The Best Sci-Fi Thriller Series In Years Deserves Your Attention

By Douglas Helm | Published

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If you’re looking for a new sci-fi series to check out, you owe it to yourself to check out the one and only season of Hulu’s Devs. There aren’t a lot of hard sci-fi TV shows out there, so it’s an especially rare creative feat that is elevated by a deep story, incredible cinematography, and a top-notch cast.

Unsurprisingly, the show was created, written, and directed by Alex Garland, who has more than proved his sci-fi bonafides with films like Ex Machina and Annihilation.

Devs Is Streaming On Hulu

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Devs follows Lily Chan (Sonoya Mizuno), who works at a software company called Amaya alongside her boyfriend Sergei Pavlov (Karl Glusman).

However, the show takes a quick turn when Sergei is killed in the first episode, which prompts Lily to dive deeper into the mysterious Amaya company and its enigmatic CEO, Forest (Nick Offerman).

That’s just a brief setup for the series, but things get much more ambitious and mysterious from there.

A Grounded Sci-Fi Series

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Along with Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Offerman, and Karl Glusman, Devs stars Jin Ha, Zach Grenier, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Cailee Spaeny, and Allison Pill.

The focal point of the series is definitely the duo of Sonoya Mizuno’s Lily and Nick Offerman’s Forest, who anchors the series with affecting and emotional performances.

Despite being a hard sci-fi series, Offerman and Mizuno’s performances help to ground the series, while Garland’s story gives us relatable human experiences to latch on to.

Sci-Fi Concepts And Tech

Not to worry, though, as Alex Garland still makes sure Devs includes numerous thought-provoking sci-fi concepts and technologies.

Of course, since it’s hard sci-fi, none of them reach into the realm of the fantastical, which is something that further helps to ground the series and make it more believable. It’s definitely one of the most unique TV shows made in recent years.

Alex Garland’s Other Work

Now is the perfect time to check out Devs, too, as Alex Garland’s latest film was just given a 2024 release date and is set to drop a trailer next week.

The film is titled Civil War and stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Cailee Spaeny, Karl Glusman, Sonoya Mizuno, and Jonica T. Gibbs.

While it doesn’t appear to be a straight-up sci-fi, which is typically Garland’s genre of choice, it does look like it will be another interesting addition to his filmography.

Other Sci-Fi Films

Also, if you enjoy Devs, it’s definitely worth checking out Alex Garland’s other sci-fi films while you’re at it. The two standouts are Ex Machina and Annihilation, which both could be considered two of the best sci-fi films within the last decade.

But if you’re looking to spend a little more time in the worlds that Garland creates, then Devs should definitely hit the spot for you.

Stunning Sci-Fi Addition

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In short, Devs stands as a remarkable contribution to hard science fiction, weaving together emotional authenticity, stellar performances, and thought-provoking exploration of complex concepts.

It’s a stunning addition to the sci-fi genre that delivers a narrative that is gripping while remaining grounded in relatable human experiences. It’s definitely worth your time, and you should head over to Hulu to watch it if you’re interested in sci-fi at all.