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Best Science Fiction TV Shows With Black Characters That You Should Be Watching Now

‘Doctor Who,’ ‘Batwoman,’ ‘Timeless’ and ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ are some of the sci-fi/fantasy series you need to add to your watchlist.

Photo: Getty Images Justin Lubin/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

If you’re looking for new and interesting shows to binge, you can’t go wrong with something in the sci-fi/fantasy category. If you jump in on a series that’s a few years old, you can avoid the frustrating wait fans experienced during the original airing and just binge the entire show in one sitting. To help you narrow down the watchlist we’ve got a cool list of the sci-fi/fantasy series you’ve missed and need to check out.

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Doctor Who - Max/Disney+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlyPLWz-e1U

All you need is one episode of this long-running British staple to become hooked. While every actor puts their own spin on The Doctor, the Timelord always has a mischievous twinkle in their eye that lets you know the bad guys/aliens/monsters never stood a chance. Clear your schedule because this is a surefire binge. Seasons 1-13 of the modern series are available on Max, while the 60th anniversary specials and Season 14 featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the first Black Doctor are on Disney+.

Timeless - Hulu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh6lw7anoNI

If you look up the term “underrated gem” in the dictionary there will be a video of the NBC time travel drama “Timeless.” The mythology gets a little out of hand here, but the chemistry among lead actors Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter and Malcolm Barrett is endlessly fun. Plus the individual time travel episodes provide a fascinating, alternate glimpse at history.

Batwoman - Max

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38iU9iHii9c

After star Ruby Rose exited the series, “Batwoman” started fresh in Season 2 with new character, Ryan Wilder. Adding a Black woman to the well-known Bat canon gave writers a chance to explore stories and areas of Gotham City that we’d never seen before. Ryan added a captivating new element to the Bat-Family.

‘Krypton’ - Prime Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAO-yqYQLic

There have been a million Superman stories. “Krypton” took things in a different direction by focusing on Kal-El’s grandfather and rewriting the hero’s history to make General Zod a Black man. It’s a shame we didn’t get more than two seasons of this series, because it would’ve been great to see where the drama took the Man of Steel.

‘Misfits’ - Prime Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDMZH5fjDlc

In this wacky British drama, five teenage delinquents are struck by lightning while serving community service and wake up with superpowers. The series uses drama, comedy, horror, action and romance to highlight the characters’ growth and their bond. This is a really fun binge, and also extremely British, so you might need subtitles.

Anne Rice’s ‘Interview With the Vampire’ - AMC+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tekOlcqzXL8

The popular vampire universe takes a fresh turn in the AMC series starring Jacob Anderson as Louis. His Blackness is just as important as his vampire life, creating a new world for the franchise.

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ - Paramount+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_7FFb_dj8w

The entire “Star Trek” franchise is available on Paramount+, but one of the most interesting entries is the prequel series “Strange New Worlds.” It takes place before “The Original Series,” showing how the Enterprise crew came together before Captain Kirk commanded the ship.

‘Being Human’ - Prime Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWjZ2QU999o

A vampire, werewolf and ghost make unlikely roommates in this addictive British drama. Once you start it, you will be completely engrossed in the mythology. Go ahead and block out a whole weekend.

‘Jericho’ - Paramount+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5XBzcSvJuE

Considering the current political climate this post-apocalyptic drama may hit a little too close to home, but it’s so good. After nuclear bombs explode, regular Americans are forced to start over in a new world that doesn’t run on the same rules it used to.

‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ - Disney+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzHMAXqFFvc

The newest show on the list follows young Percy Jackson and his friends as they go up against a star-studded roster of Greek gods. This is an entertaining, cool show for the whole family to binge together, something we don’t see a lot of these days.

‘Stargate Atlantis’ - Hulu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c90cYakl3ZU

If you want to see Jason Momoa before he was Aquaman, and check out a fascinating series about an international team of heroes fighting aliens, this is the one for you.

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ - Hulu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehoqeLg4Jik

Obviously, you probably haven’t missed “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” It’s one of the most popular shows of all-time. However, we weren’t about to make a list of sci-fi/fantasy series without including it.

‘Angel’ - Hulu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpbagkZuJsw

When you’re done binging “Buffy” you can get started on the spinoff “Angel.” The vampires and monsters follow the same rules, but it is a little weirder than the original. Probably because it’s set in LA.

‘Lucifer’ - Netflix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueMwVGBwqRo

The devil decides to leave Hell for the more interesting pastures of Los Angeles and ends up solving crimes with a detective. That’s the short version of “Lucifer.” The long version features an ever-changing mythology that keeps viewers guessing right up until the final scene. This is the Lay’s Potato Chips of TV shows. You can’t watch just one.

‘Grimm’ - Peacock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diQnxCqxEHc

It’s well known that the Grimm Fairy Tales are much darker than more kid-friendly adaptations. “Grimm” takes it a step further with some of literature most famous stories including monsters that have to be killed.

‘Raising Dion’ - Netflix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnORv97hCDM

When a young Black boy develops superpowers, it’s up to his mother to keep him safe and show him the right path. This is another fresh take on the genre that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ - Netflix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ovlGxBkBA

The “Power Rangers” franchise has had countless teams of teenagers fighting giant monsters and robots, but none will ever be as fun as the OG “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.” Plus, if you kids want to binge the series, you don’t have to be home in front of your TV every day like we did in the ‘90s.

‘Black Lightning’ - Netflix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjIqupGmidc

What makes “Black Lightning” so entertaining is that Jefferson Pierce, his family, friends and enemies are so unapologetically Black. His dedication to the culture is key to his heroics.

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