Sci-Fi Television on the Rise - Opinion

In the world of television and film, there's so many different genres and worlds to explore that it often times becomes nearly impossible for one area to truly standout. With this article I want to discuss one specific area that I believe in the very near future will stand tall among the rest and flood the media streams with content: Science-Fiction. It's not secret that the Superhero genre is reigning supreme at this moment, but as I wrote in my previous opinion piece I believe that this genre is hitting a peak that will soon create a decline unless new and more creative ideas come about. This opens the door for Science Fiction to grow and become a mainstay in media and while some may not see it, it's already happening.

You may be thinking "Sci-Fi television has been dead for years John, why would it suddenly become a huge part of the media streams?" Well I'll tell you exactly how! As I stated in the previous paragraph, the Superhero genre has been in control of television for quite some time, but with the issues facing that genre it is time for a new sect of television to become mainstream. Science Fiction has the capabilities and the large scale names to do just that. While it may not be apparent there a few specific shows that I will mention as key players in this revolution that are already on air, and a few coming very soon that will usher in this new age of television.

Let's start with the two most obvious choices for currently airing Sci-Fi television: Star Trek: Discovery and The Orville. It's not coincidence that these two shows premiered in the same time period of the same year. Fox and CBS aren't stupid, they both realize that there is a huge market for this type of content and they wanted to get in before it was too late and the market flooded. Star Trek is a known property and regardless of how well perceived the show is it still receives great numbers every week. The same goes for The Orville, which many call the better of the two series and a more accessible version of the Star Trek formula. These two shows are prime examples of Science Fiction television growing, as they are both one major networks and quickly gaining steam in the media world. Both of these shows were quickly granted a second season, and viewers should be very excited about this development.

One other show that I feel needs to be talked about that isn't getting enough traction is that of The Expanse. While this show is quite difficult to explain, it considers a world in the near future with access to travel to other planets through the solar system. SyFy is not newcomer to this genre, but The Expanse is the first series since Battlestar Galactica to gain any real audience in this area on their network.  I'll be putting out a true discussion on this show soon as I re watch the two seasons that have already aired, but it is a shining star and something that almost all consumers of media should check out. While I'm sure my argument hasn't been that convincing to many as of this point, my final show that will be debuting in the near future will certainly seal the deal for many.

I know I know, Star Trek is a great series but it isn't the staple many know for Science Fiction. That title belongs to none other than Star Wars. Disney isn't stupid and knows what they have in this huge property: they've already committed to having a new Star Wars film every year for the foreseeable future. With the success of Star Wars in the minds of many studios there is a clear sense of where many of them will look for their future dollars: Science Fiction. To even further the point that Star Wars influences the entire industry, Disney has announced a Star Wars live action television series to debut with it's own streaming service in 2019. I believe by that year, Science Fiction television will be almost as popular as the Fantasy and Superhero genres.

There's already so many great Science Fiction shows on the air today. Most of these shows seem to go under the radar in a world dominated by superhero television. As I have mentioned previously, once people begin to grow tired of the same old same old presented by this genre, they will look to a new form of content to check into. At that point Science Fiction will be such a large genre that many viewers will have almost no choice but to get invested in one of these great series.