Following the success of ’60s series likeDoctor WhoandStar Trek, the 1970s introduced a variety of inspired, fun science fiction adventures. Thoughthe technology wasn’t as advanced during the ’70s and didn’t allow for elaborate special effectsappreciated intoday’s sci-fi TV shows, the low-budget quality of the series' special effects adds a unique charm. While some shows leaned into the action-packed campiness of the decade, others preferred a grounded approach to the genre.
Shows such asTimeslipandDoomwatchhave strong themes surrounding the dangers of reckless science experiments, tying these messages into their adventurous plots.However, the ’70s still had plenty of exciting stories to tell as well.The Six Million Dollar ManandBattlestar Galacticaare just two sci-fi TV shows that had strong heroic leads and absorbing conflicts set in space.
10 Best Sci-Fi Comedies Of The 1990s
Some of the best comedians of the era, including Eddie Murphy and Will Smith, focused on sci-fi in the 1990s, creating timeless genre classics.
UFOwas the live-action collaborative effort of couple Gerry & Sylvia Anderson, who had previously been known to work with puppets.Taking place a few years after the ’70s,UFOis about the efforts of an organization on Earth to keep the planet protected from alien invasions, particularly those with the intention of abducting humans and harvesting their organs.
The special effects and costuming are average for the decade and don’t poorly stand out.
Unfortunately, there are some complications surrounding the viewing experience ofUFO. The special effects and costuming are average for the decade and don’t poorly stand out. Instead, the problem withUFOlies within the non-chronological order in which episodes aired.UFO’s 26 episodes were aired out of order, resulting in a narrative that was difficult to followat the time. Luckily, there are now plenty of sources online that offer various viewing orders for audiences to choose from.
Set in the titular year,Space: 1999is a memorable sci-fi series that earned many positive comparisons toStar Trek.Space: 1999hasn’t aged flawlesslyin terms of its main performances and scientific accuracy, butvisually speaking,Space: 1999is among the more impressive sci-fi shows of the decade. The series follows a group of individuals aboard a scientific research center, Moonbase Alpha, located within a crater on the moon.
Under the direction of special effects artist Brian Johnson — who had previously worked on2001: A Space Odysseyand would soon work onThe Empire Strikes Back—,Space: 1999has eye-catching visuals.A mixture of full-sized props and scale models was used to create cost-effective, realistic visuals that weren’t always common in the decade’s sci-fi media.Additionally, the vibrant colors of the characters’ uniforms and the interior of Moonbase Alpha brought a futuristic feel to the set and tied everything together.
Having run for three seasons in the late ’70s, the British seriesSurvivorstold a story that still feels relevant years later.Survivorsfollowsa group of characters who survive a deadly illnessthat quickly spreads across the world.The remaining individuals come together and work toward rebuilding civilization as they once knew it.
As the series progresses, so do the technological developments.Survivors' main characters start by making tools from natural resources in season 1 and eventually make their way to the creation of a railway system later on. Considering the series' emphasis on building a community among those who are still alive,Survivorshas plenty of compelling characters to invest in. The stories shared about life before the pandemic are touching and allow audiences to easily root for the character’s success and return to normalcy.
Mixing stop-motion animation with the live-action series,Land of the Lostis a lighthearted series the whole family can watch.Land of the Lostis centered around the Marshall family’s daily adventures while stuck in an alternate universe. Though the NBC series is aimed at younger audiences,there is a decent amount of worldbuilding that’s well-written and complex enough to draw in viewers of all ages.
During the series, the Marshalls come into contact with various creatures and technology that don’t exist in their world.The most common creatures seen inLand of the Lostare dinosaurs, but additional creatures such as primate and insect-like people are included as well.Land of the Lost’s main goal is to entertain audiences, but scripts from the series' earlier seasons featured input from writers in the sci-fi space such as Larry Niven and a few writers fromStar Trek, giving a bit more credibility toLand of the Lost.
Created byDoctor WhoandSurvivorswriter Terry Nation,Blake’s 7takes place far into the future and follows a group of rebels who find themselves at war with the totalitarian Terran Federation.Many aspects ofBlake’s 7, such as its character’s backgrounds and motivations, are inspired by other films and real-life figures, includingThe Dirty Dozen,The Wild Bunch, and various Latin American revolutionaries.
Still,Blake’s 7theme is strong and the passion and love for the genre is made clear in the series' use of its most popular elements, including alien characters, robots, and elaborate spaceships.
Because of this,Blake’s 7never felt original and led to many negative reviews during its run in the ’70s.Still,Blake’s 7theme is strong and the passion and love for the genre is made clear in the series' use of its most popular elements, including alien characters, robots, and elaborate spaceships. ThoughBlake’s 7low budget is evident at times, the series is still packed with fun action and has garnered a strong fan base throughout the years.
After Jaime Sommers' (Lindsay Wagner) first appearance inThe Six Million Dollar Man, the character proved to be quite popular with fans, prompting a spin-off series calledThe Bionic Woman.As explained in the episodes ofThe Six Million Dollar Man, Jaime got into an accident and was reconstructed with bionic body parts, including her right arm and ear.The Bionic Womanthen picks up after her initial crossover withThe Six Million Dollar Man’s characters and sees Jaime completing government missions with her superhuman abilities.
ThroughoutThe Bionic Woman’s three seasons, there were many crossovers withThe Six Million Dollar Man’s Steve Austin, and Jaime’s popularity as a fan-favorite character grew. The character was so beloved by audiences partly because of Wagner’s captivating performance as the female cyborg, but also because of the evolving love story between Jaime and Steve.
Just likeLand of the Lost,Timeslipis geared toward younger audiences, but it can still be enjoyed by everyone.The accessibility ofTimeslipis in part due to its themes and messagingaround the dangers that come with abusing science and technology. Topics such as cloning and climate change, which are frequently discussed in today’s media, weren’t as popular in sci-fi content at the time, especially in TV shows meant for younger audiences.
The adventures inTimeslipare led by two kids, Simon (Spencer Banks) and Liz (Cheryl Burfield), who time travel after discovering an anomaly in an abandoned field. Though Liz and Simon do explore the locations they are transported to, their main mission quickly turns into preventing the negative effects of an experimental longevity drug. Still, there is plenty of fun to be had inTimeslip. The contrasting personalities and eventual close friendship between Liz and Simon are entertaining to watch and follow along with.
Thereboot ofBattlestar Galacticalasted longer than the original series, but that’s not to say the ’70s TV show should be ignored entirely.The series saw a group of people board the titular spacecraft as they began their search for a new home after their planet was destroyed. The same special effects were used repeatedly throughoutBattlestar Galacticaand are a bit outdated by today’s standards, but there’s an undeniable charm to them.
A large part ofBattlestar Galactica’s appeal can be credited to its well-written and lovable characters, such as Captain Apollo, Lieutenant Starbuck, and Commander Adama. WhileBattlestar Galactica’s large fan base wasn’t immediate, it was passionate. After the series' cancelation was announced, fans protested outside of ABC studios in hopesBattlestar Galacticawould be saved. Even thoughBattlestar Galacticawasn’t brought back, the original season was the start of the beloved media franchise that has become celebrated today.
StarringThe Big ValleyandThe Fall Guy’s Lee Majors,The Six Million Dollar Manis an action-packed sci-fi series that saw the actor take on the role of a heroic cyborg.Majors portrayed Steve Austin, a colonel who is badly injured and rebuilt with expensive bionic implants.
Because of the superhuman abilities he now possesses, Steve works as a secret agent for the U.S. government.
The character quickly became an icon in the decade thanks to Majors' performance. The character originates from Martin Caidin’s novel,Cyborg, where Steve never hesitated to kill others. However, Majors' take on the character is softer. Though Steve doesn’t hold back his physical strength, he’s not as cold as the books make him out to be. The minimized darkness in the character had the potential to disappoint fans, but Steve’s everyman qualities — his bionic configuration aside — inThe Six Million Dollar Manmade for a protagonist that was easy for audiences to root for.
Compared to many of the best sci-fi shows from the ’70s,Doomwatchisn’t as concerned with superhumans or conflicts in space. Rather,the drama inDoomwatchwas rooted in realistic scenarios which added to the tension createdin each episode. Airing on BBC1,Doomwatchwas led by John Paul’s character, Dr Spencer Quist, who runs a government organization dedicated to keeping society protected from unchecked scientific research.
The consequences of such scientific tests varied in seriousness. One episode ofDoomwatchis centered around a ferocious species of large rats that threaten the public, while another episode’s story revolves around the dangers that come with severe jet lag.Doomwatchwas popular with audiences, drawing in 13.6 million viewers at one point. However, following its finale, many episodes ofDoomwatchhave gone missing after BBC wiped the series' master tapes. A few episodes have been recovered over the years and, luckily, the excluded episodes don’t ruin the viewing experience too much.
