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What would you do with unlimited control? That's the fundamental inquiry asked by the best science fiction and fantastical tales. Imagine if you gained extraordinary powers? Or discovered a miraculous substance? What about every single person was dedicated to your happiness? Would you wield that power for the greater good, or succumb to your baser impulses?

The television series featured below all confront this dilemma in various ways (with one notable exclusion). Presented below is a countdown of the ten top installments of sci-fi & fantasy television from the past year.

10. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Despite over 60 years of stories, Spider-Man is constantly reinvented by fresh creative voices. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man delivers a novel look at the character's formative years, skillfully combining classic comic elements with influences from other adaptations to create something that feels both fresh and deeply engaging.

Rather than operating solo or Iron Man as a guide, this version of Peter Parker develops a evolving partnership with the future Green Goblin, who in this story is still just the CEO of Oscorp. Across their dynamic, Peter becomes a true hero, learning the iconic mantra of great power and great responsibility.

9. Hazbin Hotel Season 2

Creator Vivienne Medrano's boldly transgressive mature musical-comedy series, which originated as a crowdfunded short, fully found its footing in its sophomore season. Building on the climactic revelations of season 1, the story expands significantly, following the ambitious TV demon Vox who seizes control of the narrative, sparking a chain of increasingly dramatic confrontations that naturally end in elaborate song.

While it may lack a one viral hit quite like the first season's "Loser, Baby," that's because each element in this season being more interwoven. The fight sequences, character arcs, and especially the score and songs are collectively more sophisticated. The story moves the main plot dramatically while delivering plenty of bizarre, wild, and simply entertaining fantasy.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

Following the acclaimed Netflix series, Daredevil: Born Again had immense expectations. Despite significant production challenges, the resulting show demonstrates it was worthy of the effort. The story follows Matt Murdock after his dual life as Daredevil is publicly revealed, making him vulnerable to foes both past and new threats in a refreshed version of his well-known setting.

The premiere is a thrilling return to form, evoking the gritty feeling fans loved from the prior series. While the middle chapters explore some new territory, the first season concludes on a strong note, leaving viewers keenly awaiting a second installment.

7. Common Side Effects

An surprising this year's highlight, this series is essentially an animated Breaking Bad filtered through the sensibility of a suburban satire. Created by an Adult Swim veteran alongside writer Steve Hely, the series tells the story of a nerdy mycologist who discovers a curative fungus and soon finds himself pursued by forces including unscrupulous Big Pharma CEOs to federal authorities.

Far from being a spoof, the narrative plays out with the serious intensity of a 1970s paranoia film. Accentuated by trippy animation and an unnerving score, the story explores bigger questions about the substance's true effects. It's a smart, visually striking, and utterly compelling ten-episode season.

6. Fallout Season 2

This acclaimed series of the popular gaming series returned with a second season of stories that expanded its sprawling lore and expanded its nuclear wasteland world. While it travels toward the legendary location of New Vegas, the story is far from a direct retelling of that title; instead, it further examine ideas of control and autonomy.

The show expertly juggles multiple narrative threads and perspectives, from the protagonist's quest for justice to Maximus's reckoning with the dogma of the his faction. The outcome is a rich detailed and wholly engaging chapter to the ever-growing Fallout mythology.

5. Invincible Season 3

The visceral and heartfelt animated series keeps its winning streak in its third outing. The hero confronts tremendous challenges on every side: training for a looming alien threat, mentoring his young sibling, and clashing with the shadowy GDA. The story once again includes some of the most brutally intense action scenes the show has ever delivered.

Mark's bodily and psychological limits are constantly pushed. He must contend with foes more powerful than himself, the consequences of his actions, and the moral burden of his choices. Excellent arcs for supporting cast members like Cecil Stedman and Rex Splode round out a superb installment.

4. Peacemaker Season 2

James Gunn's offbeat anti-hero series returned with elevated importance within the new DC universe, and it delivers on both count. While it effectively lays groundwork for upcoming DCU stories, it also tells a powerful and focused {