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What could you accomplish if you had boundless ability? This is a core question posed by all best sci-fi and fantastical stories. Imagine if you were granted extraordinary powers? Perhaps stumbled upon a life-altering drug? What about each and every single person became wholly committed to your satisfaction? Could you wield that power for the greater good, or succumb to your own baser instincts?

The shows listed below each explore this dilemma in various ways (aside from a single notable exception). Detailed here is a list of the ten most outstanding seasons of science fiction and fantasy TV from the past year.

10. Spider-Man: Your Friendly Neighborhood

Even after over six decades of stories, the web-slinger is constantly reimagined by fresh creative voices. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man offers a refreshing perspective at the hero's formative years, cleverly blending classic source material elements with ideas from other adaptations to craft something that feels simultaneously new and profoundly compelling.

Rather than operating solo or Iron Man as a guide, this iteration of Peter Parker forges a complex partnership with the future Green Goblin, who in this story is still just the head of Oscorp. Through their interactions, Peter grows into his own man, learning the iconic lesson of great power and responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Showrunner Vivienne Medrano's boldly transgressive adult musical-comedy series, which sprang from a crowdfunded pilot, fully hit its stride in its second season. Following the game-changing revelations of season 1, the narrative broadens significantly, following the ambitious media overlord Vox who takes command of the narrative, igniting a series of increasingly explosive conflicts that inevitably end in show-stopping musical numbers.

While it might not have a single viral song on the level of season one's "iconic tune," that's because everything in this season being increasingly ambitious. The action, character development, and above all the music are collectively more sophisticated. The season moves the main plot dramatically while providing plenty of weird, unhinged, and ultimately fun fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

As a successor to the acclaimed Netflix series, this series faced enormous shoes to fill. Despite significant production challenges, the resulting product proves to be worth the effort. The story follows Matt Murdock after his secret identity as Daredevil is exposed, making him vulnerable to foes from his past and present in a refreshed take of his well-known setting.

The premiere is a thrilling return to form, capturing the gritty tone audiences cherished from the original incarnation. While the middle episodes explore certain different narrative ground, the first season finishes on a strong note, setting viewers keenly awaiting a follow-up season.

7. Common Side Effects

A surprising this year's gem, this show could be described as an animated crime saga with a humor of a suburban satire. Helmed by Joe Bennett alongside writer Steve Hely, it follows the saga of a nerdy mycologist who finds a curative mushroom and quickly finds himself hunted by everyone from unscrupulous Big Pharma executives to government agents.

Despite being a parody, the narrative unfolds with the grave intensity of a classic paranoia film. Enhanced by hallucinogenic visuals and an unnerving score, the story explores bigger questions about the substance's full effects. It's a smart, visually striking, and utterly compelling first season.

6. Fallout Season 2

The hit adaptation based on the popular video game series came back with a second batch of stories that deepened its epic mystery and broadened its post-apocalyptic setting. Although it ventures in the direction of the legendary location of New Vegas, the story is not a direct adaptation of that game; instead, it continues to examine themes of authority and freedom.

It expertly juggles several narrative threads and points of view, from Lucy's quest for answers to Maximus's struggle with the ideology of the his faction. The result is a deeply layered and wholly absorbing addition to the expanding wasteland saga.

5. Invincible Season 3

The bloody and heartfelt animated series keeps its powerful streak in its third outing. Mark Grayson faces tremendous pressure on every fronts: training for a coming Viltrumite invasion, mentoring his powered brother, and battling with his shadowy Global Defense Agency. The story also features some of the most brutally brutal fight sequences the series has ever produced.

Mark's physical and emotional endurance are repeatedly pushed. He must contend with opponents more powerful than he is, the consequences of his battles, and the ethical weight of his choices. Standout storylines for key cast members such as Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode complete a fantastic installment.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

The director's offbeat superhero series returned with elevated importance within the revamped DC canon, and season 2 delivers on that count. While it successfully establishes groundwork for upcoming cinematic universe stories, it primarily presents a resonant and focused {