Beauty and the Beast is the kind of sci-fi that works on ideas as much as spectacle. It is currently available in the US on The CW, so there is no reason to keep putting it off. A 7/10 rating means the audience agrees — and those who disagree tend to be in a clear minority. The production does not waste your time: every episode earns its place in the run, and the pacing is calibrated to keep you watching rather than checking how much time is left. The run length is exactly right for the story being told. Kristin Kreuk is the anchor, but the depth of the supporting cast is what elevates it. Start it tonight and see for yourself why the ratings are where they are.

Detective Catherine Chandler is a smart, no-nonsense homicide detective. When she was a teenager, she witnessed the murder of her mother at the hands of two gunmen and herself was saved by someone – or something. Years have passed and while investigating a murder, Catherine discovers a clue that leads her to Vincent Keller, who was reportedly killed in 2002. Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. The series ran for 4 seasons (2012–2016), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. The world-building is meticulous enough to sustain multiple rewatches, with details in early episodes that only make sense later in the run. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Perfect for late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge. The kind of show that makes you feel the absence when it ends. Beauty and the Beast sits in the corner of the genre where ideas and character work get equal attention — not all science fiction manages that balance, but this one does. The comparison to T. J. Hooker makes sense in terms of ambition and approach, though Beauty and the Beast develops its own identity quickly. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it, which is the mark of good science fiction. Start it and see.