Certain genres, likescience fiction, are often plagued by shows that get canceled before they reach a real ending, but these 10 shows all lasted long enough to finish their stories. Almost any fan of science fiction has encountered agreat sci-fi show that was canceledfor no discernible reason. From theinfamous cancellation ofFireflyto more recent disappointments likeAltered Carbonor thecancellation ofStar Wars: The Acolyte, the genre has earned a reputation for starting shows without finishing them. It can honestly get discouraging to start great sci-fi shows only to find out their stories end on cliffhangers that will never be resolved.
There are a wide variety of reasons that sci-fi shows get canceled so frequently. Science fiction inherently carries a higher budget than other genres due to the futuristic technology and settings. That means sci-fi shows have to have even higher viewership to justify their costs, but sci-fi is also a relatively niche genre. There are plenty of viewers who just don’t like sci-fi. It may make sense that sci-fi shows often get canceled, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. Luckily, these 10 science fiction shows actually got to see their stories through to the end.
HBO’sStation Elevenis a bit unique among live-action science fiction shows in that it was planned to last just one season.Station Elevenis a limited seriesabout a traveling group of musicians and performers living in a post-apocalyptic world that was wrecked by a global pandemic. They do encounter a murderous cult, butStation Elevenis really about the characters in the troupe and the emotions they experience living in a crumbling world. It’s a beautiful, deeply moving, science fiction series, and its planned ending comes after just 10 episodes. As an added bonus,Station Elevenis also beautifully shot.
Cowboy Bebopis arguably one of thebest anime series of all time, at least partially because of its ending.Cowboy Bebopfollows Spike Spiegel and the crew of theBebopas they work as bounty hunters known as cowboys. There’s space travel, futuristic hacking, and even a super-intelligent corgi, andCowboy Bebopis a must-watch for sci-fi fans. Its ending is also utterly beautiful and completes Spike’s character development in perfect fashion.Cowboy Bebopisn’t just a sci-fi show with a real ending, it’s a sci-fi show with an ending that builds off every single moment leading up to it, and it made me cry.
Another example of a limited series in science fiction is Netflix’sManiac. In similar fashion to the ongoing hitSeverance,.Maniacpushed the limits of what science fiction is and our understanding of the human mind, and its twisting, unpredictable plot finds its natural conclusion in just one season. The ending ofManiacis open-ended, but only in the sense that it will stay on your mind for days after watching.
One of the most recent additions to the list of the best science fiction shows of all time also recently saw its ending.Andoris aStar Warsshow following Cassian Andor as he joins and helps build the Rebel Alliance featured in the original trilogy.Andorseason 2 saw the show’s end, though its story really concludes inRogue One: A Star Wars Story. It’s unarguably the bestStar Warsshow ever made, and while there’s a case to be made that noStar Warsstory ever really ends, theending ofAndoris so perfect that it functions as a standalone story.
One of thebestStar Trekshows of all timealso featured one of the franchise’s most perfect endings.Star Trek: The Next Generationfollows Captain Picard and the crew of theUSS Enterpriseas they explore strange new worlds across space. While its story was continued in movies and the recently released seriesStar Trek: Picard, theending ofThe Next Generationwas almost universally praised and cited as a high point of the entire franchise. It perfectly plays on its beloved and iconic characters, everything the previous seasons had established, and works on its own as an engaging standalone episode ofStar Trek.
The ending ofBattlestar Galacticais one of the most iconic (albeit divisive) finales in sci-fi history, so much so that it’s still being talked about today.Battlestar Galacticafollows the titular military space station that functions as the last bastion of humanity in a war against the Cylons. Without spoiling the show,Battlestar Galacticafeatures a truly unpredictable twist ending that has kept viewers wondering for decades. There’s no guarantee that you’ll enjoy the ending, butBattlestar Galacticaat least doesn’t leave its audiences without a resolution to the story.
Unlike the ending ofBattlestar Galactica, theending ofFringewas almost universally adored.Fringefollows a law enforcement organization known as the Fringe Division, which investigates “fringe science” crimes in similar fashion toThe X Files.Fringeis certainly high-concept science fiction, as it delves into everything from the concept of transhumanism to the idea of an artificial intelligence singularity. Luckily, its five-season run beautifully leads viewers along its many strange cases up to a very satisfying conclusion. It’s rare for a sci-fi show to last so long and still end in a satisfying way, butFringemanaged it.
Orphan Blackhas grown far beyond its original premise with a spinoff show -Orphan Black: Echoes- as well as comics and audiobooks, but the original series is still a great standalone story.Orphan Blackfollows Sarah, a woman who quickly learns she’s a clone at the center of a massive and dark conspiracy to change humanity at a fundamental level. It was a sensation while on the air, and theending ofOrphan Blacksomehow managed to satisfy the majority of its huge fanbase and provide a worthwhile conclusion to Sarah’s story.
While it is impressive for a sci-fi show to last multiple seasons and get a real ending, new viewers also may want a quicker story. Luckily,Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersdelivers just that.Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersfollows David, a teenage boy living in a futuristic cyberpunk dystopia filled with high-tech and low life. David eventually begins implanting his body with technology to become a better criminal, andCyberpunk: Edgerunnersuses its sci-fi setting to reach a deeply poignant and brutal ending. The ending ofEdgerunnersoffers a perfect conclusion to the show’s questions of transhumanism, dystopias, and rebellion.
One of the most groundbreaking and truly original science fiction shows ever,Babylon 5, also had one of the genre’s best endings.Babylon 5centers around the titular space station that serves as a diplomatic hub for humans and aliens that are constantly engaged in some kind of conflict, be it war or disputes. It’s an exceptionally well-made series with engaging plotlines, a wide-reaching scope, and an extremely well developed world that’s easy to fall into. The ending ofBabylon 5somehow managed to pull all of its parts together and put a bow on top, and it made the entire series better.
Science fiction may not always be able to reach the finish line, but the ones that do are more often than not superb. There are other examples of sci-fi shows with great endings, such asThe Expanse, though that show wasn’t included as it didn’t reach the ending of the books it’s based on. The above 10 shows prove thatscience fictioncan and often does give viewers the closure and satisfying endings they want to see, as long as they’re given a chance. Hopefully, there will be even more sci-fi shows added to this list in the future.
