The Best Sci-Fi Shows of the 2000s: ‘Enterprise,’ ‘Battlestar Galactica,’ the New ‘Doctor Who,’ More Beyond original shows, the reimagining of a number of classic series ushered in bold new chapters December 13, 2025 Comments Clockwise from left: Battlestar Galactica, Invader Zim, Tru Calling and Doctor Who Courtesy the Everett Collection (4) Add as a preferred source on Google Sci-fi television had undergone a pretty wild evolution in the 2000s. In the span of one decade, the genre went from feeling like a niche cable curiosity—usually tucked into late-night slots or living in syndication—to becoming a staple of mainstream TV, bringing along with it new adventures of Star Trek , Stargate and Doctor Who , among others. And it did it without waiting for superheroes to lead the way. Instead, the 2000s gave us damaged galactic survivors, time-traveling detectives, morgue attendants reliving days to save the dead, journalists battling aliens in the suburbs and that certain wisecracking Time Lord who suddenly became relevant again. This was the era where 2000s sci-fi TV grew up without losing its sense of imagination. Battlestar Galactica delivered political allegory and raw emotion through space battles and Cylons. Doctor Who reinvented itself for modern audiences and sparked a franchise revival that would spin off into both the kid-friendly The Sarah Jane Adventures and the decidedly more adult-oriented Torchwood. Reboots, revivals, and reimaginations came back swinging with something to say. By the time 2009 wrapped, the Syfy channel was leaning into adventure with Warehouse 13 and Stargate Atlantis, ABC was rebooting V and audiences were no longer asking whether sci-fi could work on television—they were arguing about which show did it best. What follows is a look back at the era that reshaped TV science fiction, one unconventional series at a time. ‘Andromeda’ (2000–2005) Created by: Gene Roddenberry (based on unused material), developed for television by Robert Hewitt Wolfe. Cast: Kevin Sorbo (Captain Dylan Hunt), Lisa Ryder (Beka Valentine), Gordon Michael Woolvett (Seamus Harper), Lexa Doig (Rommie), Keith Hamilton Cobb (Tyr Anasazi), Laura Bertram (Trance Gemini). Premise: Set thousands of years in the future, the show follows Captain Dylan Hunt, who is rescued after spending centuries frozen in time onboard the High Guard starship Andromeda Ascendant. Emerging into a galaxy in chaos, he partners with a ragtag crew of smugglers and criminals to restore the fallen Systems Commonwealth. The series blended space opera, philosophical themes and episodic and serialized storytelling in a universe where ancient civilizations, alien races and metaphysics collide. Behind-the-scenes: Andromeda was the second major TV project to use unused concepts from Gene Roddenberry’s archives (the first being Earth: Final Conflict), with Robert Hewitt Wolfe shaping the early mythology. Creative friction arose as Kevin Sorbo gained more influence, coinciding with Wolfe’s departure after Season 2 and a tonal shift from dense long-form arcs to more standalone adventure. The changing showrunner roster and evolving creative mandates led to fluctuations in tone, mythology and character emphasis, but the series maintained a loyal fan following and helped define early-2000s syndicated sci-fi. ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’ (2001–2005) Created by: Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. Cast: Scott Bakula (Captain Jonathan Archer), Jolene Blalock (T’Pol), Connor Trinneer (Trip Tucker), Dominic Keating (Malcolm Reed), Anthony Montgomery (Travis Mayweather), Linda Park (Hoshi Sato), John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox). Premise: Set a century before the original Star Trek, the series chronicles humanity’s early steps into deep space aboard the NX-01 Enterprise, a prototype warp-five starship. Captain Archer and his crew navigate first contacts, cultural missteps, the repercussions of pre-Federation exploration and the gradual formation of the political and ethical ideals that will one day define Starfleet. Behind-the-scenes: Initially conceived simply as Enterprise (with the Star Trek title added later due to ratings concerns), the series faced challenges balancing prequel storytelling with fan expectations. Seasons 1 and 2 focused on early exploration, while Season 3 introduced a year-long serialized arc—the Xindi storyline—which earned praise for ambition and tonal boldness. Season 4, guided by showrunner Manny Coto, leaned heavily into Trek lore with multi-episode arcs that bridged directly into established continuity. Despite significant creative gains late in its run, declining ratings led to its cancellation after four seasons. Over time, the series has undergone considerable reevaluation, with many fans now regarding its final two seasons as some of the strongest Trek storytelling of the era. ‘Invader Zim’ (2001–2002; 2006 special) Created by: Jhonen Vasquez. Cast: Richard Steven Horvitz (Zim), Rosearik Rikki Simons (GIR), Andy Berman (Dib), Melissa Fahn (Gaz). Premise: A dark sci-fi comedy about Zim, an inept alien from the Irken Empire sent on a bogus “mission” to conquer Earth—a ploy by his leaders to get him as far away from real operations as possible. Believing he’s on a grand assignment, Zim goes undercover as a human schoolchild with his malfunctioning robot sidekick GIR. Their attempts at conquest are constantly thwarted by Zim’s incompetence and by Dib, the only human who recognizes Zim for what he is. Behind-the-scenes: Nickelodeon took an unusual gamble by commissioning a children’s series with Vasquez, then known for edgy alternative comics. The show’s dark humor, aggressive visual style and satirical sci-fi storytelling quickly attracted a cult following but left network executives uneasy about tone and budget. Production difficulties and creative clashes contributed to its cancellation during Season 2, though the unfinished episodes gained near-mythic status among fans. Over the years, Invader Zim became a major cult property, ultimately leading to the 2019 Netflix animated film Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus. ‘Firefly’ (2002) Created by: Joss Whedon. Cast: Nathan Fillion (Captain Malcolm Reynolds), Gina Torres (Zoë Washburne), Alan Tudyk (Hoban “Wash” Washburne), Morena Baccarin (Inara Serra), Adam Baldwin (Jayne Cobb), Jewel Staite (Kaylee Frye), Sean Maher (Dr. Simon Tam), Summer Glau (River Tam), Ron Glass (Shepherd Book). Premise: Set in a future where humanity has spread across a new star system, Firefly follows the crew of Serenity, a small transport ship operating on the fringes of civilization after a brutal civil war leaves former Independents like Malcolm Reynolds on the losing side. Blending Western grit with spacefaring adventure, the show centers on a found family of smugglers, fugitives and wanderers trying to stay ahead of the law while protecting River, a traumatized prodigy targeted by the authoritarian Alliance. Each episode mixes humor, action and character-driven drama as the crew navigates dangerous jobs, hostile worlds and their own clashing loyalties. Behind-the-scenes: Despite its short life, Firefly became one of the most passionately defended sci-fi series of its era. FOX aired episodes out of order, shifted its scheduling repeatedly and cancelled the show before completing its first season, leading to widespread frustration from both fans and cast. However, strong DVD sales and grassroots support kept the property alive and directly led to the 2005 feature film Serenity, which continued the main storylines. ‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2003 miniseries; 2004–2009 series) Created by: Developed by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, based on the 1978 series created by Glen A. Larson. Cast: Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), Mary McDonnell (President Laura Roslin), Katee Sackhoff (Kara “Starbuck” Thrace), Jamie Bamber (Lee Adama), James Callis (Gaius Baltar), Tricia Helfer (Number Six), Grace Park (Sharon “Boomer” Valerii), Michael Hogan (Colonel Saul Tigh), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol). Premise: After a sudden and devastating Cylon attack wipes out the Twelve Colonies, the remnants of humanity flee across space aboard a ragtag fleet led by the Battlestar Galactica. Pursued relentlessly by their enemies—and undermined by political tension, religious conflict, and personal trauma—the survivors search for the mythical planet Earth. The series blended hard science fiction with sociopolitical commentary, character-driven drama and philosophical questions about identity, morality and survival. Behind-the-scenes: The 2003 miniseries served as both reboot and proof of concept, surprising critics with its gritty realism and documentary-style aesthetic. Ronald D. Moore’s writer’s room emphasized serialized storytelling, moral ambiguity, and thematic density, bringing prestige-drama values to sci-fi television. Visual effects innovations, particularly in space battles, became industry hallmarks. The show’s bold approach—especially its political allegories post-9/11—helped redefine modern televised science fiction. Internal debates about mythology, pacing and the show’s endgame led to a divisive but ambitious final season. Despite controversy surrounding its finale, the series remains one of the most critically acclaimed genre shows of the decade. ‘Tru Calling’ (2003–2005) Created by: Jon Harmon Feldman. Cast: Eliza Dushku (Tru Davies), Shawn Reaves (Harrison Davies), Jessica Collins (Meredith Davies), Matt Bomer (Luc Johnston), Zach Galifianakis (Davis), Jason Priestley (Jack Harper). Premise: Tru Davies, a medical-school dropout working in a city morgue, discovers she has the ability to relive days when corpses ask for help with a single whispered plea: “Help me.” Each time a day rewinds, Tru races against the clock to prevent the death in question. The series mixes procedural storytelling with time-loop mechanics and a growing supernatural conflict. Behind-the-scenes: Tru Calling was developed during the height of Eliza Dushku’s post-Buffy visibility and was structured as a vehicle for her first leading role. Despite strong early buzz, the series struggled with scheduling shifts, network uncertainty, and tonal adjustments between seasons. Jason Priestley’s addition in Season 2 introduced the mythology’s largest expansion—the introduction of Jack, a rival figure who believes fate demands that death “balance the ledger.” The show was canceled abruptly, leaving several arcs unresolved, but it later gained a cult following for its high-concept premise and Dushku’s performance. ‘The 4400’ (2004–2007) Created by: Scott Peters and René Echevarria. Cast: Joel Gretsch (Tom Baldwin), Jacqueline McKenzie (Diana Skouris), Mahershala Ali (Richard Tyler), Laura Allen (Lily Moore), Patrick Flueger (Shawn Farrell), Conchita Campbell (Maia Rutledge), Billy Campbell (Jordan Collier). Premise: 4,400 people who disappeared over several decades suddenly return in a ball of light, unaged and with no memory of where they’ve been. Many soon manifest extraordinary abilities, placing them at the center of global paranoia, government investigation and ideological movements. As federal agents Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris investigate, the show unfolds into a large-scale story about destiny, evolution and unseen forces manipulating humanity’s future. Behind-the-scenes: Originally produced as a limited-event series for USA Network, The 4400 became an unexpected hit, prompting its expansion into a full series. The writer’s room—led at various times by Peters, Echevarria, and Ira Steven Behr—embraced long-form serialization and moral ambiguity. Budget limitations led to a restrained visual-effects approach, emphasizing character drama over spectacle. The show’s mythology expanded rapidly, introducing future factions, messianic movements, and shifting alliances. Although it ended without full resolution due to the 2007–2008 writers’ strike, the series developed a devoted fanbase and is frequently cited as a precursor to shows like Heroes. ‘Stargate Atlantis’ (2004–2009) Created by: Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper. Cast: Joe Flanigan (John Sheppard), Torri Higginson (Dr. Elizabeth Weir), Rachel Luttrell (Teyla Emmagan), David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay), Rainbow Sun Francks (Aiden Ford), Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett), Jason Momoa (Ronon Dex), Robert Picardo (Richard Woolsey), Jewel Staite (Dr. Jennifer Keller). Premise: A multinational expedition travels through the Stargate to the distant Pegasus Galaxy and discovers the lost city of Atlantis. Cut off from Earth and rapidly running out of resources, the team confronts new civilizations and the galaxy-dominating Wraith, an alien race that feeds on human life. Blending exploration, military action, and character-driven comedy, the series expands the mythology of the Stargate universe while maintaining a lighter tone than its predecessor. Behind-the-scenes: Atlantis launched as a companion to the still-running SG-1, benefitting from a shared production infrastructure and overlapping creative staff. The series quickly found its voice through the interplay of Flanigan’s laid-back leadership and David Hewlett’s comedic brilliance as McKay. Cast changes—including the introduction of Jason Momoa and later Jewel Staite—helped maintain momentum and refresh dynamics. The show was known for its elaborate alien makeup, large practical sets and ambitious effects work. Although canceled earlier than producers expected, its five-season run cemented it as a fan favorite within the franchise. ‘Doctor Who’ (2005–2009 era) Created by: Originally by Sydney Newman; revived and developed by Russell T Davies. Cast: Christopher Eccleston (The Ninth Doctor, 2005), David Tennant (The Tenth Doctor, 2005–2010), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith). Premise: The revived Doctor Who follows the Doctor—an eccentric, time-traveling alien with the ability to regenerate—on adventures across time and space as he defends civilizations, confronts ancient enemies and navigates deeply emotional bonds with his human companions. Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor reintroduces the franchise with a wounded but driven persona, while Tennant’s Tenth Doctor brings charm, heartbreak and operatic emotion to the role, grounding the series’ blend of space opera, historical adventure and character-centered storytelling. Behind-the-scenes: Russell T Davies’ revival was a massive gamble—Doctor Who had been off the air as a full series since 1989—but the approach of tightly serialized emotional arcs, contemporary companions and modern effects turned the show into a global hit. Eccleston’s single-season run revitalized the brand, and Tennant’s tenure pushed it into cultural phenomenon status. The production’s use of Cardiff locations, its flexible effects pipeline and its blend of camp, darkness and sincerity helped define British sci-fi for the decade. The era culminated in a run of specials bridging Tennant’s departure and Matt Smith’s arrival, establishing a modern franchise model that would fuel spinoffs like Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. ‘Torchwood’ (2006–2009) Created by: Russell T Davies. Cast: John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), Burn Gorman (Owen Harper), Naoko Mori (Toshiko Sato), Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones), Kai Owen (Rhys Williams). Premise: Positioned as the adult-oriented counterpart to Doctor Who, Torchwood (a clever anagram of “Dr. Who”) follows a covert Cardiff-based team investigating extraterrestrial phenomena, rogue technologies and temporal anomalies. Led by the immortal Captain Jack Harkness, the group faces moral dilemmas, alien threats and emotionally charged cases that often blur the line between procedural drama and high-concept sci-fi. Behind-the-scenes: Produced simultaneously with Doctor Who, the series allowed Davies and company to explore darker themes—including death, identity, trauma, and sexuality—without the constraints of family-hour BBC programming. The first two seasons balanced monster-of-the-week storytelling with serialized emotional arcs, while production for Season 2 folded Doctor Who’s growing mythology more directly into the narrative. The 2009 five-part event Children of Earth marked a dramatic reinvention, widely acclaimed for its intensity, political commentary and bold narrative choices. ‘Life on Mars’ (UK) (2006–2007) Created by: Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan, and Ashley Pharoah. Cast: John Simm (Sam Tyler), Philip Glenister (Gene Hunt), Liz White (Annie Cartwright), Marshall Lancaster (Chris Skelton), Dean Andrews (Ray Carling). Premise: After a near-fatal accident in 2006, Detective Sam Tyler awakens in 1973 Manchester, where he must navigate a police force defined by rough, instinctive policing in stark contrast to his modern training. Torn between believing he’s traveled through time, suffered brain damage or is trapped in a coma-induced dreamscape, Sam attempts to adapt to the past while investigating the truth behind his condition. Behind-the-scenes: Life on Mars became a breakout hit for the BBC thanks to its unique blend of sci-fi mystery, retro style and character-driven drama. The tension between Simm’s introspective Sam and Glenister’s larger-than-life Gene Hunt became a cultural touchstone in the UK, spawning catchphrases and influencing countless homages. The showrunners built a deliberately ambiguous mythology tying Sam’s psychological state to police-procedural storytelling, culminating in a carefully designed two-season arc. The series later inspired the sequel Ashes to Ashes and an American remake, though the original remains the definitive version. ‘Sanctuary’ (2007 web series; 2008–2011 TV series) Created by: Damian Kindler. Cast: Amanda Tapping (Dr. Helen Magnus), Robin Dunne (Will Zimmerman), Emilie Ullerup (Ashley Magnus), Ryan Robbins (Henry Foss), Christopher Heyerdahl (Bigfoot / John Druitt). Premise: The series follows Dr. Helen Magnus, a centuries-old scientist who runs a global network of “Sanctuaries” dedicated to studying, protecting and sometimes containing a wide range of extraordinary beings known as Abnormals. Recruited into this world, forensic psychiatrist Will Zimmerman helps Magnus bridge ethical challenges as the team encounters biological anomalies, ancient conspiracies and escalating threats. Behind-the-scenes: Initially funded as one of the earliest high-profile web series built around green-screen production, Sanctuary was notable for its ambitious use of virtual environments—considered groundbreaking at the time. Its success online led Syfy to adapt it into a full television series, with Amanda Tapping stepping into a prominent producing role. The production pipeline blended green-screen stages with digitally constructed sets, giving the show a distinctive visual aesthetic. While budget limitations shaped storytelling, they also inspired inventive worldbuilding, helping the series build a loyal fan base. ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures’ (2007–2011) Created by: Russell T Davies. Cast: Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Tommy Knight (Luke Smith), Daniel Anthony (Clyde Langer), Yasmin Paige (Maria Jackson), Anjli Mohindra (Rani Chandra), Alexander Armstrong (Mr. Smith, voice). Premise: A family-oriented Doctor Who spinoff, the series follows journalist and former TARDIS companion Sarah Jane Smith as she investigates alien activity on Earth with help from her son Luke and a rotating group of teenage friends. While aimed at younger audiences, the show frequently intersected with the broader Doctor Who universe and handled moral, emotional and sci-fi concepts with surprising complexity. Behind-the-scenes: Conceived as a more accessible counterpart to Torchwood, the series allowed Elisabeth Sladen to reprise her iconic role in stories blending adventure, empathy, and clear-eyed optimism. The production team emphasized practical effects and bright visual design to differentiate it from its darker siblings, and many episodes featured returning creatures and mythological ties to Doctor Who. ‘Primeval’ (2007–2011) Created by: Tim Haines and Adrian Hodges. Cast: Douglas Henshall (Nick Cutter), James Murray (Stephen Hart), Lucy Brown (Claudia Brown / Jenny Lewis), Andrew-Lee Potts (Connor Temple), Hannah Spearritt (Abby Maitland), Ben Miller (James Lester), Juliet Aubrey (Helen Cutter). Premise: When mysterious time anomalies begin opening across modern-day Britain—allowing prehistoric and futuristic creatures to spill into the present—a scientific team is assembled to investigate, contain the threats and uncover the anomalies’ origins. Balancing creature-feature spectacle with time-travel paradoxes, the show follows the intertwining relationships and ethical dilemmas sparked by the dangerous disruptions of natural history. Behind-the-scenes: Produced by Impossible Pictures, the team behind Walking with Dinosaurs, Primeval capitalized on the UK’s growing VFX capabilities, delivering ambitious CGI creatures on television budgets. The series faced notable cast turnover and escalating complexity in its mythology, which occasionally reshaped continuity midstream. Despite these challenges, it became an international hit, spawning spinoffs, video games, and a Canadian follow-up series, Primeval: New World. ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ (2008–2009) Created by: Josh Friedman. Cast: Lena Headey (Sarah Connor), Thomas Dekker (John Connor), Summer Glau (Cameron), Richard T. Jones (James Ellison), Brian Austin Green (Derek Reese), Garret Dillahunt (Cromartie / John Henry), Shirley Manson (Catherine Weaver). Premise: Set after the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the series follows Sarah Connor and her son John as they attempt to prevent the rise of Skynet. Joined by Cameron, a reprogrammed Terminator posing as a teenage girl, the trio jumps forward in time to outmaneuver future threats and unravel a complex web of evolving AIs, resistance fighters and shifting timelines. The show emphasizes psychological tension and long-form character arcs over blockbuster spectacle. Behind-the-scenes: Fox positioned the series as a prestige sci-fi drama anchored by Lena Headey’s intense, emotionally layered portrayal of Sarah. Summer Glau’s role as Cameron became a fan favorite, showcasing her ability to blend machine-like precision with subtle humanity. Although acclaimed for its writing and serialized ambition, the show endured obstacles including the 2007–2008 writers’ strike, scheduling changes and high production costs. Its second season ended on a major cliffhanger that has remained one of the most lamented unresolved endings in sci-fi television. ‘V’ (2009–2011) Deal of the Day This Deep Conditioning Collagen Hair Mask for Has 4.9 Stars and Is 80% Off — Get It for $20! View Deal Created by: Developed by Scott Peters, based on the 1983 miniseries created by Kenneth Johnson. Cast: Elizabeth Mitchell (Erica Evans), Morena Baccarin (Anna), Joel Gretsch (Father Jack Landry), Morris Chestnut (Ryan Nichols), Logan Huffman (Tyler Evans), Laura Vandervoort (Lisa), Charles Mesure (Kyle Hobbes), Scott Wolf (Chad Decker). Premise: Humanity reacts with awe and suspicion when enormous alien ships appear over major cities and their peaceful, charismatic leader Anna claims she has come to share technological and medical wonders. As some embrace the Visitors, others discover that Anna’s benevolence masks a sinister agenda. FBI agent Erica Evans joins an underground resistance seeking to expose the truth while navigating political manipulation, seduction and human–alien intrigue. Behind-the-scenes: ABC greenlit the reboot as part of a wave of “event” sci-fi series in the late 2000s, aiming to modernize the iconic original with higher-end effects and a more serialized format. Morena Baccarin’s performance as Anna—cold, calculating, and hypnotically composed—became the show’s defining element. Production shifts between seasons, including changes in showrunners and tonal adjustments, created inconsistency in pacing and mythology. While the series developed a devoted following, its run was short-lived, ending after two seasons without full resolution. ‘Warehouse 13’ (2009–2014) Created by: Jane Espenson and D. Brent Mote. Cast: Eddie McClintock (Pete Lattimer), Joanne Kelly (Myka Bering), Saul Rubinek (Artie Nielsen), Allison Scagliotti (Claudia Donovan), Genelle Williams (Leena), CCH Pounder (Mrs. Frederic), Aaron Ashmore (Steve Jinks). Premise: Secret Service agents Pete Lattimer and Myka Bering are reassigned to Warehouse 13, a sprawling, top-secret government facility in South Dakota that houses supernatural and scientifically anomalous artifacts. The team must locate, secure and neutralize dangerous items while navigating interpersonal dynamics and the moral implications of these powerful objects. The show blends sci-fi, steampunk, procedural investigation, and character-driven comedy. Behind-the-scenes: Debuting at the height of Syfy’s rebranding, the series quickly became one of the network’s most successful originals thanks to its breezy tone, high-concept artifacts and strong ensemble chemistry. Writer Jane Espenson’s influence helped shape the series’ mix of witty banter and emotional grounding, while the Vancouver production base provided flexibility for visually inventive episodes. Crossovers with Eureka further enriched Syfy’s shared-universe experimentation. Enjoy more sci-fi series by decade Source: https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/best-2000s-sci-fi-tv-shows-to-watch-again