🔗 Share this article

How could you accomplish with unlimited ability? That's a core question posed by the finest sci-fi and fantastical tales. What if you gained superhuman abilities? Perhaps stumbled upon a life-altering substance? What about each and every single person was wholly committed to your personal happiness? Would you wield that influence for the greater good, or give in to your baser impulses?

The series featured herein all explore this concept in various ways (aside from a single notable exception). Outlined below is our ranking of the 10 best seasons of science fiction & fantasy TV from the past year.

10. Spider-Man: Your Friendly Neighborhood

Despite over six decades of stories, Spider-Man is constantly reinterpreted by fresh creative voices. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man delivers a novel perspective at the character's formative days, cleverly merging classic source material story beats with ideas from other adaptations to create something that feels simultaneously new and deeply compelling.

Instead of operating solo or having Tony Stark as a mentor, this iteration of the hero forges a complex partnership with Norman Osborn, who here is merely the CEO of Oscorp. Across their dynamic, Peter grows into a true hero, internalizing the signature mantra of great power and great responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Showrunner Vivienne Medrano's audacious mature musical show, which sprang from a crowdfunded short, truly hit its stride in its sophomore season. Building on the game-changing revelations of the first season, the narrative expands considerably, centering on the ambitious TV demon Vox who seizes control of the situation, sparking a series of increasingly dramatic confrontations that inevitably end in show-stopping song.

While it may lack a one breakout song on the level of the first season's "Loser, Baby," that's because everything in season 2 being more interwoven. The action, personal arcs, and above all the music are all elevated. The season moves the main plot dramatically while providing plenty of bizarre, wild, and simply fun dark fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

Following the acclaimed Netflix series, Daredevil: Born Again had enormous expectations. Despite significant development challenges, the resulting show demonstrates it was worth the wait. The story follows Matt Murdock once his secret identity as Daredevil is exposed, leaving him vulnerable to enemies from his past and present in a refreshed version of his well-known setting.

The first episode is a thrilling return to form, evoking the gritty feeling audiences cherished from the prior incarnation. While the middle chapters explore some new territory, the first season finishes powerfully, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating a follow-up season.

7. Common Side Effects

An surprising 2025 gem, this show is essentially an animated Breaking Bad filtered through the humor of King of the Hill. Helmed by Joe Bennett and writer Steve Hely, it tells the saga of a nerdy mycologist who finds a curative fungus and soon finds himself pursued by forces including ruthless Big Pharma CEOs to government agents.

Despite being a parody, the show plays out with the grave intensity of a classic conspiracy film. Enhanced by hallucinogenic animation and an eerie score, the story delves into bigger questions about the mushroom's full effects. It's a smart, beautifully animated, and completely gripping first season.

6. Fallout Season 2

This hit adaptation based on the popular video game franchise returned with a second season of stories that deepened its sprawling mystery and broadened its post-apocalyptic setting. Although it ventures toward the fan-favorite location of New Vegas, the story is far from a direct adaptation of that game; rather, it continues to examine ideas of control and freedom.

It expertly balances several narrative threads and points of view, from the protagonist's mission for justice to Maximus's struggle with the dogma of the his faction. The result is a deeply detailed and wholly absorbing addition to the expanding Fallout mythology.

5. Invincible Season 3

This visceral and heartfelt adult animation show continues its winning streak in season 3. Mark Grayson faces immense challenges on every side: training for a coming Viltrumite threat, mentoring his young sibling, and battling with his shadowy Global Defense Agency. The season once again features some of the most brutal fight scenes the show has yet delivered.

Mark's physical and psychological limits are repeatedly tested. He must contend with foes stronger than himself, the aftermath of his actions, and the ethical weight of his decisions. Standout arcs for key characters such as Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode complete a fantastic season.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

The director's offbeat anti-hero series returned with elevated significance within the new DC universe, and it executes on that fronts. Although it effectively lays groundwork for future DCU stories, it primarily tells a resonant and self-contained {