On television,science fictionhas come a long way, and much of the awesomeness seen today is a result of the strong foundation laid by shows that aired before the ‘80s. Thanks to the success ofDoctor WhoandStar Trekin the ‘60s, more networks and production houses felt the need to explore the genre. Showrunners and writers whose imaginations were running wild were thus offered the opportunity to transfer their ideas from their brains to the small screen. Consequently, some of the genre’s strongest offerings were born in the1970s.
As in any case where there is an overabundance of quality, it took something special for a show to stand out in the era. Thankfully, a few productions had enough creative ideas and compelling plots to make them worthy of investing time in. Most of them have also aged well. In thecurrent age of CGI advancement, many older television projects can be hard on the eyes, especially because they were made on smaller budgets. However, these shows still hold up visually, as well as in all other major production areas.
10The Tomorrow People (1973 – 1979)
The Tomorrow People‘s narrative concerns an ensemble of teenagers and children that is ushering in the next stage of evolution — “Homo novis,” or, alternatively, “Tomorrow People.” Instead of experiencing the usual adolescent changes, they acquire special powers such as teleportation and telepathy. Because they are gifted, the youngsters are often forced to protect ordinary humans — whom they refer to as the “Saps” (Homo sapiens) — from external threats.
Adults Are Caricatures
This British show’s clever take on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is guaranteed to wow any science buff, yet the show mainly shines through the creative plots and characterizations rather than the technical aspects. As one example, adults are depicted as total buffoons. They make numerous mistakes and are in constant need of saving, proving that Homo sapiens is indeed an inferior species.
There’s also something in here for history lovers.Various real-world figuresshow up as exaggerated versions of themselves, or are made into supernatural entities. For example, Adolf Hitler gets reawakened and is revealed to be an extraterrestrial metamorph, whose goal is now to plant Neofascism in the heads of the Homo novis.The Tomorrow Peopleis currently unavailable on streaming.
9Blake’s 7 (1978 – 1981)
Blake’s 7follows the political non-conformist Roj Blake (Gareth Thomas) as he leads a section of rebels against the powerful Terran Federation that rules many planets in the universe, including Earth. The protagonist’s journey begins when he is arrested, framed for a crime he did not commit, and sentenced to life in a remote colony. While heading there, he and a few other prisoners escape on an alien spaceship named Liberator. Because the Liberator is faster and better equipped than most of the Federation craft, Blake and his counterparts easily kickstart a campaign to end the malevolent dictatorship.
Subverting the Tropes
WithBlake’s 7, the BBC aimed to subvert the sci-fi tropes established byDoctor WhoandStar Trek.Most of Blake’s pals are antiheroes, and at some point, one of them even considers killing them all and keeping the spacecraft for himself. The large computers that The Doctor and other heroes of the era relied on are also absent here. Instead, viewers get to see innovative tech like teleportation discs and laser rings. Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce) is also a very likable villain, better than the numerous other TV baddies whom fans were always glad to see dead.
Besides that, the show counts as one of thequintessential shows about A.I., as it has a powerful and rebellious computer system known as Orac. Its presence, coupled with the inclusion of numerous postmodernist themes, makes the series just as relevant today as it was in the ‘70s.StreamBlake’s 7on BritBox.
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8The Six Million Dollar Man (1973 – 1978)
Based on Martin Caidin’s 1972 best-selling novelCyborg,The Six Million Dollar Manis about a cyborg secret agent whose body cost the government $6 million to rebuild. After a launch accident, NASA astronaut USAF Colonel Steve Austin (Lee Majors) gets what would later be known as the “RoboCoprebuild.” His arms, legs, and eyes are replaced with bionic implants that enable him to run at ludicrous speeds and have telescopic vision. His limbs are also said to be as powerful as a bulldozer. After the enhancements, he starts working for the OSI, or Office of Scientific Intelligence.
Arguably the Greatest Sci-Fi Show Intro of All Time
Steve Austin… astronaut… a man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world’s first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before …better, stronger, faster.
Never has there been a better sci-fi voice-over intro than this. The words say everything there is to know about the character, hence viewers who start the show midway can still understand the kind of protagonist Steve Austin is.
The protagonist is often categorized among the early popular TV superheroes, yet he trumps his counterparts because he isn’t overpowered. Whenever he is in a cold place, his bionic legs become less effective. Additionally, one of his arms is weaker, hence he often gets injured. While the series saw tremendous success throughout the 1970s, it only saw a single spinoff,The Bionic Woman, prior to the end of the decade, along with a handful of made-for-television movies. However, for those who miss Steve Austin, there is good news.A reboot starring Mark Wahlberg is in the works.StreamThe Million Dollar Manon Peacock.
7Space: 1999 (1975 – 1977)
Created by the husband-and-wife duo of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson,Space: 1999takes viewers to September 1999, when the moon falls out of its orbit and wanders away from the solar system. The 300-person crew at Moonbase Alpha gets caught up in this unfortunate event, forcing the members to survive in space for three years, before eventually landing on a new planet where they deal with alien threats and habitational challenges.
Stunning Visuals
Modern viewers who might be plagued by ‘70s phobia because of the poor visuals evident in most of the decade’s projects can still check outSpace: 1999.The show is aesthetically delicious, and that’s largely because of two factors. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive British shows ever made (£3.5 million for Season One), likely due to all the necessary special effects that were utilized.
The Kubrick influence is also evident all over the series. Many shots look similar to those found inthe director’s sci-fi masterpiece,2001: A Space Odyssey. Additionally, some of the show’s staff were imported from that particular film, notably the special effects' director Brian Johnson. Martin Landau also plays a key role in the series, following his roles in films likeNorth by NorthwestandThey Call Me Mister Tibbs!StreamSpace: 1999on Peacock.
6Battlestar Galactica (1978 – 1979)
Battlestar Galacticais set in a distant future where humans are having a rather hard time. The galaxy is a mess, and the last surviving people in the universe are living aboard a fleet of 220 spaceships protected by the superior Battlestar Galactica spacecraft. Their goal is to locate planet Earth and settle on it. However, their quest proves tough because they are being hunted by members of a robotic race known as the Cylons.
Less Gloomy than the Reboot
The 2004Battlestar Galacticareboot occasionally gets criticized for its dark plots, but fans who didn’t enjoy it are likely to like the original. In fact, the original is arguably the better show for some, as it’s more of a campy story about ambition, hope, and ascendancy. Additionally, it has a positive ending that marks the survival and reorganization of the human race.
The fact that the show spawned a large franchise is also proof of its awesomeness. Overall, it’sa perfect alternative toStar Wars— so much so thatFox even filed a lawsuit, citing copyright infringement, plagiarism, and unfair competition. The producers also alleged that 34 of the show’s distinct ideas weren’t original. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed.BuyBattlestar Galacticaon Apple TV+.
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5UFO (1970 – 1971)
Aliens have committed an extremely high number of atrocities against humans in movies and TV shows. InUFO,they are at it again, and this time, they are showing up on Earth, harvesting human organs and inserting them into their weakening bodies. Alarmed, various countries team up to form SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation), an agency tasked with stopping the malicious extraterrestrial visitors and learning more about their origins.
Brassy and Stylish
One thing that immediately stands out aboutUFOis the costume design, makeup, and general styling. Purple wigs and silver skirts? These are only crumbs of the amazing fashion cake. One of the moonbase commanders has an entire makeup briefcase, and another keeps praising his own appearance like he’s Johnny Bravo.
The costume design and presentation aren’t the only glaring things about the series. For a ‘70s production,the tone is darkand smutty. “These clouds give about as much cover as a g-string on a belly-dancer!” a character mentions at one point. Few episodes have happy endings and on most occasions, the agents sacrifice a couple of human lives to stop alien attacks. Besides that, the themes of adultery and addiction are common. Given the retro-futurism on display, it’s legitimately surprising to see the series dive into occasionally grimy territory.UFOis currently unavailable on streaming.
4Doomwatch (1970 - 1972)
Scientific inventions and technological advancements are essential, but they can also be a threat to humanity’s existence. Such is the conversation currently happening around A.I. InDoomwatch, there is the Department for the Observation and Measurement of Scientific Work, an agency tasked with dealing with the worst-case outcomes of lab experiments. The agency is headed by Nobel winner Dr. Spencer Quist (John Paul), an Oppenheimer-like genius who is said to have helped create the first atomic bomb.
Good Intentions… Harrowing Outcomes
As a good sci-fi show should,Doomwatchdoesn’t condemn science. It merely argues that science should be regulated. The woes in the series premiere are caused by a virus that was created to break down plastic waste, but it ends up contaminating other areas such as jets and cars, causing crashes. Another episode involves the military creating genetically engineered marine dolphins to reduce the pollution from submarines, only for the animals to become murderous. Whether it is environmental pollution or political tensions, the showaddresses all kinds of timeless topicsacross a total of nearly 40 episodes.StreamDoomwatchon FlixFling.
3Survivors (1975 – 1977)
Decades before the COVID-19 pandemic,Survivorssomehow shares several elements between its plot and the real-life event. The series revolves around a group of humans who have miraculouslysurvived a deadly plague pandemicthat has wiped out most of the population. The fictional plague originates from a Chinese scientist before spreading across the world via domestic and international travel. Simply labeled “The Death”, the disease is highly lethal, killing a whopping 4,999 of every 5,000 human beings it comes into contact with. The titular survivors are left to their own devices to survive.
Anyone who watches theSurvivorswill feel a sense of relief, knowing that COVID-19 never became as bad as “The Death.” Here, there is no quick medical intervention. Most people die and those that remain aren’t necessarily smart enough to come up with the appropriate measures and inventions to halt the mayhem. Amorality, therefore, comes into play. The lines between right and wrong become bloated, resulting in asocial behaviors and senseless killings as others attempt to rebuild. It’s a thrilling post-apocalyptic series that may have never even slipped by your radar.Survivorsis currently unavailable on streaming.
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2Timeslip (1970 – 1971)
Timeslip’s plot revolves around two children — Simon Randall (Spencer Banks) and Liz Skinner (Cheryl Burfield) — who discover a portal known as the Time Barrier, which not only allows them to travel back in time but also explore alternative futures. The portal is located in an abandoned military base, so the kids mostly get to go about their adventures without raising much suspicion. Because Simon is erudite, and Liz is a skeptic, the two children often clash throughout their adventures. However, as they explore alternate timelines and occasionally alter the course of history, they’ll come to find that there are more important things to worry about than petty arguments.
The “How?” Always Gets Answered
A good sci-fi show never leaves any questions surrounding its internal logic, andTimeslipcan be commended for tightening all the shoestrings. Viewers never have to wonder why no adult had ever been to the Naval base before. For one thing, entering the Naval base requires one to crawl, and that’s something kids are likely to be more willing to do. Likewise, the series always addresses the potential complications of time travel in a way that makes sense. The seriesis also philosophical, arguing that human behavior is often determined by the kinds of environments they find themselves in and the people they encounter. Whenever the two schoolchildren move to a different period, they abandon their beliefs in an extremely irrational or righteous manner.BuyTimeslipon Prime Video.
1Sapphire & Steel (1979 – 1982)
Sapphire & Steelfollows the adventures of two agents sent to investigate time and space irregularities. Though they appear as humans, they are superpowered beings whose background is never explained. Sapphire (Joanna Lumley) has the ability to manipulate time, while Steel (David McCallum) can control all metallic objects. Each episode finds the two battling various supernatural forces, often triggered by “weak spots” found throughout time, occasionally at the expense of a few in favor of the many.
Fun Detective Formula
The series works by plucking detective tropes and plucking them into sci-fi settings. Each episode begins with a reported incident, and then the two protagonists show up out of nowhere, the same way fictional detectives tend to pull up at crime scenes. Even better is that the cases are never the open-and-shut kind.
With each problem that gets solved, new questions are raised, pulling the viewer deeper and deeper into the mystery. Furthermore, scientific explanations are provided for supernatural phenomena. Ghosts are described as mere remnants of time, so Steel manages to destroy them every time, thanks to his ability to freeze himself to “absolute zero.” It’s a series that reimagines and reinterprets established genre conventions in a way that’s genuinely engaging, and in doing so, it saw a total of 34 episodes across four seasons.StreamSapphire & Steelon Tubi, Fubo, or Plex.
For more interesting science fiction , be sure to check out our picks for forgotten science fiction shows from the 1980s below:
