10 Forgotten 1980s Sci-Fi TV Shows Worth Rediscovering Today
By
[email protected] (Pauli Poisuo)
6d ago· 8 min readenInsight
85/100
Golden Brown
Bagelometer↗
Sesame, salt, and substance. A flagship bake.
Score85TypeanalysisSentimentpositive
Summary
A nostalgic deep-dive into 10 lesser-known science fiction television series from the 1980s that have been largely forgotten but remain worth watching. The article highlights shows like "The Tripods," "The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers," "Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future," "Otherworld," "The Starlost," "Misfits of Science," "Automan," "Manimal," "Quark," and "Space: 1999" (which actually aired in the '70s but is included). Each entry discusses the show's premise, why it was overlooked or cancelled prematurely, and what makes it still compelling today—whether for its innovative concepts, practical effects, cult charm, or influence on later sci-fi.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledSome folks think the only sci-fi on TV in the '80s was 'Star Trek: TNG' and the declining years of the original 'Doctor Who' series. Real heads know better.
The Tripods was ambitious, atmospheric, and genuinely unsettling—a rare breed of sci-fi that treated its young audience like adults.
These shows were weird, wonderful, and often way ahead of their time. They deserve to be remembered.
Some folks think the only sci-fi on TV in the '80s was "Star Trek: TNG" and the declining years of the original "Doctor Who" series. Real heads know better.
