Why don't we have serious sci fi on TV anymore?

[KnightInShiningArmorDis92]

I say that as someone who enjoyed "Strange New Worlds" and "Ahsoka".

In the 90s it was "Babylon 5". In the 2000s it was "Firefly" and the "Re-imagined Battlestar Galactica.

Why don't we have a space sci fi show that is not "Wars" or "Trek" that has hart hitting moral dilemmas and is set in a new and exciting vision of humanity's future?

Do hard scientific themes turn viewers off?

Do today's TV viewers desire more escapist stuff considering the state of the world?

Has comic book movies made society's cultural tastes more childish? Enjoyed the MCU and some of the DC movies btw.

Has society stopped dreaming of the future?

Does society not imagine humanity having much of a future anymore?

 

[Lord Manhammer]

I say that as someone who enjoyed "Strange New Worlds" and "Ahsoka".

In the 90s it was "Babylon 5". In the 2000s it was "Firefly" and the "Re-imagined Battlestar Galactica.

Why don't we have a space sci fi show that is not "Wars" or "Trek" that has hart hitting moral dilemmas and is set in a new and exciting vision of humanity's future?

Do hard scientific themes turn viewers off?

Do today's TV viewers desire more escapist stuff considering the state of the world?

Has comic book movies made society's cultural tastes more childish? Enjoyed the MCU and some of the DC movies btw.

Has society stopped dreaming of the future?

Does society not imagine humanity having much of a future anymore?

It's actually very simple, genres are cyclic. They wax and wane with popular culture over the years. So just because sci fi isn't having a moment right now doesn't mean it won't again.

During the Cold War era, sci fi was super popular as the alien invasion films reflected our collective fears over a nuclear holocaust.

During the 80's, the blockbuster and action film were the thing, along with the burgeoning slasher film. Then after 9/11, people wanted fantastic escape, so the studios made musicals and fantasy films. When Abu Ghraib and the CIA waterboarding issues were on everyone's mind, what pops onto the cultural frontier? Films about torture! Saw, Hostel, the Hills have Eyes remake.

Film genres reflect what is going on in popular culture, sci fi just isn't having a moment right now. Don't worry, it will be back.