I think the best sci-fi is based on solid science (like The Martian). Personally, I lose interest in a sci-fi show if it ignores basic scientific principles and wanders too far into fantasy (unless it’s a good comic book movie like Guardians of the Galaxy). For instance, it’s really hard to crack an astronaut’s helmet, yet they always seem to break in the movies.
Of course sci fi grapples with human concerns and explores solutions. Artificial intelligence is a great example of a theme that has been dealt with differently in the past in comparison to the present. 2001, the Terminator series, and sometimes the Alien series have all treated AI as a threat to mankind that needed to be reined in or destroyed. Now we have AI in Humans treated as some kind of servant to be used and abused by humans. Star Trek Next Generation was notable because it treated AI with respect, and probably avoided future calamity in its fantasy universe by doing so. Some might recall “Measure of Man” in which there was a trial to determine whether Data was a person or property.
I hope we can move past the dark vision of our future we see being portrayed now, and see some storylines featuring a future I would want to be in.