- The Walking Dead – More than half the population are zombies and the other half seem to be trying to kill our heroes. It doesn’t get much more dark or dystopian as this show, based on a popular series of comics by Robert Kirkland.
- Doctor Who – While often branded as happy-go-lucky sci-fi fare, many episodes of Doctor Who see the Doctor and his companions struggling against greedy, all-powerful corporations in the future of fascistic governments.
- Firefly – “Firefly” follows a band of misfits as they travel the edges of a space-faring society, hunted by representatives of an oppressive interplanetary government. The themes of personal freedom versus collectivism are explored, along with the cosmos, in this modern sci-fi classic.
- Black Mirror – An anthology series, “Black Mirror” holds up a funhouse mirror to modern society, offering a darkly speculative look at the implications of our technological progress. The show has gotten rave reviews, and one episode has even been optioned for a movie by Robert Downey Jr.
Top Four Dystopian TV Shows
It may be a reflection of the times we live in, but television shows portraying a dystopian future are increasingly popular. Unlike the happy, optimistic future portrayed by classic TV sci-fi like Star Trek, dystopian television shows portray a darker future, where technology hasn’t cured all of society’s ills, and, in fact, may have made them worse.
Some of the top dystopian television shows include: