1. Power Rangers R.P.M.
Year: 2009 (Season 17)
Plot: It's an unspecified year sometime in the near future. The world has been conquered and destroyed by the robotic armies of the sentient computer virus Venjix. Most of the planet is a vast desert wasteland scattered with factories where human slaves build more cybernetic minions for their evil overlord. Only one place - the domed city of Corinth - still has free human life. It is defended by the R.P.M. Power Rangers, mentored by Dr. K, the creator of their weapons and power suits. When a mysterious cyborg with no memories arrives in the city, he is recruited by the team to aid in their desperate struggle against the ever-more-powerful Venjix armies.
Why It's Worth Watching: For the final season of Power Rangers produced by Disney (which at the time was supposed to be the final season ever), it was decided something drastically different should be attempted. Eddie Guzelian - story editor of the fan-favorite Disney cartoon Kim Possible - was brought in to conceive the new direction for the series. Drawing inspiration from apocalyptic 80s sci-fi like The Terminator and Mad Max, Power Rangers R.P.M. doesn't shy away from mature themes, big plot twists, or character deaths. Yet it's not all dour and bleak; these aspects are balanced out with a strong, biting wit and a good deal of self-depreciating humor that tackles some of the more outlandish traditional aspects of the franchise head-on. Though it has its detractors, R.P.M. is widely considered a fan-favorite.