5 sci‑fi thrillers that unravel one episode at a time

I have said it before, but it's worth repeating: science fiction is just one of those genres where it's possible to make any sort of show or movie you want. While I love some fast-paced, action-packed sci-fi, there's also something to be said for slowing the pace down a bit. Some of the great sci-fi movies that are underappreciated by audiences fit this definition for me.

When it comes to something truly spectacular in the subgenre of sci-fi thriller, I think the best ones are actually the ones that slowly develop. A mystery unfolding, or characters developing, only for that explosion of tension to hit just at the right moment. That's a style that resonates with me, and some of my favorite sci-fi thrillers embody it perfectly.

Dark

Watch Dark on Netflix

I recommend this show often to my friends, but with the caveat that it can be a very slow-burn. There's a lot of set-up here, but when the thrills come, they are absolutely top-notch. Each episode gives you just a little bit more of the puzzle pieces you need, though you'll likely need a chart to keep track of it all. Especially when Dark starts to really get into the machinations of its time travel rules.

Dark is three seasons of everything you'd want from a science fiction thriller, where every episode feels like it needs to be here. On rewatches, you can really see the meticulousness that goes into the construction of its narrative. I will sing this show's praises for as long as I live.

Altered Carbon

Watch Altered Carbon on Netflix

This twisty little cyberpunk show has it all: mystery, dystopian landscapes, and the ramifications of immortality in a universe where the mega-rich rule all. Protagonist Takeshi Kovacs (played by Joel Kinnaman and Anthony Mackie) is a fascinating character—a rebel from his own time forced to solve the murder of a wealthy man who isn't quite dead yet.

While the first season is far more compelling than the second, the entire series is more than worth watching. Especially since live-action cyberpunk offerings are just so rare nowadays, and high-quality ones even more so. I think it's a shame that we didn't get more, but that's the world we live in now. Still, if you're looking for an intriguing mystery within a sci-fi setting that has moments of great action sequences, Altered Carbon will satisfy.

Andor

Watch Andor on Disney+

Very few sci-fi shows measure up to Andor for me, and there's a good reason for that. This is unlike any other Star Wars entry in existence. A slow-burning political thriller with themes of sacrifice and morally complex characters, this truly is Star Wars for something of a more mature audience. Anchored by powerful performances from heavyweights like Stellan Skarsgård, Denise Gough, and Diego Luna as the eponymous Cassian Andor, this is two seasons of pure excellence.

Again, the pacing can be slow at first, but I never found Andor to be boring or uninteresting, because I knew it was all building toward something special. And that is an understatement. Andor's second season is one of the best pieces of media I have watched in quite some time, and none of it would be as compelling without the unfolding plot that preceded it.

Severance

Watch Severance on Apple TV+

I almost did not include this series because who hasn't heard of it by now, right? But Severance is truly a great little sci-fi show with lots of thriller and comedic elements that blend together so well that it's almost unbelievable. Every single episode gives you more and more clues about what's happening at Lumon Industries, but similar to shows like Lost, it raises just as many questions as it answers.

Severance is the great modern mystery box series, and I can't wait to see where it goes next. The first two seasons are brilliant, though, and worthy of every award they've been nominated for. With a powerhouse cast like Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, and Britt Lower, you will be enamored by these characters. If you haven't gotten around to Severance yet, now's the time to get on board the hype train.

For All Mankind

Watch For All Mankind on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is really killing it with its offering of science fiction shows, and For All Mankind is yet another example. What would the world look like if the Soviet Union had beaten the United States to be the first nation on the moon? For All Mankind answers this question, and so many others. It's a fascinating alternate history series, and I'm amazed that Apple took a chance on it.

For All Mankind isn't technically a sci-fi thriller, but there are moments where the slow-building tension culminates in some truly thrilling scenes anyway. But as a character drama with a unique spin on what our future could have looked like, there's no better show out there.

Slow-burn sci-fi thrillers have to maintain a tricky balance

A good show needs a good crew and writers, and if you're trying to balance sci-fi and thrills with a concept that needs to unravel a little bit at a time, you need to be careful. These are some of the best shows around when it comes to hooking an audience and keeping everything compelling. If you're looking for some slow-burn thrillers that will keep you hooked without the sci-fi element, though, there are plenty of options there, too.