Skylines

Skylines is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix and Hoopla, and it earns its premise rather than just borrowing genre trappings. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. Its 6/10 TMDB score, built from 611 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Lindsey Morgan leads a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Skylines earns its spot. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Skylines through its more ambitious moments. When a virus threatens to turn the now earth-dwelling friendly alien hybrids against humans, Captain Rose Corley must lead a team of elite mercenaries on a mission to the alien world in order to save what's left of humanity. Lindsey Morgan and Alexander Siddig lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2020. What separates Skylines from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give Skylines a chance. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Lindsey Morgan anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.