The Outer Limits, and 5 classic sci-fi TV shows that deserve a reboot

2. The Outer Limits

Black Mirror. Electric Dreams. Room 104. Anthology shows are in! Considering the well-received The Twilight Zone reboot—from none other than Jordan Peele—a classic anthology series like The Outer Limits would definitely make for excellent reboot material.

The 1995 revival of The Outer Limits—based on the original 1963 show—focused on speculative sci-fi and the anthology model could be considered a precursor to Black Mirror. But the show wasn’t afraid of crossing the line into the adult territory—which would make it perfect for HBO.

The Outer Limits was all the rage back in the day—episodes were written by luminaries such as Stephen King, Richard Matheson, George RR Martin, among others.

A reboot would have to work hard to disassociate itself from Black Mirror, but it can be done—with some representative writers and directors at the helm, a reboot of The Outer Limits could make for great television in the 21st century.

1. Sliders

Technically, Sliders wasn’t canceled, but it started losing fans—and cast and crew—fairly early on. Its demise was more a mercy killing than an ending.

The show followed a group of people traveling through alternate dimension Earths—three friends and one unfortunate stranger who got caught up in the slide-stream. The group explores the new dimensions they encounter—depending on how much time they have on the different Earths—while also escaping an evil corporation that wants their slide technology. On the way, they make friends, lose each other, and try and look for a way back home.

Sliders was a personal favorite and I would love to see it rebooted for modern audiences—with more representation and wilder alternate worlds. And the time for a Sliders reboot is now—alternate worlds are all the rage, what with ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’, Supernatural’s final season, and even Teen Titans Go! Vs Teen Titans exploring the same concept.

The reboot could learn from the mistakes of the original Sliders, which pivoted towards action instead of examining the concepts that first drew people to the show. A thought-provoking analysis of what Earth’s past, present, and future could look like would make for a great sci-fi spectacle in the 21st century. Take a leaf out of the latest season of Dr. Who for inspiration on how to be entertaining but also thought-provoking.

The first four seasons of Sliders are available for purchase on iTunes and Google Play.

Which classic sci-fi TV shows would you love to see rebooted? Tell us in the comments below.