Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers.Science fiction fans should be having a phenomenal 2025 if they know where to look. This year, a marvelous place to look was the small screen. From new series like Alien: Earth to returning gems like Stranger Things, sci-fi television has been mostly phenomenal throughout 2025—and, as such, it’s been full of unforgettable moments.
Whether it’s a plot twist years in the making, a character making a triumphant realization, or simply a scene so well-crafted that it should thrill any fan of the genre, the best moments of this year’s sci-fi television are all the proof anyone should need that the genre is thriving. No matter what makes these moments great, they hail from shows that should give any sci-fi fan faith in the future.
10
The Mule is revealed — ‘Foundation’ (2021–)
Season 3, Episode 10: “The Darkness”
Based on the eponymous series of stories by the legendary Isaac Asimov, one of the most important authors in the history of science fiction, Foundation is all the proof anyone should need that Apple TV knows its stuff when it comes to sci-fi. The main antagonist is The Mule, a telepathic mutant obsessed with conquering the galaxy. In the books, it’s Magnifico Giganticus (played in the show by Tómas Lemarquis) who’s revealed to be The Mule in disguise.
The show has never been afraid to take things in a different direction, however. In Foundation‘s most game-changing twist yet, the season three finale reveals that it’s actually Bayta Mallow (Synnøve Karlsen) who’s been serving as the villain’s disguise. It’s a magnificently executed scene that, like all great plot twists, had fans somewhat divided.
9
The blood tick lays its eggs — ‘Alien: Earth’ (2025–)
Season 1, Episode 5: “In Space, No One…”
With Alien, Ridley Scott revolutionized sci-fi horror. The franchise that spawned from there has been one with its fair share of ups and downs, but usually quite successful. As such, it’s somewhat surprising that it took this long for there to finally be a TV show set in the Alien universe. Thankfully, Alien: Earth has lived up to expectations so far.
Set two years before the events of the original film, but in an alternate timeline set outside the main canon, it’s nevertheless one of the best prequel shows ever made. Episode five of the debut season, “In Space, No One…”, is particularly great. It’s packed with memorable, truly terrifying moments, but the best (and most disgusting) comes when we see an alien tick eject its young into science officer Chibuzo’s (Karen Aldridge) water bottle. It may not be a pleasant scene, but it’s one reminiscent of old-school Alien in its slow-burning sense of atmospheric dread.
8
The true nature of the alternate universe — ‘Peacemaker’ (2022–2025)
Season 2, Episode 6: “Ignorance Is Chris”
Before James Gunn‘s DCU really kicked off in 2024, there was Peacemaker. Gunn knew that he needed to do things differently in season two, and though it still holds the violent charm and uniquely Gunn-esque appeal that made its predecessor special, this second season was indeed something special. It achieved this partly by introducing a new concept to the franchise: Interdimensional travel.
Fans knew while watching the too-good-to-be-true alternate universe that Chris (John Cena) found himself in for much of the season that the lack of diversity in background actors couldn’t possibly be normal. Their suspicions were proven true in episode 6, which ends with a scene of Chris finding that this alternate dimension is ruled by Nazis, and Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) being chased by a mob of them. If the DCU has more of these memorable moments in store, it’s going to be quite a ride.
7
Juliette and Solo’s conversation — ‘Silo’ (2023–)
Season 2, Episode 9: “The Safeguard”
Based on a trilogy of novels by Hugh Howey, the dystopian sci-fi series Silo is even more proof that Apple TV has some of the best action shows on streaming. What began development as a film adaptation in 2012 eventually became this series, picked up by Apple, and it’s so far proven to have some of the best world-building and most impressive technical qualities of any 2020s sci-fi show.
The dynamic between Juliette and Solo has always been one of the show’s most interesting aspects, and it definitely doesn’t hurt that they’re played by Rebecca Ferguson and Steve Zahn, both at the top of their games. The deep, emotionally cathartic conversation they have in episode nine of the second season is proof that a quiet, dialogue-driven scene can go a long way in sci-fi, just as much as any action-packed one.
6
The opening scene — ‘Severance’ (2022–)
Season 2, Episode 1: “Hello, Ms. Cobel”
The first season of Severance made it clear that people were witnessing the birth of a new sci-fi pop culture sensation. The show’s second season only made that even clearer. From the moment the season opened with one of the most creatively shot sequences ever seen in sci-fi television, fans knew that this was, indeed, one of the best sci-fi series of the last 10 years.
Shot with a combination of green screen, a robot arm, and various other clever camera techniques, the scene is a reminder of just how special science fiction can be when a high budget is allocated to all the right stuff. It’s a simple enough scene on paper, but the kinetic and vibrant way in which it’s executed makes it one of the season’s most memorable.
5
Carol on the phone with the White House — ‘Pluribus’ (2025–)
Season 1, Episode 1: “We Is Us”
When it was announced that Vince Gilligan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fame was working on a sci-fi show for Apple TV, there was pretty much no doubt in anyone’s mind that it was going to be one of the genre’s best of the 2020s at the very least. Pluribus has only aired one season, so it’s still too early to tell, but it’s already among the 100 highest-rated science fiction shows on IMDb, so there’s not much room to mess things up there.
The setup is simple enough: After a virus turns most of humanity into a permanently happy hive mind, an immune woman finds a TV broadcast from the White House press room showing her name and a phone number to call. The execution of the actual scene is nothing short of brilliant, though, and paired with Rhea Seehorn‘s phenomenal performance, this is one of the most hard-hitting scenes of any pilot from any modern sci-fi show.
4
Syril and Cassian’s fight — ‘Andor’ (2022–2025)
Season 2, Episode 8: “Who Are You?”
Ever since Disney purchased Lucasfilm, the Star Wars franchise has been inconsistent at best. When a Disney Star Wars product hits, though, it hits hard, and that’s precisely what Andor did. Now praised by some fans as the best that the franchise has been since all the way back in the ’80s, this exceptional series only needed two seasons to prove itself as one of the strongest outings the genre has produced in years.
One of IMDb’s favorite prequel shows, Andor is packed with memorable scenes, but one of the best comes from what’s perhaps the show’s best episode: “Who Are You?” Witnessing the Ghorman Massacre, the evilness of the Imperial machine he has contributed so much to finally seems to dawn on Syril (Kyle Soller), but all it takes is for him to see Cassian (Diego Luna) for him to snap out of his catharsis. In the end, this costs him his life. Thematically profound, phenomenally performed, and absolutely thrilling, this scene is easily among the show’s best.
3
Will’s big breakthrough — ‘Stranger Things’ (2016–2025)
Season 5, Episode 4: “Chapter Four: Sorcerer”
Over the course of ten years, most TV shows produce at least ten seasons, but Netflix likes to take things slow. For better or for worse, this has paid off for Stranger Things, whose currently-airing final season seems to be headed in the same direction as its four predecessors: an undeniable all-timer. But, of course, you don’t get to TV show season greatness without a few memorable scenes along the way.
The midpoint of the season has one of Stranger Things‘ biggest WTF moments, and it feels like a certain character’s arc throughout the whole first four seasons has been building up to that moment. The reveal of Will Byers’ (Noah Schnapp) superpowers isn’t just cathartic: It’s one of the show’s most emotionally satisfying moments, and pure sci-fi fantasy bliss.
2
Innie Mark chooses Helly — ‘Severance’ (2022–)
Season 2, Episode 10: “Cold Harbor”
Season 2 of Severance was filled to the brim with strong, memorable moments and well-crafted scenes, but there’s really no question about which one was the best of them all. A good season finale is one that feels like every character arc and story beat that came before has been carefully building up to it, and “Cold Harbor” definitely succeeds at exuding that feeling.
The internal (quite literally) conflict between Innie Mark and Outie Mark (Adam Scott), and how their wants and desires clash at a fundamental level, is the key driving force behind the show’s whole second season. In the kind of moment that makes a psychological thriller show one of the best, Innie Mark helps rescue Gemma (Dichen Lachman) from the severed floor, but then chooses to stay behind with Helly (Britt Lower). It’s one of the best cliffhangers of any recent sci-fi season, and its Earth-shattering consequences remain to be seen.
1
Mon Mothma’s speech — ‘Andor’ (2022—2025)
Season 2, Episode 9: “Welcome to the Rebellion”
There’s no dancing around it: Mon Mothma’s (Genevieve O’Reilly) momentous Senate speech near the end of Andor‘s last season is what Star Wars—nay, all of sci-fi—is all about. Sure, these grand and endlessly imaginative stories about space exploration, aliens and robots, and intergalactic politics can be really fun, but it’s when they take a stand and make an important comment about the actual world we live in that they truly become timeless.
This speech is the moment that will ensure that Andor lives on in the public consciousness in exactly the same way that George Lucas‘ original trilogy does. Well written, well shot, well edited, and incredibly well performed, it’s one of the best scenes of the year—period, regardless of genre. It’s the kind of moment that makes this one of the highest-rated sci-fi shows on Rotten Tomatoes, and the kind that proves that the hype is fully warranted.
Andor
- Release Date
-
2022 – 2025-00-00
- Network
-
Disney+
- Showrunner
-
Tony Gilroy
- Directors
-
Susanna White
Source link
#SciFi #Moments #Ranked
Post Comment