Prime Video’s 2 New Sci-Fi Shows Are Coming For The Expanse’s Title

Prime Video is hoping either the new Stargate series or The Captive’s War will fill the void left by The Expanse. The Expanse, based on the novels by James S. A. Corey, aired from 2015 to 2022, originally on SyFy before moving to Prime Video for its last seasons.

Set in a future where humans have colonized the solar system, The Expanse tells a story about the tense and complicated relationship between Mars’ government and the combined forces of Earth and Luna. The show masterfully combines personal stories, exciting space adventures, and political maneuvering, earning widespread critical acclaim.

The popularity of the show encouraged streaming platforms to create more science fiction series set in space, like Foundation, Silo, and the recent Star Trek shows. But none have been able to match the special quality that made our show so successful. Fortunately, two new shows coming to Prime Video might finally achieve that.

Stargate & The Captive’s War Are Prime Video’s 2 Most Promising New Sci-Fi Shows

Originally aired from 1997 to 2007, Stargate was a popular science fiction show that attracted a large audience, comparable to many Star Trek series. What set Stargate apart was its unique setting – unlike most space operas, the original series, which was inspired by the 1994 film of the same name, largely took place in the present day.

In the series Stargate, Colonel Jack O’Neill and his team traveled to different planets using a mysterious alien device called the Stargate, which created a wormhole for instant travel. What set it apart from other sci-fi shows was that the adventures didn’t happen in the distant future or in another galaxy; the Stargate allowed them to explore different worlds right away.

The new Stargate series will probably continue to focus on what made the original stand out. When it first aired, its unique concept helped it differentiate itself from other popular sci-fi shows like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the Battlestar Galactica reboot. But that’s not the only exciting science fiction series coming to Prime Video.

In 2024, SA Corey, the creator of The Expanse, launched a new science fiction series with the novel The Mercy of Gods. This series, called The Captive’s War, takes place even further in the future than The Expanse and tells a complicated story about humanity fighting for survival against a tremendously powerful alien hive mind.

Right Now, The Expanse Is The Best Sci-Fi TV Show Of The Past 10 Years

While The Captive’s War and The Expanse differ in some ways – notably, The Expanse focused on conflicts between humans and avoided alien warfare – the creators of The Captive’s War consider their series a follow-up to The Expanse. This connection is reflected in the shared creative team behind both franchises.

Several of the people making Prime Video’s new series, The Captive’s War, previously worked on The Expanse. This could give the new show a similar feel to the popular sci-fi series. However, The Captive’s War will face a challenge trying to reach the high level of praise that The Expanse received.

Despite the current popularity of science fiction TV, The Expanse stood out as a truly exceptional show. It received fantastic reviews, built a dedicated following, and is still frequently praised as one of the best sci-fi series of the last ten years.

It’s unlikely any new series could achieve the same level of praise as the original. Though revisiting The Expanse reveals it wasn’t perfect, it remains one of the best science fiction space dramas ever created, right up there with Star Trek: The Next Generation. Even the classic Stargate series would have a hard time measuring up.

Stargate Vs. The Captive’s War: Which Has The Best Chance Of Stealing The Expanse’s Sci-Fi Crown?

It’s difficult to imagine the new Stargate series or The Captive’s War surpassing The Expanse. However, the popularity of shows like Silo and Foundation, and the excitement surrounding upcoming sci-fi like Neuromancer and Blade Runner: 2099, demonstrate a strong demand for well-made, imaginative shows that create believable and detailed alternate worlds.

It will be much more difficult for new science fiction shows to achieve the same level of success as The Expanse because there’s now a lot more competition. Several shows are already vying for the title of The Expanse‘s successor, so Prime Video’s new series really need to be exceptional to get noticed.

While The Expanse had a bit of a slow start, it really found its footing in later seasons after a detective-focused first season. However, the new series The Captive’s War and the Stargate reboot will need to immediately grab viewers’ attention, as there are now many more science fiction shows available.

Because of this, the new Stargate series has a good opportunity to become as popular as The Expanse. Being connected to the already well-known Stargate franchise gives it an immediate fan base, which should help viewers embrace the show when it premieres.

Given that The Captive’s War shares the same creators as The Expanse, it’s just as likely to become the next big space opera. In fact, it might be The Captive’s War—not Prime Video’s new Stargate series—that fills the void left by The Expanse in the near future.

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2026-04-01 20:12