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How could you accomplish if you had unlimited control? This is the core inquiry explored by all greatest sci-fi and fantastical tales. Imagine if you possessed extraordinary powers? Or stumbled upon a revolutionary drug? Or if each and every single person became dedicated to your personal satisfaction? Could you wield that power for the greater good, or give in to your own darker impulses?

These television series listed below each confront that very theme in distinct ways (with one notable exclusion). Outlined below is our countdown of the 10 top installments of sci-fi and fantasy television from the past year.

10. Spider-Man: Your Friendly Neighborhood

Despite over 60 years of stories, Spider-Man continues to be reinvented by fresh talent. This series presents a novel look at the character's early days, cleverly merging classic comic elements with ideas from other adaptations to create something that feels simultaneously new and deeply compelling.

Rather than operating alone or having Tony Stark as a mentor, this version of the hero develops a complex partnership with the future Green Goblin, who here is merely the head of Oscorp. Through their interactions, Peter becomes his own man, internalizing the iconic lesson of great power and responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Creator Vivienne Medrano's boldly transgressive mature musical-comedy series, which originated as a fan-funded short, fully found its footing in its sophomore installment. Following the game-changing revelations of the first season, the story expands significantly, centering on the scheming TV demon Vox as he takes command of the narrative, igniting a series of increasingly dramatic confrontations that inevitably culminate in show-stopping song.

While it may lack a single viral song quite like season one's "Loser, Baby," this is due to everything in season 2 being increasingly ambitious. The action, personal development, and especially the score and songs are collectively elevated. The story advances the overarching storyline dramatically while delivering no shortage of weird, unhinged, and ultimately entertaining fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

As a successor to the acclaimed Netflix series, this series faced enormous shoes to fill. After well-documented development issues, the resulting product proves to be worthy of the wait. The story follows Matt Murdock after his secret identity as Daredevil is exposed, making him a target to enemies both history and present in a refreshed version of his familiar setting.

The first episode is a thrilling return to form, capturing the intense tone audiences cherished from the prior incarnation. While the subsequent episodes explore some new territory, the first season concludes on a strong note, leaving fans keenly anticipating a follow-up season.

7. Common Side Effects

A surprising 2025 gem, this series could be described as an animated Breaking Bad filtered through a humor of a suburban satire. Created by Joe Bennett alongside writer Steve Hely, the series follows the saga of a mild-mannered mycologist who discovers a curative mushroom and quickly finds himself hunted by everyone from unscrupulous Big Pharma executives to government agents.

Far from being a spoof, the show unfolds with the grave atmosphere of a 1970s paranoia thriller. Accentuated by hallucinogenic animation and an unnerving score, the plot delves into bigger mysteries about the substance's true effects. It's a intelligent, beautifully animated, and utterly compelling ten-episode season.

6. Fallout Season 2

This acclaimed adaptation of the iconic gaming series came back with a new season of stories that deepened its epic mystery and broadened its nuclear wasteland world. Although it ventures in the direction of the legendary location of New Vegas, the story is far from a direct retelling of that game; rather, it continues to explore themes of authority and freedom.

The show expertly balances multiple storylines and points of view, from Lucy's quest for answers to a knight's reckoning with the ideology of the Brotherhood of Steel. The result is a deeply detailed and utterly absorbing chapter to the expanding wasteland saga.

5. Invincible Season 3

This bloody and heartfelt animated show keeps its winning momentum in its third outing. Mark Grayson confronts tremendous challenges on every fronts: preparing for a coming alien threat, mentoring his young brother, and clashing with his secretive Global Defense Agency. The season once again features some of the most brutal action scenes the show has yet delivered.

The protagonist's bodily and psychological endurance are repeatedly tested. He must grapple with opponents stronger than he is, the consequences of his actions, and the ethical burden of his decisions. Standout storylines for key characters such as Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode round out a fantastic installment.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

James Gunn's offbeat anti-hero series came back with elevated importance within the revamped DC universe, and season 2 delivers on that fronts. While it effectively lays foundations for future DCU stories, it primarily tells a resonant and self-contained {