The 1980s was a decade that saw science fiction move from a niche genre to the mainstream. With the success of major films, television soon followed
Key Highlights :
Red Dwarf (1988)
Red Dwarf is a British sci-fi comedy that has been running for an impressive 12 seasons. The show follows the last man on Earth and his various companions as they explore the universe, and is known for its clever writing and enduring premise. Red Dwarf is a great example of how British science fiction can be both bleak and endlessly charming, and is available for free on Tubi.
V (1983)
V is a two-part miniseries that aired in 1983 and follows an alien invasion of Earth. The show tracks the slow realization that the aliens who claim to come in peace are in fact much more interested in becoming a conquering army. It's a nice, compact watch, and one that was a major deal when it was first released. V is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.
Quantum Leap (1989)
Quantum Leap is a light, science fiction joy that follows a scientist who finds himself traveling through time, hopping into a different body in a different period for every episode. The show was immensely popular when it first aired and has become even more popular in retrospect. The stakes are almost always incredibly low, but the charm of Quantum Leap is the unique adventure that comes with each and every episode. Quantum Leap is streaming on Peacock.
These 1980s sci-fi TV shows have endured, and are still worth watching today. Whether it’s the British comedy of Red Dwarf, the alien invasion of V, or the time-hopping Quantum Leap, these three shows are perfect examples of why sci-fi storytelling became much more popular in the 1980s across a wide array of different formats, whether it was in the U.S. or the U.K.
