One of the Greatest Sci-Fi Series With a 95% Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Perfect for 'Star Trek' Fans

Fans of Star Trek should check out this nearly perfect sci-fi series streaming on Prime Video. The Expanse, a sci-fi space opera, has been hailed as one of the best science fiction series in years. With stunning visuals, engaging characters, and a dedicated grounding in the practicalities of living in space, The Expanse charmed viewers throughout its six-season run. And with the help of one of the creative minds behind the Star Trek series, Star Trek fans should find more than enough to love.

A sci-fi drama set in a future where humans have colonized the Solar System, The Expanse follows a rogue team caught up in an interplanetary struggle for power that threatens the peace of the Solar System. Based on the series of novels of the same name by James S. A. Corey, The Expanse received high praise from viewers and critics alike. With famous fans, including Jeff Bezos, Patton Oswalt, Wil Wheaton, and George R.R. Martin, The Expanse is a sci-fi lover's dream.

'The Expanse' Is a Sci-Fi Series Beloved by Audiences, Critics, and Scientists

With a 95% critical rating and an 85% rating from audience reviews, The Expanse has been named one of the best sci-fi shows on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. In MovieWeb's own ranking of the best sci-fi shows according to real scientists, The Expanse ranks number 3, and for good reason. In addition, three of the six seasons of the show received a perfect 100% critical score, while two others boasted over 95% positive reviews.

Viewers loved the cast, the character-driven stories, and the show’s political intrigue. Fans called The Expanse “an absolute masterpiece” and a must-see for space fans. Emily St. James of Vox called the series “Game of Thrones in space”, while Zack Handlen of AV Club noted the series “can be grim and unsettling, but it presents a universe in which it is still possible to be a hero.”

Viewers also loved the rich use of science fiction, including the depiction of space travel and living in space. Autumn Noel Kelly said the series is nearly “the most visually and narratively compelling work of fiction I have seen all year.” The series went to great lengths to present a scientifically realistic view of space exploration. Naren Shankar, who holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in applied physics and engineering, was brought in as an executive producer and showrunner to apply his knowledge of physics to create a realistic space environment. Shankar also worked on several Star Trek series, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager, among others. Shankar is also an executive producer for the Apple TV+ space race series, For All Mankind.

'The Expanse' Has Broken Viewers' Hearts

The Expanse originally aired on the Syfy channel for the first three seasons before being canceled by the network. This was done despite the positive critical reviews and the series’ dedicated consortium of fans. Fans made their displeasure clear and launched a campaign to convince another network to pick up the series, with famous faces such as Wil Wheaton, Patton Oswalt, and Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin participating.

The series was later picked up by Amazon, whose owner, Jeff Bezos, was a fan. The series went on to run for three more near-perfect seasons before being canceled for the same reason: budget constraints. Although it wasn’t the ending that fans wanted (the book series lasted for nine novels; the completed TV series covers the first six), viewers agreed that the series ended on a satisfying note.

Fans on social media openly hope that Amazon will someday pick up the series again, as the seventh book introduces a time and tonal shift that could be perfectly adapted after the series’ pause. The Expanse creators and show writers Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck stated, in an interview with Polygon, that the planned ending of Season 6 is “a very natural pause for the story.”

All six seasons of The Expanse are available now. The first three seasons had been scheduled to leave Prime Video on February 6 due to the expiration of licensing rights. However, it appears that the rights have been renewed as the show is still available to stream. Stream The Expanse on Prime Video.