This Obscure Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Series Is Finally Finding An Audience On Prime Video

Some post-apocalyptic series run for seasons, like AMC's "The Walking Dead," one of the best zombie shows ever made. There's also Apple's Silo, which offers a masterclass in world-building and sci-fi storytelling. Others barely make it past a season, but thanks to streaming, they find a new audience years later and the hope of a continuation, even if it's not on the small screen. One such series is "Extinct," a family-friendly post-apocalyptic sci-fi show that managed to crack the top 10 streaming shows in the U.S. on Amazon Prime Video.

"Extinct" takes place 400 years into the future after the human race has gone extinct because of an alien invasion. The aliens revive a small group of humans in an attempt to restore human civilization — or so they claim. "Extinct" aired in 2017 on BYUtv, an American television channel that offers free and family-friendly entertainment. After 10 episodes, the show was cancelled despite ending on a cliffhanger.

When announcing the cancellation, BYUtv stated that the decision wasn't driven purely by viewership numbers and financial impact, while also calling it a relative "breakout series." The network said its renewal decisions also factor in "the content and message of the series itself, its resonance with fans, its uniqueness in the TV landscape, and ultimately its ability to live up to our strategic aims as a content source that connects with families."

For an obscure nine-year-old show to chart so well on a streaming service with massive hit originals like "Reacher," "Neagley," and "Ted Lasso," is an amazing feat. The show delves into themes of family, free will, purpose, and second chances. Mostly because "Extinct" came from a faith-based network and was co-created by Orson Scott Card, a devout Mormon best known for penning the "Ender's Game" book series. The show has religious undertones, but it doesn't lean too heavily into them, opting to maintain broad appeal. It also steers clear of cursing and violence.

The premise is intriguing. After the aliens revive the humans centuries later, they imbue the small group with the memories they had before being wiped out. But the humans start discovering that their alien overlords might have less noble intentions than giving the human race a second chance. The central mystery revolves around the question of why, giving it vibes of "Lost" meets "Falling Skies."

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Extinct" has an audience score of 80%. Even though the acting is considered stilted and production values show it was made with a limited budget, it manages to make the most of what it has. The story will be continued in a book titled "Burning Water" written by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. This is great for fans since novels and comic books are how some cancelled sci-fi shows live on.