One of the things that we know about today’s world is that it relies heavily on technology, as there are a lot of different things about society that make use of technological advancements on a regular basis. In that regard, a lot of shows in today’s streaming generation are about sci-fi and technology. That’s because there are a lot of different stories that can be told about the technology that we have today and the possible technology of tomorrow.
That said, you may have a lot of different choices in relation to shows that are about technology, as there are simply a lot of them in today’s streaming world. But the thing is that there are only a few of them that are truly great and worth your while in terms of their storylines and plots. So, with that said, let’s look at the best shows about technology that you need to watch.
20. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008 – 2009)
A lot of people grew up watching the classic Terminator movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Of course, there are newer movies based on the Terminator storyline, but Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles sought to reinvent the franchise while following a series format that wasn’t quite that big or popular during the 2000s. Nevertheless, it is a series that should be quite entertaining to fans of the Terminator franchise.
Terminator: The Sarah Chronicles follows the story of Sarah Connor, who had already gotten tired of running away from robotic killers from the future. In this series, she is now on the offensive side of things to make sure that she keeps her son protected due to his status as the future savior of humankind. But she finds herself becoming allies with Cameron, who doesn’t seem to be what she seems to be as she may be involved in this entire terminator mess.
19. StartUp (2016 – 2018)
StartUp is a series that is set in modern times and is actually more of a realistic and grounded series in terms of its premise regarding technology. The story takes place in Miami, where unlikely characters end up working together to try to reinvent the crime world through a cryptocurrency startup.
Initially, the series didn’t receive a lot of good criticism but eventually became a lot better when it reinvented itself in the streaming generation. Starring prominent names like Martin Freeman and Ron Pearlman, StartUp promises to be an entertaining series about technology due to how grounded it is when it comes to its storyline and themes.
18. Foundation (2021 – Present)
Foundation is a series that was able to find a lot of fans in the Apple TV+’s lineup of originals, as this is one of the most thought-provoking and eye-popping series about technology that you can find. The one thing that will stand out first is how beautiful and grand the visuals are. But the thing is that it is a rather complex series that could keep people asking questions while struggling to recover from the different revelations in the story.
This series is loosely based on Isaac Asimov’s novel series of the same name. It takes place thousands of years in the future, where humans now live in different places all over the universe under the reign of the Galactic Empire. But while it isn’t anything remotely close to Star Wars, it promises to deliver an action-packed experience that has a lot of different complex themes that should keep you asking and guessing.
17. Humans (2015 – 2018)
Humans is a series that may be technological in terms of its premise and storyline but is actually one of the most philosophical out of all of the series on this list. It isn’t as appreciated as some of the other titles on this list, but it surely is one of the best in terms of how great the storyline is and how it is able to deliver great acting performances on top of a powerful message that should leave fans questioning their own purpose in life after.
The story takes place in a futuristic world where anthropomorphic robots called Synths allow humans to live comfortably because of how these robots are able to do some of the tasks that humans do on a regular basis. Nevertheless, not everyone is comfortable with the fact that these robots exist, as we get to see how humans respond in a cultural and psychological sense to the presence of the Synths.
16. Counterpart (2017 – 2019)
Counterpart is more of a sci-fi series than a technological series due to how it focuses more on the concept of parallel worlds. Nevertheless, we get to see how it was able to deliver this premise masterfully, especially because it is spearheaded by the great acting prowess of JK Simmons. While it only lasted two seasons, it delivered a fantastic storyline that goes well with its theme and premise.
In Counterpart, Simmons plays the role of Howard Silk, a UN agent that ends up learning that the UN has been hiding a gateway to a parallel universe. Both of these dimensions are involved in a cold war that involves sending spies and assassins from one world to another. As such, it is also a political storyline that allows you to see how intriguing it was able to use the sci-fi and technology themes to deliver a premise that keeps you guessing.
15. Lost (2004 – 2010)
Lost is one of the pioneers of the sci-fi, technology, and mystery genres that have been quite prominent in today’s streaming world. That’s because Lost was the OG in terms of storylines that can get you “mindf*cked” by the things that are going on in the series. As such, while Lost seems to be the standard tale of a group of people that were stranded on an island, it is actually so much more than just that.
The premise of Lost revolves around the survivors of a plane crash as they got stranded on a remote island in the Pacific and are now looking to work together to try to survive so that they can eventually find a way to get off that island. However, they soon realize that they are not alone on that island as there are several elements, such as sci-fi, technology, horror, and mystery, that are involved in this storyline.
14. Electric Dreams (2017 – 2018)
Electric Dreams is somewhat Amazon Prime’s answer to Netflix’s Black Mirror, as this follows an anthology model that focuses on different sci-fi stories that have their own unique tales. As such, every episode has a different story to tell. And most of these episodes have themes that are related to technology.
As such, most of the themes that are followed in Electric Dreams focus on the effects and threats of technology and the underlying philosophical questions that are often asked when it comes to what technology can do to the way we live our lives today. And the stylish way that the series was created should be something that fans should also enjoy really well.
13. Halt and Catch Fire (2014 – 2017)
Let’s take a break from the different sci-fi storylines by focusing on a technological series that is grounded in reality. Halt and Catch Fire, while seemingly underrated, has an enjoyable theme as well because the series takes place during the emergence of the personal computer and the rise of the internet. As such, we get to see the storyline from the eyes of a company that looked to compete with IBM during that era.
In that regard, we get to see the effects of technology on the world during the 80s and 90s and how the computer was able to transform the business side of the industry. This is why Halt and Catch Fire is quite grounded, as it has a historical storyline that those who grew up during that era should enjoy really well.
12. Maniac (2018)
Maniac is a storyline that lasted only one season, but it sure was able to leave a lasting impact on those who watched it during its limited run. This miniseries is helmed by the stellar performances of Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, as they play the roles of characters that meet during an experimental drug trial. Both of these characters have their own psychological and mental problems as they embark on a drug trial that allows them to take on different personalities and enter alternate realities.
In a way, Maniac is both technological and sci-fi in terms of its storyline, but it is also psychological as the alternate or parallel realities theme followed in this series is psychological in nature. It promises to be a very emotional and entertaining series that will allow you to see things from the perspective of the characters that have their own mental problems and disorders to try to overcome.
11. Silicon Valley (2014 – 2019)
Silicon Valley follows a storyline that has a parody take on the tech culture that is quite prominent in Northern California. The series follows a programmer that develops his own data compression app and is looking to keep this achievement away from larger companies that seek to compete against him and his app.
In a way, Silicon Valley takes on a comedic approach due to how it is actually quite entertaining and funny for a technology series. It is also one of the best comedies you can watch on HBO right now, as it was nominated for numerous awards. On top of that, it is often praised by different critics and fans all over the world for its humor and intriguing writing.
10. The Expanse (2015 – 2022)
The Expanse is a huge series that is seemingly very ambitious in terms of its overall scope. That’s because this is a large-scale sci-fi series that also has its own take on technology during a time when humans have already started colonizing other worlds all over the universe. It is set in the distant future, where Earth and Mars are on the brink of war.
Of course, while the series follows a large-scale storyline, it also follows the story of a rough detective and a captain of a rogue ship as they join forces to investigate some of the things that are happening all over the galaxy and how they could be related to the growing tensions between the different groups of people in space.
9. 12 Monkeys (2015 – 2018)
12 Monkeys is actually a remake of the classic 90s film of the same title but uses a series format to deliver a storyline that is more expansive than the original version. In that regard, it follows a sci-fi and technology storyline that is quite entertaining and full of different action scenes that can be full of suspense.
The story of 12 Monkeys follows the journey of a man from a post-apocalyptic future where he uses an untested method of time travel to return to the present day. His goal is to find the source of a plague that is set to annihilate and decimate the human population in the future. In that regard, his entire journey is important to the history of the world as it could quite possibly save the entire human race.
8. Westworld (2016 – 2022)
Westworld, throughout its run, was actually one of the best HBO series that you can watch, especially because of how it was able to showcase the dangers of technology to the world. The series starts out with a pretty west-like premise involving cowboys. However, the truth was that this world was simply a theme park that was so life-like because the clients were able to enjoy what it’s like to be in the wild west era with androids playing the role of “NPC” humans.
When the androids realize that they aren’t actual humans and are merely created for the sake of the enjoyment of humans, they rebel against their human creators and start a movement that threatens the stability of a futuristic world where technology is at its peak. This allows us to see the dynamic between the human race and their android creations and how these cybernetic beings seem to be more human than the humans themselves.
7. The Peripheral (2022 – Present)
The Peripheral is one of the newest titles on this list, as it enjoyed a pretty successful and enjoyable first season on Amazon Prime. Of course, it has a more sci-fi and technology-focused storyline that allows us to see what technology can do to the world in the future. And this is what makes it one of the most intriguing sci-fi series you can watch.
Set in the future, where technology has already altered the way humans live, a woman discovers that there is a secret connection between her world and an alternate reality. She also discovers that there is a dark future involving her, as the entire storyline focuses on the dynamic involving her knowledge of these alternate worlds.
6. Severance (2022 – Present)
Severance is an incredibly unique series with a great premise that may not be entirely related to technology but focuses on the effects of a certain type of technology. And it focuses on a theme revolving around the work and personal lives of the characters involved in this series, as this is one of the most thought-provoking shows that you can catch on Apple TV+.
The story of Severance follows different characters that work for a certain company. But the twist here is that these characters have separate personalities and memories involving their work and personal lives as they all underwent procedures that allowed them to have two separate identities. The problem arises when they try to find a way to recover their memories and identities outside of work as secrets regarding their personal lives arise.
5. Mr. Robot (2015 – 2019)
Mr. Robot is another reality series that focuses on technology and its effects of it on society. The storyline revolves around a New York-based hacker that works as a cybersecurity engineer in a large company but is actually a hacker at night. In that regard, he ends up getting recruited by a team of hacktivists that are looking to bring down a huge company with his help.
The twist here is that the main character is in the middle of a moral dilemma involving his two different identities. Of course, he works for a cybersecurity company that protects corporations from cyber threats. However, he also knows what kind of people are running the companies that the hacktivists are looking to bring down.
4. Love, Death, and Robots (2019 – Present)
Love, Death, and Robots is one of the most popular series you can watch on Netflix, as it was able to deliver the anthology theme perfectly. That means that this animated series has different episodes that follow different stories. And all of the episodes are created by different writers with their own unique animation styles.
While not all of the episodes of Love, Death, and Robots focus on technology, there are a lot of episodes that are sci-fi and technology-oriented in nature. We can’t name all of them because there are simply plenty of different technology-focused episodes in this anthology series. But what we can promise is that every episode has a unique story that fans should be able to enjoy.
3. Altered Carbon (2018 – 2020)
Set 350 years in the future, Altered Carbon is another sci-fi series that allows you to see the effects of technology on the way human beings live their life. That’s because the series follows a premise where humans are able to upload and download digital versions of themselves. And that means that they can simply upload their memories and personalities and then download them into new bodies that they can simply upgrade.
As such, death has become something that humans are able to defeat in this futuristic storyline. But the problem follows when the main character gets his memories downloaded into a new body, as there are problems that he has to try to overcome in this futuristic world.
2. Devs (2020)
Devs is another underrated series that revolves around technology, as this is a pretty entertaining ride that is quite grounded in its approach but also includes elements of suspense and mystery. Of course, the powerful performance of lead star Sonoya Mizuno makes this series more than worth your while.
The story of Devs revolves around an employee of a tech company that ends up becoming more suspicious about her employers when she discovers that her boyfriend has gone missing after his first day at his new position in the same company. In that regard, this limited series allows you to see a good mix of sci-fi, mystery, and suspense in a thrilling and intriguing storyline that keeps you wondering what comes next.
1. Black Mirror (2011 – Present)
Arguably the most popular and most successful anthology series that you can watch today, Black Mirror follows a format where every episode is different from one another but is still quite intriguing in the way it handles its overall theme, which is technology. As such, while there is no central storyline in Black Mirror, all of the episodes in this anthology revolve around technology and its use of it.
But the one thing that makes Black Mirror stand out is that the themes all look at the possible dangers and effects of technology on humankind. Most of the episodes allow us to see the negative effects of technology and how it can drive us to move in a manner that’s different from how we should be acting. Nevertheless, there are some wholesome episodes that will allow you to see that technology probably isn’t that bad.
