Our Best 10 Sci-Fi & Fantastical TV Shows of This Year

What could you accomplish if you had unlimited ability? This is the central inquiry asked by the greatest science fiction and fantastical stories. Imagine if you possessed superhuman abilities? Or discovered a revolutionary drug? What about every other person was wholly committed to your personal satisfaction? Would you wield such influence for the greater good, or give in to your baser instincts?

The series listed below each grapple with this concept in various manners (with a single key exclusion). Outlined below is a ranking of the ten best installments of science fiction and fantastical TV from the past year.

10. Spider-Man: Your Friendly Neighborhood

A fresh take on Spider-Man
Illustration: Marvel Animation

Despite more than six decades of history, the web-slinger continues to be reinterpreted by new creative voices. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man presents a refreshing perspective at the hero's early days, skillfully combining essential source material elements with influences from other adaptations to create something which is simultaneously fresh and profoundly engaging.

Instead of operating solo or having Tony Stark as a guide, this version of the hero forges a evolving partnership with the future Green Goblin, who here is still just the head of Oscorp. Across their dynamic, Peter grows into a true hero, internalizing the iconic mantra of power and great responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Musical chaos in Hell
IMAGE: Animation Studio

Creator Vivienne Medrano's boldly transgressive adult musical show, which sprang from a fan-funded pilot, truly found its footing in its second installment. Building on the climactic events of season 1, the narrative expands considerably, following the ambitious TV demon Vox as he seizes control of the situation, igniting a chain of increasingly explosive confrontations that inevitably end in show-stopping song.

Although it may lack a one viral song quite like the first season's "iconic tune," that's because everything in season 2 being increasingly ambitious. The action, character arcs, and especially the music are collectively more sophisticated. The season advances the main storyline forward while providing no shortage of bizarre, wild, and ultimately entertaining fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

Daredevil in action
Image: Marvel

As a successor to the legendary Netflix show, Daredevil: Born Again faced enormous expectations. Despite significant production challenges, the resulting show demonstrates to be worthy of the wait. The plot centers on Matt Murdock after his secret identity as Daredevil is publicly revealed, making him vulnerable to foes from his history and present in a refreshed take of his well-known world.

The premiere is explosive, evoking the gritty feeling fans cherished from the prior incarnation. While the subsequent episodes explore some different territory, the season concludes on a strong note, leaving viewers keenly awaiting a follow-up installment.

7. Common Side Effects

Animated characters in a dramatic moment
Image: Network

A unexpected this year's highlight, this show could be described as an animated Breaking Bad with a sensibility of a suburban satire. Helmed by an Adult Swim veteran alongside writer Steve Hely, the series follows the saga of a mild-mannered mycologist who discovers a curative mushroom and soon finds himself hunted by forces including unscrupulous pharmaceutical CEOs to government authorities.

Despite being a parody, the show plays out with the serious intensity of a 1970s paranoia film. Accentuated by trippy visuals and an eerie musical soundtrack, the story explores bigger questions about the substance's true capabilities. It's a intelligent, visually striking, and utterly gripping ten-episode season.

6. Fallout Season 2

Wasteland landscape from Fallout
Image: Prime Video

This acclaimed series of the popular gaming series came back with a second season of stories that expanded its epic lore and expanded its nuclear wasteland world. Although it travels in the direction of the fan-favorite location of New Vegas, the season is not a direct retelling of that game; rather, it continues to explore themes of authority and freedom.

The show expertly juggles several storylines and perspectives, from the protagonist's mission for justice to Maximus's struggle with the ideology of the his faction. The result is a rich layered and utterly engaging addition to the ever-growing wasteland saga.

5. Invincible Season 3

Invincible in a intense fight
Image: Prime Video

The bloody and heartfelt adult animation show keeps its powerful streak in its third outing. Mark Grayson faces immense challenges on every side: training for a looming Viltrumite invasion, guiding his young sibling, and battling with his shadowy GDA. The story once again features some of the most intense fight sequences the show has ever delivered.

Mark's bodily and emotional limits are constantly tested. He must grapple with opponents stronger than himself, the aftermath of his battles, and the ethical burden of his choices. Standout arcs for supporting characters such as Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode complete a fantastic installment.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

Peacemaker in gear
Image: HBO Max

James Gunn's offbeat anti-hero series returned with elevated significance within the revamped DC canon, and season 2 delivers on that fronts. While it successfully lays groundwork for future DCU projects, it primarily tells a resonant and focused {

Denise Levine
Denise Levine

Cybersecurity expert and tech writer specializing in data protection and cloud storage innovations.