Audiences were graced by some spectacular science fiction shows this past decade, including Stranger Things, Westworld, and Black Mirror. Unfortunately, many other shows that debuted in the genre after 2010 turned out to be total failures. What should be a class of television series based on innovation and imaginative potential has been, unfortunately, clogged up by too many derivative shows attempting to profit off the success of superhero storylines or previously groundbreaking works.
The nostalgia factor, it turns out, wasn’t enough to save these terrible shows. While some of them survived multiple seasons, and while a few are still airing new episodes, they’ve all received poor critical reviews and struggle to stand on their own as unique science fiction series. Hold your nose. The titles below, according to IMDb, really stink!
Batwoman (2019): 3.3/10
Batwoman premiered on the CW in October. Starring Ruby Rose in the eponymous role, the show has received a lot of criticism for its underwhelming initial tone. Set in the DC Arrorverse, Kate Kane is an out and proud lesbian who decides to fill the gap left by the disappearance of her cousin, Bruce Wayne.
Kane becomes Batwoman in an effort to protect Gotham from the gangs and criminals tearing it apart. This first season, though, doesn’t live up to the potential of the comic book character or the universe created for it. Critics hope the next season will show signs of improvement.
Inhumans (2017): 5.0/10
Another comic book adaptation, the Inhumans first appeared in a Fantastic Four comic from 1965. In 2015, Inhumans debuted in IMAX theatres, and then the series premiered on ABC two weeks later. These Marvel characters were brought to life in eight episodes, but critics were not impressed by what they saw.
ABC canceled the show after the first season. Compared to the rest of the MCU (Marvel Comic Universe), Inhumans lacked any compelling narratives or characters. The show’s writers relied too heavily on melodrama as a device, miring the series with unnecessary theatricality.
Teen Titans Go! (2013): 5.1/10
For kids and teens tuning into Cartoon Network, Teen Titans Go! is an animated favorite. For critics and older generations hoping to revisit the Teen Titan DC characters from their childhoods, the show is a failure. Either way, Teen Titans Go! is an insanely popular show on the air for five full seasons. For those who want more, a sixth season is in the works.
The show has been received with a mixed bag of emotions because while it offers some humor and snazzy animation sequences, there is nothing substantial or standout about this revamp.
The Mist (2017): 5.4/10
Apparently out of original ideas, science fiction television show creators spent much of the past decade attempting to remake older films or stories, and many of these efforts were complete failures. A case in point is The Mist.
Adapted from the horror novella by Stephen King, already made into a 2007 film, the show aired made it 10 episodes before it was canceled by its network, Spike. While some critics claim the show is far too pessimistic and dark for wider audiences, others claim the solid special effects can’t save the series from stiff acting performances.
The Twilight Zone (2019): 5.8/10
When Jordan Peele blew horror fans away with his genre master Get Out, and then garnered critical acclaim with Us, the stakes were high for his television revamp of the famous The Twilight Zone series, created by Rod Sterling. Unfortunately, the anthology series does not live up to its hype.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, Peele relies on tried and true plot points, flashy action, and inconsistent acting. The suggestive storytelling and impactful interactions that made the original such a cult classic are tossed aside in this remake. Even though it will return in 2020, expectations have been lowered considerably.
Nightflyers (2018): 5.9/10
Nightflyers is based on a series of writings by George R. R. Martin of Game of Thrones fame. The first season aired on Syfy in 2018, and then got a Netflix release the next February. Shortly afterward, Syfy announced they decided to cancel the series after the first season.
The show follows a group of scientists on board the space shift Nightflyer attempting to find alien lifeforms in the year 2093. Sullied by a low budget and overwhelmed by homages to other genre films or shows before it, the show left critics scratching their heads. Unlike Game of Thrones, Nightflyers does nothing to subvert or play with conventions.
Minority Report (2015): 5.9/10
Minority Report attempted to bring the beloved science fiction story from Philp K. Dick to Fox, pitching itself as a follow-up to the 2002 film starring Tom Cruise. After cutting the first season from 13 to 10 episodes, Fox officially canceled it in 2016.
What happened? For having such inventive source material, the show turned out to be lackluster and boring. All of the qualities that made Dick’s story so original are absent here, leaving viewers with a third-rate action series muddied by a confusing, nonsensical plot.
Between (2015): 6.0/10
A Canadian TV series, Between is set in the small town of Wiley Lake, where everyone over 22 is dying from a strange disease. A joint effort between Citytv in Canada and Netflix, Between made it through a second season before it was never heard from again.
According to critics, Between floundered by relying too heavily on soap opera vibes. The characters are one dimensional, the supposedly catastrophic disease lacks a powerful punch, and the action rolls out without consequence.
Black Lightning (2018): 6.2/10
Another CW DC superhero show, despite poor ratings on IMDb, Black Lightning has been hailed by many fans of the genre for centralizing black voices. Even so, because of its IMDb rating, it’s found a spot on this list.
Most critics agree the show’s second season has been its weakest so far, but the overall consensus is that it handles social issues like racial and ethnic inequality with a comic, action-pack relevance. Perhaps the poor reviews on IMDb come from fans who don’t like to mix social justice and superheroes. Either way, Black Lightning seems to be here to stay, and it just finished its third season.
Iron Fist (2017): 6.5/10
This Netflix Marvel series was a huge disappointment for fans of the Iron Fist. His solo show launched in 2017, culminating in the Defenders crossover series with Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Dare Devil.
Actor Finn Jones’s portrayal of the title character did not keep many viewers engaged, and the stunning visual effects scattered throughout the series seemed wasted on predictable plotlines and subpar dialogue. While the other Netflix series in line with Iron Fist have received critical acclaim, this one just never kept up.
