10 Best TV Shows About Time Travel, Ranked

Does time transfer in a single route? Or, as physicist Michio Kaku posited, is it like a river? And can that river “fork into two rivers”? And does that imply, as he suggests, that Albert Einstein’s idea of relativity exhibits that point journey is feasible?

These sorts of questions have lengthy fascinated science fiction writers, from H. G. Wells in his 1895 novella “The Time Machine” to at this time’s scribes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ergo, there’s fairly a little bit of time journey on tv.

In this try to cull the time-travel TV canon to 10, we’re lacking numerous fantastic and influential exhibits that certainly deserve their flowers in a unique, kinder timeline. But on this merciless timeline, there can solely be 10.

Though this basic from David X. Cohen and Matt Groening shouldn’t be completely about time journey, the “Futurama” pilot episode closely includes cryogenic freezing, which is definitely one method to journey by time. And but, over the Planet Express’ many adventures over many networks, there are quite a few journeys forwards and backwards by the centuries.

Most notable is the fourth-season, Emmy-winning episode “Roswell That Ends Well.” Fry’s (Billy West) misuse of a microwave oven sends the crew to Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, which any American historical past buff will inform you is when that space was residence to alleged sightings of and experiments on alien life. The crew should repair their microwave, discover their means again by time with out the usage of any far-future know-how, and attempt to save Zoidberg (West) and Bender (John DiMaggio) from being misconstrued as hostile aliens or saucers, respectively.

The episode memorably ends with Fry breaking some of the well-known time-travel paradoxes of all, cementing “Futurama” as a wise work of sci-fi comedy that takes time-travel thought experiments significantly.

Many must-watch episodes of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” closely contain time journey. For one occasion, the third-season marvel “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” In it, the USS Enterprise enters a rip within the space-time continuum and emerges right into a darkish and devastating future. Gone is the noble mission of exploration and curiosity. Instead, and lacking a few of its key members, the Enterprise is locked in a brutal warfare with the Klingons.

“The Next Generation” additionally ends with a banger two-part time-travel episode, “All Good Things…”. In the sequence finale, Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) consciousness bounces round between completely different factors on his private timeline. These jumps are uncontrollable, maybe consultant of the captain’s fragile psychological well being. The ultimate moments will make any Trekkie cry.

One of the perfect Marvel Cinematic Universe TV sequence, “Loki” can be among the best time-travel sequence, mixing darkly humorous, retro-futurist shenanigans with an excellent and bleak character arc.

You know Loki, performed by Tom Hiddleston, as Thor’s brother and a thorn within the aspect of the Avengers. But right here, he is our hero, captured by the Time Variance Authority (TVA) after operating off with the Tesseract (as seen in “Avengers: Endgame”). However, as an alternative of dealing with a metaphysical jail sentence, he’s taken underneath the wing of TVA Agent Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson) and recruited to assist discover an much more unstable enemy passing by time.

The ensuing two seasons on Disney+ are filled with impressed gags, daring visible decisions, and glorious performances. Hiddleston has nice chemistry with Wilson and Sophia Di Martino as Sylvie, a variant of Loki from one other strand of the multiverse. It’s storytelling that expands outward whereas trying inward.

Based on the beloved guide sequence from creator Diana Gabaldon and initially developed for TV by “Battlestar Galactica” guru Ronald D. Moore, “Outlander” is a savvy mix of science fiction, historic hypothesis, and steamy romance.

“Outlander” stars Caitríona Balfe as Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who travels by time from 1945 to 1743. There, she turns into embroiled within the Scottish revolt brewing and entangled with the dashing warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Sex, violence, and makes an attempt to appropriate the timeline ensue over eight seasons. And fear not, “Game of Thrones” followers — there are sufficient accomplished novels to encourage the workforce to the tip, although the solid tells us that studying all of the “Outlander” books will not spoil all of the surprises.

The Starz present is a crossover hit due to its emphasis on common feelings. There’s no pretense of getting slowed down within the nerdiness of time-travel mechanics — now we have loads of sequence that do on this listing. Instead, the machine is used as a catalyst to discover the primal instincts of affection, energy, self-preservation, domination, and redemption. 

“The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.” is a one-season cult hit created for Fox by the dream workforce of Jeffrey Boam (“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”) and Carlton Cuse (“Lost”).

The all the time roguish Bruce Campbell stars as a well-educated bounty hunter on the flip of the century. He and his crew are employed to journey throughout the plains of the Wild West and seize the vicious outlaw John Bly (Billy Drago).

Thus far, feels like a typical Western sequence, proper? Not so quick. “Brisco County, Jr.” will get its distinctive juice from juggling science fiction and steampunk-flavored parts — together with a MacGuffin despatched from the long run and a reveal that one key character has been a time traveler this complete time.

All of this, plus a pervasive humorousness and eager sense of the absurd, makes “The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.” a must-watch for followers of off-beat tv.

A genre-bending feat of grownup animation, “Undone” is an excellent, underseen, two-season Prime Video present that makes use of time journey to unravel mysteries each exterior and inner.

Rendered in attractive rotoscoped animation, the place historically filmed live-action footage is drawn over, “Undone” stars Rosa Salazar as Alma Winograd-Diaz, a girl who walks away from a brutal automobile crash with the power to traverse the space-time continuum. While members of her household fear about Alma’s psychological well being, she’s newly impressed to make use of these talents to seek out out the reality behind her father’s (Bob Odenkirk) dying.

The present comes from “BoJack Horseman” writers Raphael Bob-Waksberg and Kate Purdy, the latter of whom wrote the devastating, pseudo time-travel “BoJack” episode “Time’s Arrow.” That inventive workforce ought to provide you with a touch as to this present’s tonal complexities and willingness to mix humor with agony. If we needed to instantly evaluate it to something, it has probably the most in frequent with Richard Linklater’s rotoscoped freakouts “Waking Life” and “A Scanner Darkly.”

The BBC’s “Doctor Who” has been on our screens since 1963, utilizing its time-travel conceit to justify its litany of casting adjustments. Throughout the numerous seasons and actors, some constants stay: Our hero, the Doctor, is a rebellious time lord who absconded from their residence planet in a TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension(s) in Space) — a time machine that appears curiously like a British police field. Accompanied by a companion, the Doctor travels throughout time and area defending the weak from evil forces together with the adversarial time lord often called The Master.

The First Doctor, from 1963 to 1966, was William Hartnell. The Fifteenth, and as of this writing, the newest Doctor, from 2023 to 2025, was Ncuti Gatwa. That’s numerous TV historical past to make amends for, however for those who’re in search of a stable entry level, attempt the Tenth Doctor’s (David Tennant) run.

In CBS’ irresistibly excessive idea TV present “Early Edition,” stockbroker Gary Hobson (Kyle Chandler) would not essentially journey by time. Rather, time appears to journey to him within the type of a newspaper delivered by a cat.

This newspaper is, certainly, an “early edition.” So early, actually, that it would not report on information that has already occurred. Instead, as Gary deduces within the pilot episode — which aired in 1996, launching the dramedy’s four-season run — the paper describes a future which may occur, a kind of precognition of issues to come back. Gary appears up the people who find themselves ostensibly destined to have horrible issues occur to them and helps them, thereby altering the course of time and historical past for the betterment of his fellow man.

“Early Edition” is a splendidly healthful present, possessing a candy and charming tone not often noticed in modern status exhibits. It’s a blast from the previous value revisiting.

Inspired by the time-travel “Twilight Zone” episode “A Stop at Willoughby,” “Life on Mars” blends acquainted components just like the comforting police procedural, the interval piece, and the serialized sci-fi thriller to create among the best British crime exhibits.

The BBC’s “Life on Mars,” named after the long-lasting David Bowie tune, stars John Simm as police officer Sam Tyler. In the mid-2000s, Sam will get right into a horrible automobile accident — and when he arises, he finds himself within the Seventies. Somehow, he nonetheless works as a police officer for a similar precinct and should now examine new/outdated circumstances whereas making an attempt to determine easy methods to get again to the long run.

And a phrase to the smart, for those who dig the present, take a look at the direct sequel sequence, “Ashes to Ashes,” however no must hassle with the one-season American remake starring Jason O’Mara.

Our primary time-travel present dives into science whereas conserving its concentrate on characters, even simply the one-episode visitor stars. It’s episodic, but its total arc packs a punch, particularly with its bittersweet and surprising sequence finale. And it options one in every of our most adorable TV stars giving his most iconic efficiency.

“Quantum Leap,” created by “Magnum, P.I.” mastermind Donald P. Bellisario, stars Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, an eccentric scientist who believes he is cracked the secrets and techniques to time journey. To show it, he leaps by the folds of area and time, his corporeal type apparently disappearing. But his consciousness prevails, inhabiting the types of others relying on the place he lands in time (although the viewers sees him nearly as good ol’ Bakula). Thus, all through his leaps, Sam should attempt to lastly get again residence whereas serving to the individuals he encounters alongside his time-bending journeys.

Bakula, joined by the inimitable Dean Stockwell as his womanizing hologram companion Al, facilities the NBC present with humor, gravitas, and an finally optimistic message concerning the human spirit. They do not make ’em like this anymore — though the 2022 revival, following this one’s continuity, provides some related charms.