The Top 10 Science Fiction and Fantasy Series of This Year

What could you accomplish if you had infinite power? That's a fundamental question explored by the best science fiction as well as fantastical tales. What if you were granted superhuman abilities? Perhaps discovered a miraculous substance? Or if each and every other human was wholly committed to your personal satisfaction? Could you wield such power for good, or give in to your own baser instincts?

These television series ranked below each explore that very dilemma in distinct ways (with one key exclusion). Detailed below is our list of the ten best installments of science fiction & fantasy television from the past year.

10. Spider-Man: Your Friendly Neighborhood

Even after over 60 years of stories, the web-slinger continues to be reinvented by new creative voices. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man offers a refreshing perspective at the hero's formative days, skillfully merging classic source material elements with influences from other adaptations to craft something which is simultaneously new and profoundly compelling.

Instead of being solo or having Iron Man as a mentor, this iteration of Peter Parker forges a complex relationship with the future Green Goblin, who in this story is merely the CEO of Oscorp. Through their dynamic, Peter becomes his own man, internalizing the signature lesson of great power and responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Creator Vivienne Medrano's boldly transgressive adult musical series, which originated as a fan-funded pilot, truly hit its stride in its second installment. Building on the game-changing revelations of the first season, the story broadens considerably, following the scheming media overlord Vox who takes control of the narrative, igniting a chain of increasingly dramatic confrontations that inevitably culminate in show-stopping song.

While it might not have a single breakout song on the level of the first season's "Loser, Baby," that's because everything in this season being more complex. The fight sequences, personal development, and especially the music are collectively more sophisticated. The season moves the overarching plot forward while delivering plenty of bizarre, unhinged, and ultimately fun dark fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

As a successor to the legendary Netflix series, Daredevil: Born Again faced immense expectations. Despite well-documented development issues, the resulting show proves to be worth the wait. The story centers on Matt Murdock after his dual life as Daredevil is publicly revealed, leaving him vulnerable to foes both history and present in a slightly take of his familiar setting.

The premiere is explosive, capturing the gritty feeling fans cherished from the prior series. Although the middle chapters explore certain new narrative ground, the first season concludes on a strong note, setting viewers keenly awaiting a follow-up installment.

7. Common Side Effects

A unexpected 2025 gem, this series is essentially a Breaking Bad filtered through a humor of King of the Hill. Created by Joe Bennett alongside comedy Steve Hely, the series follows the saga of a nerdy fungi expert who finds a miraculous mushroom and quickly finds himself hunted by forces including ruthless pharmaceutical CEOs to government authorities.

Despite being a spoof, the show plays out with the grave intensity of a classic paranoia thriller. Enhanced by trippy animation and an unnerving score, the plot explores deeper questions about the substance's full capabilities. It's a intelligent, beautifully animated, and completely gripping ten-episode season.

6. Fallout Season 2

The hit series based on the iconic gaming franchise came back with a second batch of episodes that deepened its sprawling mystery and expanded its post-apocalyptic world. Although it ventures toward the legendary location of New Vegas, the season is not a straight adaptation of that title; instead, it further explore ideas of authority and autonomy.

It skillfully juggles multiple narrative threads and points of view, from Lucy's quest for answers to Maximus's reckoning with the ideology of the Brotherhood of Steel. The result is a rich layered and wholly engaging chapter to the expanding wasteland mythology.

5. Invincible Season 3

This visceral and emotionally charged animated show continues its winning streak in its third outing. The hero faces tremendous challenges on every fronts: preparing for a looming alien threat, mentoring his powered sibling, and clashing with his secretive Global Defense Agency. The season also includes some of the most brutally brutal action sequences the series has yet produced.

The protagonist's physical and psychological limits are repeatedly tested. He must grapple with opponents more powerful than he is, the aftermath of his actions, and the ethical burden of his decisions. Excellent arcs for supporting characters such as Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode round out a superb season.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

James Gunn's offbeat anti-hero series came back with increased significance within the new DC canon, and season 2 executes on both fronts. While it successfully lays foundations for upcoming cinematic universe projects, it also presents a resonant and focused {