Streaming In A Galaxy Far Away
Away’s blend of melodrama and syrupy tones are sure to resonate with fans of familial dramas. At the same time, the mission to Mars should whet the appetite for those looking for a dose of sci-fi.
Have you finished streaming Away? Wondering what to watch next?
Well, fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle of having to try and find something similar with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing.
To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have.
Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Away.
Mars
Similarities – Mars & Melodrama
What better way to follow up a mission to mars than with… a mission to mars. Aptly titled Mars, the premise here is certainly intriguing. Documentary and drama styles blend together to depict a fictional Mars colony being set up in the year 2033.
The tricky weaving of both formats actually works reasonably well for the first episode but as the show goes on, Mars devolves into a constant struggle for power.
Having said that though, if you’re a fan of Away’s melodramatic tendencies, this show will be right up your alley.
You can read our thoughts on Mars in our full season reviews here!
Nightflyers
Similarities – Mystery
2018’s sci-fi series Nightflyers revolves around a crew of scientists embarking on a mission to investigate a mysterious alien signal. However, this soon turns into a claustrophobic nightmare as those onboard start to suspect one another.
This series does require you to suspend your belief a fair amount but should do the trick for those looking for a tantalizing mystery.
The characters however, may leave you scratching your head a little. For the mystery alone though, this show definitely nails its atmosphere.
Salvation
Similarities – Over-the-top Melodrama
Salvation’s premise plays out like the book Lucifer’s Hammer (if you haven’t read it, it’s fantastic!) The main premise revolves around an asteroid hurtling down to Earth and humanity’s hope resting with a group of scientists. The group have 6 months until impact and little time to come up with a solution.
If you can look past some of the admittedly ridiculous dialogue and a couple of contrived scenarios, Salvation’s over-the-top drama may well be your ticket.
You can read our thoughts on Salvation in our full season reviews here!
Lost In Space
Similarities – Sci-Fi & Characters
Lost In Space is a series designed to be watched with the whole family. Those with fond memories of the series of old should be prepared for a bit of a culture shock as this moody reboot is familiar in name and story only.
Having said that though, the second season onward certainly livens things up managing to elevate this one into a decent sci-fi romp worth checking out.
You can read our thoughts on Lost In Space in our full season reviews here!
Origin
Similarities – Space & Isolation
Origin’s story begins with a spaceship playing host to a number of passengers. One by one they wake up to discover the ship abandoned and a good portion of it destroyed, including the satellite and radio.
It’s just the unnerving set-up needed to bring with it a gloomy atmosphere and a big mystery. With some decent tension early on, Origin does squander its potential somewhat around the middle portion of episodes.
However, its character drama should be enough to see you through to the end.
You can read our thoughts on Origin in our full season review here!
The Expanse
Similarities – Space & Characters
When it comes to world-building, The Expanse is unrivaled. The show offers up a glimpse of a possible future where mankind has extended its reach beyond Earth to inhabit Mars and the surrounding asteroid belt.
With the story jumping between Earth, Mars and the Belt, some clever editing and a good attention to detail keeps the tension ticking away between the different characters. When that tension spills over, it brings with it one heck of a seismic shift in this show.
With four seasons to get through, Amazon’s recent acquisition of The Expanse has also green-lit a fifth season, meaning there’s plenty of gas left in the tank for this series.
You can read our thoughts on The Expanse in our full season review here!
For All Mankind
Similarities – Space & Drama
One of AppleTV’s flagship series last year, For Al Mankind is a show about a venture into space. The series builds off its character drama and impressive production design to deliver something that’s both wholly accessible and suitably melodramatic.
With a second season already green-lit, this show has lots of gas left in the tank and definitely worth the plunge.
This Is Us
Similarities – Family Drama
This Is Us is simply brilliant entertainment. Despite a couple of minor plot issues, the circle of characters work really well together and produce so many strong performances across the 4+ seasons.
Yes there’s no outright sci-fi but this is one of the finer examples of melodrama at its best. If you’re looking for something character-centric and hones in on that style of drama, this is definitely a good choice.
You can read our thoughts on This Is Us in our full season reviews here!
Ascension
Similarities – Mystery & Sci-Fi
Ascension is a fascinating series that completely changes the game with a big twist at the end of its first episode. Playing out as a character-driven mystery, Ascension’s real strength lies with its ensemble cast.
I won’t spoil anything more but this one is worth sticking with as it features some really good drama. However, with only 3 episodes this one is a really easy show to binge through but unlikely to return for a second season.
Dark Matter
Similarities – Space & Sci-Fi
Syfy’s 3 season mystery was abruptly cancelled back in 2017. Because of course it was. It’s a real shame too because this sci-fi series does a wonderful job scratching that space-filled itch.
There’s a constant sense of mystery and dread clinging to this one and the various twists and turns keep you watching for the long haul. With no resolution to the plot at the end of season 3, do be warned before plunging into this.
However, the ride to get there is fantastic and certainly worth its weight in gold alone.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show picks to keep you busy after watching Away.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!