Sci-fi on television has had a pretty good few weeks, as several high profile shows have been renewed.
Mr. Robot was renewed ahead of the season premiere, a major sign of confidence from home network USA. They made this decision after sampling the pilot episode to 2.6 million people, after it had been made available online on May 27th. This same pilot picked up the audience award at this years SXSW and was an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Mr. Robot stars Rami Malek, a hacker who is torn between taking down the multinational CEOs and companies that he believes are ruining the world by working for an anarchist named Mr. Robot, played by Christian Slater, and working for these companies.
Humans, which is co-produced by AMC and U.K. broadcaster Channel 4, has an eight episode second season ordered, which will enter production next year. It is a top five cable drama among adults ranging from 25-34 and averages 2 million viewers per episode. Humans is about the consequences of trusting artificial intelligence.
Sens8 was also officially renewed on August 8th, as this is the birthday of the eight sensates on the show. The show is developed by the Wachowski siblings and follows the intertwined lives of eight people, known as “sensates.”
These are all unique properties that show sci-fi is alive and healthy in the television spectrum. This is a welcome sign, as original programming can really pay off for networks and viewers alike. It is also a brief moment that reminds us that there is still room for original ideas in a world where every book, comic book, and movie is adapted into a television show.
This fall, Fear The Walking Dead, Man in the High Tower Castle, Jessica Jones, Westworld, Legends of Tomorrow, Coach, and Rush Hour are all a small sampling of shows set to debut this fall. They are all either spinoffs from existing television shows or adaptations from books, comic books, or movies. While a large portion of these shows are going to be watchable, it is nice to see networks and creators take these risks.
Are you interested in more original sci-fi programming? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below!
