Author: johnnyjay Published Date: November 29, 2025 Comments: Leave a comment 0 The Greatest Sci Fi/Fantasy TV Shows: Considering the case for the sci fi and fantasy television shows that should be counted among the greatest of all time. What Is It? This series follows Frank Black, a former FBI profiler with a unique ability to see into the minds of killers. Seeking a quieter life, he moves with his family to Seattle and begins working for the mysterious Millennium Group, an organization that believes the approach of the year 2000 is tied to rising evil in the world. As he helps them and the FBI with cases, Frank starts to learn the more sinister side of the group he has become associated with. Aired: Fox, 1999-96, 3 Seasons Totaling 67 Episodes Starring: Lance Henriksen, Megan Gallagher, Brittany Tiplady, Terry O’Quinn, Kristen Cloke, Klea Scott Created By: Chris Carter Argument to Count It as One of the Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows: After Chris Carter’s The X-Files became a hit for Fox (which took a few seasons), the network asked him to create another entry for their lineup, and what a show he delivered. His original inspiration for Millennium was the X-Files episode “Irresistible,” as he wanted to focus on human monsters rather than the paranormal threats in his other series, and he pitched it as “Seven in Seattle.” Carter did incorporate some supernatural and paranormal elements—Frank’s ability to see into the minds of killers and the greater mythology surrounding the Millennium Group—but the first season mostly concentrated on serial killers and the depths of human evil. In many ways, Millennium was proto-Prestige TV, delivering high production values (it was one of Fox’s most expensive shows up to that point), a moody and atmospheric approach, and dark, uncompromising storytelling. The first season was particularly intense, offering a stark look at humanity’s capacity for violence, and it was far from the typical Prime Time fare of the era. The second season then veered away from the case-of-the-week formula and began to explore the dark secrets behind the Millennium Group, escalating the story to near-apocalyptic levels. The show also featured a powerhouse cast who were essential to grounding its bleak subject matter. Genre veteran Lance Henriksen (Aliens, Pumpkinhead) delivered what initially seems like a distanced and cold portrayal of Frank Black, but it becomes clear this is the emotional armor he needs to survive the darkness he encounters. The always-reliable Terry O’Quinn acts as a co-lead through much of the first two seasons, giving a career-defining performance as the enigmatic Peter Watts, someone Frank can never fully trust. Megan Gallagher and Brittany Tiplady, as Frank’s wife and daughter, provide much-needed warmth amid the darkness but eventually find themselves drawn deeper into Frank’s world. And Kristen Cloke holds her own next to Henriksen and O’Quinn in the second season as she and Frank try to uncover the truth about the Millennium Group. The third season saw a notable tonal shift back toward procedural storytelling, though it eventually returned to the show’s deeper mythology. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled before its major arcs could be resolved, but Millennium remains absolutely worth watching, especially its first two seasons. Often overshadowed by Carter’s better-known and longer-running The X-Files, it compares surprisingly well and easily earns consideration among the greatest sci-fi and fantasy TV shows. Argument Against: Millennium showed tremendous promise and delivered impressively high production values for a crime/paranormal drama of its time, but it ultimately suffered from inconsistency, shifting its tone dramatically each season. When the show first started, it mostly focused on cases involving serial killers, some of them quite grim (in the first episode, the killer sews the eyes and mouth of his victims closed). Those episodes were working toward an ongoing story arc, but they are certainly difficult to watch. By season two, the show went all-in on supernatural and apocalyptic themes, exploring the Millennium Group and its origins. This direction made for a more compelling and cohesive season, and the show might have benefited from sticking with that approach. Instead, season three shifted again, returning to a more conventional procedural structure with occasional mythology episodes sprinkled in later. But Fox cancelled the show at that point, leaving any of a number of mysteries unresolved. There were undeniably elements of greatness throughout its run, but the constant tonal shifts—and an unresolved, major cliffhanger—keep Millennium from counting as an all-time genre great. Johnny Jay’s Take: I remember watching the first episode of Millennium when it premiered on Fox in the Fall of 1996. It was an incredibly brutal and intense hour, unlike anything I had seen on Prime Time television. I wasn’t even sure if I liked the show at first, but it hooked me enough to keep tuning in week after week. And this one did not ease up on the intensity, not delivering casual entertainment but a full-on rollercoaster ride. I kept watching into the second season, which took a turn and delved into the mythology it had previously hinted at, but it was still closely linked to the storyline the first season established. As the show grew increasingly apocalyptic, it became even more engaging, and I planned my week around watching each new episode (no DVRs back then, and there was no way I was trusting the VCR timer). As that second season came to an end, it delivered one hell of a finale, and perhaps it should have wrapped up on that fateful note. But Fox decided to give the show one more season and watered down what seemed like an end-of-times scenario. Still, Millennium had a few more good episodes to deliver, and overall it stands out as an excellent series, bolstered by the performances from Henriksen, O’Quinn, Cloke, Gallagher, and the rest of the cast. You can certainly see some early elements of what would later be considered Prestige TV in this show, and even though it never had a proper conclusion (don’t even try to count that X-Files crossover episode), it definitely ranks as one of the all-time greats of sci fi and fantasy television. Where Can You Watch It? All three seasons of this show were collected on DVD , but they are now out of print and starting to fetch high prices from third-party sellers. It is not available to purchase VOD and it is not available for streaming even though fans have lobbied several of the streamers to add it their lineups. Do you consider Millennium to be one of the greatest sci fi/fantasy shows, or was it too inconsistent across seasons? Chime in with your thoughts below or at our discussion thread at r/SciFiTV . Read about more of the Greatest Sci Fi/Fantasy TV Shows of All Time at this link . Keep up with the status of all the current sci fi and fantasy shows as well as news and updates on new and upcoming shows at CancelledSciFi.com . Cancellation Watch: Status updates and breaking news on renewals and cancellations Sci Fi TV Highlights: Listings for the upcoming week along with the latest sci fi TV news and trailers. Sci Fi TV Production Report: News on which sci fi TV shows are moving into production. Source: https://www.cancelledscifi.com/2025/11/29/the-greatest-sci-fi-tv-shows-of-all-time-millennium-1996/