While fantasy films are often displays of spectacle and adventure, their television counterparts are often forced to do much more with much less. Filming schedules, the need to keep viewers, and pressure from networks can heavily influence a show as it airs. Not every fantasy show can fight epic battles to increase ratings, as many focus on smaller-scale stories to save budgets.
There are plenty of phenomenal fantasy shows with new seasons coming in 2025, but there are also some incredible shows sitting in studio archives or waiting on streaming services for new viewers to find, or for old viewers to rediscover and fall in love with all over again. After all, the best fantasies aren't always the highest-rated fantasy shows — sometimes, they are the ones that are old enough to be somewhat endearing despite its flaws.
1
Game of Thrones
HBO, 2011-2019
Game of Thrones
Based on the novels by George RR Martin, this fantasy series follows the power struggles between noble families as they vie for control of the Iron Throne in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The series is known for its complex characters, political intrigue and unexpected twists.
When Game of Thrones First premiered in April 2011, it was all anyone even remotely interested in fantasy television could talk about. George R. R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire the novels were quite popular, but with the usual barrier to entry that one expects from books over 700 pages. HBO's adaptation of this book was innovativeand the show quickly became an international success.
As Game of Thrones continued, amassed a treasure trove of dragon prizes, until the final season stumbled as it tried to run. The show's production schedule outpaced Martin's writingforcing the producers to create an ending of their own – an ending that was seen as perfunctory and rushed, with the early season's focus on character interactions that were fueled by the books replaced by spectacle and plot twists.
Still, although the ending was a critical disappointment, a lot of Game of Thrones still hold on as a prime example of low fantasy and political drama. Peter Dinklage's portrayal of Tyrion Lannister was phenomenal from start to finish, a legitimate source of much of the show's critical acclaim. And of course, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, repeatedly delivered a commanding performance.
2
the Vampire Diaries
The CW, 2009-2017
Based on the novels by LJ Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school to college as they fight for each other's affections.
When the Vampire Diaries debuted on the CW, it was a box office success for the network, which had been struggling since it was formed from the moribund bones of Paramount's UPN and Warner Brothers' WB networks. the Vampire Diaries quickly became a fixture of The CW's lineupand it was the most watched program there until Arrow won this title in 2012.
the Vampire Diaries followed Nina Dobrev as teenager Elena Gilbert, a girl who recently lost her parents and falls in love with vampire Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). In doing so, she finds herself drawn to the surprising amount of supernatural activity in her small-town home from Mystic Falls, Virginia. Over the course of the series' eight seasons, Elena and her friends have dealt with witches, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and all manner of other brooding supernatural creatures.
Although the Vampire Diaries was popular with viewers, had a much more unpredictable impact with criticswith the Metacritic reviews for the first season are still giving it an abysmal rating of 50 out of 100. Even so, opinions have changed over the course of the show, with the development of strong female characters like Nina Dobrev ensuring that the Vampire Diaries would remain memorable for those who like brooding vampires, gorgeous casts, and small-town family politics.
3
lost girl
Showcase, 2010-2015
lost girl
Lost Girl follows Bo, a succubus who shuns her supernatural roots and social structures. Choosing to live as a renegade, she fights for the marginalized while unraveling the enigma of her origins.
Canadian Showcase Network Used lost girl as the flagship of his shift in focus from both the racy absurdity of his Trailer Park Boys franchise, choosing to highlight the spicy supernatural drama. lost girl is the story of Bo Dennis, a succubus who knows nothing about her supernatural past beyond this anyone she has sexual intimacy with tends to die.
Not all lost girl has aged well, especially when it comes to the show's special effects, but a lot of his character work is fantasticespecially Anna Silk's work portraying Bo's conflict between her desire for intimacy and her fear of hurting the people she cares about. The show has a phenomenal supporting cast, most notably Kris Holden-Ried (Match) as stoic werewolf detective Dyson, Ksenia Solo (Black Orphan) as Bo's best friend/companion/pet, Kenzie, and Zoe Palmer (Dark Matter) as Dr.
lost girl is notable for its LGBTQ+ representationas Bo, being a succubus, is openly bisexual and develops romantic tension with Dyson and Dr. Lewis, eventually ending the series in a relationship with the doctor. Other LGBT characters also appear with some frequency, resulting in lost girl winning several Leo awards for LGBT visibility between 2012 and 2015.
4
Enchanted
The BM, 1998-2006
Enchanted
Charmed is a television series centered on three sisters – Prue, Piper and Phoebe – who discover their powers as the Charmed Ones, destined to combat the forces of evil. Set in present-day San Francisco, the series explores their evolving magical abilities as they juggle personal lives and battle demons and sorcerers.
Enchanted was WB's surprise cult – or more appropriately, coven – hitwith its first episode breaking records when it was shown to 7.7 million viewers on a quiet Wednesday night in 1998. The central characters are the three Halliwell sisters, Prue (Shannon Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs) and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), who discover her family's Book of Shadows in the attic of their San Francisco home and discover that they are the Enchanted Ones, witches of great power with the destiny to protect the world. of the forces of darkness.
Unfortunately, Enchantedlater seasons lost the plot; Shannon Doherty's departure from the series meant that her character Prue Halliwell was killed off at the end of season 3, resulting in season 4 taking a particularly dark tone as it replaced Doherty with Rose McGowan as Paige Matthews, the surprise fourth Halliwell sister who was abandoned to adoption at birth. Later seasons diverged further, replacing many of the traditionally hidden enemies with fairytale creatures.
Even with the decline in quality throughout its run, however, Enchanted remains an enjoyable and easily watched supernatural drama. It also had a profound effect on TV production, as it was one of the longest-running network dramas with a predominantly female lead cast. The CW, which succeeded the WB, rebooted Enchanted in 2018, with no input from the original cast or creators, which drew some initial criticism from fans; the reboot was popular enough to last four seasons.
5
Galavant
ABC, 2015-2016
Galavant
Galavant is a musical comedy television series that follows the adventures of the eponymous knight as he tries to reclaim his reputation and his love, Madalena, from the villainous King Richard. Created by Dan Fogelman, the show combines elements of fantasy and musical theater, featuring a mix of humor, romance and catchy songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.
ABC Galavant it was a bold experiment in television that never had a chance to succeed. A fantasy musical centering on the titular knight Gary Galavant (Joshua Sasse) and his quest for revenge against the evil King Richard (Timothy Omundson), it was a surprisingly genre-savvy romp that cast member Mallory Jansen described as “the bastard son of Monty Python and the Princess Bride.“
Featuring a phenomenal cast, impeccable writing, and even musical appearances from Kylie Minogue and “Weird Al” Yankovic, Galavant It repeatedly broke the fourth wall, delighting critics but struggling to retain viewers. Revisiting the show now, It seems like something so ahead of its time that it doesn't know how to present itself; streaming platforms would likely have handled Galavant much more kindly than broadcast TV, but thankfully both seasons are still available to enjoy on multiple platforms.
6
The Shannara Chronicles
MTV/Spike, 2016-2017
The Shannara Chronicles is a television adaptation of Terry Brooks' Shannara series, set in a post-apocalyptic world where three teenagers named Wil, Amberle and Eretria embark on a mission to stop an army of demons from destroying the Four Lands. With a mix of magic and adventure, the series explores themes of friendship, destiny and the constant battle between good and evil.
Liberally adapted from just a small fraction of Terry Brooks' massive book Shannara book series, The Shannara Chronicles attempted to mix classic fantasy tropes, post-apocalyptic aesthetics, and the mid-2010s obsession with brooding protagonists, only partially achieving. Declining ratings during the first season caused it to be moved from MTV to Spike (now Paramount Network), which declined to order a second season; although the producers tried to buy him, they were unable to find a home for him, and the show was forced to end on a cliffhanger.
The Shannara Chronicles follows young half-elf Wil Ohmsford (Austin Butler), who discovers he is the heir to a powerful magical artifact, a set of elven stones that grant him powerful magic. Meanwhile, the elven city of Arborlon is under siege by demons. Set in the far-future ruins of the Pacific Northwest after a vaguely magical apocalypse, Shannara was seen by critics as a “teen-friendly Game of Thrones“ (through RottenTomatoes). Still, the effects are fun, the characters are lively and brooding, and the first season is memorable thanks to John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings) as the elven king Eventine.
7
True Blood
HBO, 2008-2014
true blood
True Blood is a horror/fantasy drama series created by Alan Ball and starring Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgård. The series follows the life of Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress with telepathic powers who lives in a fictional town in Louisiana. In this city, a new synthetic “drug” has allowed vampires to escape their coffins and roam among the living.
Initial impressions of HBO's vampire drama were mixed, but the adaptation of Charlaine Harris' drama The Mysteries of the Southern Vampires gained prominence as the preeminent supernatural show for those who like their spooky hotties for a touch of southern charm. Anna Paquin as telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse and Stephen Moyer as Confederate soldier-turned-vampire Bill Compton fall in love in a world where vampires have become common knowledge.
True Blood put a genuine effort into exploring vampires and other supernatural creatures and how they would exist in a world where they were treated as an oppressed minority, often framing them allegorically be similar to the ongoing struggles that the LGBT community faced simultaneously, as well as echoing the impact that the 20th century civil rights movement had on the American South. While it didn't always succeed in this framing – not all of these tropes have aged well – it was still a laudable effort that resulted in a fun and fantastic drama.
8
Wynonna Earp
Syfy, 2016-2021
Wynonna Earp
Based on a comic book series by Beau Smith, Wynonna Earp tells the story of the titular heroine who is Wyatt Earp's great-great-granddaughter. The series follows Wynonna's return to her hometown, where she must fight the reanimated criminals previously killed by Earp. Aided by her sister, her great-great-grandfather's immortal partner Doc Holiday, and a member of the US Marshals, Wynonna works to keep Purgatory safe from revenants.
Adapted from the 2003 limited series of the same name from Image Comics, the four-season film from Syfy Wynonna Earp is still one of the best examples of Weird West ever shown on TV. Starring Melanie Scrofano (Letterkenny, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) as Wynonna Earp, descendant of famous Old West lawman Wyatt EarpThe show is set in the small Rocky Mountain town of Purgatory, which is plagued by the undead of every person Wyatt Earp ever killed.
As heir to Wyatt Earp's gun and duties, Wynonna is forced to try to return all revenants to Hell before they can kill her first. Of course, many other supernatural forces are at work in Purgatory, including the immortal and infuriatingly charming Doc Holliday (Tim Rozon), Xavier Dolls (Shamier Anderson), the brooding agent of a vague but menacing government agency who is secretly some kind of lizardman and more demons, undead and witches than you can imagine in a Colt Peacemaker.
Wynonna Earp was also praised for its LGBT representationwith Wynonna's younger sister Waverly Earp (Dominique Provost-Chalkley) having a romantic arc with Purgatory deputy sheriff Nicole Haught (Katherine Barrell) that led to their marriage in the end; The show was nominated for GLAAD's Best Drama Series award in 2017, 2019, and 2021. 2024 saw the release of a special follow-up film, Wynonna Earp: Revengein Tubi.
9
Xena: Warrior Princess
Syndicated, 1995-2001
Starring Lucy Lawless and Renne O'Connor, Xena: Warrior Princess follows the titular heroine, a formidable warrior from Ancient Greece who uses her powers to help protect and defend the innocent. Xena is accompanied by her companion, Gabrielle, on all her missions. The series ran from 1995 to 2001 and maintains cult classic status and a devoted fanbase to this day.
There is no doubt that Xena: Warrior Princess is one of the longest-running fantasy TV shows of the 1990s; is also, due to its age, extremely difficult to watch. It has yet to receive a high-definition remaster, and the special effects were low-budget to begin with – and yet Xena still remains a cult classic thanks to its phenomenal mix of serious character work, willingness to take storytelling risks, and Lucy Lawless being Lucy Lawless.
Xena (Lawless), the Warrior Princess of the title, was once a cruel warlord from the Greek city of Amphipolis who, changing her mind after an encounter with Hercules (in Hercules: the legendary journeysa show that hasn't aged so well), dedicates his life to correcting the mistakes for which he was responsible and protect the innocent. With her strong soulmate, bard Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), by her side, Xena travels the ancient world, fighting evil and defying the gods.
Another landmark show for LGBT representation, Xena left a profound legacy both in lesbian culture and in the television genre. NBC attempted to reboot the show in 2015, but creative difficulties shelved the plan in 2017; Xena remains inimitable and is still a phenomenal show despite its age.
10
Angel
The BM, 1999-2004
Angel
A spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel is a drama series with supernatural elements starring David Boreanaz, reprising his role as the titular vampire. An immortal cursed with his human soul returning to his body, which makes him susceptible to human emotions such as remorse. Angel lives in Los Angeles as a private detective, seeking redemption for his murderous past as a cruel warlord. Angel will face threats like humans and demons that rival his own cruel potential as he ventures to help those in need.
Joss Whedon's spin-off Buffy the Vampire Slayer centered on the titular vampire Angel is unquestionably a deeply flawed show. Initially considered a weak attempt at making money, it never managed to eclipse Buffy in the ratings, but in later seasons Angel found its foundation.
David Boreanaz continued his role as Angel, the vampire with a soul (and an on-and-off relationship with Buffy) who departed Sunnydale at the end of Buffyseason three to find redemption in, of all places, Los Angeles. With partner Buffy characters Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter), Wesley Windham-Price (Alexis Denisof), Spike (James Marsters) and Harmony Kendall (Mercedes McNab) joining throughout Angelis running, the show replaced Buffyteenage angst with a more mature angst, inspired by film noir.
Although the first seasons of Angel struggle to find their own rhythm and identity, the show redeems itself in the fifth seasonthanks in part to Spike joining the cast. Boreanaz and Marsters have an undeniable chemistry that could easily convince viewers that in real life they must hate each other like Spike and Angel, and any scene with them at odds sparkles with energy. A special standout episode is where Angel is turned into a puppet (“Smile Time”, season 5, episode 14).