6 TV Shows About Space That Would Make Even Star Trek Proud
If you like sci-fi, these TV series are for you.
Moonbase 8
Fans of The Martian are sure to enjoy this lighthearted sci-fi sitcom. The show's main characters are three participants in a special NASA mission. Living in a special simulator somewhere in the backwoods of Arizona, the astronauts experience the test of isolation and confinement, meet uninvited guests, and just fight with each other.
Amid the anxious 2020s, when much of the world has only just recovered from COVID lockdowns, Moonbase 8 appears surprisingly relevant and funny, reflecting everyday realities of today.
Avenue 5
The comedy sci-fi series from the master of satire, Armando Iannucci (The Death of Stalin), will certainly appeal to those tired of your stereotypical save-the-planet bravado. It's not so distant future, and the main characters — space tourists on their way to Saturn — find themselves trapped in a cruise spaceship that's gone a few degrees off course. As the short trip threatens to turn into a three-year adventure, the ship's crew must try and keep everyone calm.
Avenue 5 is notable for its cast of comic veterans Hugh Laurie (Jeeves and Wooster,House), Zach Woods (The Office), Josh Gad (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids), and Armando Iannucci himself.
The Astronaut Wives Club
The American miniseries, based on Lily Koppel's bestselling novel of the same name, is perfect for fans of retro fiction. Set in the late 1950s, the show tells the story of the wives of the Mercury Seven — America's elite group of astronauts selected by NASA for an important mission. The space industry serves as a backdrop in The Astronaut Wives Club, as the narrative focuses on the ordinary women's everyday lives.
The heroines each have their own distinct personality and backstory, which makes them relatable for the audience.
Lost in Space
Lost in Space has a long history and is just as good as Battlestar Galactica or Star Trek.
The original series, released in the 1960s, had some influence on the sci-fi genre and spawned a 1998 film adaptation of the same name. In the 2018 reboot of the original show, the action is set in the year 2046: the Robinson family crash-land on an unknown planet and have to survive in the alien environment.
Debris
Debris is a kind of detective story in a sci-fi setting. In the not-too-distant future,the debris of an alien spacecraft falls on Earth. A special commission is created to collect the remains and investigate the wreckage. The characters soon find out that the debris can affect the laws of physics on our planet and even mess with the human psyche. J. H. Wyman is the showrunner of Debris, best known for his cult series Fringe.
If you were looking for a mysterious multi-genre ride, you're in for a treat.
The Orville
A comedy series by Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy and American Dad, who's known for his rather quirky sense of humor.
Like MacFarlane's other projects, The Orville is a treasure trove of references and allusions to the most famed sci-fi shows, such as Star Trek and Stargate, among many others. The main character is Ed Mercer, a space exploration officer who's out of luck both professionally and personally. Ed recovers from a scandalous divorce and gets a much-awaited promotion, which comes freighted with his ex-wife as the first officer of his new mission.