The essential episodes of Dark Skies

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Dark Skies — each pick states its reason.

  1. 01

    S01E01 · Pilot · September 21, 1996 · 1h

    The Awakening (1)8.7

    Part One of 2. In 1961, a Congressional aide and his girlfriend discover a Government cover-up involving alien invaders and a covert agency aimed at finding them.

  2. 02

    S01E02 · Top rated · September 21, 1996 · 1h

    The Awakening (2)8.7

    Conclusion. In 1961, a Congressional aide and his girlfriend discover a Government cover-up involving alien invaders and a covert agency aimed at finding them.

  3. 03

    S01E03 · Top rated · September 28, 1996 · 1h

    Moving Targets8.8

    In the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination, Sayers and Loengard go to Texas to retrieve the alien artifact and discover a Hive connection to Lee Harvey Oswald.

  4. 04

    S01E04 · Top rated · October 19, 1996 · 1h

    Mercury Rising8.3

    Sayers' mysterious visions lead her and Loengard to Florida, where they discover a Hive operation that threatens the U.S. space program.

  5. 05

    S01E05 · Top rated · October 26, 1996 · 1h

    Dark Days Night8.7

    Loengard and Sayers discover a Hive plot to interfere with the Beatles' appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and send a subliminal message to millions of people.

  6. 06

    S01E06 · Top rated · November 2, 1996 · 1h

    Dreamland8.7

    Sayers and Loengard head to Las Vegas, where they learn that Howard Hughes has mistaken the Hive conspiracy for a Communist plot.

  7. 07

    S01E07 · Top rated · November 9, 1996 · 1h

    Inhuman Nature8.3

    Sayers and Loengard must move fast to avoid Bach, who's seeking the same information about troubling events on a Wisconsin farm.

  8. 08

    S01E08 · Top rated · November 16, 1996 · 1h

    Ancient Future8.7

    A centuries-old UFO crash site attracts Loengard and Sayers, Bach and the Hive. But a prophecy foretells danger if the area is disturbed.

  9. 09

    S01E09 · Top rated · December 7, 1996 · 1h

    Hostile Convergence8.7

    Kim and John separate when she goes home for the wedding of her sister, whose betrothed might be too good to be true; John investigates an unusual UFO sighting.

  10. 10

    S01E10 · Top rated · December 14, 1996 · 1h

    We Shall Overcome8.3

    A message from John's old boss leads him and Sayers to Mississippi, where they find evidence of Hive involvement in the disappearance of three civil-rights workers.

  11. 11

    S01E14 · Top rated · February 1, 1997 · 1h

    White Rabbit8.3

    Loengard is forced on a deadly mission with Bach to war-torn Vietnam to erase all signs of a crashed saucer and its crew. Captured by the VC, the two find a newfound respect for each other.

  12. 12

    S01E15 · Top rated · February 8, 1997 · 1h

    Shades of Gray8.7

    John rejoins Majestic with a plan to lure an alien craft to the ground and Kim discovers she has a psychic connection with a wounded Gray. Meanwhile, Juliet races to stop Hivers from abducting a little girl.

  13. 13

    S01E17 · Top rated · March 8, 1997 · 1h

    Both Sides Now8.7

    Loengard is pushed to his limits while continuing his search for Sayers, who has fallen under Hive control and been given a terrifying choice: join the Hive or lose her baby.

  14. 14

    S01E18 · Season 1 peak · March 15, 1997 · 1h

    To Prey in Darkness9.0

    The race to retrieve a stolen segment of the Roswell UFO film that proves the existence of the Hive leads John and Juliet to a showdown with Sayers and the Hive that causes the power outage of 1965.

  15. 15

    S01E20 · Series finale · May 31, 1997 · 1h

    Bloodlines8.7

    Loengard volunteers to be a guinea pig for Hive abduction in an effort to save his son.

Shows like Dark Skies

The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.

  1. 01Drama·Science-Fiction·ActionThe essential episodes of Arrow2012–2020·The CWAfter a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific.7.4
  2. 02Drama·Science-Fiction·ActionThe essential episodes of The Flash2014–2023·The CWStreaming on NetflixAfter a particle accelerator causes a freak storm, CSI Investigator Barry Allen is struck by lightning and falls into a coma.7.5
  3. 03Drama·Science-Fiction·ActionThe essential episodes of Fringe2008–2013·FOXStreaming on HuluWhen an international flight lands at Boston's Logan Airport and the passengers and crew have all died grisly deaths, FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham is called in to investigate.8.6
  4. 04Drama·Science-Fiction·AdventureThe essential episodes of Doctor Who2005–2022·BBC OneStreaming on AMC+ Amazon ChannelAdventures across time and space with the time travelling alien and companions.8.2
  5. 05Drama·Science-Fiction·ThrillerThe essential episodes of Black Mirror2011–presentStreaming on NetflixOver the last ten years, technology has transformed almost every aspect of our lives before we've had time to stop and question it.8.4
  6. 06Drama·Science-Fiction·CrimeThe essential episodes of The X-Files1993–2018·FOXStreaming on HuluTwo FBI agents, Fox Mulder (a believer) and Dana Scully (a skeptic), investigate unexplained cases where the paranormal might be involved while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.8.6
AlertsRenewal news, premiere dates and streaming moves. One confirmation email first — unsubscribe any time.