While the pandemic put a temporary hold on the production of several shows,sci-fitelevision has bounced back stronger than ever in recent years and delivered an incredible and transportative slate of shows. The genre’s ability to imagine the unimaginable and portray versions of the future that seem both eerie and realistic has transfixed fans for decades now. From thesweeping and ever-growing sagas ofStar Trekto the dark and twisted futures presented inBlack Mirror, sci-fi has given us some of the most breathtaking and introspective TV shows.
The year2025is already turning out to be one of the most exciting years for small-screen sci-fi. New original series likeAlien: Earthare preparing to blast onto the scene and bring unique perspectives to beloved universes, while long-established franchises likeStranger Thingsare returning with highly-awaited new seasons that will conclude their epic narratives. The 10 shows on this list represent the best that the sci-fi genre has to offer in 2025, so let’s dive in.
10’Invincible' (Season 3)
February 6
Invincible
Based on the comic book character by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows Mark Grayson, a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly average life save for the fact that he lives behind the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. Mark goes on to develop superhuman abilities, but he must also learn that his father’s legacy isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as he’s been led to believe.
As one of the best animated superhero series to currently grace our screens, it’s a delight thatInvincibleis returning for its third season. Created by and based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book series of the same name, it centered around 17-year-old Mark Grayson as he develops his own powers and prepares to take onthe legacy of Omni-Man, his father, only to discover that the most powerful superhero in the world is not all he seems to be.
In Season 3, Mark will face the aftermath of his brutal battle with Angstrom Levy, be forced to thwart an upcoming invasion from the Viltrumite Empire, and deal with his emotions after Atom Eve’s confession of feelings for him. The new chapter will also introduce villains like Powerplex and Becky Duvall. With Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, and J.K. Simmons reprising their voice roles and the stakes rising higher than ever, this season is going to be a blast.
9’Andor' (Season 2)
Andor is a Star Wars prequel series set before the events of Rogue One, following Cassian Andor as he navigates a world of danger and deception. The series delves into his transformation into a pivotal figure in the struggle against the Galactic Empire.
For a franchise as vast asStar Wars, it’s only fair for an installment or two to not be as successful as the rest of the movies and series. ButAndorwas a surprise hit for Disney+ since fans didn’t perceive Cassian Andor, the reluctant hero fromRogue One, as a character significant enough to earn his own spin-off/prequel series.
Season 2 ofAndorpicks up the story of the titular character as he transforms from a cynical thief to a committed rebel leader. It is set over a span of four years to bridge the gap between the conclusion of the first season and the events of the 2016 movie. Cassian’s journey, as one would expect, is filled with danger and betrayal. Diego Luna reprises his role as Andor, with the new season reintroducing fan-favorite droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) as well as Imperial antagonist Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn).
8’The Last Of Us' (Season 2)
April 2025
The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama series set two decades after a global catastrophe. It follows Joel, a seasoned survivor, who is tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across a desolated United States, transforming into a harrowing journey of survival and companionship.
Video game adaptations have been hit or miss for television, and for HBO to take the leap withThe Last Of Uswas a bold choice. Fortunately, under Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann’s creative vision and with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s outstanding turn as Joel and Ellie, the series took little time to become a fan-favorite. Set in post-apocalyptic America, it followed a world-weary smuggler tasked with escorting an immune teenager to safety.
Naughty Dog’s game is all about the narrative, and the fact thatthe show remains faithfulto the fresh dangers and personal demons confronted in the source material is quite interesting. Season 2 adapts 2020’sThe Last of Us Part IIand is set five years after the events of the first. It introduces Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Ellie’s romantic interest Dina, and more.
7’Doctor Who' (Season 15)
Doctor Who
An alien from the planet Gallifrey travels through time and space to explore, solve problems and fight injustice while also making friends with human beings. His spaceship, called TARDIS, resembles a police box, but it is much more than it appears to be.
Originally created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson,Doctor Whois technically into its 41st season at the moment, but considering the revival and Ncuti Gatwa’s turn as the Fifteenth Doctor, one can number the upcoming season as either Season 15 or Season 2. An exhilarating new chapter, it will begin with a special episode set in the Time Hotel, where the Doctor investigates the case of a briefcase that might obliterate its holder.
Once again, the series will navigate time and space, allow the characters to encounter new enemies and old, team up with unlikely companions, and unleash truths that could alter the course of history. As for the cast members, Varada Sethu stars asthe Doctor’s new companionin the TARDIS and Archie Panjabi is confirmed to play aDoctor Whovillain.
6’Alien: Earth'
Summer 2025
Alien: Earth
Written and directed by Noah Hawley,Alien: Earthis an upcoming series that takes place in a dystopian future where a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth. It follows a young woman named Wendy, who, along with a group of soldiers, discovers something so disturbing and shocking that it forces them to confront the greatest threat the planet has ever seen. This new reality also sees them grapple with their own fears and the limitations of humanity.
TheAlienfranchise has almost always been in discussion ever since the release of Ridley Scott’s 1979 movie. The series serves as a prequel to the same, as it’s set two years before the events of the film. Its gripping storyline and an outstanding cast including Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, and Timothy Olyphant, makes it a thrilling addition to 2025’s slate of sci-fi TV shows.
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5’Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' (Season 3)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Star Trek: Strange New Worldsdebuted in 2022 as a spin-off ofStar Trek: Discoveryand quickly became a beloved and integral part of Alex Kurtzman’s expanded Star Trek Universe. Now, it returns for its third season, with Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the starship Enterprise exploring new worlds and facing new challenges in the 23rd century. The season picks up right after the cliffhanger ending of Season 2, which saw Pike and his crew going up against the Gorn.
Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Rebecca Romijn are set to reprise their roles and the season isalso featuring exciting guest appearancesby Paul Wesley as James T. Kirk and Carol Kane as Pelia. A fourth season has already been confirmed by Paramount+ and while the wait is long, Season 3 promises to be a mix of episodic storytelling, thrilling adventures, and fascinating character arcs.
4’For All Mankind' (Season 5)
For All Mankind
Sci-fi television is evolving rapidly, and while some shows end up earning mainstream popularity, others remain underrated despite being original and intriguing.For All Mankindtakes place in an alternate history where the Soviet Union defeated the United States and won the race to the moon,driving the space raceinto the 21st century. Season 4 had a dramatic conclusion where, after a lot of international conflict and personal sacrifices, the U.S. gained control of Goldilocks, a mineral-rich asteroid.
Season 5 will explore the political and personal implications of the victory, with the stakes growing higher as other world powers fight for control over this resource. Each season ofFor All Mankindmakes a decade-long time jump, and because the creators always intended the series to be a long-running one, the show will enter a futuristic scenario by the time it ends.
3’Black Mirror' (Season 7)
Black Mirror
Black Mirrorhas gained immense recognition not only for its portrayal of a world where technology becomes an ever-present and increasingly complex part of our daily lives, but also for its dark and satirical edge. Season 5 and Season 6 were gapped four years apart, but fortunately, Season 7 is arriving in 2025. It comprises six new episodes that carry that original, mind-bending, sci-fi tone of the series as opposed to horror and fantasy.
For the first time in the series, there will be a sequel episode that continues the story of “USS Callister,” one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed episodes of Season 4.Black Mirrorimpressively blends genres to tell unique stories, taking speculative fiction in directions like never before. The fact that industry favorites like Awkwafina, Peter Capaldi, Emma Corrin, and Paul Giamatti are joining the new season only makes it more of a must-watch.
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2’Blade Runner 2099'
AfterBlade Runner 2024bombed commerciallyback in 2017, it took a significant amount of time to gain a reputation as a promising, visually striking, and extremely faithful sci-fi book adaptation. Still, hopes for the franchise to continue were far. WithBlade Runner 2099, the iconic universe is set to make a return and redefine the boundaries of sci-fi storytelling on the small screen.
Little is known about the plot and the cast of the series since filming only recently wrapped, but it’s believed thatBlade Runner 2099will also be set in a dystopian future where replicants are integrated into society, and it will follow a new generation of blade runners given the task of hunting down rogue replicants. The series is building on the legacy of its predecessors while introducing new elements to keep fans on edge.
1’Stranger Things' (Season 5)
Stranger Things
Inspired by 80s pop-culture and elements of Stephen King’s works, Stranger Things is a supernatural action-drama TV series set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. When a young boy goes missing, his group of friends stumbles upon a young girl with telekinetic powers who recently escaped from a mysterious facility. They soon realize that she may be their only chance at stopping an impending doom that threatens to engulf Hawkins whole.
The final season ofStranger Things, after an awfully long wait, takes viewers back to Hawkins, Indiana, where Eleven and her friends face their biggest challenge yet in the form of Vecna, who will return to wreak havoc. Season 5 will explore the aftermath of the previous season’s events, which saw Vecna defeated but not destroyed. To add to the eagerness, Netflix recently dropped the titles of each of Season 5’s eight episodes, and the most intriguing ones are “Sorcerer” and “The Rightside Up.”
Stranger Thingsattracted record viewership for Netflix andthe upcoming chapter is expectedto do the same. With its iconic cast, including Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, and Finn Wolfhard, the show’s mash-up of nostalgia, supernatural horror, and heartfelt character relationships, it’s going to be a conclusive rollercoaster that neatly wraps up all storylines.
