Breeze’s Top 10 Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror TV Series of 2020

In a year that often felt like living in a sci-fi story, you might not have turned to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror TV shows for comforting entertainment. However, 2020 was full of must-watch offerings from these genres.

Although these shows sometimes reflected back the unpleasant nature of our reality, they also provided me joy, hope, and laughter in equal measure. From brand new hits to long-time favorites, there were plenty of stories to enjoy. 

In no particular order, here are my Top 10 Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror TV series of 2020.

1. The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix)

I have a small confession to make: I’ve never seen The Haunting of Hill House. That didn’t stop me from enjoying The Haunting of Bly Manor, the most recent installment in Mike Flanagan’s anthology series.

The series is more of a gothic romance than a supernatural terror fest, though there are plenty of ghosts hiding in every corner of the stately Bly Manor. The mystery of Bly Manor will draw you in, and guessing what the heck is going on in the house is part of the fun.

As a protagonist, Dani Clayton (Victoria Pedretti) is automatically relatable as she copes with anxiety and trauma. We all have ghosts, whether real or imagined, and Dani’s story shows how you can find life and love despite that. Her slow-burn chemistry with groundskeeper Jamie (Amelia Eve) will also keep you glued to the screen. 

Dani’s not the only character to fall in love with. Armed with cheesy puns, Rahul Kohli’s chef Owen serves up his own heartbreaking storyline alongside culinary delicacies. T’Nia Miller’s performance as housekeeper Hannah Grose is perhaps quieter but just as compelling as we see her slowly lose herself to the house. 

You may not be booking a vacation at Bly Manor any time soon, but for a binge-watch from the comfort of your own home, it’s perfectly splendid. 

2. Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)

With its third season, Star Trek: Discovery boldly goes where no Star Trek series has gone before. Traveling 930 years into the future, the show frees itself from the existing canon that restrained it in earlier seasons. 

The Discovery crew faces a world where the Federation is a shell of its former self after a mysterious accident called The Burn. But the show is as hopeful as ever, with Discovery bringing its undying commitment to the Federation’s mission along to the future as they explore new worlds and help those in need.

The season makes the most of its core cast, including giving more stories to Bridge Crew members not often heard from as well as our favorite main characters. It also adds a few new interesting characters into the mix. 

Cleveland “Book” Booker (David Ajala) makes for a charming love interest for Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), though it’s his queen cat Grudge that stole my heart. Blu del Barrio plays Adira, a Trill-Human character who brings non-binary representation to our screens and is already fitting in nicely with the science officers. 

Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 explores classic Star Trek themes while expanding canon with interesting new stories, making it worth the watch.

3. Lovecraft Country (HBO)

You can’t talk about horror in 2020 without mentioning HBO’s much-anticipated Lovecraft Country. Like the book it’s adapted from by Matt Ruff, the show combines supernatural horror with the real-life horrors faced by Black Americans living in the 1950s (and still today).

Episodes span several subgenres of horror from gothic to paranormal to body horror. The scares range from bone-chilling to gruesome and aren’t for the faint of heart. 

Some of the most terrifying moments are the ones where the characters are in danger just for being Black. For example, during the premiere, the characters try to escape a “Sundown” town while being hunted by a racist sheriff in one of the tensest scenes I’ve ever seen. 

The show’s characters are nuanced and compelling, particularly the women on the show who all represent different experiences. Jurnee Smollett and Wunmi Mosaku should both be on the ballot for next year’s award shows for their powerhouse portrayals of sisters Letitia “Leti” Lewis and Ruby Baptiste. 

Lovecraft Country’s willingness to challenge viewers and make them uncomfortable in multiple ways is what makes it stand out. 

4. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. delivers one of its best with its seventh and final season. From wacky time travel hijinks to deeply emotional character moments to explosive action, the season has everything you could want.  

Picking up where Season 6 left off, the show has plenty of surprises left, even dipping into alternate timelines. The season also pays tribute to past seasons by bringing back younger versions of characters. It even adds in Agent Carter’s Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj) as a nice nod to the broader Marvel TV universe. 

While the door is technically still open to future adventures, the finale includes an epilogue that gives us the chance to see where our favorite characters end up and a moment to say goodbye. I enjoyed seeing the team get happy endings, especially the often tortured couple of Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) and Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker).

Ending a long-running show is always hard since expectations are always high. Kudos to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. co-showrunners Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon for managing to stick to their vision while also satisfying fans. 

5. Stargirl (The CW)

Stargirl was a ray of sunshine in 2020, with Courtney Whitmore’s (Brec Bassinger) optimism and heart powering the show. In a tough year for everyone, a show that keeps things positive even under dark circumstances is just what audiences need. 

This is not to say the show doesn’t have high stakes. The show takes the consequences of Courtney’s double-life as a high schooler and superhero seriously, providing just the right level of drama. 

Stargirl also brings actor Luke Wilson back to our screens as Courtney’s lovable stepdad Pat Dugan. One of the best parts of the show is watching them bond as he guides her on her journey to becoming a superhero. The two actors work great together, and their scenes provide some of the most heartwarming moments. 

In addition to Bassinger and Wilson, the show has many talented young actors that make up Courtney’s teenaged Justice Society of America. I can’t wait to see what these young heroes get up to next season. 

6. Wynonna Earp (SyFy)

After the show’s fans rallied to save Wynonna Earp from cancellation, it came back in full force for Season 4. We learn the fate of Waverly Earp (Dominique Provost-Chalkley) and arrive back at a Purgatory that’s even more bonkers than usual. 

The Clantons are interesting new adversaries, allowing the show to lean into a different aspect of the Earp legacy even with the heir’s curse broken. The new character Rachel Valdez (Martina Ortiz-Luis) is also a great addition and elevates the show’s sass levels to an all-time high. 

Katherine Barrell puts in a heart-wrenching performance as her character Nicole Haught deals with her trauma and guilt over Waverly’s disappearance and her ill-advised efforts to bring her back. Through those ups and downs, WayHaught sticks together and we finally get a proper engagement (and sex scene!) for the fan-favorite couple. Thank you, Emily Andras!

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, only the first half of the season premiered in 2020. The six episodes were still worth the long wait.

7. The Boys (Amazon Prime)

Season 2 of The Boys manages to top the outrageousness and humor of Season 1 while keeping up its poignant social commentary. There are plenty of superhero tropes left to subvert, but the show also points its laser-sharp takedowns on white supremacy and systemic racism. 

The arrival of Aya Cash’s Stormfront, a literal Nazi using her superhero status to peddle her toxic views, really shakes up the dynamic of the Seven. She and Homelander (Antony Starr) are a demented match made in hell, and you can’t look away. 

The titular “Boys” of the show take a slight backseat to the women this season, and it’s all the better for it. The show cynically takes down the commercialization of female empowerment while showing what real empowerment looks like. 

There are multiple characters with breakout arcs in this season, but Starlight’s (Erin Moriarty) journey is especially powerful. She comes back with an even stronger sense of self after her whole world turned upside down last season.

She provides the hope the bleak show needs with her courage.

8. Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)

Legends of Tomorrow continues to be the Arrowverse’s best-kept secret, with every season more hilarious and wild than the last. I love how the series reinvents itself slightly each season while still being the goofy, heartfelt show we’ve grown to love.

Season 5 leans into the occult and mythology, giving viewers plenty to pique their interests. Astra Logue, played by Olivia Swann, is a deliciously cunning villain who shares great chemistry with the team even when she’s trying to undermine them. 

The time-traveling nature of the show means there’s a new setting every week, but their extra special episodes take the cake. From the “documentary” making up the premiere to having an entire episode skewering classic TV, the show’s meta look at entertainment kept me laughing all season.

Despite losing cast members Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford during the season, the ensemble cast kept the show at top form through the end. Tala Ashe’s performance as Zari 2.0 especially stands out, as she manages to make us love the new version of the character just as much as the old. 

I never thought I’d hear the “Thong Song” on a superhero show, but I should know better by now than to put anything past Legends of Tomorrow.

9. The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

One of Netflix’s most surprising hits, The Umbrella Academy came back for an incredible sophomore season. Stopping apocalypses may be second nature for the motley crew of siblings by this point, but Season 2 is far more than just a replay of the first season.

The sibling dynamics of Season 1 are broken down due to each of them arriving in Dallas at a different point in the 1960s. It’s fascinating to see how each sibling adapts to the new time period. 

Emmy Raver-Lampman, who plays Allison Hargreeves, is especially excellent this season as her character embraces the Civil Rights movement of the era and finds her literal and figurative voice. I also loved seeing Justin Min get more screen time this season as Ben Hargreeves finally gets to be more than just a foil to his brother and have his own stories. 

I also have to mention the show’s killer soundtrack. Music is an important part of the show, and this season’s big dance scene set to Sam Cooke will get you out of your seat immediately. 

Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy will leave you wanting even more of the Hargreeves’ family moments in your life.

10. The Mandalorian (Disney Plus)

Whether you tune in for the deep exploration into Star Wars lore or just want to see cute moments with the Child (Baby Yoda), The Mandalorian Season 2 delivers.

The Child may go by a new name now, but he’s stealing more scenes and hearts than ever before. And cookies. After all, who among us wouldn’t use the Force to grab a snack? 

Ultimately the show is still about the Mandalorian’s (Pedro Pascal) seemingly never-ending number of side quests as he tries to protect the Child and find them a home. Still, showrunner Jon Favreau manages to push that main story forward while also connecting the show further to the existing canon.

Even if you didn’t catch them in their original animated form in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, guest characters like Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) and Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) are a blast to watch. The Mandalorian always keeps fans guessing about what’s next, and that’s part of the joy.

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What sci-fi, fantasy, and horror TV shows have you enjoyed this year? Let us know in the comments below!

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