8 Time-Travel TV Shows You Should Watch

Avengers: Endgame is just around the corner and there’s heavy speculation the plot may involve some time travel. Time-travel is a recurring topic around sci-fi stories that can at times result in fantastic story-telling and at other times just a terrible shot at sci-fi. Following Andy’s article on underrated time-travel movies let’s follow up with a couple of tv shows suggestions:

8. Timeless (2016-2018

After a time-machine is stolen, a history professor, a soldier and an engineer are tasked with following the criminal to capture him and get the machine back. They find out his plans to re-write history and must follow him throughout time to avoid timeline changes.

This show’s strength lies in history itself, not on time-travel itself. The adventures of these time travelers take you through various important historical moments and allow viewers to meet important historical figures, who have shaped our present. Timeless is a fun show, in which you can also learn a bit about history.

7. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2016 – Present)

Rip Hunter, a TIme Master, recruits the Atom, White Canary, Firestorm, Heatwave, Captain Cold and Hawkgirl to stop Vandal Savage and protect time.

This show is the most underrated show of the Arrowverse and, in my opinion, the best thing this universe has given us. The show is basically a bunch of time travel shenanigans and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Story-wise the plot is usually interesting and the characters are lovable and they’re well developed. Even if you aren’t a fan of the Arrowverse, Legends of Tomorrow is honestly a really enjoyable show that’s bound to get a laugh from you.

6. DARK (2017-Present)

After a child goes missing under bizarre circumstances in the year 2019 in the German town of Winden, a mystery surrounding children’s disappearances throughout the years is revealed.

Germans TV Shows are usually targeted just for the local market and their productions aren’t really spectacular. These last couple of years have given German TV Productions that are actually pretty great and are succeeding overseas, one of them is DARK. Until now there has only been one season (season 2 is expected to drop later this year), but the story has been pretty solid. The relationships between the characters are really interesting and the secrets that slowly start being uncovered are exhilarating.

5. Continuum (2012-2015)

The series follows a detective, Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols) from the year 2077, who accidentally finds herself in 2012 after a group of terrorists travels back in time to stop corporations from gaining control of society, and she’s the only one who can stop them.

This show is seriously underrated. A story that’s filled with moral greys. Of course, you start rooting for the main character, but as the story progresses one can’t help but agree with the bad guys’ motives. It’s an overall well-crafted story and the characters are its best asset, complicated, at times broken, but always fighting for what they believe is right.

4. Travelers (2016-2018)

In a post-apocalyptic future, the consciousness of special operatives is sent back in time. Their mission is to try and avoid the downfall of society, thus preventing the existence of their future.

This is a show that I’ve previously suggested. Last season was its last and it’s been a wild ride for sure. The story is really interesting and each character gets the time needed for viewers to really understand them and ultimately care for them. It’s a really great show that even though its short airtime really tied up the story nicely, leaving room for maybe more stories in the future.

3. Doctor Who (1963-1989, 2005- Present)

The story follows the Doctor, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who stole a time machine and has adventures in all of time and space with their companions.

For many geeks like me, the first thing that pops on our head when thinking about sci-fi and time travel is Doctor Who. This show has been around for more than 50 years, has a cult following and still manages to gain more fans. The show is an emotional roller-coaster, filled with fun and heartbreaking moments. A must for every sci-fi fan.

2. Steins;Gate (2011)

The story follows Okabe Rintarou a “mad scientist” that accidentally builds a time-machine and must stop an evil organization from controlling the world.

The only anime in this list, but it’s one of my favorite time-travel stories (tied with 12 Monkeys). At first, it may seem ridiculous, but it’s actually a pretty smart show. The time travel used in the story is my favorite and this show pretty much ruined every other time travel show for me (expect 12 Monkeys), they are both pretty similar as their extremely well-crafted stories and there are in general no loose ends, everything has a reason. It’s a fun and well-written show, filled with lovable characters.

1. 12 Monkeys (2015-2018)

Based on the film with the same name, the show follows James Cole (Aaron Stanford), who must travel in time from 2043 to 2015, to prevent the release of a virus that annihilates the human race. To accomplish his mission, brings along Dr. Cassandra Railly (Amanda Schull), a CDC virologist.

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably realized I LOVE 12 Monkeys. I even wrote an article 2 years ago with the reasons why you should have been watching it. Now that the show is over, I can say with absolute certainty: this show is one of the best crafted time travel shows ever written. The reason behind this is that when they started the show the writers had a vision as to where it was going and how it would end. Every aspect in all episodes has a meaning and a reason to be.

All these shows have given different perspectives on time travel, some have really built a mythos around it and other’s just establish the basics on it and let other aspects of the story take precedence. That being said all these shows have unique traits that make them interesting, enjoyable and overall worth watching.
