10 Shows To Watch if You Love ‘Star Wars’
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Since its birth with George Lucas‘ legendary A New Hope in 1977, the Star Wars franchise has been a pillar of contemporary pop culture like no other. Wearing its influences on its sleeve, and itself also hugely influential in the field of sci-fi and fantasy media, it’s one of the most important transmedia franchises in history. Its coverage spans the worlds of film, comic books, novels, and—of course—television.
Despite having copious amounts of Star Wars content to consume, however, fans of the galaxy far, far away may crave TV shows that are similar, but not necessarily set within Lucas’ fascinating universe. From space operas to space Westerns to space comedies and beyond, Star Wars covers such a wide variety of genres that it’s relatively easy to find shows that satisfy those who love it.
10
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)
Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko
There’s a clear king of televisual Star Wars media: Dave Filoni, one of the minds behind the likes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. The fact of the matter is that none of that would have happened without Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was Filoni’s work on the extraordinarily popular Nickelodeon show that attracted George Lucas’ attention and landed the creative the Clone Wars gig.
Filoni’s presence and Lucas’ stamp of approval aren’t the only reasons for Star Wars fans to watch Last Airbender, though. In fact, pretty much everyone who loves fantasy should check it out, seeing as it’s one of the best original fantasy TV shows in history. Amusing, entertaining, emotionally riveting, and beautifully animated, it’s a masterclass in children’s animation—although, no matter their age, any viewer can and will fall in love with the adventures of Aang and his friends.
9
‘Red Dwarf’ (1988–)
Created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor
There are plenty of exceptional sci-fi shows hailing from Great Britain, and the high-concept comedy Red Dwarf is one of the best. In fact, it’s perhaps one of the most criminally underrated sci-fi shows of all time. A cult classic like no other, the show has taken a few hiatuses here and there (which is the main reason why it’s been running for 37 years but only has 12 seasons), but it has consistently remained one of the best sci-fi comedies on television.
The question of what has kept Red Dwarf‘s cult following so loyal for so long has several answers. It is, if anything, a hugely multifaceted series. Star Wars fans will love the show’s visuals, creativity, and endless amounts of originality; and, even though the jokes don’t always land and the storytelling quality varies from season to season, Red Dwarf never fails to provide a terrific time.
8
‘Battlestar Galactica’ (1978–1979)
Created by Glen A. Larson
2004’s Battlestar Galactica requires no introduction. It is, after all, not only one of the best sci-fi shows of the 2000s, but of all time. But, while far more uneven and significantly inferior in pretty much every way, the original series (which came out just a year after the original Star Wars) often gets overshadowed by its successor, when it actually deserves far more praise than it tends to get.
Yes, it’s cheesy. Yes, it doesn’t have many memorable characters. Yes, most of its elements feel pretty dated by modern standards. But the 1970s’ Battlestar Galactica is nevertheless incredibly fun, with a charming nostalgic tone, inventive visuals, and lots of cool sci-fi concepts. Yes, the 2000s version is a must-see as well, but fans of the makeshift qualities of the Star Wars original trilogy are guaranteed to appreciate and enjoy the original Battlestar.
7
‘Lost in Space’ (2018–2021)
Created by Irwin Allen
One of the most underrated Netflix original shows, Lost in Space proves that the streaming giant knows what it’s doing when it comes to sci-fi shows. A reimagining of the 1965 TV show of the same name, itself inspired by the 1962 comic book Space Family Robinson, itself loosely based on the 19th-century novel The Swiss Family Robinson, it’s a show whose trajectory of inspirations and sources never detracts from its delightful originality.
For people whose love for Star Wars largely stems from the droids, the exciting space exploration, and the fun family dynamics, Lost in Space is an obligatory watch. The rare kind of sci-fi series that only keeps getting better with each passing season, it’s a family-friendly genre fun that mixes emotion with thrills in the best ways.
6
‘Stargate SG-1’ (1997–2007)
Developed by Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright
Sparked by Roland Emmerich‘s 1994 sci-fi adventure film Stargate, the franchise of the same name may not be quite of the caliber of Star Wars, but it’s just as iconic within sci-fi fan niches. The film was followed up by a TV series sequel: Stargate SG-1, which tackles military themes without ever forgetting to be purely entertaining fun.
Although the series was initially released to a lukewarm reception, with time, it started to become the cult classic that it is today. Accessible, campy, and gleefully self-aware, Stargate SG-1 is also perfect for fans of the likes of Doctor Who. Simply an excellent sci-fi show all around.
5
‘Farscape’ (1999–2003)
Created by Rockne S. O’Bannon
Conceived of in the early 1990s by creator Rockne S. O’Bannon and produced by puppeteer Brian Henson of The Jim Henson Company, Farscape is still terribly underrated despite being one of the most fun space operas the small screen has ever seen. Creative, bold, and also quite a bit wild when it needs to be, it’s an intergalactic romp the likes of which you don’t really find on TV nowadays.
Densely plotted, relying largely on animatronics and other practical effects, and never afraid to break the rules, Farscape shares these qualities—and more than a few more—with Star Wars, making it ideal for fans looking for their next series to tackle. Its untimely cancellation was a tragedy, but there’s nevertheless more than enough content for viewers to revel in today.
- Release Date
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1999 – 2002
- Writers
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Rockne S. O’Bannon, David Kemper, Justin Monjo, Richard Manning
4
‘The Expanse’ (2015–2022)
Developed by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby
Perhaps Amazon Prime Video’s best sci-fi show, The Expanse is based on James S. A. Corey‘s series of novels of the same title. First produced by Syfy for three seasons, then canceled and picked up by Amazon for three more seasons, it’s televisual space opera at its peak. It’s ambitious, it’s complex, and it’s guaranteed to become a cult classic in just a few years.
With its nuanced blend of genres and tones, extraordinary production values, and surprisingly high-quality writing (something not often seen in this genre), The Expanse proves that genre television can be prestigious, too. It has a shocking dedication to technological realism and plenty of cool sci-fi elements, but also an emotionally compelling narrative to keep the whole thing glued together.
3
‘Foundation’ (2021–)
Created by Josh Friedman and David S. Goyer
Throughout recent years, Apple TV+ has become the home of smart sci-fi series. This includes Foundation, one of their best, loosely based on the seminal series of stories by Isaac Asimov. All throughout its run, it has been one of the most acclaimed sci-fi shows currently on television. With a huge budget and impressive performances, it’s proof that Apple TV+ are at the top of their game when it comes to producing genre shows.
Those who love Star Wars for how it plays with genre tropes and how it has defined and redefined the space opera genre throughout its run will surely enjoy Foundation. Its first season is grand, epic, and expansive, but it’s the stunning second season that really proves that this is guaranteed to be a masterpiece as it continues. The pacing is phenomenal, the writing is impressive, and the production qualities are top-notch—something quite refreshing for a genre that typically has to rely on cheesy technical aspects.
2
‘Star Trek: The Original Series’ (1966)
Created by Gene Roddenberry
What better show could a Star Wars fan watch than the most iconic and influential space opera that television has ever seen? Star Trek: The Original Series began the exceptional Star Trek franchise, and what a journey it has been—but it’s hard to beat the original. The Original Series has aged like fine wine, and it’s still a must-see almost 60 years after its release.
Star Trek is utterly timeless, and many would call it the greatest sci-fi TV show of all time. The storytelling is fantastic, offering glimpse after glimpse of hope and the better sides of humanity, an optimism not often seen in science fiction. Certainly not on television. Boldly going where no show had gone before, Star Trek revolutionized the genre, and was a clear influence on George Lucas when he came up with the story of Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance.
1
‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)
Created by Joss Whedon
Surely in part due to its age, Firefly still doesn’t have the legacy and tried-and-true impact of other classic science fiction TV shows, but it definitely will. A huge cult classic that was canceled far too soon, it’s perhaps the best and most entertaining space opera that television has ever been home to. It sure is a shame that there isn’t more of it to watch (other than Serenity, the feature film sequel to the short-lived series), but what is available is about as perfect as the genre gets.
A thrilling space Western, an enthralling space-hopping adventure, and an offbeat romp that never takes itself too seriously, it’s a beautifully imaginative epic full of quirks that fans can’t help but adore. Firefly isn’t just one of the best sci-fi shows of the 2000s: It’s one of the best of all time, and as such, it’s absolutely a must-see for fans of the galaxy far, far away.
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