Must-Watch Space TV Series To Pair With Artemis II
As Artemis II prepares to embark on its groundbreaking journey around the Moon, it’s the perfect moment to revisit the finest television explorations of life beyond our planet. Whether the mission has reignited your curiosity about lunar travel or deepened your fascination with human frontiers in the cosmos, these three space TV series stand out for their compelling storytelling, visual achievements, and enduring cultural relevance.
Firefly: The Space Western That Redefined Adventure
Firefly remains one of the most impactful space operas in TV history—a genre-defining blend of Western grit and science fiction. Set in a distant future where humanity has colonized a new star system, the show follows Captain Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his fiercely loyal crew aboard the Serenity as they grapple with war aftermath, government surveillance, and the day-to-day realities of ‘aiming to misbehave.’
The imagery is straight out of a Sergio Leone-inspired vision of the stars, but Firefly achieves more than stylish escapism. It explores moral ambiguity and the cost of freedom, all while building a community of memorable misfits: Zoe (Gina Torres), Wash (Alan Tudyk), Jayne (Adam Baldwin), Kaylee (Jewel Staite), and the mysterious siblings Simon and River Tam, played by Sean Maher and Summer Glau. Despite its early cancellation, its legacy lives on through the fan-demanded film Serenity and new projects, including an animated series currently in development. For viewers new and old, Firefly’s compact but rich narrative makes it an easy binge as Artemis II circles the Moon.
For All Mankind: Redrawing the Space Race
For All Mankind offers a tantalizing alternate history, asking: What if the Soviets landed on the Moon first? This Apple TV+ original, crafted by Ronald D. Moore and team, cleverly rewrites the 20th-century space race, with each season moving a decade forward and pushing the boundaries of space technology and social change.
The show’s version of NASA faces pressure and ingenuity in equal measure, introducing the colonization of Mars, ethical dilemmas, and a more rapid integration of women and minorities into astronaut ranks—years before such progress happened on Earth. Beyond its alternate history hook, the series shines for its nuanced character arcs, stunning visual effects, and ongoing evolution, recently gearing up for a sixth season. Watch For All Mankind on Apple TV+.
The Expanse: A Sci-Fi Epic of Politics, Mystery, and Survival
No exploration of modern space TV is complete without The Expanse. This critically acclaimed adaptation of James S. A. Corey’s novels immerses audiences in a fully realized future solar system, where Earth, Mars, and the Outer Planets Alliance are locked in a tense cold war over resources and sovereignty. Political intrigue and systemic injustice drive the narrative, while the threat of mysterious alien technology propels the action ever forward.
The Expanse balances tense detective work by Miller (Thomas Jane), the moral complexity of freighter captain Jim Holden (Steven Strait), and the robust diplomacy embodied by Shohreh Aghdashloo’s Chrisjen Avasarala. With a visual palette to match its literary ambition, this series stands as a landmark in sci-fi television, combining character-driven drama with aerospace realism that rivals even the most ambitious mission plans. Thanks to its revival by Prime Video after an initial run elsewhere, viewers can Immerse in all six seasons uninterrupted. Stream The Expanse on Prime Video.
Whether you’re a fan seeking new cosmic frontiers or celebrating a real-life voyage to the Moon, these series capture the spirit of exploration, resilience, and the unknown that has always fueled humanity’s reach for the stars.
