Unbelievably Good Sci-Fi That Hooked Me From the Start Turned Out to Be Very Prophetic
A show that scored a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and still got cancelled. Well, turns out it was as prophetic as it was entertaining.
For as long as I can remember, I've enjoyed reading and watching science fiction. I really think that there's something unique about the genre that others just cannot offer. And that “something” is a glimpse into our future. And it doesn't really matter how far-off that future is. I like that with a heavy side of emotional investment into characters, of course. Without the latter, I just simply wouldn't care at all.
That's why when I discover sci-fi stories that are not only emotionally-fulfilling but ones that have already made a correct prediction of something nobody would have foreseen, I can't help but talk about it for hours. Seriously, nothing can make me shut up.
That's exactly what happened with a show I would love to talk about today. A show that got praised and then devastatingly cancelled. But do not fear: the story didn't end on a cliffhanger and got its logical conclusion.
Travelers (2016-2018) Is Your Perfect Binge Watch Session
Travelers got everything a sci-fi fan like myself needs: time travel, moral dilemmas, and a killer premise that'll hook you from episode one.
Speaking of a premise, we follow a group of time travelers from a distant future who have found a way to project their consciousness into people from our time just moments before their deaths (in order to not mess up with time too much). These travelers “possess” people who were about to die anyway and continue living their lives while trying to prevent humanity's darkest fate.
And I talk about the synopsis way too much, yet the good thing about Travelers is not only its story, but how it’s executed. The characters feel real and you can easily relate to them. This is the most impressive thing when I deal with the genre as I've seen my share of sci-fi that get themselves confused in the mechanics of the world rather than try and develop its characters.
Travelers Predicted Reality in a Subtle Yet Meaningful Way
Here's where things get kind of spooky. Fans have noticed something unsettling in one of the episodes of the show. As Carrots4You on Reddit pointed out:
“On Travelers S2:E5, a dangerous flu outbreak happens. The point is, when Marcy called Davis, she tells David to stay home since there is a dangerous flu outbreak, David response back by saying “Like SARS” Keep in mind Travelers S2 was released in 2017.”
And you can't deny that the similarities between what happened in the show and what happened in real life (cough, COVID) are quite striking.
The show treats this flu not as some world-ending catastrophe (which many sci-fi stories tend to do) but as a serious yet manageable crisis that requires cooperation and smart preventive measures. Just like what we experienced in real life.
So if you're looking for your next binge-watch that combines smart sci-fi, human drama, and some eerily accurate predictions about our present day, all 3 seasons of Travelers are waiting for you on Netflix right now.
