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How would you do with boundless ability? This is a central inquiry asked by the greatest sci-fi and fantastical stories. What if you were granted extraordinary powers? Perhaps discovered a miraculous drug? What about each and every other person became dedicated to your personal satisfaction? Could you use that power for the greater good, or would you succumb to your own baser impulses?

These television series ranked below each grapple with that very concept in unique manners (with one notable exception). Detailed below is a countdown of the 10 most outstanding installments of science fiction and fantasy TV from the past year.

10. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Even after more than 60 years of history, the web-slinger remains reinvented by fresh talent. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man presents a refreshing perspective at the hero's formative years, cleverly merging classic source material elements with ideas from other adaptations to create something which is simultaneously new and profoundly engaging.

Instead of being alone or Iron Man as a guide, this version of the hero develops a complex relationship with Norman Osborn, who here is still just the CEO of Oscorp. Across their dynamic, Peter grows into a true hero, learning the iconic lesson of power and responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Creator Vivienne Medrano's audacious adult musical-comedy show, which sprang from a fan-funded pilot, fully hit its stride in its second season. Following the climactic revelations of season 1, the narrative expands significantly, centering on the ambitious TV demon Vox as he takes command of the situation, igniting a series of ever-more explosive conflicts that inevitably culminate in show-stopping song.

While it might not have a one viral song quite like the first season's "Loser, Baby," that's because everything in this season being increasingly complex. The fight sequences, character arcs, and especially the score and songs are collectively elevated. The story advances the main storyline dramatically while delivering plenty of weird, unhinged, and simply entertaining dark fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

As a successor to the acclaimed Netflix show, Daredevil: Born Again had immense shoes to fill. Despite significant development issues, the final show demonstrates it was worth the effort. The plot follows Matt Murdock once his secret identity as Daredevil is publicly revealed, making him a target to enemies both history and present in a refreshed version of his well-known setting.

The first episode is a thrilling return to form, capturing the intense tone audiences loved from the original incarnation. Although the middle episodes explore certain different territory, the season concludes on a strong note, setting viewers keenly anticipating a follow-up installment.

7. Common Side Effects

An unexpected 2025 gem, this series could be described as an animated crime saga filtered through a humor of a suburban satire. Helmed by an Adult Swim veteran and comedy Steve Hely, the series follows the story of a mild-mannered fungi expert who finds a miraculous mushroom and soon finds himself pursued by everyone from ruthless Big Pharma CEOs to federal agents.

Far from being a spoof, the narrative plays out with the grave intensity of a 1970s paranoia film. Enhanced by trippy visuals and an eerie musical soundtrack, the story explores deeper questions about the mushroom's true effects. It's a smart, beautifully animated, and utterly gripping first season.

6. Fallout Season 2

The acclaimed adaptation of the iconic video game franchise returned with a new batch of episodes that deepened its sprawling mystery and broadened its nuclear wasteland setting. Although it ventures toward the legendary location of New Vegas, the story is not a straight adaptation of that title; rather, it continues to explore themes of control and autonomy.

It expertly balances multiple narrative threads and points of view, from Lucy's quest for answers to Maximus's reckoning with the dogma of the Brotherhood of Steel. The outcome is a deeply layered and utterly absorbing chapter to the ever-growing wasteland mythology.

5. Invincible Season 3

This visceral and heartfelt animated show keeps its powerful momentum in its third outing. Mark Grayson confronts immense challenges on all side: preparing for a looming Viltrumite invasion, guiding his powered sibling, and battling with his secretive Global Defense Agency. The season also features some of the most intense fight sequences the series has ever produced.

Mark's bodily and emotional endurance are repeatedly pushed. He must contend with opponents stronger than himself, the consequences of his battles, and the moral burden of his decisions. Excellent storylines for key characters like Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode complete a superb season.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

James Gunn's offbeat superhero show returned with increased significance within the new DC canon, and season 2 delivers on both fronts. Although it successfully establishes foundations for upcoming cinematic universe projects, it also tells a powerful and focused {