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

How could you accomplish if you had unlimited control? This is the central question posed by all finest science fiction and fantasy tales. Imagine if you gained superhuman abilities? Perhaps stumbled upon a revolutionary drug? Or if every single person was wholly committed to your personal satisfaction? Could you use that influence for the greater good, or would you succumb to your own darker impulses?

The shows listed herein all confront this dilemma in unique manners (aside from one key exception). Detailed below is a countdown of the 10 most outstanding installments of science fiction and fantasy television from the past year.

10. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Even after over six decades of history, Spider-Man remains reimagined by fresh talent. This series offers a refreshing perspective at the hero's formative years, cleverly blending essential comic story beats with influences from other adaptations to create something that feels simultaneously new and deeply engaging.

Rather than being solo or having Iron Man as a guide, this version of the hero forges a complex partnership with Norman Osborn, who here is merely the head of Oscorp. Through their dynamic, Peter becomes his own man, learning the iconic lesson of power and responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Showrunner Vivienne Medrano's audacious adult musical series, which originated as a crowdfunded pilot, truly found its footing in its second season. Following the game-changing events of season 1, the story expands considerably, following the ambitious media overlord Vox who takes control of the situation, sparking a series of ever-more dramatic conflicts that inevitably culminate in elaborate song.

While it might not have a one breakout hit quite like season one's "iconic tune," this is due to each element in season 2 being increasingly ambitious. The fight sequences, personal arcs, and especially the music are all elevated. The season advances the overarching storyline dramatically while delivering no shortage of weird, wild, and simply fun fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

Following the legendary Netflix show, this series faced enormous expectations. Despite well-documented development issues, the final show proves to be worth the wait. The story follows Matt Murdock after his dual life as Daredevil is exposed, making him vulnerable to foes from his history and present in a refreshed version of his well-known world.

The first episode is a thrilling return to form, capturing the gritty tone audiences cherished from the prior incarnation. While the middle episodes venture into certain new narrative ground, the season concludes powerfully, leaving fans keenly awaiting a second installment.

7. Common Side Effects

A unexpected this year's gem, this series could be described as a Breaking Bad with a sensibility of a suburban satire. Created by an Adult Swim veteran and comedy Steve Hely, the series tells the saga of a nerdy mycologist who discovers a miraculous mushroom and soon finds himself pursued by forces including unscrupulous Big Pharma executives to federal agents.

Far from being a parody, the show plays out with the serious atmosphere of a 1970s conspiracy film. Accentuated by hallucinogenic animation and an eerie score, the plot delves into deeper mysteries about the mushroom's true effects. It's a smart, visually striking, and completely gripping ten-episode season.

6. Fallout Season 2

The hit series of the iconic video game franchise returned with a second batch of stories that deepened its sprawling lore and expanded its nuclear wasteland setting. While it travels in the direction of the fan-favorite location of New Vegas, the season is not a straight retelling of that title; rather, it further examine themes of control and freedom.

The show expertly juggles several storylines and perspectives, from Lucy's quest for justice to a knight's reckoning with the dogma of the his faction. The result is a deeply layered and wholly absorbing addition to the expanding Fallout mythology.

5. Invincible Season 3

This visceral and emotionally charged adult animation series keeps its powerful streak in season 3. The hero confronts tremendous challenges on all side: preparing for a coming Viltrumite invasion, guiding his powered sibling, and battling with the secretive Global Defense Agency. The story once again includes some of the most brutally intense action scenes the show has yet produced.

The protagonist's bodily and emotional endurance are constantly pushed. He must grapple with foes stronger than he is, the aftermath of his battles, and the moral weight of his choices. Standout storylines for key cast members like Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode complete a superb season.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

James Gunn's irreverent anti-hero series came back with increased significance within the revamped DC canon, and it executes on that fronts. While it effectively establishes groundwork for upcoming cinematic universe projects, it also presents a powerful and focused {