Fictional near-future sci-fi dystopias are some of the best settings to create a subtle but powerful commentary about today’s society. Movies agree, and sure enough, there are also some dystopian TV shows to bolster the genre and its myriad statements.
Well, ‘statements’ would be an understatement here; dystopian TV shows are starting to become more like warnings as we inevitably inch closer to our visions of the near future. So steel yourselves with these following dystopian shows, or maybe not, and just enjoy the fleeting bliss of life’s impermanence while watching a semi-prophetic doom series. Everything is subject to death and decay anyway.
Don’t forget the popcorn.
The Handmaid’s Tale
This Hulu original is an adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale novel by Margaret Atwood. It’s an ongoing seasonal show set in a dystopian version of the US where infertility is at an all-time high, and women are reduced to breeding stock for rich and powerful bureaucrats in order to preserve the country.
That’s five seasons of stressful statements about the dangers of patriarchal fascism and how feminism is one of the best ways to combat this age-old problem. At the heart of it all is the strong-willed June Osborne, one of the handmaids selected to be breeding stock for a Commander as she navigates her hellish new world while searching for a way to find his partner.
Mr. Robot
Mr. Robot brings us even closer to current affairs compared to The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s also a thriller show about cybersecurity, starring Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson. He’s a young cybersecurity engineer and hacker who was recruited by a cyber anarchy organization leader known only as Mr. Robot.
Their goal is to bring down the world’s largest corporations and conglomerates through cyber attacks and manipulation. Mr. Robot can also double as a cyberpunk show in its infancy stage, so there’s quite a lot here to enjoy for sci-fi and psychological thriller fans alike.
Altered Carbon
Speaking of cyberpunk, Altered Carbon is perhaps the best show detailing and toying with the notion. It’s set in the rather far future (around 300 years ahead) where the wealthy elite has somehow managed to find more ways to drive the gap between them and the regular people even further. They are now functionally immortal.
They can merely be transferred into other bodies like video game characters changing skins.
One man was brought out of his slumber and imprisonment into another man’s body to investigate the murder of an immortal man. The plot thickens right there, and while the show has its convoluted narration moments, it’s still quite the spectacle and something cyberpunk fans will surely find delightful, especially in the absence of other media for this young genre.
Black Mirror
The infamous and profound Black Mirror just keeps going as it’s now in its recently premiered Season 6, and it’s still going strong. It’s an anthology show with each episode being a self-contained and independent story (or are they?).
Black Mirror deals mostly with the exaggerated, and at times, satirical dangers of technology in the modern age.
There are also futuristic sci-fi examples. Each episode is packed with nerve-wracking, eye-opening, and thought-provoking dystopian tales about societies that have gone astray thanks to their technological advancements. It’s best not to watch this one at night if you’re concerned with quality sleep.
The Man in the High Castle
The Man in the High Castle is an alternate history show that explores the idea of what the world would have been like if the outcome of World War 2 was in favor of the Axis powers. It’s a strong and ambitious tale about fascism and a worrisome “what-if” especially for history buffs.
Apparently, in this alternate future, the US was divided into two parts– one controlled by Nazi Germany and one controlled by Imperial Japan. The status quo was thrown into chaos when suddenly, a mysterious film appeared showing our version of the outcome of World War 2. This sparked hope for the oppressed colonies, naturally.
Westworld
Westworld isn’t unlike Altered Carbon or Black Mirror. This HBO show is set in a fictional amusement park where the rich vacationers can do whatever they want to the robotic but humanlike android hosts. Needless to say, it’s a degenerate’s paradise.
Soon enough, however, the androids began learning and turning sentient while retaining the memories of all the violations inflicted upon them. And it’s up to them to flip the script and engineer their own freedom against the hands of the greediest and most vile humans to exist.
It’s also based on a novel of the same name authored by the legendary Michael Crichton, who was responsible for pop culture classics such as Jurassic Park. So there are plenty of lessons here to learn about the hubris and barbarism of mankind.
Humans
While on the topic of sentient artificial intelligence and its effects on society, Humans is another series to watch for those interested in the concept. It’s based on the Swedish TV drama Real Humans and it’s about human families in the process of accepting new members of their households: android helpers.
These androids, called ‘synths’ are way too close to human beings in appearance, leading to some rather uncomfortable questions about ethics and the nature of humanity.
It’s lighter compared to the other doom-and-gloom dystopian shows here, but it’s still comparable to something like Black Mirror.
Years and Years
Moving on to some Bri’ish dystopian dramas, Years and Years is a standout on the English airwaves. It’s an alternative version of the UK where the hopes and dreams as well as the fears for the near future due to technological and economic advancements are explored through the eyes of a British family.
As the title implies, Years and Years is a story that unfolds in a 15-year timeline as the family tries to cope with the radical and shocking changes that their society keeps throwing at them.
From outspoken celebrities transitioning into political roles to oppressive regimes bubbling up like a swollen boil, Years and Years compacts all that clever commentary into six episodes.
The Leftovers
One of the most devastating losses the Avengers experienced was when Thanos willed away half of the universe’s population. A TV drama focusing on the lives of the people who survived would have been interesting, but too bad the MCU didn’t pursue that and it’s now on a tightrope. Thankfully, there’s a dystopian show that also deals with the same premise, and it’s called The Leftovers.
Everything changed in the world after a global event made 140 million people disappear. Naturally, people were stricken with grief, but their mourning period was rocked when other people coped in the worst way possible– by forming cults and militant groups.
Hence, this series focuses on a family that’s merely trying to survive the new world around them while trying to regain some sense of normalcy.
Severance
Severance explores a different angle for dystopia. Its premise revolves around the notion of people’s memories being surgically removed in order to fit their environment better such as work or personal lives.
This made employees more efficient and it also offered a way for grieving individuals to escape their heartache.
And as we all know about dystopias, there’s no way this kind of technology won’t be used to control and abuse human beings. This one is also based on a novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick, patron saint of dystopias and dystopian TV shows.