’s Justified cast, was Earthbound gunslinger Raylan Givens.  

• Stream Justified on Hulu
• Buy Justified on Amazon
• Buy Justified on Blu-ray on Amazon

Westworld (2016-2022)

A futuristic theme park allows guests to live out their deepest desires in a highly realistic Western-style setting, inhabited by unsuspecting, human-like androids who truly believe they exist in an era prior to modern civilization.

Why it is a great show to watch if you like The Mandalorian: One of the most unique combinations of sci-fi drama with Western action can be found on Westworld – a futuristic cautionary tale that reimagines a 1973 movie of the same name.

• Buy Westworld on Amazon
• Buy Westworld on Blu-ray on Amazon

I know what you are thinking: these shows could use a little more “Baby Yoda.” Perhaps, but, if you need something to binge while you wait for The Mandalorian and Grogu to hit theaters, I think these may suffice.

Last December saw the return of the acclaimed science-fiction series The Expanse, originally airing on Syfy before Amazon Prime picked it up for its current fourth season. Inspired by a series of novels by James S.A. Corey, the show chronicles one interplanetary ice freighter crew’s reluctant struggles to maintain peace among the colonized Solar System in the wake of conspiracy that threatens humanity.

Praised as one of the smartest sci-fi shows on TV today, and even earning comparisons to Game of Thrones, The Expanse has already been renewed for a fifth season on Amazon Prime. But, until then, what will fans cling to as they await the continuing adventures of the Rocinante?

To put people at ease during the hiatus, we have taken the liberty of combing through our favorite streaming services to find TV shows that may appeal to fans of The Expanse, in terms of aesthetic, theme, character motivation, etc. Take note!

Altered Carbon (Netflix)

For its suspenseful tone, The Expanse is often credited as a neo noir thriller, or, even more accurately, tech noir. Netflix has delved into this hybrid of detective fiction with dystopia a number of times, such as with series like Better Than Us, Duncan Jones’ mystery film Mute, and especially, the Blade Runner-esque show Altered Carbon.

In a world in which human consciousness can be converted into digital storage, former soldier Takeshi Kovacs is uploaded into a new body (Suicide Squad’s Joel Kinnaman) with a mission to solved the murder of a wealthy industrialite (James Purefoy), a task given to him by the digitally resurrected man himself. The first season of Altered Carbon, set to return with MCU star Anthony Mackie as Kovacs’ next surrogate body, is an intriguing cyberpunk mystery as exciting to follow as it is a wonder to look at. Stream it here.

The Boys (Amazon Prime)

Conspiracy is a central theme to The Expanse, as James Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew become part of a resistance after uncovering a plan to kick off interplanetary war. The “war” depicted in fellow Amazon Prime original The Boys is much more Earthly, covert, and far more personal, but just as explosive, nonetheless.

Vengeful ex-CIA operative Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) is the infamous leader of the titular group of ragtag vigilantes who set out to infiltrate and expose the world’s most famous superheroes, whose immoral agendas are hidden by their corporate sponsorships. As a bold indictment of comic book tropes with brutally honest satire of celebrity influence, The Boys (the second season of which is on its way) paints a dark portrait of how the existence of superheroes would affect our world that is almost too real. Stream it here.

Colony (Netflix)

The Expanse imagines the tenuous consequences of interplanetary colonization, one of them being rebellion. What if your city was tyrannically colonized by beings from another planet? Would you rebel?

Such is the premise of the USA series Colony, starring Lost’s Josh Holloway and The Walking Dead’s Sarah Wayne Callies as a married couple on opposite sides of a resistance against the alien race that has taken over Los Angeles. Despite its cancellation after three seasons, Colony is an exciting family drama that uniquely fuses sci-fi with political intrigue. Stream it here.

Farscape (Amazon Prime)

The most admirable thing about The Expanse’s main protagonist James Holden is that he assumes the position of a hopeful hero to humanity despite his reluctance of the fame and responsibility that comes with it. The main protagonist of the cult series Farscape was certainly reluctant to accept his unexpected fate as an intergalactic fugitive.

Ben Browder plays John Crichton, an astronaut forced to join a group of aliens hunted by an oppressive military race after he is accidentally thrown into a distant part of the universe under intergalactic conflict. Lasting four seasons and a conclusive miniseries, Farscape is one of the Syfy Channel’s most celebrated original hits for its complex storytelling and practical effects, thanks to puppetry by the Jim Henson Company. Stream it here.

Firefly (Hulu)

The Expanse has a couple things in common with Joss Whedon’s short-lived, but much loved, sci-fi series. Both are series that focus on a ragtag group of fugitive space travelers, are backed by a legion of devoted fans, and were both cancelled too soon, only Firefly had no digital streaming service to revive it in 2002. Oh well.

The Emmy-winning, groundbreaking western space opera hybrid feels kind of like a sci-fi take on The A-Team,following a crew, led by nerd icon Nathan Fillion, offering their services to those in need across the galaxy while on the run from the government. Firefly was cancelled by Fox after just 11 episodes, which led to the spin-off theatrical film Serenity, but the entire 14-episode first season is at least available on Hulu. Stream it here.

The First (Hulu)

A colonized Solar System, in which The Expanse takes place, would be a massive undertaking, considering all the time necessary to travel the unexplored reaches of space. Just going to our neighbor Mars would be more than a cake walk, as this Hulu original series demonstrates.

From House of Cards creator Beau Willimon, this one-season show chronicles the personal struggles and concerns of a crew, led by Academy Award-winner Sean Penn, selected to travel to the Red Planet, an unprecedented feat with sacrifices that some are not willing to make. The First exposes a potential darkness in the not-too-distant future with a prime goal is to make viewers feel the weight of the consequential nature of space travel. Stream it here.

Fortitude (Amazon Prime)

I do not want to spoil the essential reason as to how this psychological thriller relates to The Expanse. I will say, however, that while Fortitude at first appears like a standard crime drama, it gets really weird really fast.

When the picturesque and famously safe arctic community of Fortitude is shocked by the discovery of a brutal murder, those tasked with solving the case learn that something even more suspicious is afoot as the town continues to fall prey to increasingly horrific events. For its second season, Dennis Quaid joined the cast of this British import, whose three seasons found an American home in Amazon Prime, that checks off all the boxes of addictive dramatic TV: an atmospheric tone, evolutionary characters, and secrets that threaten the lives of many. Stream it here.

Lost In Space (Netflix)

At its core, The Expanse is a story about survival against insurmountable odds and people struggling to find a place to call home in the lonely backdrop of outer space. That is just how the Robinsons feel in their situation.

Netflix’s Emmy-nominated update of the classic 1960s series follows a family selected as a test subject for the colonization of other planets, until they are thrown off course and end up stranded on a dangerous alien planet. The first two seasons of Lost In Space honors its predecessor by incorporating the same B-movie fun involving creepy aliens and bizarre robots, just with improved special effects and far less camp. Stream it here.

Mars (Netflix)

The aforementioned Hulu series The First imagines the potential dangers of a mission to Mars, while taking place almost entirely on Earth. This series from National Geographic actually shows you what perils one might face on a journey to Red Planet, while also offering an educational perspective on the manner.

From producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, Mars is an intriguing fusion of scripted drama with documentary, featuring interviews with the likes of Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Elon Musk, as it also follows a fictional crew looking to colonize the titular planet in the near future. In that respect, its three-season story could almost be perceived as a prequel to The Expanse. Stream it here.

The Orville (Hulu)

Yes, I am aware that this is essentially a Star Trek send-up from the mind of Seth MacFarlane. However, after all the intense, complex drama on The Expanse, couldn’t you maybe use a little comic relief?

The Orville, which is officially moving to Hulu for its third season, takes its name from the ship of bumbling space explorers led by Capt. Ed Mercer (creator Seth MacFarlane) who often butts heads with second-in-command, his ex-wife, Kelly Grayson (Adrianne Palicki). While it is not stingy on resorting sitcom-level humor, the comedy is relatively contained by comparison to other projects from the Family Guy creator, not to mention its production design keeps the tone of a space opera alive. Stream it here.

3% (Netflix)

Peace is a hard thing to come by in a colonized Solar System with some planets receiving privileges that others cannot obtain, as The Expanse makes clear. This class-based divide already exists on Earth and could only get worse in the long run - a concept explored in the Netflix original 3%.

The Brazilian series follows the impoverished dwellers of Earth’s nearly uninhabitable wasteland, hoping to become part of the three percent allowed entry to the “better side” by undergoing a series of rigorous challenges. 3%, with three seasons currently available, is a complex dystopian drama with a young cast of multidimensional characters that offers thematic callbacks to The Hunger Games. Stream it here.

We hope that we have offered a suitable choice of streaming recommendations for die-hard fans of The Expanse with this list. When you’re done binging these shows, be sure to check back for more updates on hit Amazon Prime sci-fi series here on CinemaBlend.

In the past decade of TV shows, The Wire is widely considered one of the greatest television dramas ever produced. Former President Barack Obama even called it one of the greatest pieces of art created in the last couple of decades. The Wire creator David Simon weaved together a series that took a hard look at how institutions indirectly and directly have a part in drug trade and corruption. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for The Wire; the show deals with different divisions of the city, but the stories and themes featured in the show resonate with cities all over the globe. The Wire is a great TV drama that helped define the early 2000s era of television.

Thanks to the power of streaming services like Netflix, The Wire and other great television shows of the early 2000s are available to watch on any device. The early 2000s was a critical time for the small screen because it’s when many of the formulas that now dominate the airwaves started to form. Anti-hero main characters, sci-fi epics, political dramas, and feel-good-but-makes-you-cry shows began to find their place in pop culture and on mainstream television. As we embrace a new decade of television, let’s take a look at some of the best TV shows of the early 2000s that are available to stream.

This list only includes dramas from the early 2000s that are available to stream through a subscription service. It’s also limited to series that began between 1999 and 2006, and series that reached their final episodes by 2011.

The Wire (Amazon Prime Video)

The Wire premiered in 2002. It features actors who have become some of today’s biggest names in Hollywood, including Aidan Gillen, Michael B. Jordan, Idris Elba, Lance Reddick, and Dominic West. The Wire gave a gritty and honest portrait of Baltimore: the show highlights how different institutions influence crime in the city. The Wire received critical acclaim but the Emmy voters mostly ignored it—one of the Emmy’s many great injustices. The Wire aired from 2002 to 2008. All five seasons are available to stream on HBO Now and Amazon Prime Video. Stream The Wire HERE.

The Sopranos (Amazon Prime Video)

Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) was the man in charge from 1999 to 2007. Fans may never know what really happened to Tony after everything faded to black, but his legacy continues. David Chase’s Sopranos revolutionized the television world in a couple of ways. First, it de-glamorized the mob lifestyle, and second it let viewers know that it was okay to follow the bad guy over the course of multiple seasons. The Sopranos paved the way for the Walter White and Dexters of the TV world. The premise of a mob boss in therapy expanded to a look at a damaged family, a deconstruction of the mob drama, and a conversation on mental health. All six seasons of The Sopranos are available on HBO Now and Amazon Prime Video. Stream The Sopranos HERE.

Veronica Mars (Hulu)

From 2004 to 2007, Kristen Bell played everyone’s favorite Marshmallow, Veronica Mars. Veronica Mars was a teen drama that was smart, funny, surprising, and heartbreaking in all the right ways. Veronica Mars’ original run left viewers wanting more after the CW’s abrupt cancellation of it after three seasons. By the end of the series, the teen P.I had won a loyal cult following that was willing to go to the ends of the earth for their LoVe of the series. This meant the show would receive two revivals, first as a movie and then as an additional season. It also had a book series and a web series about Dick. All four seasons and the Veronica Mars movie are available on Hulu. Stream Veronica Mars HERE.

Friday Night Lights (Hulu)

Emmy winning and critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights became a favorite among people who wanted heartwarming sports dramas. Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler led an ensemble cast as Coach Eric Taylor and his wife Tami Taylor. Friday Night Lights was adapted from the 2004 movie of the same name, which was based on the Friday Night Lights book. The series aired on NBC from 2006 to 2011- gaining more loyal fans with each new season. Hulu has all five seasons of Friday Night Lights available to stream on Hulu. Stream Friday Night Lights HERE.

Lost (Hulu)

Unfortunately, most critics and viewers now associate Lost with its much-debated final season. When Lost first aired in 2004, fans were blown away by the mystery of the island, the cast, and the potential of the series. At the heart of Lost was a character driven show that explored what happens when people are forced into unfamiliar situations and unknown dangers. Lost featured an ensemble cast that included Matthew Fox, Naveen Andrews, Evangeline Lilly, Ian Somerhalder, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, and Emilie de Ravin. Lost aired for six seasons and ended in May 2010. All six seasons of Lost are available to stream on Hulu. Stream Lost HERE.

The Shield (Hulu)

FX’s crime drama The Shield follows Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), a corrupt Los Angeles Police Department cop. Mackey and his friends often use illegal methods to coerce confessions and ensure arrests. Michael Chiklis’ performance on The Shield won him both the Emmy and Golden Globe award for the series’ first season. FX aired The Shield for seven seasons from 2002 to 2008. The show captured the attention of many big Hollywood names and featured guest appearances by Glenn Close and Forest Whitaker. Hulu has all seven seasons of The Shield available to stream. Stream The Shield HERE.

The West Wing (Hulu)

Aaron Sorkin’s political drama The West Wing dominated ratings and award season for most of its seven-season run. In The West Wing, Martin Sheen plays President of the United States Josiah “Jed” Bartlet. The series follows him and his administration, which includes C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney), Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe), Leo McGarry (John Spencer), and Joshua Lyman (Bradley Whitford). The West Wing is considered one of the best-written TV shows of all time. It won 26 Emmy Awards, including four for Outstanding Drama and numerous writing Emmys. All seven seasons of The West Wing, which aired from 1999 to 2006, are available on Netflix. Stream The West Wing HERE.

Firefly (Hulu)

Fans of the Fox Network know that the company rarely hesitates when cancelling shows. This has led to many beloved series reaching their conclusion far too soon. In 2003, Firefly became one of Fox’s cancellation victims. Joss Whedon’s space western followed the crew of the Serenity spaceship led by Nathan Fillion’s Mal Reynolds. Firefly’s cast also included Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, and Summer Glau. Firefly only aired for one 14-episode season. However, Joss Whedon and crew were given a chance to give the series a proper conclusion with the Serenity movie in 2005. All fourteen episodes of Firefly are available to stream on Hulu. Stream Firefly HERE.

Boston Legal (Hulu)

Long before Red,James Spader, along with William Shatner, was the star of David E. Kelley’s legal drama and The Practice spin-off Boston Legal. Like The Practice, the show centered around the characters at a law firm and the cases that they tackled each week. Boston Legal received many award nominations, especially for Shatner and Spader. Boston Legal aired from 2004 to 2008, and had five seasons. Hulu and Amazon Prime Video have all five seasons of the series available to stream. Stream Boston Legal HERE.

The 4400 (Netflix)

In 2004, USA Network introduced a new sci-fi series called The 4400. The 4400 follows the return of 4400 people who went missing during various periods, starting in 1946. All of the 4400 disappeared in a similar fashion with a white beam of light grabbing them. Once returned to earth, the 4400 remain the same age they were when taken. The series follows these individuals and how they must adjust to their return, and the new powers that they’ve developed. From 2004 to 2007, The 4400 aired for four seasons. Some of the cast included Billy Campbell, Mahershala Ali, Patrick John Flueger, and Laura Allen. The complete series of The 4400 is available on Netflix. Stream The 4400 HERE.

Six Feet Under (Amazon Prime Video)

Six Feet Under follows widow Ruth Fisher (Frances Conroy) and her three children, Nate (Peter Krause), David (Michael C. Hall), and Claire (Lauren Ambrose). It focuses on the Fisher family’s funeral business and personal relationships and struggles. Six Feet Under was another one of HBO’s critically acclaimed series with a huge cult following. The Fisher family’s highly dysfunctional nature, magical surrealism elements, and overall strong writing and acting is what made Six Feet Under one of the most popular series of the early 2000s. It aired on HBO from 2001 to 2005. All five seasons of Six Feet Under are available on Amazon Prime Video and HBO Now. Stream Six Feet Under HERE.

The early 2000s brought a lot of great television series, many that helped shaped the TV landscape forever, and even more that are considered the greatest series of all time. Let’s hope the next twenty years of television shows are just as profound and exciting.

Firefly is a certified fan-favorite with a cult following. The series originally ran on Fox for a single season, airing from 2002 to 2003 before getting cancelled. A follow-up film entitled Serenity was released nearly fifteen years ago in 2005. Now, another Fox sci-fi series, The Orville, is moving to Hulu for its third season. So, what does that mean for Firefly’s future and a potential reunion?

Does The Orville getting a second life on Hulu signal Firefly eventually making a comeback on Fox? Fans would undoubtedly welcome a chance to reconnect with the characters all these years later. Its audience has had the chance to grow even more in recent years thanks to streaming. Asked about reviving Firefly in light of recent activity, Fox president of entertainment Michael Thorn told TheWrap:

Apparently, talk of a Firefly reunion revival has come up before! However, The Orville’s space-centric presence on Fox’s schedule made the network reconsider back then. Now that The Orville will continue on Hulu for Season 3, that is no longer a reason for Fox to keep Firefly off its slate. Both shows could live!

Due to The Orville moving beyond Fox and into the realm of Hulu, there is no more genre competition to worry about! The question is if a network run would be more beneficial than having a Firefly reunion come together on streaming. Its audience may be more conducive to the platform, in my opinion.

That said, if Fox has an empty sci-fi slot and Firefly has a built-in audience, maybe a revival would be the perfect fit for primetime. It is up to Fox and the cast and crew’s availability. Morena Baccarin has expressed her desires for what she wants for Inara if the show ever came back. Will it?

As far as the original cast’s availability goes, Nathan Fillion is currently starring in the title role of ABC’s The Rookie. It is now in its second season and developed a robust following in delayed viewing. Gina Torres is coming off of the single-season run of her Suits spinoff Pearson, in which she reprised her role as Jessica Pearson. She continues to be active.

Meanwhile, Alan Tudyk returned to TV starring on DC Universe’s Doom Patrol as Eric Morden/Mr. Nobody. The rest of the Firefly cast, including Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and Morena Baccarin have remained busy. Sadly, Ron Glass passed away in 2016.

Considering that the cast is still so close and have reunited through the years, a revival isn't out of the realm of possibility. As for Firefly’s executive producer, Tim Minear, he is showrunning Fox’s 9-1-1 franchise. The fast-paced thriller is coming off a heartbreaking fall finale and welcoming a Rob Lowe-led spinoff to its midst.

Meanwhile, Firefly creator Joss Whedon has been busy with movies. Can everyone eventually come back together for a Firefly reunion? Time will tell! You can currently stream Firefly in its entirety on Hulu. The Orville will return for Season 3 on Hulu at some point in 2020. A premiere date has not been set, so enjoy this winter’s premieres.

Hulu is the best streaming service option for a large selection of original and licensed series. Hulu has some of the best shows created in the past decade, which makes it a necessary service for all your binge watching needs.

Hulu provides thousands of hours of content. This extensive list of series gives streamers the hassle free solution to find a show or two to binge all year long. However, if you don't have a year to invest in a television series, Hulu also has some of the best shows to watch in one weekend.

For this best of Hulu list, we stuck with series exclusively available on Hulu, series that don't total over 20 hours of streaming time, and shows that appeal to the many different flavors of binge watchers. If you don't see some of your favorite Hulu series, like The Handmaid's Tale and Marvel's Runaways, it's because there are so many episodes for those shows that it would either be impossible or require a lot of commitment to get all the way through them in a weekend.

The Act

The Act, a series based on the real life story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother Dee Dee Blanchard, stars Patricia Arquette and Joey King. Many people already know the story of Dee Dee, a mother who fabricated her daughter's serious illnesses, possibly due to Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Hulu's The Act brings new depth and sensationalism to this tragic story of control and revenge. This true story ends in a fatal incident involving Gypsy Rose (Joey King), her boyfriend, Nick Godejohn (Calum Worthy), and Dee Dee (Patricia Arquette).

Critics and viewers have been praising The Act since it's 2019 premiere. Much of the series' praise comes from Patricia Arquette and Joey King's performances, which earned both of them Emmy nominations. Arquette won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Dee Dee. Currently, The Act only has one season with 8 episodes, so it's easily watchable in a weekend. Stream The Act HERE.

Ramy

Golden Globe winner Ramy Youssef created and stars in Ramy, a Hulu original series about being an American Muslim. Ramy wants to stay true to his religion and traditions, but sometimes modern American practices conflict with Muslim traditions. The cast also includes Succession's Hiam Abbass, who plays Ramy's mom, Maysa. She particularly shines in the episode "Ne Me Quitte Pas."

Much of Ramy feels like a collection of short stories. This stylistic element allows each member of the Hassan family to radiate in their stand-alone episodes, and it creates an overarching family comedy saga that also works as episodic incidents. Ramy does a magnificent job of tackling misconceptions and stereotypes about Muslims, while framing each story in a way that shows how everyone, no matter what religion, race, sexuality, gender, etc., deals with the same struggles of identity, family, and culture. Hulu renewed Ramy for another season, so catch up by watching the first 10 episodes before the second season premieres. Stream Ramy HERE.

Castle Rock

Castle Rock is a Stephen King anthology series. All the events take place in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine, and follow themes or characters from Stephen King's books.

Fans of King's books will immediately identify all the Easter eggs hidden throughout the series, like Castle Rock Season 2 following one of his most infamous characters, Annie Wilkes who Kathy Bates made famous in Misery, and Lizzy Caplan plays in this Hulu show. Castle Rock features very talented actors in both seasons, including Pennywise himself, Bill Skarsgard, Moonlight's Andre Holland, Carrie herself Sissy Spacek, and Tim Robbins. Bring a little horror to your weekend by watching both seasons of Castle Rock. Stream Castle Rock HERE.

Atlanta

FX's original series Atlanta follows rising rapper Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry), his cousin and manager Earn (Donald Glover), their friend Darius (Lakeith Stanfield), and Earn's sometimes girlfriend Vanessa (Zazie Beetz). Atlanta is a dark comedy that addresses the struggle of trying to make it in the Atlanta music scene, and the Hulu show also deals with issues of gun violence, internet trolls, race inequality, and poverty.

Atlanta is often hilarious in its satirical depictions of fame. "B.A.N" from season 1 and "Teddy Perkins" from season 2 are particularly noteworthy episodes for overall clever writing and social commentary. FX has already renewed Atlanta for Seasons 3 and 4, so you'll have plenty of episodes to watch as you wait for the new seasons. Stream the first two seasons of Atlanta HERE.

Rick And Morty

Rick and Morty started off as an animated parody of Back to the Future, and now it's its own beloved cult series. Rick and Morty follows eccentric scientist Rick Sanchez (Justin Roiland) and his grandson Morty Smith (Justin Roiland) as they travel across multiverses.

Rick and Morty falls in the same category as other adult animated series like Futurama, South Park, and The Simpsons, but it stands out from these series with its unique humor that takes inspiration from British sitcoms. Hulu currently has Rick and Morty's first three seasons. The fourth season is still airing on Adult Swim. Stream Rick and Morty HERE.

Killing Eve

Triple threat Phoebe Waller-Bridge was the showrunner for the first season of Killing Eve, and that helped give the series its unique blend of killer action, sharp wit, and gut-wrenching suspense. Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer co-lead this spy dramedy about a deadly assassin and the Eve (Sandra Oh) chasing her.

In Killing Eve’s two seasons, the series has received multiple award nominations, and an Emmy win for Jodie Comer and a Golden Globe win for Sandra Oh. The series takes viewers on a thrill ride as they watch the constant cat and mouse game between its two leads. Killing Eve is still a relatively new show, but the future possibilities for the series seem very exciting. Jump into the heart pumping action by streaming both seasons of Killing Eve HERE.

Firefly

Joss Whedon’s massive cult-hit, space western Firefly aired for only 14 episodes during its original run on Fox. The cancelled series became so popular that it received a resolution through a follow-up movie called Serenity. Firefly followed the renegade crew of the Serenity spaceship. Captain Mel (Nathan Fillion) led the crew of Serenity. The crew also included characters played by Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Ron Glass, and Summer Glau.

Firefly won over TV fans with its infectious fun energy, cast of characters, and Joss Whedon’s trademark style of storytelling. Firefly received a continuation film long before Kickstarter started bringing back fan favorite television, which validates the power of fan influence and Firefly’s geeky charm. All fourteen episodes of Firefly are available on Hulu, Stream Firefly HERE.

The Murder Of Laci Peterson

Ripped straight from the headlines, The Murder of Laci Peterson is a true crime documentary that follows the events that led to Laci Peterson’s disappearance and Scott Peterson becoming the number one suspect in the case, and his eventual murder conviction.

A&E originally aired this six-part documentary in 2017. The story of Laci and Scott Peterson was one of the most covered and talked about event from the early 2000s and beyond, so The Murder of Laci Peterson appeals to true crime fans and anyone fascinated by one of the defining cases of the last 20 years. Stream all six-parts of The Murder of Laci Peterson HERE.

Difficult People

Billy on the Street’s Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner star in Difficult People, a comedy that follows two best friends as they deal with the ups and downs of trying to make it in New York City. Both Julie and Billy try to break into the New York comedy scene, but they often face a series of obstacles that make success very difficult. Hulu's hilarious original comedy Difficult People lasted for three seasons until it was cancelled in 2017.

Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner are a dynamic comedic duo in Difficult People, and their response to the ridiculous incidents that New Yorkers can relate to make this comedy a must-see series. The recurring characters include Fred Armisen, John Cho, Gabourey Sidibe, and Lucy Liu. Difficult People’s guest stars include Kate McKinnon, Amy Sedaris, John Mulaney, Julianne Moore, and Amy Poehler. Stream all three seasons of Difficult People HERE.

Cloak & Dagger

Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger follows the superhero team of Tandy Bowen (Olivia Holt) aka Dagger and Tyrone Johnson (Aubrey Joseph) aka Cloak. As children, the duo experience two traumatic incidents, and it's through these events that they are bound together, but they don’t meet again until they’re teens. Tandy and Tyrone have very different backgrounds, morals, and lives, but once they connect again, they must put their differences aside to protect the world and each other.

Cloak & Dagger is the perfect Marvel series to binge after you complete Hulu’s Runaways. Cloak & Dagger tackles superhero related issues, like fighting bad guys, and modern day issues like police brutality and white privilege. Unfortunately Freeform cancelled Cloak & Dagger after Season 2. The gone-too-soon series only aired 20 episodes and all of them are available on Hulu. Stream Cloak & Dagger HERE.

Any of these great Hulu shows should keep you busy all weekend, but if you need even more options, Hulu's list of binge worthy content continues to grow.

So many TV shows are cancelled too soon. Some series never even live past one season, leaving fans hanging forever. Every Monday I share streaming recommendations, and today I'm focusing on TV shows that were cancelled after one season but still live on through streaming. Some great one-season shows -- like Freaks and Geeks -- are not even available for streaming right now. That sucks, but it could also change at any time as streamers add and subtract content each month. (Hint hint, Netflix.)

For now, here are 11 gone-but-not-forgotten TV shows you can and should stream ASAP. Since they only lasted one season, it shouldn't take you too long to binge them, but you may end up feeling sad and wistful.

Firefly

Joss Whedon's Firefly is pretty much the gold standard of They Cancelled That After ONE Season?! Fox only gave the world 14 episodes with Nathan Fillion's mac and the Serenity crew from 2002 to 2003. It was a crime against humanity that has never fully been avenged, but at least the show became enough of a cult classic that it spawned a 2005 movie, Serenity.

You can stream Firefly right now on Hulu with a subscription. If you don't have one, you can buy Season 1 for $12.99 on Amazon, or watch through iTunes, Vudu, YouTube, or Google Play.

My So-Called Life

This show had such an impact on my own so-called life, it's still hard to believe it only aired for one season. ABC gave fans 19 episodes from 1994-1995, ending on a cliffhanger, since The Powers That Be figured they'd get to return. Even though the groundbreaking teen angst show didn't last, it gave huge career boosts to Claire Danes and Jared Leto.

You can stream My So-Called Life right now for free on ABC.com, or for a small fee per-episode on iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, YouTube, and Google Play.

The Grinder 

How did this legal comedy with Fred Savage and Rob Lowe not find an audience? Fox at least gave fans a full season of 22 episodes from 2015-2016. Critics loved it, and the viewers who did watch were equally enthralled. Unfortunately, but the end of the first season it was only getting about 1.5 million viewers a week and a 0.6 rating. Alas...

You can stream The Grinder for a fee on YouTube, Amazon Prime,  iTunes, Google Play, or Vudu. It used to be on Netflix, but it's not available for U.S. users at the moment.

Bunheads 

Amy Sherman-Palladino's ballet dramedy was another surprise cancellation, and fans still talk about missing it. Bunheads actually has a 100% fresh rating from the 26 critics who posted to Rotten Tomatoes. There was a huge push for ABC Family to renew the show for Season 2. Unfortunately, the 18 episodes didn't get many viewers during their airings from 2012-2013. So that was it for the Sutton Foster and Kelly Bishop show.

You can stream Bunheads now on Freeform's site, or on Hulu with a subscription, or YouTube TV with a subscription. If none of that grabs you, go ahead and pay for episodes through Amazon Prime or iTunes.

Terra Nova 

Fox and ABC both have histories of at least being willing to try ambitious sci-fi genre fare ... and then cancelling the shows if they don't get enough viewers or they're just TOO ambitious. Apparently that was a problem for Fox's Terra Nova, which was reportedly very expensive to make. According to ScreenRant, the pilot cost more than $10 million to film, with future episodes budgeted around $4 million. That's a lot. And so even though it had a fairly healthy audience, the 13 episodes that aired in 2011 ended up closing the futuristic sci-fi story.

Terra Nova isn't available on Netflix at the moment, but you can watch the whole thing for $10 on Amazon, iTunes, or Vudu.

Everything Sucks! 

Fans were shouting the title when Netflix cancelled this comedy after one season in 2018. Ten half-hour episodes dropped in mid-February and by April of 2018 Netflix had already decided that would be enough. It was certainly a quick cancellation and fans were not happy about it. Since then, Everything Sucks! has become another cult favorite and every so often you still see people tweeting to Netflix about it.

Stream Everything Sucks! on Netflix.

FlashForward 

ABC has earned a reputation for yanking genre shows off the air before the mysteries get solved. That's part of why I'm worried about getting too invested in Emergence. But at least fans got 22 episodes of FlashForward from 2009-2010, starring the amazing cast of Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, Sonya Walger, Courtney B. Vance, Peyton List, Jack Davenport, Christine Woods, and Dominic Monaghan. I loved the premise of the show, a global flashforward where everyone sees into their own futures, and with multiple Lost alumni on board it should've been a slam dunk.

Stream FlashForward right now on ABC.com, or for pay at Amazon Prime, iTunes, YouTube, Vudu, or Google Play.

Awake 

Sadly, there's a reason why those laugh-track comedies can get endless seasons and high concept shows keep getting cancelled early -- complex shows like Jason Isaacs' Awake require close attention and consistent viewing. You really have to use your noggin, and you can't follow along while doing the dishes in the other room. Viewership and ratings for the alternate reality show dropped across the 13 episodes NBC gave us in 2012. Awake's pilot episode had an early release on Hulu, but strangely enough the show is not available on Hulu at the moment.

You can stream all of Awake Season 1 for $10 on Amazon, or $2 an episode on YouTube.

The Passage 

This loss is still fresh for me. The Passage was always an ambitious show to tackle, since it was an apocalyptic sci-fi drama based on the trilogy of novels by Justin Cronin. The story was dark and complex, but at the heart was the sweet father-daughter chemistry between Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Brad Wolgast and Saniyya Sidney as Amy Bellafonte. Unfortunately, Fox cancelled the show after one 10-episode season in 2019, even though there was a lot more story to tell. It marked a repeat of what Fox did for Gosselaar's 2016 show Pitch.

Stream The Passage free on Fox Now, or for pay on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, or Vudu.

Moonlight 

I'm still surprised that Moonlight was cancelled after one season, since it seemed to pull decent numbers for CBS. Only 16 episodes aired from 2007 to 2008, but that was enough to get fans hooked on the supernatural show, following vampire P.I. Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin), his ex-wife Coraline (Shannyn Sossamon), new love interest Beth Turner (Sophia Myles), and buddy Josef Kostan (Jason Dohring). OK, critics never liked the show, but it seemed like a hit with fans. I think if it aired today it would be successful, but maybe it was just ahead of its fandom.

Stream Moonlight for $2 an episode or $15 for all of Season 1 on Amazon Prime. You can also find the show at iTunes and Vudu.

Rubicon 

The conspiracy theories and intellectual puzzle of Rubicon may have been too much for viewers. AMC only aired 13 episodes of the show across the summer of 2010. Maybe it was bad timing, maybe it was just too highbrow. Either way, the James Badge Dale series left us too soon.

Stream Rubicon on AMC or free with a YouTube TV subscription.

If you're looking for more streaming recommendations, check out these past features:

• 5 Excellent Keanu Reeves Roles Worth Streaming On Netflix And Amazon

• 5 Sci-Fi TV Shows To Watch On Netflix: Our Streaming Recommendations

• 5 Documentary Series To Watch On Netflix: Our Streaming Recommendations

• 5 British TV Comedies On Netflix You Should Bloody Well Watch: Our Streaming Recommendations

• 3%, Occupied, Harlots, and Other Streaming Recommendations

• 5 Robert Downey Jr. Movies To Love 3000 On Netflix

• 5 Chris Evans Movies Worth Streaming On Netflix And Amazon

• 5 Ryan Reynolds Roles Worth Streaming On Netflix And Amazon

• 5 Will Smith Movies Worth Streaming Right Now On Netflix And Beyond

• 5 Refreshingly Non-Toxic Reality TV Shows Worth Streaming On Netflix

• 5 Joaquin Phoenix Movies Worth Streaming On Netflix And Amazon Ahead Of Joker

• 5 Stripper Movies Worth Streaming In Honor Of Jennifer Lopez's Hustlers

• The 5 Best Space Movies To Stream In Honor Of Brad Pitt's Ad Astra

• 11 Unbelievable True Crime Series Worth Streaming On Netflix

• 8 Movies With 100 Percent Ratings Worth Streaming Before Netflix's The Irishman

• 7 Paul Rudd Movies Worth Streaming On Netflix Before Living With Yourself

• 8 Movies With Twist Endings Worth Streaming On Netflix After Fractured

What other TV shows cancelled after one season have you been streaming? Let me know if Freaks and Geeks ever becomes available again.

Even though Firefly only lasted for one (truncated) season on Fox in 2002 due to low ratings, the sci-fi series certainly had a dedicated following who have been clamoring for a return to the Joss Whedon show ever since it was cancelled. And, it's rare that a year goes by without one of the stars of the show giving fans a nod to the characters on social media, allude to a possible revival, work together on something else or just meetup in real life and drive everyone crazy.

As you might imagine, the cast (which included Nathon Filiion, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Ron Glass, Summer Glau, Jewel Staite, Adam Baldwin and Sean Maher) gets asked about Firefly a lot, with the topic of whether or not they'd want to do a revival, what they'd want to explore with their characters now and much more being broached quite frequently.

Well, Morena Baccarin, who played intergalactic companion (i.e. geisha / mistress) Inara, was asked just these questions recently, and she's definitely got some thoughts on what she'd like to have happen for her character and whether or not it would even be a good idea to go back to the Firefly well at all.

I'd say that this is a pretty good answer. I mean, if you played a character who was a good person, but had some problems being happy, you'd want them to be able to finally find some joy, right? And, Baccarin's Inara was a good person. Her position as a companion actually gave her a very high social standing, and her presence on the ship that Mal (Nathan Fillion) captained gave them a lot of legitimacy, even though their activities were often less-than-above-board.

Inara was compassionate, dignified and civil, but her feelings for Mal (which were very very mutual) never really came to anything, as they figured it was best to stay professional. Of course, had the show gone on for Whedon's planned seven seasons, that probably would have changed at some point.

As far as going back to Inara and Firefly now goes, Morena Baccarin is understandably a little bit hesitant. Being "open but scared" makes a lot of sense when you consider two things. First of all, it's going on 20 years since they originally worked on the show, and as Baccarin noted the group "mojo" might not be able to be revived. Secondly, as I mentioned earlier, fans have wanted this show back since it got cancelled, and that's a lot of audience expectation to try and live up to at any point.

Speaking of fan expectations, the only reason there would be any on a Firefly revival is that folks simply have never forgotten this show or stopped dreaming of what could have been had it not been cut down in its prime. When Morena Baccarin was asked by the AV Club what it's like to have been a part of a project that people still hold dear after so long, she revealed just how surprising it's been:

I can imagine that Baccarin speaks for a lot of the cast, many of whom have gone on to do other things with large fanbases, when she says how amazing and unexpected it's been to have a cancelled show last in people's minds for as long as Firefly has. Most actors never get to have an experience like that, so it's good that it's really made a positive impact on her life and career.

As you probably realize by now, there are no plans for Firefly to come back to TV, especially since Joss Whedon isn't too keen on television reboots, but you can watch much of the cast in a host of other small screen projects. You can keep up with everything coming to TV soon with our fall premiere guide.

One of the reasons Batman is still popular 80 years after his introduction is because of his colorful lineup of villains. Many of his iconic adversaries have been depicted on film, but the Batman movies have usually stuck to only featuring between one-three of these baddies per project.

Evidently that won’t be the case with The Batman, as director and writer Matt Reeves has not only said that the movies will feature a "rogues galley," but it’s also been reported that as many as six villains could show up. Thanks to The Hollywood Reporter, GWW and Discussing Film, we now know who these six villains might be.

Keep in mind that none of this information has been officially confirmed. It’s possible that The Batman will trim down the number of villains, or it might even be the case that even more antagonists could will show up to trouble the Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader. Either way, the following candidates definitely make for a solid lineup of foes.

Penguin

It’s been a long time since we last saw Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin, depicted in a live action movie, with Danny DeVito bringing the character to life in 1992’s Batman Returns. However, apparently the DC film franchise has been wanting to bring him in for some time, with The Batman and Birds of Prey both having its eyes on him. Birds of Prey ended up using Roman Sionis, a.k.a. Black Mask (played by Ewan McGregor), as its main antagonist.

We have yet to learn if Penguin will be the The Batman’s main villain or a supporting baddie. However, to differentiate this version of the character from the DeVito version, it would be interesting to see him as the owner of the Iceberg Lounge and using the nightclub as a cover for his illicit activities.

Catwoman

We last saw Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman, on the big screen in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. In keeping with the modern depictions of the character, Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman wasn’t a villain, but more an anti-hero-turned-ally. All that’s been said so far about The Batman’s Catwoman is like most of her other incarnations, she’s a burglar, so expect to see her stealing diamonds and other valuables.

Catwoman is also well-known for being Batman’s most consistent love interest, which both Batman Returns and The Dark Knight Rises explored. Perhaps The Batman followed suit, although if she ends up teaming up with Penguin or one of the other villains, needless to say that would complicate any romantic venture between the two.

Riddler

Just like with Penguin, it’s been a long time since we last saw The Riddler in a live action movie, and Jim Carrey’s version of Edward Nygma was an extremely comical take on the character. That may have worked for Batman Forever, but The Riddler has been depicted as a more serious villain in recent decades. With The Batman being a noir tale, a darker Riddler is surely called for.

Since The Batman will highlight Bruce Wayne’s detective skills, The Riddler would work excellently as the main villain since his whole gimmick is leaving riddles and puzzles behind for the Dark Knight and the GCPD to solve. So yes, we’ll see Batman using his fists against criminals, but Riddler can function chiefly as a compelling cerebral threat.

Firefly

Now we come to a Batman villain who hasn’t appeared in a live action movie yet. The original Firefly, real name Garfield Lynns, was originally depicted as a villain who utilized lighting effects during his crimes, but ever since the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot, he’s been presented as a professional arsonist who sets fires not just while committing crimes, but also because he has an obsession with flames.

The TV series Gotham featured a female take on Firefly named Bridgit Pike, but it looks like The Batman will be going with the traditional Garfield Lynns version. As visually interesting as Firefly is, he’s not really main antagonist material, so in The Batman, I’d expect him to either be working for one of the other enemies or be operating on his own as a side threat that Batman quickly takes down.

Two-Face

Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face in Batman Forever felt like a Joker ripoff, and while Aaron Eckhardt’s turn as Harvey Dent is one of the more underrated elements of The Dark Knight, he didn’t get to be Two-Face for that long, and that version of the character never screamed ‘super villain.’ The Batman offers the opportunity to give audiences a Two-Face that’s all in on the two/duality gimmick, but also more serious and tragic.

The thing that separates Two-Face from most other Batman villains is that because he relies on his coin for making all important decisions, depending on what side it lands on, he has the capacity to do good, or at least make a decision that benefits Batman or another good guy rather than his own self interest. So while you can expect The Batman’s Two-Face to be a crime boss, it could be intriguing for the movie to present a scenario where thanks to pure chance, the scarred Harvey Dent ends up having to help Batman.

Mad Hatter

Here we have the other Batman villain who hasn’t graced the silver screen yet. Jervis Tetch, a.k.a. The Mad Hatter, is a brilliant scientist who uses technology to mind control people, often times inserting special devices in headware to ensure his victims will obey his every command. Because he so enamored with Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, he also frequently has his goons dress up as other characters from the novel.

Whether or not Mad Hatter’s look is toned down for The Batman, the idea of mind control being thrown into the mix adds a level of terror we haven’t seen in a Batman movie. All these other villains are capable of frightening the citizens of Gotham City, but having one of them force people to unwillingly do their dirty work presents a unique challenge for the masked Bruce Wayne.

The Batman casts its shadow in theaters on June 25, 2021, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on its development, including which villains will definitely appear. For now, you can look through our DC movies guide to learn what else this franchise has in the works.

DC Comics' upcoming streaming service is stacking the superhero decks for its original series, including Doom Patrol. Unlike Titans, Doom Patrol has not yet received a premiere date, but there are still plenty of reasons to get excited. In case you need one more, then you should be happy to learn that Alan Tudyk of Firefly and Rogue One fame has signed on to play the series villain, Mr. Nobody.

In case you're not familiar with Mr. Nobody, don't worry. He's not exactly Lex Luthor or The Joker or one of DC Comics' other most impactful bad guys. That said, he could be the ideal villain to motivate any reluctant heroes in Doom Patrol to fight the good fight. In Doom Patrol, Mr. Nobody was originally known as a man named Eric Morden, but he lost the man he was before after experimentation by ex-Nazis in Paraguay after a war. The experiments are unknown, so it would make sense if nobody was able to find a cure to restore him to his previous state.

Eric Morden becomes Mr. Nobody, who Deadline describes as "a living shadow" capable of draining the sanity of the people around him. Given that he's totally insane himself, Mr. Nobody could be a very formidable foe. If the good guys can't get too close without risking their own sanity and they're dealing with a madman, they may not be able to predict what he plans to do. Since Doom Patrol will be one of DC Universe's live-action shows rather than animated like Young Justice: Outsiders, we can probably expect Alan Tudyk won't particularly resemble the comic version of Mr. Nobody unless significant special effects are in play. Take a look at the Mr. Nobody of DC Comics:

If Doom Patrol does choose to present Alan Tudyk's Mr. Nobody as physically similar to the comics version, he may find himself back in a specially-designed suit, much as he was for his role in Rogue One. If that's the case, we can only hope that he doesn't suffer any burns like he did on the set of the first Star Wars anthology movie!

Interestingly, Doom Patrol is the second DC Comics-based series Alan Tudyk joined in the last couple of years. He had a major role in the enjoyable but short-lived NBC comedy Powerless. Perhaps Doom Patrol will be more of a hit with viewers. Ratings likely won't matter on DC Universe the same way they did on NBC, and Doom Patrol will have ties to at least Titans. Considering Titans is being presented as DC Universe's flagship original series, any connections to that project will undoubtedly be helpful.

Alan Tudyk joins a Doom Patrol cast comprised of Brendan Fraser as Robotman, Joivan Wade as Cyborg, April Bowlby as Elasti-Woman, and Diane Guerrero as Crazy Jane. The heroes are called into action by Cyborg, who is a new kind of hero suited for the new digital age. Rejected by society due to their powers, they'll band together to venture into some of the most bizarre aspects of the DC world and clearly battle some oddball bad guys.

DC Universe will launch way sooner than we expected, although no date for a Doom Patrol premiere has been revealed at this point. For some superhero viewing options in the not-too-distant future, check out our fall TV guide.

Warning: minor SPOILERS for Ready Player One are ahead!

While the majority of Ready Player One's pop culture references are 1980s-related, there are a few other decades also being in the Steven Spielberg-directed movie. The Iron Giant and Jurassic Park's T-rex are among the 1990s elements, and the 2000s are also getting a little love. For instance, some of you might have noticed the Spartans from Halo running around in a preview or two, but as we're less than 24 hours way from Ready Player One opening wide, one particularly cool Firefly cameo has been spotted in a TV commercial. If you pay attention to the gif below, you'll see that the ship swooping by is a Firefly-class transport ship that hails from the cult TV series.

As most of you reading already know, the majority of Ready Player One's action takes place within the OASIS, the virtual world where many folks in 2044 spend their time due to the real world being so depressing. Once inside the OASIS, the possibilities are endless, and this includes establishing a zero-gravity night club. Numerous space ships are traveling to The Distracted Globe, but one eagle-eyed Redditor noticed that the ship that flies by the giant words in this Ready Player One TV spot is the same kind of ship (as seen below) that Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his crew rode around in during Firefly, although we can't say for sure if it's the Serenity.

Firefly only lasted one season on Fox, but it didn't take long for the TV series to become a sci-fi favorite, Three years after they were taken off their air, the Firefly characters returned for the theatrically-released Serenity, and the franchise has continued through comics and novels. Now we know that Firefly will receive some representation in Ready Player One, even if it is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment. But hey, that's how most of the movie's pop culture references are sprinkled in.

Other notable space ships that appear in this Ready Player One TV spot include an X-Wing and Lambda-class Imperial shuttle from the Star Wars movies, as well as a Colonial viper from Battlestar Galactica. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of vehicles, characters and other elements from beloved movies, TV shows and video games that are being incorporated into Ready Player One. It's a lot to take in, and needless to say that when the movie arrives on home media, it will be worth going through frame by frame to spot as many Easter eggs as possible.

Ready Player One opens wide to the public tomorrow, March 29, with preview screenings kicking off tonight. Don't forget to read CinemaBlend's review of the movie, and check out our 2018 release schedule to learn what other major motion pictures are on the way.

Few TV shows have spawned fans quite as rabid as Firefly has, wth part of its popularity tied into its "Cancelled Too Soon" status. Star Nathan Fillion has gone on to bigger (and sometimes nonexistent) roles and brighter pastures, but nothing will stop people from clamoring for more Firefly. So it's pretty exciting, then, that Fillion will somehow return to the role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds for an upcoming guest role on the ABC comedy American Housewife. But how is it going to happen?

ABC took to social media to promote American Housewife's newest, and arguably its most intergalactically badass, guest star, and that post got Firefly fans scratching their heads. Because it doesn't introduce Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal, and nor does it reference Firefly in any way. Instead, it states that this two-episode cameo will see Fillion playing himself. Which does thankfully mean American Housewife won't need to spend an entire episode explaining how humanity conquered space travel. Check out the post below.

Doesn't look like stars Katy Mixon and Meg Donnelly are too uncomfortable while snuggling up against one of the greatest space bandits to ever wield a blaster. But why is Fillion in his Captain Mal garb, and what are all those doohickeys behind them?

It would appear that the actors are all onboard the Serenity, which adds even more mystery to this guest spot. Nathan Fillion loves to tease a Firefly reunion, so will there be a faux show revival within the American Housewife universe? And will at least one episode be filming somewhere near Westport, necessitating Katie and/or Taylor's involvement on the set? Or will this be one of the more elaborately staged costume parties in sitcom history? However it goes, hopefully we'll get to see some crazy moment that never happened on Firefly itself

For anyone skeptical that Nathan Fillion is actually wearing his Firefly costume, the actor also took to social media to tease his new/old role, using a few key hashtags.

Since that fairly mind-boggling Castle debacle (in which co-star Stana Katic was fired ahead of the drama's outright cancellation), Nathan Fillion has filled his schedule with a slew of various gigs. He's been on Modern Family, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Rick and Morty, Santa Clarita Diet and the film Cars 3. And TV fans will soon see him in A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 2, and hopefully on his new ABC project, The Rookie, which is currently in the pilot stages. But could this be his best role yet after Firefly itself? We shall see.

We're not yet sure when Nathan Fillion will take the Serenity over to American Housewife, but it's coming soon, so stay tuned every Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. ET. And while you're waiting, head to our midseason premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are on the way.

Firefly fans have begged for more content ever since the canceled show's follow up film Serenity, and now they're finally getting their wish. No, there aren't new episodes of the series on the way, but the franchise's universe is officially expanding once again thanks to a collaboration between Titan Books and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products. Beginning this fall, Firefly fans will get to experience new adventures of the show in the form of novels that will continue the story of Captain Malcolm Reynolds and the Serenity crew.

What makes these Firefly books so awesome for fans is that the novels will exist as canon in the franchise universe. Additionally, series creator Joss Whedon will serve as a consulting editor for the series of novels, which as previously noted, will arrive in bookstores at the tail end of 2018. The first book, Firefly: Big Damn Hero will launch in October 2018 and feature Captain Malcolm Reynolds in a sticky situation as he's captured by a gang of embittered Browncoats. The novel will be written by Nancy Holder, who Whedon fans may know as the author behind a lot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer novels.

After the first book's release, Titan Books has two more novels already on the slate for 2019. Firefly: The Magnificent Nine will release in March of 2019, and is written by James Lovegrove.The story will focus on Jayne receiving a distress call from his ex Temperance McCloud, which leads to danger on a desert moon. Firefly: Generations is due out in October 2019 and is written by Tim Lebbon. In that adventure, the Serenity crew discovers one of the legendary arks that brought humans to the 'Verse. The discovery of the ark brings massive salvage potential, but the cost of doing so might be too high as the Titan Books press release teased River Tam knows what's at stake. All three books are to have a hardcover release, with a paperback release to follow down the line.

No details have been released as to where exactly these new adventures will fall in the Firefly canon, which is largely based on the short-lived television series created by Joss Whedon in 2002. New books aren't as exciting as new episodes, but with members of the cast like Nathan Fillion tied down in new shows and Joss Whedon a prominent figure in major film franchises, fans shouldn't get their hopes up that a televised continuation of the series is happening anytime soon. If that revival ever does happen, at least fans can purchase these books knowing they'll be acknowledged by any Firefly series that follows!

Firefly is currently available to stream on Hulu. For a look at upcoming television coming in 2018, head on over to our midseason premiere guide. For some conversation about another good sci-fi series on streaming, Netflix's Altered Carbon, check out the latest episode of The Cord Cutter Podcast.

It's that time of year when we are all busy visiting family, attending holiday functions and, of course, shelling out an exceptional amount of money to show our friends and family just how much we love them. Here at CinemaBlend, we won't tell you what sweater to buy your uncle, what watch would best suit your partner, or what heartwarming gift will bring tears to your mother's eyes. However, we're pretty confident that when it comes to recommending home entertainment sets, we've seen all the good stuff this year, and as such, we're happy to share our (super-opinionated and kind of nerdy) knowledge.

This year there were some big new entries and some rereleases in the home entertainment department. These aren't the type of Blu-ray, DVD and Digital releases that make your average stocking stuffer, but they please those movie and TV lovers who are collector's at heart. In addition, if you'd like to take a look at what we recommended last year, head here.

Firefly: 15th Anniversary Collector's Edition

There are a lot of products out there for avid Firefly fans, including book sets, key chains and tons of similar memorabilia. While it's difficult to believe it, Firefly turned 15 this year (or alternatively got cancelled 15 years ago, depending on how you want to look at it). To commemorate the release, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has given the show the due it really deserves with the Firefly: 15th Anniversary Collector's Edition, which come with a slew of fun extras, collectible packaging and even a quote on the back that reads, 'Find a Crew. Find a job. Keep flying. Fans of the previous 2008 Blu-ray won't have new extras on the disks, but there is a map of the United Alliance of Planets and some fun trading cards. It's the perfect starter set for anyone looking to meet Captain Mal and the rest of the gang. Order your own copy of the set.

Who This Set Is Perfect For: Browncoats, Browncoats, Browncoats. Oh, and maybe the occasional Castle fan.

Transformers: 5-Movie Collection

Paramount's Transformer movies have certainly gone through a lot of changes over time. We've seen casting changes with the humans in the movies and new characters introduced. There have been some intriguing storylines dangled in front of us, as well. If you've ever wanted to see the movies in continuity or watch the flicks over and over again, you can do so with the 5-movie collection, which includes Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Transformers: Age of Extinction and the most recent entry Transformers: The Last Knight. The movie is basically a repacking of the flicks, and The Last Knight comes with its own bonus disc, but it's certainly a handy way to keep the Transformers movies on-hand. Order your own copy of the set; this one's a stocking stuffer!

Who This Set Is Perfect For: People who are pumped for the Bumblebee spinoff, all your kids, those who want to relive some of the top big budget Michael Bay moments.

Dirty Dancing 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition

One of the truest gift sets this year, the Lionsgate Dirty Dancing 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition is a beautiful set. The packaging is sturdy and opens up to a shot of Baby dancing with Johnny. If you open the set even further you'll find your very own room key for Kellerman's, a slew of dance cards that will teach you the salsa, etc., and even a script for the movie. The Blu-ray is hidden underneath all that fun stuff. Once you "unlock" the key so to speak, there are even more hidden gems, including a satchel, a Do Not Disturb sign and some faux postcards. None of this is practical, of course, but it's still very enchanting. Quotes even adorn the back of the box. If the set has a con, it's going to take up a lot of space on the shelf, but given no restrictions, this set for superfans is a must-buy. Order your own copy of this beaut.

Who This Set Is Perfect For: Anyone who has ever attempted this dance lift, anyone who can quote at least one Dirty Dancing line--and if you don't know "Nobody puts Baby in a corner," we'd be shocked. Anyone in love with this era of eighties movies and Jennifer Grey.

The Strain: The Complete Series

The Strain was always seen as a limited event series, and executive producer Carlton Cuse once stated the FX show was designed to play out across five seasons. It didn't quite get that far, and FX ultimately decided to wrap up the show at the end of Season 4, after being given shortened episode counts that "supercharged" the series. This new collection is coming along with The Strain: The Complete Fourth Season DVD and Blu-ray releases on December 12. So, if you've always been a fan of this well-liked series, this set is certainly time to buy. New bonus features with the fourth season include traditional stuff like a gag reel and deleted scenes. However, 11 featurettes are also included that will give you a look at "The Baby Factor" (their words, not ours) and will even delve into the finale and how the show chose to wrap things up. Don't strain yourself too hard looking for this set; you can find it right here.

Who This Set is Perfect For: Here at CinemaBlend, we have a lot of The Strain superfans. This set is for you, Strain superfans. May the show with one of the grossest promotional posters ever live on through this boxed set.

DC Universe Original Movies: 10th Anniversary Collection

This limited edition set is individually numbered and first hit shelves just a few weeks ago. It's sort of like the comprehensive Bond 50 set that came out a few years ago, although with very different subject matter, and includes 30 animated films and an additional 5 animated shorts. It also has a slew of Comic-Con footage from years past (including a 2017 panel), a full documentary, Mark Hamill footage and plenty of other bonus features on an extra disc. That's just the base facts of this set, though. The fact is, it features well over 30 hours of movies, and is arguably a better box set than anything DC has released in years. If you've been keeping tabs on DC's animation at all, the track record for quality is insane, and the set consolidated a lot of meaty material in one package. I could even gush on and on about the book-like packaging for each of the Blu-rays and the 3-collector coins hidden underneath. (I won't be I definitely could) Oh, and there are coloring pages, because people who like DC also like coloring, OK? The 10th Anniversary Collection doesn't come cheap, but it's also comprehensive. Check it out.

Who This Set Is Perfect For: DC Fans, of course. Specifically, those already up on the R and PG-13 animated projects DC has been putting out. This set is topnotch. It's a pretty damn good holiday gift.

Samurai Jack: The Complete Series

One of the few big box office sets this holiday season that also comes with a Digital copy of the series, Adult Swim and Cartoon Network's comprehensive Samurai Jack: The Complete Series set comes with all five seasons of the series, a feat made possible despite the fact the show took a hiatus of nearly 15 years and switched to Adult Swim upon its return. Previous releases of the early seasons of Samurai Jack have also been DVD offerings, making this High Definition release more enticing. If that's not enough, there's new cover art for each season, and the set comes with cool original metal plate artwork. Here's how you can nab a copy.

Who This Set Is Perfect For: Avid Adult Swim watchers, anyone excited for Samurai Jack's big return earlier this year, anyone who gets suckered in by some cool artwork, etc.

The Godfather Trilogy: Omerta Edition

Another limited edition set with a shiny gold number on the front, Paramount's latest release of The Godfather Trilogy. The trilogy of movies have been previously released with the same in-depth special features, but similar to some of the other gift sets in this holiday gift guide, it's some of the exclusive fun new collectibles that make this set so shiny. Well, that and the beautiful gold typeface that will make this set look good on any shelf. As for the collectibles, there's new magnetic poetry, an "Anatomy of a Scene foldout," and even fun new trivia cards that should make a holiday get-together a bit more amusing. Character cards with quotes are also included.

Who This Set is Perfect For: Anyone who has ever quoted The Godfather to you and doesn't yet own The Godfather trilogy, anyone who is enticed by gifts with shiny gold font.

The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Series

Warner Bros.' The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Series has been a long time coming. The long-running CW series made it through eight seasons of a changing cast, which later included a spinoff in The Originals and characters who grew and changed a lot through the show's run. Julie Plec built a fanbase through characters like Stefan, Elena, Damon, Klaus and more. Although the set in question is basically a repacking of all eight seasons of the popular supernatural series, the complete series set makes for an incredible fun re-watch, illuminating exactly how much changed as time went on in the show. It might make you feel a little old, but in a good way. Conjure up your own copy of the full series on Blu-ray and DVD.

Who This Set Is Perfect For: Those who love to binge-watch, anyone who capably knows what Stelena, Delena, Steroline, and Janna means.

The Amazing Spider-Man Limited Edition Collection

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is all about the famous wall crawler this season. Earlier this fall, the studio released the 4K edition of the Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone-led series. If 4K isn't enough to entice you to buy in, the set also comes with Blu-ray and Digital copies, 15 featurettes Sony describes as "rare," nearly 10 hours of special features, and a full color, image-filled booklet that really goes into the behind-the-scenes of the making of the two films. It's a nice set, even without the 4K. And if that's not your cup of tea, Sam Raimi's trilogy of movies is also available in 4K with the similar Spider-Man Limited Edition Collection. It's not too pricey to own, either.

Who This Set Is Perfect For: Spidey completists, anyone still 'shipping Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield, and 4K fanatics who love a pristine picture on your TV screen.

Not many shows gain more popularity in the years after their cancellation, but the short-lived Firefly is an exception to the rule. It lasted only a single season on Fox before it got the axe due to low ratings, but the fanbase refused to give up on the series. A movie and even comic series were produced after the initial cancellation, and fans still hold out hope for a revival. Well, we haven't gotten a revival, but stars Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion have worked together on another project. Con Man tells the story of an actor (Tudyk) whose claim to fame is a short-lived sci-fi show, while his co-star (Fillion) went on to establish a successful movie star career. Tudyk revealed how Con Man was a blast from the past, saying this:

In Firefly, Nathan Fillion starred as Mal Reynolds, who was captain of the spaceship Serentiy. Alan Tudyk played Wash, who functioned as the pilot of the ship. Mal and Wash had a fun dynamic -- although there was tension from time to time -- that made for some great scenes in the series. Tudyk's comments to Gold Derby indicate that playing captain and pilot once again for Con Man was a seriously good time, and it's exactly the kind of thing that fans love. If we're not going to get the actors back together for another movie or batch of episodes, Con Man does the trick.

Of course, even if there is someday a Firefly revival, we won't get Mal and Wash back together without either ignoring the events of the Serenity movie or setting it chronologically before Serenity went down. It's not out of the realm of possibility if the stars somehow align, as there is precedent for projects using do-overs and timeline shenanigans for revivals. The upcoming Roseanne and Will and Grace revivals will both pretend the series finales never happened, and the Wet Hot American Summer on Netflix just went ahead and used the original cast (now mostly middle-aged) for a prequel series. Fans are often willing to fudge the details if it means recapturing magic, and I'd say that Firefly devotees would be on board for just about anything that brought the cast back together.

We'll have to wait and see if a revival ever happens. In the meantime, we can only hope that Con Man has a long future ahead of it. Alan Tudyk just scored an Emmy nomination for the series, so the critical acclaim is clearly present. Who knows? Maybe he'll be able to reunite more members of the Firefly team in the next batch of episodes. Only time will tell. For what you can watch in the not-too-distant future, take a look at our fall TV premiere schedule. If you're in the mood for a Firefly rewatch, you'll have to look elsewhere than Netflix. Hulu has the whole series streaming, so you can check it out there.

Nathan Fillion is up to something, but won't explicitly say he's plotting a Firefly reunion. That must be super frustrating for fans as Fillion can't stop and won't stop posting pictures with members of the cast. On the heels of our last report, in which Fillion was pictured with Alan Tudyk and Morena Baccarin, comes another picture that has us very curious what these guys have been up to. Take a look:

The picture above (via Facebook) is just one of many Firefly reunions that Nathan Fillion has been sharing. Fillion and co-star Alan Tudyk spent a few days cruising around on a boat, and at some point found time to hang with Morena Baccarin. It could be that this was just three friends who happened to work together on Firefly who wanted to spend a fun couple days out together, but Fillion seems to be dropping some major hints the three could've met to discuss a potential Firefly reunion.

Let's start with the fact that Alan Tudyk, who played the pilot Wash in Firefly, is driving the boat while Fillion does his best captain's pose. Considering that photo credit Nathan Fillion gives belongs to Tudyk's wife Charissa Barton, it's not all that unusual that a man is driving a boat he owns, but then that caption teasing the reference to the show really gives it away. Let's hope things didn't get too nostalgic, and someone decided to launch a harpoon! Has enough time passed to make that joke? Considering how many fans are constantly begging for this show to have a reboot of some kind, it may still be too soon.

Alan Tudyk actually shared with CinemaBlend not that long ago that Nathan Fillion has an idea for how to bring back Firefly, and it sounded pretty rad. Is it possible that idea may have developed into something more in the little over half a year since we've heard anything? If so, what could be in the works that involves Tudyk? Perhaps Fillion is hitting him up for a producer role, or we're all just too hopeful that Firefly is going to return sooner or later.

Unfortunately, Firefly has been ripped from Netflix recently, so those who thought they were going to hop on there tonight for a binge watch after reading this news will have to look elsewhere. While there's nothing new from Firefly coming out in the next couple months, there is a lot of great summer programming new and returning that folks should be tuning in to watch. Take a look at the summer premiere guide to find a new favorite and keep those fingers crossed that someday one of Joss Whedon's amazing shows will make a comeback.