Superhero TV Series: My All-Time Favorites
The title says "Superhero TV..." because more people understand that term. The key term and main criteria is enhanced human.
The character doesn't have to be a hero or necessarily one of the "good guys" - which is why enhanced is more appropriate. Actual superheros are included - whether they are enhanced or not.
Shows listed randomly except that I listed ongoing active series on top.
The character doesn't have to be a hero or necessarily one of the "good guys" - which is why enhanced is more appropriate. Actual superheros are included - whether they are enhanced or not.
Shows listed randomly except that I listed ongoing active series on top.
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- CreatorRobert KirkmanRyan OttleyCory WalkerStarsSteven YeunJ.K. SimmonsSandra OhAn adult animated series based on the Skybound/Image comic about a teenager whose father is the most powerful superhero on the planet.2 seasons / 17 episodes: Ongoing Series
One of the best comic series I have ever read. The TV Series is just as good. I can't say I've binged many animated series (they usually aren't written this way) but Invincible was as binge-worthy as any series (Live Action or otherwise) that I've ever seen.
Like the 1992 X-Men series, Invincible blazes new ground in serious, adult-driven storytelling. - CreatorJames GunnStarsJohn CenaDanielle BrooksFreddie StromaPicking up where The Suicide Squad (2021) left off, Peacemaker returns home after recovering from his encounter with Bloodsport - only to discover that his freedom comes at a price.1 season / 8 episodes: Ongoing Series
Funny and serious and touching. Character depth, character development, connection to characters. This series reels you in from the very first minutes and keeps you fully immersed until the last few.
Side note: The first season was the result of the work of James Gunn. He's got a real talent for mixing drama, action and comedy. The end result is truly genius. Gunn is set to write and direct all episodes for season 2! - CreatorEric KripkeStarsKarl UrbanJack QuaidAntony StarrA group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.3 seasons / 24 episodes: Ongoing Series
Power corrupts. Influential, hardhitting series. A superb 3-season run. I find it hard to believe that 3 seasons have already aired! It really still feels like this series is just getting off the ground. - CreatorSteve BlackmanJeremy SlaterStarsAidan GallagherElliot PageTom HopperA family of former child heroes, now grown apart, must reunite to continue to protect the world.3 seasons / 30 episodes: Ongoing Series
update, 09oct2023: Season 4 finale will premiere in 2024 (confirmed) with 6 episodes.
So sad to see this one end.
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Love the characters and the rich creative plots. They're a team but it's family that binds them. They only have each other.
All three seasons have been phenomenal! It is series like this (and a few other active ones on this list) that give me hope that this genre will continue to thrive. - CreatorGreg DanielsStarsRobbie AmellAndy AlloAllegra EdwardsAfter his premature death, a man's consciousness is uploaded into a virtual world. As he gets comfortable with his surroundings, questions about his death arise.3 seasons / 25 episodes: Season 4 will be finale
Makes this list because characters in VR are capable of so much more than their physics limited biological versions.
Depending on the user (and their connections), they are capable of even reality warping.
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Update, 08jan2024: Finished watching season 3.
I love this show. I love the way it handles questions about a digital afterlife that we - the viewers - have not even begun to think about.
Questions about ownership of digital memories, the rights of those in the "afterlife", the rights of the poor gaining access to this form of Virtual Reality, lots more...
I also love seeing all the little NextGen Sci-fi tweaks and gadgets. The script is smart, light and funny! I am hoping that Amazon renews this for several more seasons. - CreatorSeth RogenEvan GoldbergEric KripkeStarsJaz SinclairLizze BroadwayMaddie PhillipsFrom the world of "The Boys" comes "Gen V," which explores the first generation of superheroes to know that their super powers are from Compound V. These heroes put their physical and moral boundaries to the test competing for the school's top ranking.1 season / 8 episodes: Ongoing Series
Excellent drama, great showcase of powers (which can sometimes be scary), serious intelligent young adults. It's also raw in it's presentation.
This is a great spin-off to 'The Boys'. Bingeable good. - CreatorSimon BarryStarsAlba BaptistaKristina Tonteri-YoungLorena AndreaAfter waking up in a morgue, an orphaned teen discovers she now possesses superpowers as the chosen Halo Bearer for a secret sect of demon-hunting nuns.2 seasons / 18 episodes: Ongoing Series
Update, Nov/2023: Warrior Nun has been brought back. The revival will be as a trilogy of feature films.
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Think Buffy but both inclusive and written for a more adult mindset - in a real-world way (science, relationships, repercussions). Great cast, phenomenal lead. - CreatorEmma MoranStarsMáiréad TyersSofia OxenhamBilal HasnaJen is a self-aware young woman who lives in a world where everybody except her has a superpower.2 season / 16 episodes: Ongoing Series
A fun, light and relaxing series. Great characters, some comedy and lots of superpowers. - CreatorMatt DufferRoss DufferStarsMillie Bobby BrownFinn WolfhardWinona RyderWhen a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl.4 seasons / 34 episodes: Ongoing Series
Coming of age, adult drama, sci-fi, superpowers (Eleven) and monsters.
The first 2 seasons were great stuff. The kid scenes in season 3 segued into deus ex machina & pure goofiness. The adult scenes remained good TV.
Finished watching Season 4 (mid-July, 2022) and it has been a return to form. - CreatorLauren Schmidt HissrichStarsFreya AllanHenry CavillAnya ChalotraGeralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.3 seasons / 24 episodes: Ongoing Series
Listed because 'Witchers' are enhanced (and the core element of the story). The first season was one of the best arcs, for any genre, written for the small screen. It had a Games of Throne feel. Character depth, history, multiple storylines, amazing. Rating 10.
The second season was a massive dip in layered story-telling.
In season 2, the focus shifted to just a couple of key characters. There was little effort in building the dynamics (and politics) of the world they lived in. The season 1 world was full of many other characters that were given lots of airtime. Characters who also had real stories to tell.
In season 2, now everyone else felt like a background character to Geralt and the young girl. In contrast, in season 1 everyone felt like the star of the show allowing Geralt to stand out more when he interacted with other core storylines.
Rating season 2 a (very generous) 5. Sad Face for season 2's lack of effort and segue into the laziest kind of linear, money-grubbing writing:-(
Not sure if a season 3 will turn things around. Honestly... I've lost nearly all my interest because season 2 was the very definition of "meh..." - CreatorLeslye HeadlandNatasha LyonneAmy PoehlerStarsNatasha LyonneCharlie BarnettGreta LeeA cynical young woman in New York City keeps dying and returning to the party that's being thrown in her honor on that same evening. She tries to find a way out of this strange time loop.2 seasons / 15 episodes: Season 3 Pending
Listed as an enhanced human TV series for the same reasons as Day Break: the time loop lifestyle is pretty sweet, empowering those living & remembering its effects.
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Season 1 was smart, engaging, built around a time loop/mystery with great acting. It was fantastic and it's the only season that meets the list criteria (enhanced human). Its inclusion on this list is based solely on this season.
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Season 2: Not only did I not like the Quantum Leap Style direction this series turned into (dismissing the Time Loop premise) but the plot was uninteresting, self-serving and awfully written.
I'm convinced this production company sat on their hands during the long break and rushed a money-grubbing script out the door. It was essentially a boring 2-episode story stretched out over an entire season.
Writing a Time Loop story is complicated and takes some effort. Sadly... it seems they phoned in season 2 (after cashing their checks). - CreatorRaphael Bob-WaksbergKate PurdyStarsRosa SalazarAngelique CabralConstance MarieAfter she very narrowly survives a serious car accident, a woman discovers that she has a new relationship with time.2 seasons / 16 episodes: Series Complete
update, 17apr2024: It's been two years as I write this and still no word on a season 3. At this point, it seems like this series has been quietly terminated.
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The first two seasons have been remarkable storytelling.
I love that each season seems to end, that there's near closure and yet... the story isn't nearly complete. That you have an answer and yet... you have strong doubts. That it's really a powerful drama but somehow... genre-warping. That it's empowering and hopeful but potentially... heart-breaking.
I, for one, am certain of nothing but a wonderfully entertaining and immersive experience.
Undone makes this Superhero (Enhanced Human) List because of the character's progression into her own belief in enhancements whether they are real or imagined or the result of her mental state. - CreatorJeremy CarverStarsDiane GuerreroApril BowlbyMatt BomerThe adventures of an idealistic mad scientist and his field team of superpowered outcasts.4 seasons / 46 episodes: Series Complete
Fantastic character development. Unique adventures on a show focusing on the lives of each character among, sometimes begrudging action.
Transhuman mutants. Physical and emotional misfits trying to do the best they can with the lives they have.
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The last 6 episodes of the series aired from 12oct-09nov2023. I'm waiting for the right time to settle down to watch these.
Farewell 'Doom Patrol'. It was a nice run! - CreatorRené EchevarriaScott PetersStarsJacqueline McKenzieJoel GretschPatrick John FluegerAs the reappearance of 4,400 missing persons on a single day confounds the global community, federal agents on the case slowly discover the ways in which the victims have been changed.4 seasons / 44 episodes: Series Complete
Love the premise, the serious storyline, the well acted drama, the characters and the smart, tightly-written script. This was as much a tale of enhanced humans as it was a great drama.
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update, 22sep2023: Finished rewatching the entire series and it delivered incredibly, immersive story-telling once again! It's an all-time great for a reason. - CreatorMaurissa TancharoenJed WhedonJoss WhedonStarsClark GreggMing-Na WenBrett DaltonThe missions of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.7 seasons / 136 episodes: Series Complete
Multi-episode story arcs, drama-driven, lots of sci-fi, strong relationships and of course, enhanced humans tightly integrated into the storylines.
When this series began, I didn't know what to expect. The show grabbed my attention almost immediately and never let go. - CreatorSteve LightfootStarsJon BernthalAmber Rose RevahBen BarnesAfter his revenge on those who murdered his family, aimless Marine veteran Frank Castle finds a new meaning in life as a vigilante known as "The Punisher".3 seasons / 39 episodes: Series Complete
Daredevil season 2 is The Punisher season 1. I included DD season 2 into the total above.
Officially, The Punisher is two seasons but you really can't get into the series the same way without watching DD season 2 first.
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I don't know if there's a better hardcore, street-level (anti)hero. I don't think there has ever been a better written or portrayed version. Bernthal brings The Punisher to life - with apologies to no one. - CreatorDrew GoddardStarsCharlie CoxVincent D'OnofrioDeborah Ann WollA blind lawyer by day, vigilante by night. Matt Murdock fights the crime of New York as Daredevil.3 seasons / 39 episodes: Series Complete
Season 1 carved new space into modern serious hero shows. DD (and Netflix) also reminded everyone of the insatiable desire for quality, drama-driven, 'real-world feel' hero shows for the small screen.
They especially reminded everyone that these types of shows are extremely well received when delivered for an adult mindset.
It reignited the genre on TV once again, kick-starting a whole slew of quality superhero shows written in a more serious, real-world fashion. - CreatorDavid GreenwaltJoss WhedonStarsDavid BoreanazCharisma CarpenterAlexis DenisofThe vampire Angel, cursed with a soul, moves to Los Angeles and aids people with supernatural-related problems while questing for his own redemption.5 seasons / 110 episodes: Series Complete
Avoiding Vampires on this list but Angel is a super-powered human/vampire hybrid (vampire with a soul) and a world-saving superhero (with a team to help him). Plus plenty of other enhanced characters in this series. - DirectorJames SheldonStarsJohn LarchCloris LeachmanDon KeeferOn an isolated family farm in Peakesville, Ohio, young Anthony Fremont, who has vast mental powers but lacks emotional development, holds his terrified family and neighbors in thrall to his every juvenile wish.Season 3, episode 8 (1961)
This is the Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life".
One of the single best episodes - of all time - about an enhanced human.
A cult classic. A character who, to this day, is spoken about in hush tones. If any words are uttered out loud, it is to enthusiastically affirm that...
He’s a real good boy. - DirectorAllan KroekerStarsForest WhitakerCloris LeachmanLiliana Mumy40 years later, god-like Anthony Fremont is still holding Peaksville, Ohio under a reign of terror. However, things are about to change when his daughter turns out to have similar powers.Season 1, episode 30 (2003)
A powerful followup to the 1961 classic. 40 years later, Anthony Fremont is all grown up. He also has a daughter - Audrey Fremont... - CreatorJames CameronCharles H. EgleeStarsJessica AlbaMichael WeatherlyRichard GunnA group of genetically-enhanced children escape from a lab project. Years later we meet Max, one of the escapees who now works for a messenger service in the post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest.2 seasons / 43 episodes: Series Complete
Dystopian, survivalists, enhanced humans, heroism, tech hacks, extended families. Will slowly draw you into their world and keep you engaged.
I've seen this series three times already and it always delivers. I love the characters, the strong plots, the world created for this series and Jessica Alba (as Max Guevera) who brought all the pieces of this show together. - StarsJeremy RennerHailee SteinfeldFlorence PughSeries based on the Marvel Comics superhero Hawkeye, centering on the adventures of Young Avenger, Kate Bishop, who took on the role after the original Avenger, Clint Barton.1 season / 6 episodes: miniseries Complete
Funny, well-written and great fighting scenes. The show also managed terrific drama while focusing well on relationships and character depth.
It left behind the spin-off series Echo (2022). - CreatorDavid FarrStarsEsme Creed-MilesMireille EnosÁine Rose DalyIn equal parts high-concept thriller and coming-of-age drama, HANNA follows the journey of an extraordinary young girl raised in the forest, as she evades the relentless pursuit of an off-book CIA agent and tries to unearth the truth behind who she is.3 seasons / 22 episodes: Series Complete
This series turned out to be even better than I expected. Because of the TV format, there's a richness to the storyline that's just not possible in a film.
While I expected Hanna (enhanced human on the run), I did not expect that the Marissa Wiegler character (Mireille Enos) would deliver so much depth to the series. - CreatorMark Edward EdensSidney IwanterEric LewaldStarsCedric SmithCal DoddLenore ZannA team of mutant superheroes fight for justice and human acceptance in the Marvel Comics universe.5 seasons / 76 episodes: Series Complete
This was the first animated series that felt like a serious live-action show.
It was so good that it transcended that cartoon feel of many other efforts. I feel this series set new heights that only a few other animated efforts have been able to approach. A trailblazer.
If you prefer serious story-telling in a strong dramatic setting - TV shows written for adults - this series fits in with the many other top-tier, live action shows listed here. - CreatorDamon LindelofStarsRegina KingYahya Abdul-Mateen IITom MisonSet in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, Watchmen embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name, while attempting to break new ground of its own.1 season / 9 episodes: Series Complete
I never read the comics (have always intended to). My only previous intro to this universe was the film - Watchmen (2009). I expected something akin to the 2009 film but found the series to be something entirely different.
It is first and foremost, a terrific drama centered around racial issues in an alternate reality earth. I thought the core story was compelling.
There is also a secondary subArc involving Doctor Manhattan - whose power set seems to be god-like. It too is as immersive as the main core story and it's this arc where actual superpowers come into play.