The Expanse: The Pinnacle Of Sci-Fi Television

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With so many science fiction TV shows available, The Expanse truly stands out as one of the best. While shows like Star Trek, Star Wars, and Stranger Things have had long runs, few sci-fi series are considered genuinely high-quality television.

These days, streaming services don’t seem to prioritize science fiction as much as other genres. That’s what makes The Expanse so important – it’s a standout sci-fi show that likely wouldn’t have been made in today’s crowded streaming environment. Many consider it the best sci-fi series available, showcasing qualities that most others lack.

Both Star Wars and Star Trek currently depend a lot on familiar themes and characters, which can work, but they haven’t always succeeded when trying something new. In contrast, The Expanse, over its six seasons, offers something truly fresh: a compelling story, constant suspense, a realistic and detailed universe, and relatable human characters alongside its science fiction elements. It’s a show that’s hard to beat for sci-fi fans.

The Expanse Is What Perfect Sci-Fi Television Looks Like

In every way, The Expanse is a perfect example of science fiction television. Visually, it stands out from most sci-fi shows on TV. Unlike the polished look of recent Star Wars series or shows filmed on limited sets, The Expanse uses realistic sets to create a gritty and believable sci-fi universe.

The settings in The Belt feel incredibly realistic and worn, almost to an extreme degree, making them feel genuinely inhabited. The ships and planets—both within and outside our solar system—are designed to look like believable, practical versions of what future space travel might actually entail.

As a huge sci-fi fan, what really struck me about The Expanse is how real it looks. They did almost everything practically, which is amazing! CGI was used, but mostly for the more fantastical, space-opera elements. It really feels grounded, something only a show like Andor has really pulled off in the sci-fi genre. Honestly, The Expanse just looks like what perfect sci-fi should be.

What sets The Expanse apart is its realistic approach to science fiction. Unlike Star Wars or Star Trek, it doesn’t rely on things like lightsabers, alien attacks, or magic. While the show’s core mystery involves something from outer space, it mainly explores how people within our solar system would respond to such a discovery.

At the heart of The Expanse was the complex relationship between Earth, Mars, and the people living in the asteroid belt. The show also explored various groups fighting for change, all connected to technology from a long-lost alien civilization. What set The Expanse apart was its focus on realistic and human stories, rather than far-fetched sci-fi tropes.

While sci-fi often features fantastical elements, The Expanse smartly focused on a more realistic story. This made it incredibly engaging, and along with its impressive visuals, allowed the show to be seen as a truly credible and serious work of science fiction.

Space Opera TV Shows Like The Expanse Are Not Easy To Find

Good, complex space operas like The Expanse are becoming increasingly rare on television. While there’s plenty of Star Trek available now thanks to streaming, it generally maintains the lighter, more adventurous feel of the original series. The many Star Wars shows, including both animated and live-action series like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, tend to follow a similar pattern.

Many science fiction shows have dramatic parts, but their overall stories often feel more like fantasy. The Expanse stands out as a rare and compelling sci-fi series. Similarly, the best Star Wars show, Andor, is successful because it’s a more grounded and serious space opera compared to other shows in the franchise.

Like Andor, The Expanse stands out for its realistic and grounded approach to storytelling. Unlike many recent sci-fi shows, such as Apple TV+’s Foundation and Invasion, which lean more into fantasy, The Expanse takes its narrative very seriously.

The Expanse Is A Reminder That TV Shows Are Allowed To Be TV Shows

What makes The Expanse different from many other sci-fi shows on TV is that it actually feels like a TV show. Many modern sci-fi series, like Star Wars, often feel like long movies broken into episodes. Instead of the traditional feel of a show with distinct episodes and seasons, they resemble extended films. The Expanse avoids this, delivering a more classic TV experience.

Season 4 of The Expanse takes place almost entirely on a new planet, shifting away from the characters and political conflicts that defined the first three seasons. While there are still some connections to the earlier storylines, this change allows the season to feel more episodic, a structure likely aided by its basis on the The Expanse novels by James S. A. Corey.

Many science fiction shows use shorter, more cinematic seasons to create a grander, more sweeping feel. The Expanse does this effectively while still maintaining a traditional TV show structure. Even with all the great sci-fi on television, The Expanse remains one of the best examples of the genre.

The Sci-Fi Genre Needs More Shows Like The Expanse

Sci-fi shows could really learn from The Expanse. Streamers don’t need to simply copy it, but they should aim for the same qualities – like its realistic approach, compelling stories, visual style, and overall structure – that made The Expanse so successful.

While many streaming services offer exciting and imaginative science fiction, The Expanse stands out. It’s one of the few shows that delivers a particularly realistic and thoughtful take on the genre, something that’s currently missing from a lot of sci-fi programming.

While The Expanse is a highly regarded show, there aren’t many series quite like it on television. Viewers are always searching for science fiction that is both intelligent and captivating, and The Expanse truly stands out as one of the best examples, demonstrating the heights that sci-fi television can reach. It’s arguably the best of its kind, especially within the Prime Video catalog.

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2025-10-28 00:09