8 Cheesy ’80s Sci-Fi TV Shows That Outshine Modern Series

The shiniest, most high-tech sci-fi TV shows of the modern age can sometimes never compare to the cheesy ones of the 1980s. While we’ve seen some incredible offerings in recent years, including Severance, Foundation, Stranger Things, and Black Mirror, there’s really nothing better than the crude shows of decades past. They might be dripping in cheese, but that’s precisely how we like them.

The 1980s were, in general, a fantastic decade for movies and television. Directors and producers were really beginning to get creative, utilizing practical effects and some early VFX to bring aliens, monsters, and technology to the screen. Today, we hardly blink an eye at the magic of TV’s best sci-fi. Once upon a time, however, this genre was a hard-earned art form that today’s projects can’t compete with.

8

War Of The Worlds (1988 – 1990)

War of the Worlds is a story that has been told countless times, and this 1988 TV show wasn’t even the first. The series was meant as a continuation of the 1953 film, based on H.G. Wells’ classic sci-fi novel, and revealed that the invading aliens hadn’t died from bacteria after all—they had only been dormant for decades.

1988’s War of the Worlds aired for two seasons, and each episode began with an opening narration that explained, “In 1953, the aliens started taking over the world; today, they’re taking over our bodies!” This series is notable for its shocking portrayal of horror-worthy violence, as the aliens brutally take on human hosts. It’s ’80s camp at its finest, but War of the Worlds’ guilty-pleasure status makes it a far better watch than most modern series of a similar nature.

7

Terrahawks (1983 – 1986)

Terrahawks is a children’s science-fiction TV show that is absolutely dripping with cheese. Initially premiering in 1983 and coming to a close in 1986, this British series features puppets for all its characters and is set in the year 2020. Terrahawks revolves around the titular space task force, which guards Earth against invaders.

There’s no doubt that Terrahawks puppets make it a bit ridiculous, but they also allowed for a great deal of creativity. Creators Gerry Anderson and Christopher Burr expertly brought the magic of sci-fi to the screen in the most practical ways. There aren’t nearly enough original children’s shows that feature this sort of innovation today.

6

V: The Series (1984 – 1985)

V: The Series is a sci-fi TV show created by Kenneth Johnson, starring Marc Singer, Faye Grant, Jane Badler, and more. It was based on the miniseries V: The Final Battle, which established the central villains, alien invaders known as “Visitors.” V: The Series follows a group of humans who develop a resistance against the Visitors.

V is a perfect representation of ’80s sci-fi. The premise is fairly basic, but there’s an intriguing amount of lore established through only a handful of episodes. A remake series was released in 2009, but the advanced filming and VFX technology only further underscored what a masterpiece the original V was.

5

Voyagers! (1982 – 1983)

The 1982 sci-fi series Voyagers! was created by James D. Parriott and starred Jon-Erik Hexum and Meeno Peluce as a time-traveling duo. Hexum’s character, Phineas Bogg, is a member of a society of time travelers called the Voyagers and uses a pocket-watch-like device to jump through time and space to set timelines right again.

The central idea of Voyagers! has been used time and time again, recently popularized on screen within the Marvel universe. As thrilling as the idea is in modern television, the Mr. Peabody and Sherman dynamic between Voyagers! central characters make the show an absolute charmer.

4

Automan (1983 – 1984)

Glen A. Larson’s Automan is another series that serves as a perfect representation of 1980s camp. Starring Desi Arnaz Jr. and Chuck Wagner, Automan‘s story revolved around a crime-fighting holographic computer program. Automan’s sidekick, Cursor, can easily “draw” physical objects, the most popular being the glowing Autocar.

Automan is a masterclass in 1980s VFX. The visuals are deeply similar to those of Disney’s Tron, but the creativity of Cursor’s various glowing creations allowed for nearly endless opportunities. There’s not been anything like it since, and any attempt at a modern recreation would fall flat without that basic, cheesy TV magic.

3

The Tripods (1984 – 1985)

The BBC certainly knew how to do cheesy TV right in the 1980s. The Tripods, created by Alick Rowe and Christopher Penfold, was based on the sci-fi book series of the same name by John Christopher. The story revolves around the takeover of Earth by the alien Tripods, who thrust society into a pre-industrial age in order to enslave humanity.

Though set in 2089, The Tripods feels like a sci-fi series set in the distant past, blending a world of horse-drawn carriages and blacksmithing with the advanced technology of the alien invaders. It’s another completely original idea that seems to have been lost to today’s sci-fi shows.

2

The Transformers (1984 – 1987)

The Transformers franchise has really stood the test of time, but it doesn’t get much better than the original 1984 animated series. Originally based on the Hasbro and Takara toy line, this giant robot TV show set the standard for what would become a decades-long adventure.

There can be no denying that this Transformers TV show is cheesy and even a bit slow, but it successfully captured the hearts and minds of an entire generation. Modern adaptations have far better special effects, but the magic of cell animation can never truly be beaten. It’s the sort of masterpiece that sci-fi needs to turn itself back toward.

1

Quantum Leap (1989 – 1993)

Quantum Leap had a rocky start when it premiered in 1989, but it has since gained masterpiece status. Deliciously cheesy and nostalgic, the series was created by Donald P. Bellisario and starred Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell as the only regulars. Quantum Leap follows Dr. Sam Beckett, who travels through time to correct past wrongs. The twist is that his “leaping” involves Beckett’s consciousness entering the bodies of others.

The fairly outrageous premise of Quantum Leap is something that wouldn’t fly in science fiction television today. It’s far too silly, especially when considering the convenient plot elements, like Beckett’s seemingly endless knowledge in essentially any field. However, it’s precisely this that makes Quantum Leap so fantastic. It’s creative, completely boundary-free, and positively oozing with cheese. Modern sci-fi shows wouldn’t dare compete.