Eight Older Fantasy TV Shows That Are Still Hugely Fun

Although recent years have seen a surprising increase fantasy TV shows, there are many old series that are still exciting and intriguing by today’s standards. It’s true that the best fantasy TV shows of the 2020s feature bigger budgets and more complex visual effects than projects released fifteen, twenty, or even thirty years ago. However, creativity was spurred by the need to be inventive when it came to bringing the magic of the story to life. Although the execution may have changed, The heart and purpose of fantasy storytelling has remained largely the same over the years.

Many of these fantasy TV shows are nearly perfect and have aged reasonably well, even if they contain some outdated elements. However, a significant number are now well known and are being discovered by new generations of fantasy fans, keeping them relevant and inspiring contemporary works of speculative fiction in film and television. With strong and complex characters elevating the fantastic elements and magical aspects of the stories, these shows offer plenty of escapism while rooting their narratives in real-world issues.

8

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995–1999)

This popular series is a great example of why Greek mythology is so often covered in the media

Tales and legends from Greek mythology are extremely popular sources of material for inspiration. In recent years, in film, television and literature, there has been an influx of retellings of stories from traditional Greek mythology, using children’s content such as Percy Jackson to the recent Netflix original Chaos. However, Hercules: the legendary journeys is an early example of how these stories have always thrived on television. A big part of this is the integrated action and adventure that the 1995 TV series took full advantage of.

Hercules is one of the most popular heroes in Greek mythology, with live action Hercules Disney film confirmed in the works. It is not surprising that Hercules: the legendary journeys It was far from the only iteration of the story made for television, but it’s the one that holds up best by today’s standards. Although typically episodic featuring an antagonistic monster or god of the week, Hercules: the legendary journeys it also featured overarching stories that saw Hercules grow and develop, keeping the audience engaged with the characters.

7

Highlander: The Series (1992–1998)

After the film’s explosive success, it’s not surprising that Highland found an audience

Although the 1986 fantasy film that Highlander: the series is based on being best remembered, the TV show is a hidden gem that is a lot of fun to rewatch today. Highlander: the series Imagine an alternative ending to the film where there is another member of the MacLeod clan, an Immortal called Duncan, played by Adrian Paul. Starting with Duncan returning to Immortals play to help the good side, The show follows Duncan fighting Immortals who come looking for him, as well as struggling to try to build a normal life.

Since the premise of the film and Highlander: the series revolves around battle sequences and epic fights, Few episodes go by without the audience witnessing Duncan in a thrilling confrontation. The experience of his secular life influences his decisions and the way he moves through the world, bringing the fantasy elements to the foreground of the story. Although Duncan is sometimes disillusioned with the righteousness of humanity, this doesn’t stop him from building relationships and fighting for common people.

6

Angel (1999–2004)

Despite being a spin-off series, Angel quickly proved to be a stellar show in its own right.

Angel is a spin-off TV show much darker than the series it is based on, the iconic Buffy the Vampire Slayer. David Boreanaz reprises his role as Angel de Buffy, but the spinoff centers on him, allowing for deeper, more complex explorations of Angel’s tenuous place in the world. Incorporating some of the mysterious elements of Buffy, Angel takes on increasingly serious and dark tones, as one of the central parts of Angel’s personality is his eternal penance for the destruction he caused when he had no soul.

However Angel made some mistakes throughout its execution, Angel season 5 is widely considered one of the best seasons of television of all time, providing a cohesive and satisfying conclusion to the franchise’s stay on TV. As the seasons progressed, the story led Angel and his allies to think more about how best to help people and stop dark forces. Additionally, Angel was not afraid to address more spiritual and borderline religious elements than Buffy the Vampire Slayerwith Angel often acknowledging an indiscernible higher power.

5

Enchanted (1998–2006)

The three sisters at the center of Charmed anchor the fantasy series

The long-running original Enchanted The series has served as inspiration for many of the best supernatural teen drama TV shows. Following the lives of the Halliwell/Matthews sisters who discover their magical abilities Enchanted It features many strong feminist themes and elevates above all the bond and relationship between the central women. Enchanted was an expertly crafted series that weathered significant cast changes and tonal shifts over its eight seasons, but that didn’t stop the show from remaining in the cultural conversation.

Popular enough to warrant a recent reboot, Enchanted touched on many different aspects of mythology in folklore, featuring magic, demons, and monsters that the sisters had to band together to fight. Most of the time, the solution to the problems faced by the Charmed Ones would only be solvable if they combined their powers and worked as a unit, promoting unity and cooperation. However, this does not mean that Enchanted didn’t explore the drama and pitfalls of the sisters’ love lives in equal measure.

4

Xena: Warrior Princess (1995–2001)

This TV series is a definitive work of action and fantasy centered around strong heroines

One of the best TV shows about Greek mythology, Xena: Warrior Princessstars Lucy Lawless in the titular role and was revolutionary for several reasons. However Xena is a spin-off of Hercules: the legendary journeys, Xena surpassed the original series in fame and influence, paving the way for more female-led action series in the coming years. Additionally, Xena’s relationship with Gabrielle (Renee O’Connor), her companion and canonical soulmate, was a huge step forward in LGBTQ+ representation on television.

As Hercules: the legendary journeys, Xena explores the myths and monsters of ancient Greece while touching on other cultural tales and legends. However Xena: Warrior Princess followed the typical monster-of-the-week formula for the most part, it also incorporated significant character development throughout its run. Xena redeemed herself from her dark past and became a warrior for good, while Gabrielle transformed into a fighter who could support Xena in battle. The exciting antagonists, settings, and compelling character relationships make it Xena: Warrior Princess an iconic series, regardless of genre.

3

Twin Peaks (1990–2017)

This Mysterious TV Show Uses the Supernatural Elements to the Fullest

Surreal, mysterious and one of David Lynch’s definitive works, Twin Peaks is one of the most famous fantasy crime shows of all time, known for its indiscernible villains and dark plot twists. Kyle MacLachlan stars as FBI agent Dale Cooper, whose life changes forever after he investigates the circumstances of the murder of young Laura Palmer in the seemingly idyllic town of Twin Peaks. Of course, there’s much more to the town than meets the eye, but Lynch consistently subverts expectations, keeping the audience on their toes.

Although the series was initially canceled after season 2 in 1991, the long-awaited third season was released in 2017 as Twin Peaks: The Return. In the middle, the prequel film Fire walk with me polarized audiences for its traumatic plot, but has since been heralded as a cult classic and one of Lynch’s greatest films. All of this was intertwined in a complex and tragic story that marked the Twin Peaks franchise as an unforgettable piece of film and television.

2

Pushing Daisies (2007-2009)

This supernatural love story has a lot of heart and a bittersweet touch

Before terrorizing audiences as a tyrannical intergalactic leader in the Apple TV series Foundation, Lee Pace was starring as the mild-mannered, super-powered detective/pie maker in the beloved dramedy Pushing Daisies. Born with the ability to bring the dead back to life by touching them, Ned (Pace) spends most of his life avoiding this morbid subject, but soon finds himself waking the dead to solve their murders, sending him on an adventure. unforgettable. Shamelessly romantic, Pushing Daisies covers the love story between Ned and his childhood sweetheart, Chuck.

Of course, Ned brought Chuck back to life so he could never touch her again, or she would go back to the grave, putting a delightful and touching twist on this classic love story. Pushing Daisies was tragically cut short after just two seasons, bringing an end to one of the most groundbreaking TV series of the early 2000s. While the premise and character chemistry could have kept the series going for many more seasons, it’s still fun to revisit episodes that exist over and over again.

1

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

The seminal vampire TV series that inspired countless fantasy shows

Not only the best vampire TV show of all time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is often cited as one of the best fantasy TV series of all time, thanks to its incredible characters and distinctive themes. Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular Slayer, Buffy, the show follows her attempts to have a normal life while carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Successfully transitioning from a teen drama set in high school to a serious adult supernatural show, Buffy handled the growth and development of its characters with ease.

Buffy Summers is one of the best TV characters of recent times, as she is a true hero, but that doesn’t stop her from being nasty and complex, even sacrificing herself once again to save the world. It’s hard to say how many fantasy shows were inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayerhow the format, special episodes and intricate story place it above all other works in the genre. There is little doubt that Buffy the Vampire Slayer will remain relevant for years to come.