12 Best Time Travel TV Shows Ranked by Paradoxical Plots

Time travel TV shows pull us into wild narratives where characters leap across eras, unraveling mysteries and facing mind-bending paradoxes that challenge fate and reality. These series thrive on intricate plots, emotional stakes, and the thrilling chaos of tampering with time’s fabric.

I’ve ranked the 12 best time travel shows based on their ability to deliver gripping, paradoxical plots, focusing on the twists, consequences, and clever resolutions of their time-bending stories. Below, I explore what makes each show a standout, counting down from the least to the most captivating.

12. ‘Time After Time’ (2017)

This show follows H.G. Wells, played by Freddie Stroma, chasing Jack the Ripper through modern New York via a time machine. The paradoxical plot kicks in as their actions ripple across history, with Wells grappling to prevent future crimes.

Its cat-and-mouse chase and light romance keep the stakes engaging, though it leans more on adventure than deep paradox. The time-travel twists, like altered historical clues, make it a fun, if simple, entry.

11. ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ (2022)

Based on the novel, this series tracks Henry (Theo James) and Clare (Rose Leslie) as his involuntary time jumps complicate their love story. The paradox lies in their predestined romance, with events looping in ways that challenge free will.

The show’s emotional focus and nonlinear storytelling create intriguing time loops, though it prioritizes heart over complexity. Its tender yet twisty plot makes it a romantic time-travel gem.

10. ‘Timeless’ (2016-2018)

A team led by Abigail Spencer’s historian chases a villain stealing history’s key moments via a time machine. The paradoxical plot unfolds as they alter events like the Hindenburg disaster, creating new timelines that threaten their present.

The show’s fast-paced missions and historical cameos, like meeting Abraham Lincoln, keep it thrilling. Its clever handling of timeline shifts makes it a solid time-travel adventure.

9. ‘Quantum Leap’ (1989-1993)

Scott Bakula’s Sam Beckett leaps into different lives to fix historical wrongs, guided by a holographic Al. The paradoxes arise as his jumps create subtle ripples, with each episode exploring how small changes impact the future.

The show’s episodic format and heartfelt stories, like saving a family from tragedy, balance sci-fi with emotion. Its inventive leaps and moral dilemmas make it a classic time-travel puzzle.

8. ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ (2016-2022)

A ragtag team of superheroes, led by Caity Lotz’s Sara Lance, fixes timeline disruptions using a time ship. The paradoxical plots emerge from their chaotic meddling, like altering Woodstock or battling magical creatures, creating wild timeline shifts.

The show’s campy humor and ensemble energy, with characters like a time-traveling Elvis, fuel the fun. Its bold, messy paradoxes make it a thrilling, if uneven, sci-fi romp.

7. ‘Continuum’ (2012-2015)

Kiera Cameron, a future cop played by Rachel Nichols, is stranded in 2012 while chasing time-traveling terrorists. The paradox lies in her efforts to stop a dystopian future, only to risk creating new timelines with every move.

The show’s gritty action and moral ambiguity, like Kiera’s alliance with a young tech mogul, deepen the intrigue. Its complex timeline juggling makes it a standout time-travel thriller.

6. ‘The Umbrella Academy’ (2019-2024)

Dysfunctional superpowered siblings, like Elliot Page’s Vanya, time-travel to prevent apocalypses. The paradoxical plots explode as their jumps, like altering the 1960s, create alternate realities and timeline conflicts that threaten existence.

The show’s quirky humor and emotional family drama, paired with wild twists like a time-traveling commission, keep it gripping. Its chaotic paradoxes make it a vibrant sci-fi saga.

5. ‘Fringe’ (2008-2013)

Anna Torv’s FBI agent Olivia Dunham explores parallel universes and time anomalies with a fringe science team. The paradoxical plots deepen as time resets and alternate timelines collide, with experiments like a child’s time-travel ability causing chaos.

The show’s blend of mystery and emotional stakes, like Walter’s past sins, fuels the intrigue. Its mind-bending timeline shifts make it a cerebral time-travel masterpiece.

4. ‘Outlander’ (2014-2025)

Caitriona Balfe’s Claire Randall time-travels from 1945 to 1743 Scotland, navigating love and war. The paradoxes arise as her actions, like influencing the Jacobite rebellion, create ripples that challenge her future and past relationships.

The show’s lush historical settings and emotional depth, like Jamie’s sacrifices, amplify the stakes. Its intricate time loops and romantic tension make it a gripping historical sci-fi blend.

3. ‘12 Monkeys’ (2015-2018)

Aaron Stanford’s time traveler Cole works to stop a plague that destroys humanity, facing a mysterious Witness. The paradoxical plot thrives on complex loops, with each mission revealing new timeline twists that reshape reality.

The show’s intense pacing and clever reveals, like the Red Forest enigma, keep viewers hooked. Its masterful handling of predestination paradoxes makes it a top-tier time-travel puzzle.

2. ‘Dark’ (2017-2020)

In a German town, teens like Louis Hofmann’s Jonas uncover time-travel secrets linking generations. The paradoxical plot weaves a tangled web of family ties and cycles, with characters trapped in loops that defy free will.

The show’s moody atmosphere and intricate storytelling, like the bootstrap paradox of a book, create chilling depth. Its labyrinthine plot makes it a near-perfect time-travel saga.

1. ‘Doctor Who’ (1963-1989, 2005-Present)

The Doctor, played by various actors like David Tennant, explores time and space in the TARDIS, facing paradoxes like fixed points in history. The show’s plots shine through wild adventures, from saving Pompeii to battling Weeping Angels, with time loops twisting reality.

Its boundless creativity, emotional companions like Rose, and clever resolutions, like the Pandorica paradox, fuel the thrill. The Doctor’s timeless journey makes it the ultimate paradoxical masterpiece.

Which time travel show twists your mind the most, or did I miss a paradoxical gem? Share your thoughts in the comments!