Sci Fi Where Kids Feed Parents to Lions
Pop culture and entertainment continue to develop in exciting and ambitious ways, but television is a medium that's experienced tremendous growth. Risky and challenging programming, an emphasis on storytelling and creative auteurs, and several new streaming distribution channels have given television more freedom than ever before.
These opportunities have been especially generous towards genre programming. In particular, niche science fiction series have increased in popularity and now feel part of the norm. Sci-fi is a rewarding genre, but can sometimes cater to adults. Fortunately, there are many sci-fi TV shows sure to entertain audiences young or adult.
Updated 24th of August, by Isaac Williams: Science fiction remains a popular genre on television, but it's hard to know what is and isn't a good watch for the whole family without rolling the dice. This list has been updated to include more content both adults and kids can enjoy.
15/15 Stranger Things Embraces The Past
Stranger Things might be the perfect science fiction series for all ages. The sci-fi series holds a tremendous amount of nostalgia for the 1980s, which adults will appreciate. It also leans into the horror genre, delivering some genuinely disturbing visuals and creatures.
Stranger Things focuses on a group of children and it definitely embraces their adventurous innocence when it comes to its demographic. Much like the show's audience, the young characters in Stranger Things continue to grow up, which facilitates increasingly deeper subject matter.
14/15 Doctor Who Is An Iconic Family Classic
In its initial airing, Doctor Who was famous for being family friendly, and the same is true of its 2005 reboot. The famous show follows a time traveler and his companions as they explore the universe. Although it features plenty of enemies and monsters, the show isn't a violent one, with its focus being on clever and peaceful solutions to complex problems.
Doctor Who has its suggestive moments, and some episodes are infamously scary, but these are typically well-judged and appropriate for a family audience. The show will challenge younger audiences in an age-appropriate way, while still being entertaining for adult viewers.
13/15 The Mandalorian Is Perfect For Star Wars Fans Of All Ages
Star Wars is a prolific science fiction property that's almost impossible to avoid. For decades, Star Wars has been a cinematic endeavor, but Disney+ has become a new home for fresh Star Wars stories, with even more on the way. The Mandalorian is a love letter to the broader strokes of the Star Wars universe that will please the older longtime fans that grew up with the series.
However, The Mandalorian's episodic approach and its ability to tell more intimate Star Wars stories is perfect for newcomers. Although it has influences from Westerns, crime stories, and other more "adult" genres, the show blends them well with kid-friendly content. This combination is best exemplified by Grogu's cuteness, the Youngling adorably referred to as "Baby Yoda."
12/15 The Flash Delivers Light-Hearted Fun With A Serious Undercurrent
The Arrowverse is largely family-friendly, but some of its series stray into darker territory some parents may not be comfortable with. For more content-conscious parents, The Flash is a good choice. It's one of the lightest and most entertaining shows in the franchise, but with less of the suggestive content shows like Legends of Tomorrow embrace.
The show focuses on one of DC's warmest and most entertaining heroes, with consistent themes around self-improvement and restraint. It dips into darker moments from time to time, but for the most part, The Flash proves engaging for everyone.
11/15 Locke & Key Uses Family Values To Make Sense Of Its Mystery
For years, there have been unsuccessful attempts to adapt Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's Locke & Key comic series for television. Netflix recently cracked the formula by taking a rather adult property and making it skew towards a younger audience.
Locke & Key looks at three siblings reunited through trauma and come to terms with the fantastical circumstances that surround their home. The chemistry between the Locke siblings will resonate with both adults and children, while delivering a trippy sci-fi adventure all ages will enjoy.
10/15 Star Trek: Discovery Is A Bold Step Anyone Can Appreciate
Star Trek is one of the biggest science fiction franchises of all time and it's done an amazing job penetrating television, feature films, and other mediums of entertainment. There's been a recent Star Trek resurgence with multiple new series on the air at once.
Star Trek: Discoveryhas four seasons under its belt and it's captured the magic of the original series, while displaying an original voice. The new animated series, Star Trek: Prodigy, skews younger and is more child-friendly, but Discovery appeals to adults without alienating younger audiences.
9/15 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Appeals To Fans Of The Films
There are few franchises more universally beloved than Star Wars. Some may think that, as a cartoon, Star Wars: The Clone Wars only holds value for younger audiences. However, it's proven shockingly entertaining for audiences of most ages.
In some ways, The Clone Wars is more mature than the films — at least the prequel trilogy — taking a look at the grittier side of war and politics. It has some genuinely emotional or frightening characters, moments, and episodes, but not to such an extent that children can't watch. For fans of the films, The Clone Wars is a must-see.
8/15 Primeval Proves Educational For Everyone
Designed to appeal to Doctor Who fans, Primeval follows a government team that deals with creatures from the past and future that are appearing in the present. It shares some similarities with Torchwood, Doctor Who's more adult-oriented spin-off, but in a more toned-down fashion.
The show is frightening, but not in a way older children can't handle. It has some violence, but nothing that couldn't be shown in a PG-13 film. Likewise, its suggestive scenes leave things suggestive. In addition, it actually tries to be education regarding dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, becoming a prime choice for children who already have an interest in the topic.
7/15 Lost In Space Looks At A Fractured Family And The Power Of Connection
It's nothing new for television to take a successful property from several decades ago and give it a modern facelift to appeal to new audiences. The original Lost In Space was classic episodic television that wasn't far removed from a sci-fi version of Gilligan's Island.
Netflix's modern reboot is grittier and more polished, but its greatest asset continues to be its focus on an overwhelmed and estranged family. Netflix's Lost In Space has three seasons, which have gradually gotten stronger and grown more mature each year.
6/15 The Orville Is A Love Letter To Old Fashioned Sci-Fi Storytelling
Seth MacFarlane is best known for his animated contributions to television, Family Guy and American Dad, but he's progressively made a push for live-action comedy. The Orville, which will soon drop its third season on Hulu, is a surprisingly passionate love letter to classic Star Trek.
MacFarlane's classic juvenile comedic sensibilities are present, but The Orville is much more interested in stylistically paying service to the sci-fi stories that fueled the original Star Trek. It's more thoughtful than it gets credit for, which helps it appeal to all demographics.
5/15 Superman & Lois Gives The Man Of Steel A Family
The Arrowverse remains one of the most popular superhero franchises on TV, but its tonal inconsistency and increasing interconnectedness isn't for everyone. Superman & Lois reflects a conscious step towards more careful stories that are interested in character development and more grounded elements.
One of the biggest twists in Superman & Lois is that the titular couple have several children, who are coming to terms with their own superpowers. This family aspect makes Superman & Lois the perfect equalizer for audiences of all ages.
4/15 Upload Considers The Great Beyond And Makes It Feel Approachable
Death is inevitably tricky territory to expose children to, but there are some exceptionally thoughtful pieces of television that approach death in a manner that's successfully comedic, yet also thought provoking. Upload, a sci-fi comedy on Amazon Prime from Greg Daniels, touches on this theme.
Upload attempts to break down questions regarding life, death, and identity. Set in the future, the recently deceased can upload their consciousness into a virtual afterlife that's made of their own choosing. Upload maintains an uplifting tone and is psychologically deep enough to entertain adults without overwhelming kids.
3/15 Loki Is A Bold Mix Of The Surreal And The Silly
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most popular entertainment franchises in the world, with broad appeal to both children and adults. Its projects aren't limited to the big screen, however. Phase Four has seen a big push to streaming services, with several TV shows available on Disney+.
Loki is one of the more entertaining MCU TV efforts, both in a storytelling and visual sense. The six-episode series breaks down the concept of a multiverse in an understandable fashion. There are epic action heights that will appeal to the older crowd, but also a bizarre sense of humor for the kids.
2/15 The Expanse Is Child-Friendly Without Being Patronizing
The Expanse deals with heavier subject matter than a lot of science fiction shows, taking on elements from the conspiracy thriller genre against the backdrop of a cold war in space. However, it's not gratuitous or unsuitable in these elements. For the most part, the series is an entertaining adventure worth watching.
It may not be for every younger viewer, with a political and character-driven plot, but it's not beyond the grasp of any older children who may watch. It doesn't patronize its audience. Instead, it trusts them to follow and understand its subject matter.
1/15 Lost Is A Mysterious Masterpiece Everyone Should Experience
Lost was one of the biggest sci-fi series of its decade and it helped kickstart television's fascination with serialized and mysterious narratives. Lost balances its unpredictable science fiction with gripping character studies, and it culminates into something special.
Lost has become a staple countless other science fiction shows have desperately tried to replicate. While the showdeals with death, addiction, and more adult themes, it handles these topics in a sanitized manner, making it the perfect gateway series to introduce younger audiences to serialized sci-fi storytelling.
Source: https://www.cbr.com/sci-fi-shows-for-kids-and-adults/
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