🔗 Share this article

What could you accomplish with unlimited ability? That's a central inquiry explored by the best sci-fi as well as fantasy stories. Imagine if you possessed superhuman abilities? Or stumbled upon a revolutionary substance? What about each and every other person became dedicated to your personal happiness? Would you use such power for good, or give in to your own baser instincts?

The television series listed below all confront that very theme in various ways (with a single key exception). Detailed below is our ranking of the 10 top installments of sci-fi & fantastical television from the past year.

10. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Even after more than 60 years of stories, the web-slinger is constantly reinvented by fresh talent. This series offers a novel perspective at the character's early years, cleverly combining essential source material story beats with ideas from the broader Marvel universe to create something that feels simultaneously fresh and profoundly engaging.

Instead of operating solo or Iron Man as a guide, this version of Peter Parker forges a complex relationship with the future Green Goblin, who in this story is still just the CEO of Oscorp. Through their dynamic, Peter becomes his own man, internalizing the signature mantra of power and responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Showrunner Vivienne Medrano's audacious adult musical-comedy show, which originated as a fan-funded pilot, truly hit its stride in its sophomore season. Building on the climactic events of the first season, the narrative broadens significantly, centering on the scheming media overlord Vox as he takes command of the situation, sparking a series of increasingly explosive conflicts that inevitably culminate in show-stopping song.

Although it may lack a single viral song quite like the first season's "iconic tune," this is due to everything in this season being increasingly complex. The fight sequences, character arcs, and especially the music are collectively more sophisticated. The season advances the overarching storyline dramatically while delivering plenty of weird, wild, and simply entertaining dark fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

As a successor to the legendary Netflix series, this series faced immense shoes to fill. Despite well-documented development challenges, the resulting show demonstrates to be worth the wait. The plot centers on Matt Murdock after his secret identity as Daredevil is publicly revealed, making him a target to foes both history and new threats in a slightly version of his well-known setting.

The premiere is explosive, capturing the intense feeling fans loved from the original incarnation. While the subsequent chapters venture into some different territory, the season concludes powerfully, leaving viewers keenly anticipating a second installment.

7. Common Side Effects

A surprising this year's gem, this series could be described as a crime saga with a humor of a suburban satire. Created by Joe Bennett alongside writer Steve Hely, it follows the story of a nerdy fungi expert who finds a miraculous mushroom and soon finds himself hunted by everyone from unscrupulous pharmaceutical CEOs to government authorities.

Despite being a spoof, the narrative unfolds with the serious atmosphere of a 1970s conspiracy film. Enhanced by hallucinogenic animation and an unnerving score, the plot explores bigger mysteries about the mushroom's full effects. It's a smart, visually striking, and completely compelling ten-episode season.

6. Fallout Season 2

The hit series of the popular video game franchise returned with a new batch of episodes that deepened its sprawling lore and expanded its post-apocalyptic setting. While it travels toward the fan-favorite location of New Vegas, the season is not a straight retelling of that title; rather, it continues to explore ideas of authority and freedom.

The show skillfully juggles multiple storylines and perspectives, from Lucy's quest for answers to Maximus's reckoning with the ideology of the Brotherhood of Steel. The result is a deeply detailed and utterly engaging chapter to the ever-growing wasteland mythology.

5. Invincible Season 3

This bloody and emotionally charged adult animation series keeps its winning momentum in season 3. Mark Grayson confronts immense challenges on all side: training for a looming Viltrumite threat, guiding his powered brother, and clashing with his shadowy Global Defense Agency. The story once again features some of the most brutally intense action scenes the show has yet produced.

Mark's bodily and psychological endurance are repeatedly tested. He must contend with foes stronger than he is, the aftermath of his actions, and the moral weight of his choices. Excellent storylines for supporting cast members such as Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode round out a fantastic installment.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

The director's irreverent superhero show came back with elevated importance within the revamped DC universe, and it delivers on that fronts. While it successfully lays groundwork for future DCU projects, it also tells a powerful and self-contained {