Summer is a time to kick back and enjoy yourself. For some that may mean heading off to the beach to bask in the sun and surf, for others it may mean grilling hotdogs and burgers in the company of friends. But for those of us who don't much enjoy burning to a crisp in the sweltering July heat, staying in and binging the latest TV series is a great way to enjoy the season. And as luck would have it, there's a solid lineup of new shows and seasons to sink your teeth into this summer in 2025.
So let's sit down, crank the AC, and take a look at the four best sci-fi/fantasy tv shows to watch this summer.
1. Murderbot (Apple TV+, 2025-Present)
Based off of The Murderbot Diaries book series by Martha Wells, this sci-fi tv show is about a rogue security construct who calls itself "Murderbot." It gains free will and discovers just how difficult its newfound autonomy is; what is it supposed to do with free will?
When Murderbot is sent to protect a group of scientists on an alien planet, it mostly hopes that its new clients will leave it alone so it can spend time doing what it likes best: watching cheesy soap operas like The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon. The show and books both delve into themes of identity, belonging, and artificial intelligence, as well as how humans might react to their creations becoming equals rather than subordinates.
On top of these heavier concepts, Murderbot is riddled with humor. Murderbot itself is socially awkward as it navigates interactions with humans, and has a unique tone of voice that doesn't sound as robotic as you'd expect from an android. It is highly refreshing, and makes the character of Murderbot that much more of a compelling, unconventional protagonist.
If you want to see what all the fuss is about regarding Murderbot, you can stream it here on Apple TV+. And the show was recently renewed for a second season, so you can get in on the ground floor.
2. Star Wars: Andor (2022-2025)
Andor is a Star Wars story that is vastly different from anything else we've seen in this universe while still having that familiar flavor we all fell in love with. It doesn't focus on the eternal struggle of the Jedi or the Sith; there's barely a single mention of the Force. Instead, Andor focuses on the "normal" people of the Star Wars universe, showing what life under the mighty Galactic Empire is like for the puny little common folk who are forced to accept their dictators' totalitarian rule.
We follow Cassian Andor, a scrappy mercenary who has to take whatever job he can to keep himself afloat. Cassian first appeared in Rogue One, where he assisted the Rebel Alliance in retrieving the Death Star plans that ultimately led to its destruction. Andor tells the story of how Cassian became involved with the Rebellion.
Despite being largely driven by self-interest, Cassian is infuriatingly complex in all the best ways. He's ruthless in his quest to survive, but knows the lines he isn't willing to cross. He crosses one too many when he murders a pair of Imperial guards, which forces him to go on the run. During his attempt to lay low, he gets involved with Luthen Rael, an coldly pragmatic guerilla fighter who has built an extensive network to undermine the Empire. Cassian cuts a deal with Luthen and takes jobs that, unbeknownst to him, are helping build the Rebel Alliance. Along the way, he's molded into the rebel we know him as from Rogue One.
Some may find this series a little too far of a departure from the more fantasy-centric side of Star Wars. But if you're willing to give it the time, Andor is quite possibly the best TV show to come out of the Star Wars universe in a long while. You can stream the full series now on Disney+.
3. Severance (2022-Present)
Apple TV+'s Severance takes the concept of work-life-balance and bends it to the extreme. What would happen if people lived two separate lives, one at work and one at home, and you couldn't ever remember what you did at the other one?
The show focuses on a company called Lumon industries whose employees take part in a procedure known as severance: when you're at the job, you have no memory of your life outside the office, and vice versa. The versions of the people who only remember their time in the offices are called "innies", whilst those who only remember their time in the outside world are called "outies." As time goes on, the "innies" begin to question their role, prompting them to get to the root of what Lumon is truly up to.
Severance is alarming because of its odd sense of familiarity. Many people feel like corporate slaves, and many more feel like they are living two separate lives between their day jobs and their real life. The idea of having the two literally split into two realities is nightmare fuel, and a positively brilliant premise for a TV show since it plays on our fears of not being allowed to live the life we want.
Perhaps it might not be the best story for escapism, but if you're looking for a sci-fi psychological thriller that will put your brain into the blender, Severance is well worth your time. Stream it now on Apple TV+.
4. Silo (2023-Present)
Dystopian sci-fi occupies a strange role as many people's comfort genre. It's close enough to our modern day world to feel familiar while being far enough into the future to not make us feel uncomfortable. Though lately, the genre of dystopian sci-fi has fallen a bit to the wayside. But for my fellow doomsday enjoyers, Apple TV+'s Silo is hitting on all the points that make dystopian sci-fi such a captivating genre.
Silo takes place in the far-flung future where humanity lives in a massive underground city known as a silo, since the air above is now toxic. People who try to leave invaribly die. We follow Juliette Nichols, an engineer-turned-sheriff within the silo who begins to questions just how far gone the outside world really is while investigating the death of her partner. She begins to see the strict rules of the silo and the regulations put on the people as something designed to keep its inhabitants in line, ignorant of what is truly happening in the world above. And according to Juliette's findings, the outside world may not be as toxic as those who control the silo would have its people believe.
Silo has all the things that dystopia lovers enjoy: conspiracy, a bleak world, political intrigue, uncovering hidden truths, and ruling overlords. At the time of writing this has two seasons under its belt with two more on the way; season 4 will be the end, so they have a conclusion planned out. If you're looking to scratch that doom and gloom itch, Silo is the dystopian/sci-fi TV show to sink your teeth into. Watch the first two seasons here on Apple TV+.
Beat the heat with these sci-fi/fantasy TV shows
As we can see, there is no short supply of quality sci-fi/fantasy TV shows to watch this summer. Regardless of what exactly you're into, be it hard sci-fi, psychological thrillers, sci-fantasy, or dystopian sci-fi, there's plenty to keep you intrigued and out of the blazing sun.
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