Television series

Killjoys

A scrappy space-opera about three bounty hunters trying to stay neutral in an imploding star system. Killjoys swings wildly between wisecracking heist episodes and genuinely dark mythology, with chemistry so good you forgive the budget-conscious sets. For anyone who wants their sci-fi fun, messy, and focused on found family over world-building.

TVMaze rating4.0

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like space opera that pairs bounty-hunter capers with sharp banter and a found-family warmth, the kind of show where a clever chase can give way to a quiet, funny character beat.

Skip it if you want a grim, carefully serious political drama; it leans on chemistry, cheek and roughly hour-long episodes of breezy, sometimes messy adventure rather than tight, sombre storytelling.

What it asks of you: Five seasons of hour-long episodes means a real commitment, but each one moves briskly and is happy to be playful, so it rewards steady viewing more than close, demanding attention.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

The Expanse2015

Sprawling solar-system politics with the same blend of gritty realism and space-opera wonder. The ensemble cast has that same ease together, and the action sequences cost real money. Season-long arcs that actually stick the landing.

But Slower than Killjoys; the first season builds its world before the fireworks. Heavy on dialogue, light on quips. Demands patience.

The Expanse poster

Firefly2002

Joss Whedon's template for found family in space: a crew of misfits flying between planets, doing jobs to survive, banter that cuts. The DNA is obvious, and it's still the benchmark for how to make a ragtag team feel like home.

But Only one season before cancellation, though the movie wraps things up. The tone is Western-inflected in ways that haven't aged perfectly. Less action-forward than Killjoys.

Firefly poster

Dark Matter2024

Another ensemble in space with amnesia, mystery, and a ship that feels like a character. The plot twists escalate genuinely, and the show commits to getting weird. Fun without ever taking itself too seriously.

But Cancellation left threads hanging. Pacing uneven across seasons. Sometimes the plotting outpaces the character work, leaving you unsure who to root for.

Dark Matter poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Killjoys

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Grimm2011

Both start as episodic bounty-hunting/case-of-the-week shows that gradually reveal a deeper conspiracy beneath the surface. Same structure: small jobs mask a larger war brewing in the background.

A detective discovers his bloodline lets him see supernatural creatures hiding in plain sight. Monster-of-the-week episodics that feed into a mythology that gets genuinely dark. Solid ensemble cast, practical creature effects, and mythology that rewards attention without demanding it.

But Network TV procedural dressed as prestige show. Tonal shifts between campiness and genuine horror can feel awkward. Some seasons prioritize plot over character.

Grimm poster
More like this (8)

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.2013

An underdog team of specialists chasing Marvel weirdness across Earth. The ensemble chemistry is electric, the action is inventive on a TV budget, and it finds its voice by doubling down on arc-heavy storytelling that rewards attention.

But Tethered to Marvel canon you may not care about. First season shuffles tone while finding itself. Occasionally beholden to bigger-picture MCU events that derail momentum.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. poster

Orphan Black2013

Tatiana Maslany as multiple clones, each a fully realized character, drives a plot that spirals into genuine conspiracy thriller territory. The show earns every emotional beat and the central mystery stays compelling across five seasons.

But Intense subject matter involving body horror and exploitation. Some plot threads resolve more satisfyingly than others. Requires close attention to keep the clones' agendas straight.

Orphan Black poster

Farscape1999

A human astronaut pulled into an alien dimension finds refuge on a living ship with a crew he grows to love. Muppets and humans share the frame without winking at the audience. The emotional stakes escalate while keeping the show weird and playful.

But Jim Henson production values show their age. Tone whiplashes can be jarring. Very of-its-time 90s sci-fi sensibility won't click for everyone.

Farscape poster

Battlestar Galactica2003

A tired military crew fleeing across space with no hope of rescue. Tense, operatic, thematically dense. When it fires, it's among the best sci-fi television has done. The ensemble earns your investment.

But Later seasons lose focus and repeat themselves. Heavy on grim mood; the humor is sparse. The finale divides people sharply. Commitment required.

Battlestar Galactica poster

For All Mankind2019

Alternate history where the space race never ended. Gorgeous production design, sharp writing, and a genuine sense of stakes. The ensemble work is confident and the show respects its audience's intelligence.

But Pacing glacial at times. Prestige television costuming means everyone looks exhausted in every scene. Can feel more interested in spectacle than character.

For All Mankind poster

Westworld2016

Slaves in a theme park begin to wake up. Fascinating premise with Evan Rachel Wood and Anthony Hopkins delivering career-best work. Season one is genuinely gripping sci-fi that earns its complexity.

But Ambitious but uneven—later seasons confuse intricacy with coherence. Relies on twists that don't always land. The show occasionally loves its own mystique more than its people.

Westworld poster

Arcane: League of Legends2021

Both explore found family fractured by systemic conflict. Dutch, John, and D'avin must navigate loyalty to each other against the machinery grinding through their world—exactly like Vi and Powder, caught on opposite sides of war.

Two sisters on opposite sides of a class war. Animated, visually stunning, emotionally devastating. A complete story told in two acts with animation that rivals any film. Proves TV sci-fi doesn't need a photon budget to move you.

But Only one complete season so far, with a long wait for more. Animated, which some viewers reflexively avoid. The second half gets heavy and doesn't pull back.

Arcane: League of Legends poster

Warrior2019

Same skeleton beneath the skin: scrappy outsiders surviving in hostile territory, using skill and loyalty to navigate systems built to crush them. Killjoys' humor swapped for grit, but the core transaction is identical.

Cinemax martial-arts series based on Bruce Lee's notes. Gorgeously choreographed hand-to-hand combat, period setting (1870s San Francisco), and a story about survival in a brutal world. Treats fighting like dance and characters like people.

But Period-piece dialogue takes adjustment. Graphic violence is frequent and unflinching. Very serialized—you must watch in order. Not light entertainment.

Warrior poster

People

Cast

Writing

Production

Recommended by

The Expanse, Firefly, Farscape, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Peacemaker, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Falling Skies, Handsome Siblings, Defiance, Sherlock & Daughter