15 Lesser-Known TV Shows from the 90s That Still Hold Up

1. Sliders (1995-2000)

You ever wonder what life would be like in an alternate reality? Sliders takes that daydream and cranks it up to 11. Quinn Mallory, a young physicist, invents a device that opens wormholes to parallel universes. Quinn, his professor, a wannabe singer, and a computer whiz find themselves sliding from one alternate Earth to another. From worlds where the Soviet Union rules America to others where dinosaurs still roam, this show is a wild ride from start to finish.

2. Early Edition (1996-2000)

A guy named Gary Hobson starts receiving tomorrow's newspaper today. No, really. Every morning, his cat brings him a newspaper that shows events 24 hours into the future. Rather than using it for personal gain, Gary opts to prevent the tragedies he reads about. He saves lives, stops robberies, and helps folks in need. It's like a feel-good Groundhog Day, but with more cliffhangers.

3. Nowhere Man (1995-1996)

Imagine having a perfectly normal life, and then—bam!—it's gone. That's what happens to Thomas Veil, a photographer who gets his life erased after taking a controversial photo. His wife doesn't recognize him, his friends deny knowing him, and he's pursued by shadowy figures. The series centers on Thomas's journey to find out who's behind his erased existence while dodging capture or death. It's a nail-biter, for sure.

4. The Pretender (1996-2000)

This one has a unique premise. Jarod is a genius with the ability to become anyone he wants—doctor, pilot, lawyer, you name it. The catch? He's been raised in a lab, his talents exploited for nefarious purposes. He escapes and goes on a quest to discover his true identity while righting wrongs along the way. With his former captors hot on his trail, this show is a cat-and-mouse game with a moral compass.

5. Earth 2 (1994-1995)

Set in the 22nd century, Earth 2 depicts a future where Earth is dying, and humanity needs to find a new home. A group of colonizers embarks on a mission to a planet, creatively named Earth 2, to establish a new settlement. But hold your space horses—the planet isn't as uninhabited as they thought. They encounter indigenous species, both friendly and not-so-friendly, and have to adapt to a wildly different ecosystem. It's like Lost, but in space and with a '90s touch.

6. Space: Above and Beyond (1995-1996)

Picture this: it's the year 2063, and Earth is at war with an alien species known as the "Chigs". This show focuses on a group of Marine Corps rookies as they go through the brutal realities of space warfare. Dogfights in space? Check. Emotional turmoil? Double-check. This series blends military drama with sci-fi elements, capturing the raw, unfiltered side of combat where it's kill or be killed.

7. Dark Skies (1996-1997)

What if the U.S. government's cover-up of alien visitations started way back in the '60s? Dark Skies dives headfirst into this conspiracy theory, following John Loengard and Kimberly Sayers as they uncover a secret government operation to combat hostile extraterrestrials. From the Kennedy assassination to Roswell, this series weaves real historical events into its narrative, making you question everything you thought you knew.

8. American Gothic (1995-1996)

Small-town America isn't always apple pie and Fourth of July parades. Enter Trinity, South Carolina, a town under the thumb of the sinister Sheriff Lucas Buck. This guy's basically the devil in a sheriff's uniform. The show follows Caleb Temple, a young boy who becomes Buck's target, and his sister, Merlyn, who's a ghost trying to protect him. With elements of supernatural horror and Southern Gothic charm, this one's a twisty rollercoaster of "WTH is happening?!"

9. Profiler (1996-2000)

Before Criminal Minds took over our screens, there was Profiler. Dr. Samantha Waters is a forensic psychologist with the ability to "see" crimes from the perspective of the perpetrator. Each episode, she dives into the mind of a different criminal to help the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force solve cases. But the real spine-tingler? She's also trying to catch "Jack", the serial killer who murdered her husband.

10. Kindred: The Embraced (1996)

Ever wonder what The Godfather would be like with vampires? That's Kindred: The Embraced in a nutshell. San Francisco is home to five vampire clans that are all part of the Kindred, a secret vampire society. Julian Luna is the "Ventrue" clan leader who tries to keep peace among the clans while hiding their existence from humans. But when a human reporter starts snooping around, all bets are off.

11. Forever Knight (1992-1996)

Alright, bear with me—what if a vampire decided to become a cop? I kid you not, that's the premise of Forever Knight. Nick Knight is an 800-year-old vampire working the night shift as a Toronto detective, trying to atone for centuries of bloodsucking sins. Each episode usually deals with a murder case while diving into Nick's complex history. It's like CSI, but with fangs and guilt.

12. Eerie, Indiana (1991-1992)

This is the kid-friendly version of The Twilight Zone, but don't let that fool you—it's captivating for adults too. Marshall Teller moves to Eerie, Indiana, and quickly realizes that the town is, well, eerie. Together with his buddy Simon, he investigates phenomena like a living mummy, a magic typewriter, and Tupperware that keeps people forever young. It's oddball fun with a pinch of creepiness.

13. VR.5 (1995)

Virtual reality in the '90s? Oh yeah, baby! Sydney Bloom discovers she can tap into a virtual realm—dubbed VR.5—where she can interact with people's subconscious minds. She soon gets recruited by a secret agency that wants to use her skills for—you guessed it—spy stuff. There's espionage, psychological warfare, and lots of early CGI to enjoy in this short-lived, ahead-of-its-time series.

14. Millennium (1996-1999)

Created by the same mind behind The X-Files, Chris Carter, this show didn't quite gain the same level of fame but is no less intriguing. Frank Black, a former FBI profiler with the ability to see into the minds of criminals, joins the mysterious "Millennium Group" to combat an impending apocalypse. Each episode tackles grim crimes and often dabbles in the supernatural, all with the doomsday clock ticking louder.

15. The Sentinel (1996-1999)

When detective Jim Ellison's senses go into hyperdrive, he finds that he can see, hear, and smell better than anyone else—a literal "sentinel". Teaming up with anthropology grad student Blair Sandburg, Jim uses his heightened senses to solve crimes. However, navigating his newfound abilities while keeping them a secret proves to be a tricky balancing act.