Dune (& Children of Dune)
6 episodes (2000 & 2003) 120m

Popular miniseries based on the famous Frank Herbert novel. Writer and director John Harrison does a great job depicting all the soap-operatic tension and nasty politics of the House of Atreides on the sandworld Arrakis. William Hurt plays the Duke and Alec Newman the young Paul Atreides destined for messiah status. Children of Dune followed in 2003.

Threshold
14 episodes (2005) 60m

Even the presence of Trek's Brent Spiner and producer Brannon Braga couldn't save this show from the sci-fi aversions audiences imposed on the televised genre in the early-2000s. The antithesis of the X-Files, here the heroes try to conceal the truth behind alien first-contact that might just be a full-blown invasion. The show's title comes from a 'worst case' response scenario.

Alias
105 episodes (2001-06) 60m

Ultra-sexy Jennifer Garner stars as Sydney Bristow, an undercover agent recruited out of college to work for the shadowy SD-6 organisation. She faces a sort of spy identity crisis as the CIA and a couple of evil organisations enter the scene, all of which is linked to artefacts built by a 15th century scientist and prophet.

Taken [miniseries]
10 instalments (2002) 2hrs

Steven Spielberg's small-screen outings are always visually impressive, but often short on action. Taken is the generational story of three families beginning with the legendary Roswell UFO crash in 1947. There's all sorts of alien intrigue and paranoia, culminating in the birth of a little girl that holds the key to the future.

Lost
In production (2004-present) 60m

Surprise hit that has spawned a host of imitators. A plane crashes on a remote Pacific island and, as it turns out, the 48 survivors are choc-full of deep dark secrets. The island itself seems to have a few secrets too, with a mysterious impenetrable chamber possibly the cause. Sci-fi elements didn't really start emerging until season two.

The 4400
45 episodes (2004-2007) 60m

Starting life as a miniseries, The 4400 is the story of 4,400 alien abductees who are returned to Earth supposedly to save the human race. Each episode focuses on the trials and tribulations of various returnees, providing plenty of scope for storytelling set in a host of different times and places. Topnotch sci-fi drama.

Doctor Who
In production (2005-present) 45m

The new Doctor Who has managed to bring the show into the modern world without ever losing its sense of historical identity. Now featuring mainly self-contained episodes, star Christopher Eccleston used up an entire regeneration when he quit after only one series, replaced by David Tennant. Quality revival well-received by the fans.

Surface
15 episodes (2005-06) 60m

A fabulous looking Californian oceanographer has her life turned upside down when attacked by an unidentified life form. She is joined by a man who loses his brother on a diving trip and together they face government obstruction in a search for the truth. Meanwhile, a teen befriends one of the creatures… but the show gets canned before we ever get to find out too much more.