Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Series 2021

Critics Consensus: Emotionally engaging, superbly acted, and incredibly entertaining, Sweet Tooth will satisfy fantasy fans of all ages.

Starring: Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie, Adeel Akhtar, Stefania Owen

Critics Consensus: The Expanse's many threads come to a head in an excellent fifth season that expertly capitalizes on everything that makes the show work while setting the stage for an epic final season.

Starring: Steven Strait, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper, Wes Chatham

Critics Consensus: The Witcher's second season expands on its first in all the best ways -- and most importantly, it remains a whole lot of fun.

Starring: Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Joey Batey, Eamon Farren

Critics Consensus: Resident Alien takes a minute to settle into its skin, but once it does it finds fresh humor in a familiar framework and proves a perfect showcase for Alan Tudyk's singular comedic skills.

Starring: Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund

Critics Consensus: From gorgeous costumes to impressive -- if intimidating -- world-building, Shadow and Bone is an exciting adventure for fans and newcomers alike.

Starring: Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman

Critics Consensus: The Wheel of Time's revolutions can be a bit creaky as it tries to stand out from other fantasy series, but it succeeds admirably in making Robert Jordan's epic approachable for the uninitiated.

Starring: Rosamund Pike, Josha Stradowski, Marcus Rutherford, Zoë Robins

Critics Consensus: It taps into some fairly regular plot points, but when it dares to defy expectations and focus on its charming young cast, The Irregulars hints at something truly special lingering beneath the surface.

Starring: McKell David, Thaddea Graham, Jojo Macari, Harrison Osterfield

Critics Consensus: Y: The Last Man makes a few key updates to its source material and boasts a number of incredible performances, but this highly anticipated adaptation can't help but feel like a bit of a letdown in a world full of dystopian realities.

Starring: Diane Lane, Juliana Canfield, Marin Ireland, Amber Tamblyn

Critics Consensus: Foundation's big-budget production and impressive performances are a sight to behold, but it struggles to wrangle the behemoth that is its source material into a fully satisfying series.

Starring: Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey

Critics Consensus: Despite strong performances and stellar production design, The Nevers struggles to stitch its slew of intriguing components into a solid show.

Starring: Laura Donnelly, Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley