Thefantasygenre shines on television, as the episodic nature of TV shows allows for plenty of time to focus on world-building and magic systems while still providing character development. However, all the moving parts and expectations surrounding fantasy TV series make it difficult for a show to hit the mark in every aspect of the story. Common issues arise withfantasy TV shows that continue for too long, running out of ideas and growing repetitive before the finale.In a perfect show, there can’t be any major problemsor too many moments that make viewers quit the series.
Many of thebest fantasy TV shows of the 2020sare almost perfect and could prove themselves to be the best of the 21st century before their stories end.More often than not, great fantasy shows are based on books,giving the seasons structure and providing a strong storyline for the script. However, if the source material runs out before the show concludes, the writers must develop original plots. This can often disrupt the familiar themes and tone of the series. Many elements impact a show’s legacy, but a series doesn’t need to be flawless to be fun and memorable.
Game Of Thrones
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Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
It’s no secret thatGame of Thronesseason 8 was a major disappointment for critics and viewerswho had stuck with the show from the beginning. For a long time after season 5, when the series went past the story from George R.R. Martin’s source material,Game of Thronesremained strong and included some of the best battles and character development of the show. However, season 8 failed to maintain the momentum and thrills of the earlier episodes.
As time progresses,Game of Throneswill continue to be well-remembered, but the final season won’t be.
Thankfully, this hasn’t destroyed the show’s legacy, asmost ofGame of Thronesrevolutionized what fantasy television could be.It’s agreat fantasy TV show for beginnersbecause its drama makes the story a crossover hit, but it also appeals to fans of high fantasy thanks to the intricate world-building and political intrigue. However, the many spinoffs of the series help recall the best parts of the early seasons. As time progresses,Game of Throneswill continue to be well-remembered, but the final season won’t be.
Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
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The Magicians
The Magicians follows a group of young adults who enroll at Brakebills University, a secretive institution devoted to teaching magic. As they engage in an unconventional education in spellcasting, they realize that a childhood fantasy world is indeed real and presents a significant threat to humanity.
Like many of its contemporaries,The Magiciansis based on a book series by Lev Grossman and had to come up with an original story following the conclusion of season 3. However, even without the story from Grossman’s trilogy,The Magiciansmanaged to keep spinning its tale for two well-received seasons. The biggest issue withThe Magiciansthroughout its run is thatsensitive material and subjects aren’t always handled with the most grace,and the multiple universes and plots can get confusing.
ThoughThe Magiciansseason 4 finale was polarizing, the final season was a stunning return to formand allowed the series to end on a high note. One of the most consistently praised aspects ofThe Magiciansis how well the series incorporates modern humor and references into the script. This makes the characters feel natural within the world, even when they’re performing spells. While the scattered pacing and many intersecting storylines can be difficult to keep track of, the characters are what keeps the audience coming back for more.
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Pushing Daisies
Created by Bryan Fuller, Pushing Daisies stars Lee Pace as Ned, a baker who can inexplicably bring people back from the dead with just one touch. With the help of a private investigator and his previously deceased childhood girlfriend who he has rescued from death, Ned uses his ability to help solve murders. Anna Friel, Kristin Chenoweth, and Chi McBride also star.
The 2007-2008 WGA strike played a part in the abrupt cancelation ofPushing Daisies, which incorporated a unique style and whimsical magical realism into a show with a flawlessly executed tonal balance.The series stars Lee Pace as Ned and Anna Friel as Chuck,the characters with explosive chemistry and a love story that can never be. However, romance is far from the only part ofPushing Daisiesthat makes the show so iconic, as the fantasy elements seamlessly fit into the colorful and offbeat world of the story.
10 Great Fantasy TV Shows That Deserved More Seasons
It’s common for a TV show to end before its time, but when it comes to fantasy series, some desperately need more seasons to complete their arcs.
Unfortunately,because it was cut short,Pushing Daisieswraps up too quicklyand doesn’t see all of its characters get the endings and development they deserve. IfPushing Daisieshad gone on for many years, there’s no telling what its legacy might have been. Instead, it’s an underrated gem that many audiences recognize as the influential piece of programming it was. While some of the visual effects are dated, this pales in comparison to the strength of the storytelling.
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Good Omens
Based on the bestselling novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Good Omens follows an angel and demon as they attempt to defy the forces of Heaven and Hell in order to avert the apocalypse. With Pratchett and Gaiman’s funny and irreverent style shining through, Good Omens stars Michael Sheen and David Tennant as Aziraphale and Crowley, with a larger cast that includes John Hamm, Francis McDormand, and Michael McKean.
The chemistry between Crowley (David Tennant) and Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) is by far the best part ofGood Omens,a series that already has a lot going for it. In season 1, the demon and angel must team up to prevent the end of the world, and the show has a lot of fun imagining what different parts of heaven, hell, and everything in between might look like. The consistency of the visual style and writing is a strong part ofGood Omens, which immerses the viewer in its unexpected story.
Good Omensseason 2 is a little slower and less intricately crafted than season 1,but that’s to be expected, as the show was based on a standalone book. Season 2 focuses more specifically on Crowley and Aziraphale and their personal relationship, whereas the stakes of season 1 are much higher, with the fate of the world at stake. Though there are fewer moving parts in season 2, it’s still compelling, if a little more traditional than the subversive first outing.
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His Dark Materials
Based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved novel trilogy, His Dark Materials is a fantasy/drama television series that follows Lyra, a brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s quest to find her kidnapped friend leads her to uncover a sinister plot of a secret organization, encounter extraordinary beings, and protect dangerous secrets. Lyra will find that her life is inextricably linked with another as they discover they may be the ones to change the world.
His Dark Materialsdoes a much better job adapting Philip Pullman’s fantasy series than the 2007 filmThe Golden Compass,but the many twists and turns of Pullman’s work are difficult to bring to life. The visual style ofHis Dark Materialsaligns with the look and feel of Pullman’s writing, and Dafne Keen is a believable Lyra as she treks the globe and pushes herself to be brave for her friends and loved ones. However, in trying to be as faithful to the books as possible,His Dark Materialsdoesn’t take enough risks.
There are moments whenHis Dark Materialscan be too on the nose with its criticisms, but the overall emotional impact still hits home in the final season.
Additionally, though the story gets quite dramatic and mature as the episodes progress, the series takes itself too seriously at times.At its heart, Pullman’s series is a work for children and young adultsand should feel like a fantastical escape from the real world as much as it comments on the essential problems that plague humanity. There are moments whenHis Dark Materialscan be too on the nose with its criticisms, but the overall emotional impact still hits home in the final season.
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Lost
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
Lostseason 1 is arguably a perfect season of television, and the two-part pilot of the series is one of the most effective in history. It’s no surprise that audiences have been hooked onLostsince it premiered in 2004, even if the series pushed itself too far as the story progressed. Though each installment ofLosthas something to offer,the show got bogged down trying to live up to its reputation for having the best plot twists on TV.This led to narrative turns that weren’t smart or satisfying and came out of nowhere.
The downward spiral ofLostwas cemented by the divisive series finale and the overall structure of season 6, which left audiences confused about the timeline. Before this,one of the most misguided choices onLostwas the introduction of time travel,which never quite fit into the many unsolved mysteries thatLostpresented. However, the overarching fight of good versus evil played out between Jack and Locke is compelling enough to stick with the series.
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Lucifer
Lucifer, released in 2016, follows Lucifer Morningstar, the former Lord of Hell, who retires to Los Angeles. There, he partners with LAPD detective Chloe Decker to solve crimes. As he distances himself from the underworld, a potential threat looms, risking the unleashing of humanity’s darkest forces.
Luciferis a great example of aTV show that shouldn’t have been a crime procedural, as the series came into its own after the first cancelation when it moved to Netflix.After this network shift,Luciferno longer adhered to the episodic formulasthat plagued it and undercut the character development of the first three seasons, instead focusing on the central storylines and relationships with longer plot arcs. This made the final three seasons the best of the show.
From Tom Ellis' charming turn as the devil himself to the series planting the seeds of the mystical lore of heaven and hell,Luciferwas always destined for greatness.
However, even whenLuciferwas structured like a procedural, there was still a lot to love about the show. From Tom Ellis' charming turn as the devil himself to the series planting the seeds of the mystical lore of heaven and hell,Luciferwas always destined for greatness. If it had begun with the resources and subversive plotting of the last few seasons,Lucifermight have gained even more explosive popularity. Despite this,the show is still remembered as one of the best supernatural dramas of its time.
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The Leftovers
The Leftovers is a three-season drama that follows a group of people as they deal with the effects of the sudden disappearance of 2% of the word’s population. It was created by Lost co-producer Damon Lindelof and Election writer Tom Perrotta, with famous actors such as Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Margaret Qualley, and Justin Theroux in the ensemble cast.
There are many aspects ofThe Leftoversthat make it such an iconic series, with its stellar cast, amazing writing, and unique premise all capturing the audience’s attention. However,it can be difficult to get into the show, as much of the series is relentlessly depressing,with the silver lining only appearing towards the end of the story. The fantasy and magical elements ofThe Leftoversare mysterious and open to the viewer’s interpretation, which can be frustrating.
However, most of these criticisms revolve around season 1, as each installment ofThe Leftoversonly grew in critical and audience acclaim. Overall,watchingThe Leftoversis a test of patience,as some of the questions the series poses are never answered. It’s a philosophical and high-concept series, so it’s unsurprising that it remains polarizing but connects deeply with viewers who enjoy this kind of media. Ending strong with one of the best series finales of all time,The Leftoversis an acquired taste but worth committing to.
Angel
A spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel is a drama series with supernatural elements that stars 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 vicious warlord. Angel will face threats such as humans and demons that rival his own cruel potential as he ventures to help those in need.
Angelis aspinoff darker than the TV showit’s based on,Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and though the series wasn’t always perfect, it was emotionally resonant. Though David Boreanaz doesn’t have the same star power as Sarah Michelle Gellar, who leadsBuffy,the ensemble ofAngelhas amazing chemistry, and Boreanaz’s Angel grows on the audience with his comedic timing.Angelis at its best when the show focuses on the overarching plots instead of getting bogged down with the monster-of-the-week format.
10 Best Vampire TV Shows Of All Time, Ranked
As long as there have been scary stories, there have been tales about vampires, and the best TV shows about the mystical creatures are iconic.
Angelis a rare example of a series that seemed to be on its last legs in the penultimate season, only to finish with the strongest installment of the show with the conclusion.Angelseason 5 is a brilliant piece of televisionand makes the struggle of season 4 worth getting through, but this can be a hard sell. Fortunately, the payoff ofAngelseason 5 encourages viewers to push through the show’s low points and be rewarded with some of the best supernatural television of all time.
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Once Upon A Time
Once Upon a Time is an adventure fantasy-drama series created for ABC that features fairy tale characters and their Disney incarnations in a modern setting. When Emma Swan and her son Henry accidentally drive into the town of Storybrooke, they soon discover the inhabitants are those from fairy tales, and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry. Robbed of their pasts and given new identities by the Evil Queen known as Regina, the hope of the town’s residents lie solely in the hands of Emma, who has stronger connections to the town than she knows.
It’s not surprising thatOnce Upon a Timewas developed by two writers onLost, as both series fell victim to similar problems. LikeLost,Once Upon a Timehad an almost perfect first season that utilized the flashback trope flawlessly, revealing just information about the character’s pasts to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. However,Once Upon a Timequickly recovered and practically had a soft reboot in season 2to exciting results. From there, the next few seasons went deeper into the themes of good versus evil and the question of redemption.
Of course, after a while, it was impossible to sustain thefantasyshow’s premise, as there were only so many fairy tales and Disney IPs to expand on before the formula grew repetitive. However,the nail in the coffin forOnce Upon a Timewas the final season’s time jumpand the fact that so many of the original characters were absent for season 7. One of the best parts ofOnce Upon a Timewas that it updated classic fairy tales better than most modern remakes, but it began to lose originality by the end.
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