Streaming tips

Classic sci-fi series and where to find them:

Firefly

Joss Whedon’s galactic Western ran for just one season, but it has a rabid cult following, thanks to its laidback universe construction and charismatic lead. Nathan Fillion’s Capt. Mal Reynolds is part Han Solo, part James Kirk. And he’s a hoot, commanding the crew of his freighter, Serenity, and fasttalking his way through wildly entertaining adventures. Hulu The X-Files

Convinced that “the truth is out there,” Special Agent Fox Mulder and his skeptical partner, Dana Scully, spent nine seasons chasing evidence of aliens and the paranormal. The mysteries are great, and the chemistry between co-stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson is mythic. Hulu Battlestar Galactica

Nothing about the original Battlestar Galactica, a cheesy 1970s Star Wars rip-off, suggested that the 2004 remake would be one of the greatest sci-fi shows ever. But rich storytelling and great performances transformed the franchise’s dark saga about a warship fighting back after most of our civilization is wiped out by the human-created Cylons. Amazon Prime

The Outer Limits

Sure, you could stream episodes of the original Twilight Zone. But don’t neglect the show’s rival, a 1960s anthology series that remains mind-bending sci-fi at its best. Need convincing? Start with Season 2’s “Demon With a Glass Hand,” written by Harlan Ellison. Hulu

Star Trek

Whatever your feelings about this storied franchise, visiting the original series is recommended. Cardboard early sets quickly drop away as Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Scotty, and their

USS Enterprise become very real. A mere three seasons yielded 79 episodes full of great writing. Netflix