20 best sci-fi TV shows that aren’t Star Trek

5. Legion

So, is the X-Men series science fiction? I mean, look at all of the alien creatures and high-powered technology like the X-Jet and Cerebro, Professor X’s mind-reading amplifier/futuristic headgear.

Okay, there are also plenty of fantasy elements. More than one character crosses paths with a demon, at least one has a dragon for a pet, and there’s plenty of mind reading without even a bit of lip service paid to the idea of scientific plausibility. It’s very much a Ray Bradbury type of soft science fiction with more focus on story and character than pure, scientific explanation.

Anyway, that’s more than enough to include Legion on this list. This FX series stars Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey fame as David Haller, a schizophrenic mutant. David has some serious psychic powers, including telepathy and telekinesis. Due to his mental illness, he’s also frequently confused about himself and what around him is real or not.

Things are made all the more complicated thanks to both DNA shenanigans and the possibility that the “Shadow King” speaking from within David’s mind might actually be real. If so, then David has a lot of work ahead of him. This Shadow King appears to be working towards world-ending power, like any classic mutant supervillain.

Unlike other comics-related TV shows, Legion is meant to relate to the larger cinematic universe. Given that the “Legion” character turns out to be a mega-dangerous mutant and the surprise son of none other than Charles Xavier (that’s Professor X to you), this could spell big things for the future.