The Top 10 Science Fiction & Fantastical Series of This Year

What would you do with infinite control? This is a central question asked by the best science fiction and fantasy narratives. What if you gained extraordinary powers? Perhaps discovered a revolutionary drug? Or if every single person became wholly committed to your personal satisfaction? Would you use that power for good, or give in to your own baser instincts?

These shows featured below all confront this dilemma in unique manners (aside from one key exception). Outlined below is a list of the ten top seasons of sci-fi & fantastical television from the past year.

10. Spider-Man: Your Friendly Neighborhood

An innovative interpretation on Spider-Man
Image: Marvel Animation

Even after more than six decades of history, Spider-Man continues to be reimagined by fresh creative voices. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man offers a refreshing look at the hero's formative years, cleverly combining essential source material elements with ideas from other adaptations to create something which is simultaneously fresh and deeply engaging.

Instead of operating alone or having Tony Stark as a mentor, this version of the hero forges a complex relationship with the future Green Goblin, who in this story is still just the CEO of Oscorp. Through their interactions, Peter becomes his own man, learning the signature lesson of great power and responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Musical mayhem in the underworld
IMAGE: SpindleHorse

Showrunner Vivienne Medrano's audacious mature musical-comedy series, which sprang from a crowdfunded short, fully hit its stride in its sophomore installment. Building on the game-changing revelations of season 1, the narrative broadens considerably, centering on the ambitious TV demon Vox who seizes command of the situation, sparking a chain of increasingly dramatic confrontations that naturally culminate in elaborate musical numbers.

While it may lack a single viral hit on the level of the first season's "Loser, Baby," this is due to each element in season 2 being increasingly complex. The action, character development, and above all the music are all elevated. The story advances the main plot forward while delivering no shortage of weird, wild, and ultimately entertaining dark fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

Daredevil in action
Image: Marvel

Following the legendary Netflix show, this series had enormous expectations. Despite significant development issues, the final show proves to be worthy of the effort. The plot centers on Matt Murdock once his secret identity as Daredevil is exposed, leaving him vulnerable to enemies both past and present in a slightly take of his well-known setting.

The premiere is a thrilling return to form, capturing the gritty tone fans loved from the prior incarnation. Although the middle chapters explore some new narrative ground, the first season finishes powerfully, leaving fans eagerly awaiting a second season.

7. Common Side Effects

Animated figures in a dramatic scene
Image: Adult Swim

An surprising this year's highlight, this show could be described as a crime saga filtered through a sensibility of a suburban satire. Helmed by an Adult Swim veteran alongside comedy Steve Hely, it follows the story of a mild-mannered mycologist who finds a miraculous fungus and quickly finds himself pursued by everyone from ruthless pharmaceutical executives to federal agents.

Far from being a spoof, the narrative unfolds with the grave intensity of a 1970s paranoia thriller. Accentuated by trippy animation and an unnerving score, the plot delves into deeper mysteries about the substance's true effects. It's a intelligent, visually striking, and completely gripping ten-episode season.

6. Fallout Season 2

Post-apocalyptic vista from the series
Screenshot: Prime Video

This acclaimed series based on the iconic gaming franchise returned with a second season of stories that expanded its sprawling mystery and broadened its post-apocalyptic world. While it travels toward the fan-favorite location of New Vegas, the story is not a straight adaptation of that game; rather, it further examine ideas of authority and autonomy.

It skillfully juggles multiple narrative threads and points of view, from the protagonist's mission for justice to a knight's struggle with the dogma of the his faction. The outcome is a deeply layered and wholly absorbing addition to the ever-growing Fallout mythology.

5. Invincible Season 3

Invincible in a intense battle
Art: Streaming Service

The bloody and emotionally charged animated series continues its powerful momentum in season 3. The hero confronts immense pressure on every fronts: training for a looming Viltrumite threat, mentoring his young brother, and clashing with the secretive GDA. The story also features some of the most brutally brutal action scenes the series has ever produced.

The protagonist's physical and emotional endurance are repeatedly pushed. He must contend with foes stronger than he is, the consequences of his actions, and the moral burden of his choices. Excellent arcs for supporting characters like Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode round out a fantastic season.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

Peacemaker in costume
Image: HBO Max

The director's irreverent anti-hero show came back with elevated significance within the new DC canon, and it executes on that count. While it effectively establishes foundations for upcoming cinematic universe stories, it also tells a resonant and focused {

Jacob Turner
Jacob Turner

A tech journalist and gaming enthusiast with a decade of experience covering digital trends and innovations.