7 Sci-Fi Series from the ‘80s We Want to Revisit
We love the ’80s and we’re not ashamed to say it.
If you weren’t alive during the most epic era ever — here’s looking at you, Gen Zers — you missed out on some great TV, especially if you’re a science fiction buff.
From AI cars and furry alien creatures to time travel and horror-filled galaxy expeditions, originality reigned supreme during the ’80s.
At the time, it was quality over quantity.
We didn’t have streaming services like Netflix and Peacock.
We just had good old satellite and cable TV.
Let’s revisit some of our favorite sci-fi series from the 80s.
Star Trek: The Next Generation – 1987
Star Trek: The Next Generation was the third series in the Star Trek franchise. It debuted in 1987 and quickly became a hit with viewers.
The series is set in the late 24th century, with Earth as part of the United Federation of Planets, and Starfleet officers are on a mission to find new civilizations.
However, each new adventure comes with dangerous alien encounters and personal conflicts among the diverse crew of Starfleet officers.
The show spanned seven seasons, debuting in 1987 and airing its final season in 1994.
However, the franchise has churned out many spinoffs since then.
In 2021, we had two seasons of Star Trek: Prodigy, and in 2022, Star Trek: Strange Worlds took us into the 23rd century with a new crew aboard the starship Enterprise.
The 2020 release of Star Trek: Picard also proved there’s still a space for the franchise to flourish, giving fans three solid seasons.
Meanwhile, the franchise ventured into animation for a second time with Star Trek: Lower Decks, following the short-lived Star Trek: The Animated Series, which aired in the ’70s.
Lower Decks had five incredible seasons, and fans were disappointed when Paramount+ confirmed there would not be a Season 6.
Given the continued interest in the franchise, it might be time to revive the Starfleet crew. In the meantime, you can watch the sci-fi series on popular streaming platforms such as Netflix and Paramount+.
The Twilight Zone – 1985
The Twilight Zone is reminiscent of Netflix’s Black Mirror, but darker and more thought-provoking.
This sci-fi anthology debuted on CBS in 1985, reviving Rod Serling’s original masterpiece, which ended in 1964.
The thought-provoking series features characters trapped in challenging situations and forced to deal with moral and supernatural dilemmas.
With each new episode, the show highlights people’s propensity to choose evil over good and the dire consequences of this choice.
Paramount+ rebooted the series in 2019, with Jordan Peele as an executive producer and narrator. However, it didn’t have the same appeal as the original, and Paramount+ canceled The Twilight Zone reboot after two seasons.
We’re not giving up, though. There are many more concepts to explore, and we’re hoping another network will take up the mantle and give this show the treatment it deserves.
Watch The Twilight Zone Online
ALF – 1986
ALF was the first of its kind when it debuted on NBC in 1986.
The concept: a furry alien creature from the destroyed planet Melnec lands in the Tanner family’s garage. They decide to name him ALF, short for Alien Life Form.
The brash and sarcastic creature becomes a part of the Tanner family.
Comedy ensues as ALF tries to acclimate to life on Earth, while the Tanner Family attempts to keep his existence a secret from the government.
The show gave us four great seasons running from 1986 to 1990.
The good news? You can check out episodes of the ’80s classic on Prime Video and Peacock.
Watch A.L.F. Online
Knight Rider – 1982
Is there any relationship more beautiful than the one between a man and his car? Not if you ask, David Hasselhoff’s character in Knight Rider.
After a life-threatening shot to the face, undercover detective Michael Arthur Long undergoes plastic surgery. He takes on a new face and a new identity as Michael Knight.
After his transformation, Michael becomes a modern-day crimefighter, helped by his trusty AI car, KITT, a black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
There have been a few spinoffs since then, with David Hasselhoff reprising his role in the 1991 movie Knight Rider 2000.
In 2008, NBC attempted a reboot with the TV series Knight Rider: An Icon Reborn, picking up with Michael Knight II, the original character’s son.
That fell flat and was canceled after its first season, but a great story remains to be told with Michael’s son carrying on his father’s legacy or the duo working together.
In 2020, Deadline reported that Spyglass Entertainment and Monster Production Company, owned by Aquaman director James Wan, had teamed up to develop a Knight Rider movie.
The big screen adaptation will reportedly be a present-day take, but will not stray from the tone of the original cult classic.
Watch Knight Rider Online
Quantum Leap – 1989
Unsurprisingly, the NBC series, Quantum Leap, was a big hit in the ’80s; the premise alone would excite sci-fi fans in any era.
It involves a time travel experiment gone wrong, thanks to scientist Sam Beckett, who becomes the ultimate lab rat in his science experiment.
Sam thinks he has discovered a way to travel through time, but finds himself lost in space. Throughout the series, he travels to different periods and swaps lives with different people.
However, before Sam can return to himself, he must solve the problems of the person whose identity he has taken on and change history for the better.
In 2022, NBC rebooted Quantum Leap, but it strayed too far from the original and didn’t strike a chord with viewers. After two seasons, it was canceled.
The show deserves a revisit with more imaginative storylines, smoother plots, and more focus on the time travel aspect, which made the original series a hit.
Another thing to reconsider? Let’s stick to the original concept of who could or couldn’t see AI. Let’s add more depth to the characters and allow viewers to build a connection with them, and we might have a hit on our hands.
You know what they say: third time’s the charm, and there’s so much more to be explored with Quantum Leap.
Watch Quantum Leap Online
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy- 1981
The six-episode series, an adaptation of Douglas Adams’s 1979 publication, debuted on the BBC in 1981.
The trouble starts when the main character, Arthur Dent, discovers that Earth is scheduled for demolition.
As Arthur grapples with this, he learns that his best friend, Ford Prefect, is an alien from another planet who works for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Ford has a plan to escape the doomed Earth before it is destroyed. Each episode features the duo’s adventures as they travel across the galaxy with Arthur wearing only a bathrobe.
It’s hard to find current episodes of the show, but you can check out the 2005 movie remake on streaming platforms.
Watch The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Online
Tales from the Darkside -1983
If you love American Horror Story, this 80s horror anthology is right up your alley.
The 1983 syndicated series features a self-contained story where the main character has a supernatural encounter.
Infused with science fiction, thriller, and fantasy, the show covers a range of themes with a splash of dark humor. It is no surprise that it had a huge cult following.
Did your favorite ’80s sci-fi series make the list? If not, share them in the comment section below.
Watch Tales from the Darkside Online
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