This year’s crop of sci-fi and fantasy TV shows has provided fans with no shortage of entertaining, captivating tales to keep you hooked to your screen, from a twisted perspective on the elusive “work/life balance” to the significant revival of vampires and demon slayers.
We’ve compiled a list of the top science fiction and fantasy TV shows that have aired this year to honour the greatest in the genre, including Evil, Interview with the Vampire, The Sandman, Severance, and more. These programmes excel in terms of world-building, character growth, and overall storytelling.
Here are the top sci-fi and fantasy programmes on Tell-Tale TV in no particular order for 2022:
Andor (Disney+)
Following the excitement of Star Wars: Rogue One, it was a fantastic idea to bring Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor back into the Disney+ fold.
Andor follows Cassian through his formative years, charting not just the decisions that radicalised the man but also the evolving environment around him that resulted in the galaxy we see in the films, providing viewers with further insight into the revolutionary we met in the movie.
Andor is a lovely and welcome addition to the verse thanks to its excellent writing, captivating characters, tremendous growth for the lead cast, and a deeper look into the expanded universe.
Astrid & Lilly Save the World (Syfy)
Though it ended far too quickly, Astrid & Lilly Save the World’s one-season run on Syfy did a lot for the network and is well worth watching for aficionados of science fiction and fantasy.
After a moonlit ceremony goes horribly wrong, Astrid and Lilly are forced to save each other and their new demon buddy after they unintentionally open a doorway to an alternate world full with terrifying creatures. Every episode was enjoyable to watch due to the tone that was somewhat campy, the well-balanced mixture of common adolescent issues, and the interesting monsters of the week.
With Astrid & Lilly, they were producing genre television that was good at embracing body positivity, sex positivity, and the life of a contemporary teen demon slayer.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)
Fans had to say goodbye to DC’s Legends of Tomorrow in 2022, and with it, the most endearing goofballs from the Arrowverse. Before concluding, however, the audience was treated to some delightful, heartwarming, and heartbreaking team arcs.
The series’ last season served as both a showcase for the brilliant ensemble and a way to demonstrate to fans how far the plots and characters have progressed. And nowhere is that more clear than in observing Sara’s development as a leader and a person from the beginning to this final season. By introducing the first Ace character in the Arrowverse, Legends of Tomorrow solidified its position inside that universe as well.
The final season paid gratitude to the fans even if we had to say goodbye to our beloved band of time-traveling misfits. It exemplified why it is a critics’ favourite.
Evil (Paramount+)
Evil episode 9 from season 3 is available to stream on Paramount+ in 2022 and stars Mike Colter as David Acosta, Katja Herbers as Kristen Bouchard, and Aasif Mandvi as Ben Shakir. Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ provided the image.
Following that crazy finale from the previous season, Evil Season 3 sought to step it up, increasing the horrors, the dark comedy, and the utter ridiculousness. Viewers are exposed to unexpected twists and turns as the central mystery is slowly built up in each episode and intertwined into the mayhem of the case of the week.
The supernatural television show’s third season enhances its central tenet with a new look at Leland’s schemes, moving commentary on everything from social media to cults, and a shocking cliffhanger. More of the Bouchard family and Sister Andrea’s incredible demon-hunting skills were gifts from the season as well.
The main actors also keeps pulling off these plot twists with such skill that viewers find themselves anxiously anticipating what comes next as they watch.
For All Mankind (Apple TV+)
With its third season, For All Mankind on Apple TV+ ventures into uncharted territory: a trip to Mars. The show speculates on what may have happened if the moon race had been conducted differently, looking into the future and tracing each character’s development along the way.
The drama between the characters is the most compelling aspect of the story being told, but the show is nothing if not thought-provoking in the way it confronts science and gets ready to send people to the moon.
As we watch them compete against one another and risk their lives to explore a new territory, we become very attached to these individuals. It makes for utterly captivating television.
House of the Dragon (HBO)
The House of the Dragon was established before the Battle of the Bastards, The Red Wedding, and the other horrific incidents that surrounded the struggle for the Iron Throne on Game of Thrones.
The HBO prequel series marked the start of television programming again after what seemed like a very long period, and it sent the Thrones fandom into a frenzy every Sunday night. Dragons, a dynastic battle, and a new emphasis on the female characters’ aspirations to rule the realm were all the franchise needed to keep fans interested and clamouring for more.
Interview With The Vampire (AMC)
Interview with the Vampire, Season 1, Episode 2, stars Sam Reid as Lestat Du Lioncourt and Jacob Anderson as Louis De Pointe Du Lac. Image credit: Michele K. Short/Sony Pictures Television/AMC.
Interview with the Vampire on AMC is a model of how to create an adaption for a modern audience. While maintaining loyal to the concepts of the novels, the series pays homage to Anne Rice’s original book series while also using artistic licence to make the adaption even deeper and more current. The new version does a fantastic job of making racial issues a major focus of its storyline.
Lestat and Louis are superbly embodied by Sam Reid and Jacob Anderson, and Bailey Bass gives the older Claudia a unique, compelling personality all her own.
La Brea (NBC)
When it comes to their general hostility for genre television, broadcast television can occasionally seem like a completely different animal. It was therefore originally unexpected to see NBC embrace La Brea and allow it another season to succeed in its absurd concept.
Following two groups after some of their members enter a sinkhole and are sent back in time. With just each other to rely on as they navigate life in two distinct time periods, there are plenty of crazy special effects, scenarios, and opportunities for character development.
Let the Right One In (Showtime)
Let the Right One In is a new vampire adaption this year that offers a completely fresh perspective on the vampire mythos. The series, which is based on the Swedish novel and movie of the same name, revolves on Mark and his daughter Eleanor, whose transformation into a vampire ten years prior altered their lives.
In addition to doing whatever is necessary to feed his daughter, Mark’s life goal is to track down the creature who altered her so that he might discover a cure. Eleanor, on the other hand, simply wants a life that is like a normal one, which involves meeting friends.
This is a story with plenty of suspense, emotion, strong performances, and surprises.
Motherland: Fort Salem (Freeform)
Motherland: Fort Salem is a witch-centered television programme like all the others. Despite being cancelled after the third season, it was one of the best shows Freeform has ever produced, despite being short-lived.
Motherland: Fort Salem exceeded expectations with each new episode and season thanks to its focus on a matriarchal world, queer representation, intense fight scenes, mountains of lore to explore, and a wickedly talented cast on and off screen.
The only thing the show’s fans can hope for is that another network will decide to pick it up for a fourth season, allowing for more world-building. Three seasons barely touched the surface of what was planned and the potential lengths the series could have reached, so it makes sense that the show’s creator, Eliot Laurence, saw the series running for six or seven seasons.
Naomi (The CW)
– In this photo, from left to right, are Camila Moreno as Lourdes, Daniel Puig as Nathan, Will Meyers as Anthony, Aidan Gemme as Jacob, Kaci Walfall as Naomi, and Mary-Charles Jones as Annabelle. — Image: The CW/Danny Delgado All rights reserved. — 2022 The CW Network, LLC.
Although Naomi got off to a shaky start, by the middle of its first season, the brief addition to the Arrowverse was finding its footing.
Naomi McDuffie, portrayed by the amazing Kaci Walfall, is a young woman who enters her power while juggling life as a superpowered hero and a teenager. The series introduced the world to Naomi and her story. The fact that this show was able to approach challenging, real-world topics without coming across as sanctimonious is what set it apart from the competition.
It also demonstrated to fans that changing the world doesn’t need having superhuman abilities.
Paper Girls (Prime Video)
There will always be scepticism and criticism from the largest fans when a book or graphic novel is adapted for the big screen. But with Paper Girls on Prime Video, both newcomers and enthusiasts have embraced the show.
One Halloween morning in 1988, when a gang of paper ladies head out on their route, they are pursued by time travellers who have opened up the cosmos and the idea of time, changing their perceptions forever.
Despite the fact that the series involves time travel, the most memorable and special moments are those that make the most of the incredible opportunity for these girls to witness how events play out. The fundamental idea is still to portray the tale of a young girl.
Quantum Leap (NBC)
It’s challenging to reboot a programme that is best characterised as a cult classic, so NBC’s most recent Quantum Leap revival had its work cut out for it. But during the first half of the season, it has discovered its own viewpoint that makes for an interesting watch independent of the cult classic status of the original.
The movie Quantum Leap, which stars Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song, follows Dr. Song as he tries to bring the long-defunct programme back to life. When he uses the programme to save a buddy, he quickly discovers that he is going to be the program’s test subject.
It’s been fun to watch the show stand apart, with all the quirky nods to its original series and tributes to iconic works like The Exorcist.
Reginald The Vampire (Syfy)
Who would have thought that vampires would return in 2022? Numerous new shows featuring our favourite bloodsucking nocturnal monsters have emerged this year. A similarly endearing collection of characters is led by the consistently endearing Jacob Batalon in Syfy’s Reginald the Vampire, which joins those ranks.
The sitcom centres on Reginald (Batalon), a charming Slushy Shack employee who transforms into a vampire, and is based on the Johnny B. Truant book series Fat Vampire. While learning how to exist as a supernatural being, Reginald must navigate the prejudiced vampire elite who prioritises “blemish-free” vamps in their culture.
The show addresses everything from body image and fatphobia to embracing your uniqueness. It is nutritious, comforting, and so delicious that a toothache might result. The fact that Reginald the Vampire is more character-driven than plot-driven makes it a rarity among genre television, and that’s lovely.
Severance (Apple TV+)
“Severance” stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, and Britt Lower. Picture from Apple TV+
Severance, an acclaimed series on Apple TV+, succeeds in elevating the idea of ultimately separating work and personal life to a spooky, horrifying level.
The series follows Mark, played by Adam Scott, as he transitions from living his life as a severed worker to unravelling a web of intrigue and conspiracies surrounding him. It takes a novel approach to telling a story about work/life balance by framing it in an unsettling tale at Lumon Industries’ severed department.
Severance is one of the best and most innovative sci-fi series 2022 has to offer, with fascinating photography and an incredible cast.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds appears to rely on its original tone, unlike most of the more recent stories in the Star Trek universe, which tend to make observations on the grimmer, more terrifying aspects of space travel through the use of edgier photography.
Strange New Worlds chooses to follow The Original Series’ lead in terms of the ship and the uniforms, transferring that nostalgic appearance and feel into its central idea and story arcs. The gang embarks on the trek with a more upbeat mindset.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is yet another fascinating addition to the Star Trek canon, including a superb ensemble that includes Rebecca Romijn, Celia Rose Gooding, Ethan Peck, and Anson Mount, among many others, joining Captain Christopher Pike on the U.S.S. Enterprise.
Stranger Things (Netflix)
Stranger Things made a triumphant comeback after a far too long absence, answering many of the mysteries and concerns that fans had.
While preserving its grandiosity, nostalgic spirit, and the majority of character interactions, Stranger Things this year delivered fans a lot, including a Freddy Kreuger-esque opponent, an epic guitar riff-off, and the revival of a ’80s pop smash. Joyce’s trip to Russia also provided fans Hopper’s return, so it wasn’t just the kids who made it worthwhile.
The story is at its best when the kids are drawn into Vecna and reunited in an effort to save Hawkins.
The Boys (Prime Video)
With the introduction of several new Supes, notably the infamous Soldier Boy played by Jenson Ackles, The Boys Season 3 pushed limits even further than normal. The season addressed significant political issues head-on and portrayed Homelander as an even worse villain than previously.
The highly anticipated Herogasm episode, which held nothing back, was another highlight of the season. The superhero series continues to be as amusing, filthy, and gory as ever because to great writing and a cast of wickedly gifted actors.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Prime Video)
With The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the most recent addition to Middle Earth, the Tolkien fanbase is still very much alive and strong. Longtime Tolkien enthusiasts now have even more tales to rejoice about thanks to this series. New admirers are also welcomed into the fold by it.
Although the pace may be too sluggish for some people’s preferences, it enables the stories to be completely developed. It’s really fun to see the new and well-known characters in this fresh setting.
For fans of fantasy, The Rings of Power tells a well-known tale of good triumphing over evil and the significance of finding the light even in the most difficult circumstances. We can’t wait to go back there since it transports us to a different planet.
The Man Who Fell To Earth (Showtime)
The Man Who Fell to Earth presents an intriguing viewpoint on what it means to be human through the eyes of a being seeking help to survive their entire species, despite its less than stellar beginning.
Following Farraday, a space alien performed to perfection by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who comes to Earth on a quest to find the one person they believe holds the key to saving his own people. aided by a cast that features Naomie Harris, Rob Delaney, and Jimmi Simpson who vividly portray these characters and captivate audiences with their performances.
The Man Who Fell to Earth blends the old and the modern in a grounded and endearing way while tackling important contemporary concerns without overpowering the spectator. It does this with the help of deft callbacks to David Bowie songs and the original film starring the late rock hero.
The Orville: New Horizons (Hulu)
The Orville: New Horizons showcases the best the series has to offer with its transition to Hulu and its much anticipated comeback. The series relocated from FOX, which resulted in a multi-year break until the release of the most recent season, but it was well worth the wait.
The satire pays apparent, extremely clever homage to Star Trek in a heartwarming and humorous way. The Orville: New Horizons uses clever storytelling and outstanding performances to address relevant, significant issues.
The Sandman (Netflix)
This year saw the much anticipated Netflix launch of the Neil Gaiman graphic novel adaption, and it did not dissapoint.
Tom Sturridge’s Dream is followed by The Sandman as he seeks to escape the location where he has been held captive for more than a century. Dream encounters both new and familiar characters as he navigates several worlds and timelines to put things right.
The outstanding ensemble of the atmospheric, compelling fantasy series, which also stars Boyd Holbrook, Gwendoline Christie, and others, brings these strange characters to life.
Vampire Academy (Peacock)
VAMPIRE ACADEMY — Season Two, Episode 109, “Darkness” (l-r) Sisi Stinger portrays Rose Hathaway, and Daniela Nieves plays Lissa Dragomir. (Image courtesy of Jose Haro/Peacock)
A few well-liked vampire series from recent decades appeared in 2022, presumably heralding the return of the vampire on genre television. Part of the revival was Peacock’s Vampire Academy.
Vampire Academy allows readers of the book series as well as newcomers the chance to enter the Dominion because it is based on the young adult genre series of the same name. The series, in a way that earlier adaptations couldn’t, broadens the world of the Moroi, Dhampir, and all in between. The Vampire Academy television series does a fantastic job of giving these characters more depth and changing the timeline just enough to keep viewers guessing by drawing inspiration from all six of the books in the series.
Vampire Academy is unquestionably worth watching because to its young cast and attractive filming locations in Spain and Portugal, which help to create this world.
Warrior Nun (Netflix)
Sci-Fi and religion are rarely used together in the same sentence, much less to characterise a single show. As a result, Warrior Nun on Netflix is among the most original streaming programmes right now and among the top sci-fi/fantasy series of 2022.
The stakes were raised in Warrior Nun’s second season, which raised the bar for Ava and the Sisters of the Order of the Cruciform Sword. It is simple to become lost in the world of these fierce female characters because the filming locations, scenery, stunts, and cinematography are on par with the production of any tentpole fantasy series.
The second season of Warrior Nun has a more focused concept, starting the story and the action right away. The expectation is high and hopeful for a (earned) Season 3 renewal because to the touching friends-to-lovers arc for Ava and Beatrice (#Avatrice), which culminates in a season-ending cliffhanger.
Wednesday (Netflix)
After Wednesday enrols in Nevermore Academy, a school for outcasts, Wednesday delivered a YA spin on the Addams family. Wednesday finds herself in the heart of a murder investigation and is determined to learn the truth as she struggles to bear the agony of Nevermore.
As Wednesday, Jenna Ortega did an outstanding job. While modernising the persona, she succeeds in capturing her essence. Even the dance scene on Wednesday’s Season 1 Episode 4 (“Woe What a Night”) was choreographed by her.
Wednesday exceeded our expectations and won our hearts. We would do anything to attend Nevermore for another semester.
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Which sci-fi and fantasy programmes are your favourites from this year? Post yours in the comments section below!
