Not every show is going to be hard-hitting or action-packed from the start. They can’t all be massive, non-stop thrillers that stay in your head for weeks, and that’s okay. Personally, I like a deliberately paced show, which I know isn’t exactly the popular thing in this modern era where everything has to move at a break-neck pace or risk being left behind by the viewing masses. After all, there’s always another show to watch.
When it comes to slow-burn preferences, however, I find that it works best with science fiction, especially on a grand scale. Give me various characters and plotlines to care about, and let me discover how they unfold over episodes or even seasons. These are the shows that usually turn out to be masterpieces, because once things kick into a higher gear, you find that you actually care about the consequences.
The Expanse
So much more than Game of Thrones in space
As someone who has watched The Expanse many times now, I sometimes forget that people consider the show to be a bit of a slow-burn in the first season. Admittedly, it does take some time before it really gets into the meat of things, even during its more action-heavy sequences. But once it does, The Expanse is easily one of the best pieces of sci-fi I have ever experienced.
Many have called it the sci-fi equivalent of Game of Thrones, which I completely understand. Unlike that show, however, The Expanse has a satisfying ending, and never feels like it’s extending its own life just for the sake of it. But if you’re looking for complex politics, epic action sequences, and emotionally resonant character moments, you’re in for a treat with this series. I would also heavily recommend the books, because they’re even better.
The Expanse
- Release Date
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2015 – 2022-00-00
- Network
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SyFy
- Showrunner
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Naren Shankar, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
- Writers
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Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Andor
Star Wars with an emphasis on the latter
Andor is one of those shows that very few other pieces of sci-fi media actually measure up to when it comes to quality. I’ve been a sucker for nearly everything that’s been released in this franchise, even the divisive prequel and sequel films. But other than the original trilogy, nothing has come close to invigorating my love of Star Wars as much as Andor has.
This isn’t your typical kid-friendly, adventurous Star Wars. No, Andor is a series that doesn’t back away from the complexities and atrocities that come with war. Black and white morality does not exist here, because to fight against a fascist empire, one must sometimes commit horrific acts. This is the Star Wars answer to prestige television, which means its pacing can be on the slower side. But when it pays off, it’ll leave you an emotional wreck. In the best way possible.
Andor
- Release Date
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2022 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Disney+
- Showrunner
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Tony Gilroy
- Directors
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Susanna White
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Stellan Skarsgård
Luthen Rael
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Dark
A moody time travel series with an excellent payoff
This German-language sci-fi show is difficult to explain in a way that would cover everything there is to know, but that’s part of what makes it such a compelling watch. Dark is slow-paced, yes, but it not only rewards you for sticking around, but for paying attention.
Time travel, alternate dimensions and timelines, and family trees so complicated that your brain will overheat. Dark never takes it easy on its audience, and it never spoon-feeds the audience with pointless exposition. That may not be for everyone, especially when you have to read subtitles on top of it (unless you speak German or are comfortable with a subpar English dub). But for the right people, Dark is a series that pushes against the borders of what complex television can look like. And that’s a very good thing.
Dark
- Release Date
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2017 – 2020
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Jantje Friese
- Directors
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Baran bo Odar
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Louis Hofmann
Jonas Kahnwald
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Lisa Vicari
Martha Nielsen
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Andreas Pietschmann
The Stranger
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Maja Schöne
Hannah Kahnwald
The Leftovers
Let the mystery be
Depending on your point-of-view, The Leftovers might not even be science fiction at all. But I personally believe that the show is open-ended enough that an argument could be made. Regardless of genre hang-ups, The Leftovers is fantastic. It’s one of those shows that I wanted to recommend to as many people as I could immediately after finishing it for the first time.
5 sci‑fi thrillers that unravel one episode at a time
Prepare for a thrilling journey through time and space as these expertly crafted sci-fi series build tension with every episode, leading to jaw-dropping revelations.
It’s a moody series about trauma, and how to cope when tragedy strikes. This particular tragedy involves the sudden disappearance of millions upon millions of people all at once. Where did they go? What does it all mean? The Leftovers explores this, yes, but it’s a lot more interested in the people who are left behind, and how they move on. It’s a slow-paced character study that rewards you with beautiful character moments rather than spectacle, and it’s one of the best shows of all time.
The Leftovers
- Release Date
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2014 – 2017-00-00
- Showrunner
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Damon Lindelof
- Writers
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Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta
Slow-burn sci-fi just hits differently when it’s done right
What I appreciate about pretty much all of these shows is how rich the storytelling and character work is. That’s one of the big benefits of a slower pace. You really feel like you get to know everyone, and when it comes time for the finale, you’re genuinely sad to be leaving that particular world.
If you’re on the hunt for other deliberately paced pieces of television, check out these slow-burn thrillers that will keep you hooked for weeks.
