15 Most Visually Stunning Sci-Fi TV Shows
13. Firefly
An undisputed cult classic in the eyes of sci-fi and western fans, Firefly was created by Joss Whedon and quickly cultivated its popularity between September and December 2002. For the uninitiated, the fourteen episodes follow the rag-tag crew of the titular ship as they stumble upon many misadventures across a colonised solar system. With great chemistry between the characters and high-class action to boot, Firefly ended up establishing a template for the ensemble, paving the way for Guardians of the Galaxy over a decade later.
Its qualities didn't stop there; the effects for Firefly were handled by Zoic Studios and were excellent for their time; in addition to the detailed physical models to represent the Serenity space-craft, Firefly employs a wide range of CGI effects.
The technology had a rough run in the late nineties with many movies abusing the technique, but upon Firefly's release, the ambitions of the technique were implemented to a higher standard.
The biggest challenge faced by the artists was rendering a different world for each episode, something that had been accomplished by the likes of Star Wars but rarely took place on the small screen. The visuals complemented the engaging story at play and assisted in creating the show's cult status.