Relatively few groundbreaking science fiction series were broadcast in 2024. Among the most notable were Fallout, Prime Video’s post-apocalyptic phenomenon; Netflix’s ambitious 3 Body Problem; and season 14 of the BBC classic Doctor Who.
In contrast, 2025 has made up for lost time and brought us some truly mind-blowing stories to the small screen.
Thankfully, this year brought with it a handful of original, daring, and elegant science fiction series with something to say about the world we live in today and the world we will inhabit tomorrow. Whether dissecting the risks of artificial intelligence, exploring alternate universes, or dealing with alien invasions, the most notable science fiction series of the past 12 months prove that television networks and streaming services still have a lot to offer.
Here are six of the best science fiction series of 2025 that you should add to your favorites list. Our selection includes both new releases and new seasons of series already on air. So get comfortable and press play on these imaginative and stimulating options, which are all tremendously entertaining.
El Eternauta (The Eternaut)
Directed by: Bruno Stagnaro
Starring: Ricardo Darín, Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari, Marcelo Subiotto
Country of origin: Argentina
Created for Netflix by Bruno Stagnaro, El Eternauta (The Eternaut) is an adaptation of the iconic 1957 Argentine comic book of the same name, developed by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López.
In it, the city of Buenos Aires has been hit by radioactive snowfall that has decimated the world’s population. The six-episode series tells the story of a peculiar group of survivors who discover that the catastrophe has been caused by alien invaders.
Beyond its effective combination of genres such as science fiction, disaster thriller, and drama, the project functions as a profound metaphor for collective resistance in the face of adversity and oppression. The central message of El Eternauta is that “no one is saved alone,” a theme that resonates strongly with popular struggles in the face of the most extreme adversities.
With a sharp post-apocalyptic story, fast pace, and complex characters, this monumental adaptation has been hailed as one of the best series of its kind and praised for doing justice to the source material.
Stream on: Netflix.
Cassandra
Directed by: Benjamin Gutsche
Starring: Lavinia Wilson, Mina Tander, Michael Klammer, Franz Hartwig
Country of origin: Germany
Cassandra is a German science fiction and horror series written and directed by Benjamin Gutsche. The story follows the Prill family, who move into what is considered Germany’s oldest smart home: a 1970s mansion that has been vacant for decades. There, they discover the house’s virtual assistant, an AI named Cassandra, created long, long ago.
Cassandra appears to be a helpful and harmless robotic maid and quickly becomes part of the family. However, it soon becomes clear that, after years of loneliness, the AI is desperate not to be abandoned again and will do anything to become a permanent part of the Prills. Even if this means manipulating events within the house in increasingly controlling and sinister ways.
Netflix’s Cassandra is a bold, intense, and unsettling series that serves both as a critique of artificial intelligence and a sharp commentary on motherhood.
Since its premiere, it has been well received by critics, with a near-perfect rating on the review platform Rotten Tomatoes. Although it has been less favorably received by the general public, it is undoubtedly one of the most promising science fiction series of the year.
Stream on: Netflix.
Severance season 2 (2022–present)
Directed by: Ben Stiller
Starring: Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette
Country of origin: United States
Created by Dan Erickson and directed by the versatile Ben Stiller, Severance is a science fiction series that combines elements of psychological thriller and office satire, and has grabbed countless headlines since its debut in 2022.
The Apple TV+ series follows the employees of Lumon Industries, an elite biotech company that subjects all its staff to a permanent medical procedure (severance procedure) to split their minds into two different identities and consciousnesses: one for work and one for personal life.
Lumon Industries’ goal with this treatment is to ensure maximum concentration and performance, as well as corporate security.
However, things get complicated when an employee, Mark (Adam Scott), discovers a conspiracy and the company’s system is threatened.
In keeping with the spirit that characterizes the series, the new season of Severance delves deeper into themes such as corporate ethics, work-life balance, and the nature of individual identity and consciousness.
This time around, as the team realizes the disturbing reality of “overtime contingency,” Mark discovers the truth about his wife.
Severance dominated the 2025 Emmy Awards nominations, earning 27 nominations and winning multiple awards, cementing its status as one of the best science fiction series of the year.
Stream on: Apple TV+.
Murderbot
Directed by: Chris and Paul Weitz
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tamara Podemski, Tattiawna Jones
Country of origin: United States
Murderbot, from Apple TV+, is a science fiction, action, and comedy series based on Martha Wells’ book series The Murderbot Diaries. Since its debut, the series has been critically acclaimed for its innovative approach to the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.
Created by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz, the plot revolves around the journey of self-discovery of a rebellious security robot (Alexander Skarsgård), who secretly acquires free will and calls himself Murderbot.
Despite being a “killing machine,” his main desire is to be left alone to watch space soap operas, which leads to comical and surprisingly human situations.
Throughout the series, and to keep up appearances, Murderbot reluctantly joins a group of scientists on a mission to another planet, where it feels both attraction and repulsion toward humans and wonders what it means to be alive and conscious.
Unlike other dense science fiction series, Murderbot offers a quick and accessible viewing experience, with short episodes (around 23-30 minutes) that maintain a brisk pace.
Stream on: Apple TV+.
별들에게 물어봐 (Ask the Stars)
Directed by: Park Shin-woo
Starring: Lee Min-ho, Gong Hyo-jin
Country of origin: South Korea
별들에게 물어봐 (Ask the Stars, also known as When the Stars Gossip) is a K-drama that blends romantic comedy with science fiction, creating a unique sci-fi rom-com genre.
This South Korean series revolves around the unexpected romance between a meticulous astronaut, Eve Kim (Kong Hyo-jin), and a wealthy space tourist, Gong Ryong (Lee Min-ho), who lands at her space station for a secret mission.
Ask the Stars chronicles the fateful encounter between the protagonists and how, despite their opposing personalities, the zero-gravity environment and the challenges of life in space (including survival situations), they begin to develop a romantic and complicated relationship.
As the plot progresses, the tensions between their separate worlds (Earth vs. Space) and their individual missions are explored.
Under the guise of romantic comedy, the series uses its unique setting to reflect on human connection, isolation, and cultural values in a technologically advanced future.
Stream on: Netflix.
Pluribus
Directed by: Vince Gilligan
Starring: Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos Manuel Vesga
Country of origin: United States
Created by Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Pluribus is a science fiction comedy-drama with a highly original style.
Set in the near future, the series follows Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), an American author who is immune to an alien virus that invades Earth and assimilates humans into a strange “hive mind” of happiness and peace.
Throughout the series, Carol desperately struggles to avoid assimilation and shared consciousness. This reflects her fear of losing her identity, her memories, and her ability to feel a full spectrum of emotions, including pain.
Pluribus is a profound examination of individuality versus collectivity, and the complex relationship between forced happiness and personal freedom. At its core, the underlying question is whether the loss of the individual self is worth it to achieve global peace and harmony.
There is no doubt that in a year full of powerful science fiction works, Pluribus stands out for its impressive philosophical and social themes and its highly innovative narrative.
Stream on: Apple TV+.