The Year 2024: A Golden Age for Streaming Science Fiction
If nothing else, 2024 was the year Apple TV Plus firmly cemented itself as one of the best places to stream science fiction shows. This year alone saw a breadth of options, from cozy mysteries to old-fashioned noirs. Of course, there’s more to the streaming service than just sci-fi—where shows like Pachinko and Disclaimer come into play. If you’re looking for something new to watch on Apple TV Plus, here are some great places to start.
Constellations
This series stood out among Apple’s other sci-fi shows thanks to its dark tone. Constellations follows an astronaut named Jo (Noomi Rapace), who survives an evacuation of the International Space Station only to return to an Earth seemingly very different from the one she left. It’s a show that leaves you guessing as to what is really real—and as the vibe turns even darker, that question becomes even harder to answer.
Dark Matter
Based on the novel by Blake Crouch, Dark Matter is yet another story about parallel universes. But don’t tune out yet: even if you’re sick of the multiverse, this is worth checking out. The show follows a physicist named Jason (Joel Edgerton) who manages to kidnap himself. One version of Jason lives a quiet, happy, yet somewhat unfulfilled life as a college professor. But in another world, he’s massively successful yet completely lonely—and will do anything to fix the latter.
Disclaimer
From Alfonso Cuarón, the director behind Gravity and Children of Men, Disclaimer is a psychological thriller starring Cate Blanchett as a journalist dealing with revelations about her past brought to light by a mysterious manuscript. The show plays with truth and time, as it explores not only the contents of the document but also how it has impacted everyone in the present.
Pachinko
The first season of Pachinko did an incredible job of adapting Min Jin Lee’s historical drama while adding its own twist, creating a multilingual narrative that jumps around in time. Season 2 simply continues this, delving further into a family story that spans four generations, though this time, the story is largely focused on two distinct periods in the family’s history: Osaka in 1945 and Tokyo in 1989.
Severance
Okay, this isn’t a new series—but with season 2 on the way in January, now is the time to catch up—or refresh yourself—on this twisted workplace thriller. The show is centered on Lumon Industries, a massive tech conglomerate that utilizes an experimental procedure for those working in its mysterious basement. In essence, they sever themselves into two halves: one in the outside world who doesn’t have to worry about what happens in the lab, and another trapped underground with no escape.
Existence
Theoretically, people should exist. But for reasons we don’t fully understand, most of us don’t. Enter Sam (Riz Ahmed), an engineer in a corporate suite who works on nothing but existence. Sam is assigned to monitor the facility’s systems, only to be instructed by a superior that they’re not needed—unless, of course, something goes wrong.
Severance
The second season delves deeper into the lives of those trapped within Lumon Industries’ facilities. From a young intern struggling to adapt to her new reality to an ex-employee who returns under mysterious circumstances, each character brings their own unique challenges and secrets. The plot also introduces new subplots that explore themes of identity, memory, and control—ultimately building toward a climax that questions everything we thought we knew about existence.
Conclusion
2024 was undeniably the year Apple TV Plus solidified its reputation as a streaming platform to watch for science fiction enthusiasts. With its array of mind-bending shows like Constellations, Dark Matter, and Disclaimer, the service continues to deliver quality entertainment while also offering some excellent programming outside the sci-fi genre, such as Pachinko and Severance. Whether you’re a fan of classic sci-fi or something more experimental, Apple TV Plus has something for everyone in 2024.
