It's been said many times that we live in a golden age of TV. It's also been said we live in the age of too much TV. With every network, streaming service and even gaming console getting in on the original programming game, it's hard to parse out what is worth watching unless it bursts through the pop culture bubble. Even then, if something burns you once, there's little incentive to give it another try; there's enough else out there to watch.

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Sci-Fi Channel burned sci-fi fans hard when it became "Syfy" back in 2009, around the time Battlestar Galactica was airing its series finale. Out went quality programming like Ron Moore's critically acclaimed series, and in came reality shows, lighter sci-fi and Sharknado. People went elsewhere to find the types of series they were searching for in the post-BSG void, and Syfy became something of a joke compared to what it once stood for.But times change, and Syfy realized it made a mistake in shifting away from solid genre programming. The rise in popularity of The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones made it rethink its push for a broader appeal, and it's shifted back into the strong sci-fi days of yore. Forget the network you thought you knew, because in the past few years, Syfy started producing some of the best science fiction programming on TV -- and it's only getting better.When Bill McGoldrick came on board as Executive Vice President of Original Programming in 2013, he did so with the mission to regain the respect of sci-fi fans and deliver quality programming in the vein of BSG . It took a couple of years, but McGoldrick -- and Syfy -- delivered on that promise.Unfortunately, many people might not know the promise was made in the first place. The ratings on some of Syfy's best shows prove that the stigma the network earned with its "Syfy" name hasn't gone away. 12 Monkeys , arguably the channel's best show on the air right now, needed a social media campaign to help solidify its Season 3 renewal.There's still nothing on Syfy that reaches the heights of Battlestar Galactica, but the network is getting close. Each year, Syfy's new series become stronger and more promising. Some choices in the shift back to hard sci-fi were duds; Ascension never earned the mini-series-to-series evolution of BSG, and Hunters was DOA. But the lineup of 12 Monkeys, The Expanse and The Magicians is a strong one (especially when you add in Killjoys, which just premiered its second season) and one more people should be tuning in for.It's not easy to make an about-face as a network, but Syfy deserves respect for both admitting it made a mistake and then committing to fixing it. Like Battlestar Galactica's acclaim grew with word of mouth, so can the buzz for these series that not nearly enough people are checking out.It's also not easy to give a second shot to something you've already passed on, let alone rethink your opinion of a network that's lost your respect. But everyone loves a good comeback story, and this one is Syfy's.

1. 12 Monkeys

2. The Expanse

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3. The Magicians

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If you're convinced you're ready to give Syfy another go, here are some good, IGN-approved series to dive into. Trust us, you're going to enjoy what you get.Arguably one of the best sci-fi shows on the air right now, 12 Monkeys is getting better with each passing year. Season 1 started a bit slow as viewers got to know central characters Cole (Aaron Stanford) and Cassie (Amanda Schull), but once the time travel series kicked into gear around episode 4, we've been hooked. Like the best of science fiction, 12 Monkeys uses its time travel premise to ask big questions about life, never is afraid to subvert expectations and continues to impress with each season. That's why it's only great news that Syfy recently renewed it for Season 3 thanks to consistent critical praise.For more, check out: "Watch the Opening Sequence to 12 Monkeys" The Expanse is the closest the rebooted Syfy has come to a straight Battlestar Galactica follow-up. It's certainly its most ambitious new show, set in outer space and telling a sweeping story of betrayal, political intrigue and a rich sci-fi backdrop that Season 1 only began to dig into. (The effects are pretty great too.) Alternately a detective story, murder mystery and conspiracy thriller, the first season came together in an immensely satisfying way that did due service to its source material, James S. A. Corey's Leviathan Wakes. The forthcoming Season 2 will continue down that storyline as tensions escalate between Earth, Mars and the Belt.For more, check out: "The Expanse: Syfy's Most Ambitious Space Series to Date?" Not everything on Syfy is science fiction, which is a good thing if the network keeps producing programming like The Magicians. Adapted from Lev Grossman's hit fantasy novel but offering an interesting new mix on its source material, The Magicians proved to be one of the most promising new genre shows of 2016. It's easy to compare it to Harry Potter, albeit darker and featuring college-aged characters, but The Magicians intentionally poked holes in all potential fantasy comparisons and proved to be consistently compelling and surprising. Season 1 wasn't perfect, but the promise it showed has us very intrigued for the already-announced Season 2 For more, check out: "The Magicians to Embrace the Horror of the Magical World"

Terri Schwartz is Entertainment Editor at IGN. Talk to her on Twitter at @Terri_Schwartz