Anna Maxwell Martin delivers a captivating performance as Raskova in Star City
Source: Apple TV
What does the state of science fiction television reveal in the first half of 2026? Honestly, there’s room for improvement. The standout series this year has been Star City, a gripping alternate-history thriller centered on the Soviet space program, where characters navigate KGB interrogations and face deadly space accidents.
Other series have had memorable moments but came with their challenges. For instance, Fallout struggled with an inconsistent second season after an intriguing start. In this narrative, a nuclear holocaust forces elites into underground “vaults” while others fight for survival on the surface.
The heroes from Fallout Season 1 are back, including the quirky vault dweller Lucy and the mech-powered supersoldier Max. However, Lucy’s character development seems stagnant as she debates with the Ghoul over his reckless attitude. Despite some narrative issues, the Ghoul brings a charismatic edge to the series.
Paradise also faced a tough second-season challenge. The first season captivated audiences with its plot twist revealing that President Cal Bradford was not living in a gated community but a bunker post-civilization collapse. The bar was set high for season two, and while it had its moments, it had a few cheesy components that proved polarizing.
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In Star City, the real-life rocket engineer Sergei Korolev survives, enabling the Soviet Union to outpace the United States in the moon landing.
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Overall, Season 2 of Paradise managed to succeed, injecting a ghoul as a compelling antagonist. It also introduced a backstory involving a long-lost wife, though at times the storytelling felt a bit cheesy and frustrating, particularly when compared to Sterling K. Brown’s performance as Xavier.
Another entertaining series is For All Mankind, which envisions a world where the US and Soviet Union are still racing toward space colonization. Set in 2012, the storyline centers around characters living on Mars while attempting to explore Titan for potential extraterrestrial life.
While the series hints at the growing tension between Mars and Earth, it leaves some viewers wanting more in terms of conflict development.
Fortunately, For All Mankind provides an exciting spin-off of Star City. The shared universe diverges from our reality due to one pivotal figure: rocket engineer Sergei Korolev. In Star City, he survives and enables landmark achievements for the Soviet space program.
Anastasia Belikova, the first female cosmonaut on the moon, faces dire consequences upon her return to Earth. She grapples with the KGB’s suspicions and navigates a web of intrigue that deepens with Anna Maxwell Martin’s chilling portrayal of Raskova.
Without a doubt, For All Mankind stands out as the must-watch sci-fi series of 2026.
Topics:
- science fiction/
- TV series
Source: www.newscientist.com