FantasyTV shows are the perfect escape. Fromseriesthat take place in entirely fictional worlds, to shows where fantastical beings and creatures have to live in the real world, they can be really great to get lost in.These series may introduce a new world with new lore, or may expand on existing lore to create something entirely new.
There are a number of excellent fantasy shows in both thedramaandcomedygenres, but there are some that are just essential watches.These series embrace their fantasy elements for a truly unique and enjoyable viewing experience. They pull viewers into these fantastical worlds and unlikely scenarios, with a number of great aspects, like shocking plot twists, creative uses of magic, and new settings. These are fantasy TV shows that everyone should watch at least once.
7’Avatar: The Last Airbender' (2005–2008)
Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko
Avatar: The Last Airbenderis one of the most creative fantasy series of all time, with really fascinating wordbuilding and deeply emotional character arcs. The series follows Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen), the Avatar and last living Airbender. After being trapped inside an iceberg for 100 years, Aang is suddenly woken up by two siblings from the Southern Water Tribe, Katara (Mae Whitman) and Sokka (Jack De Sena).
20 years after it first aired onNickelodeon,Avatar: The Last Airbenderis a true classic.It tackles a number of complex themes and storylines in really engaging and creative ways, and it continues to gain more viewers all these years later. For all TV fans who love fantasy shows with nuanced characters and well-developed lore,Avatar: The Last Airbenderis a must-watch.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
In a war-torn world of elemental magic, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world.
6’My Lady Jane' (2024)
Created by Gemma Burgess
AlthoughMy Lady Janewassadly cancelled after one season,its single season is a phenomenal contribution to the fantasy genre. Based on the novel of the same name byCynthia Hand,Brodi Ashton, andJoni Meadows, the series is a fictionalized retelling of the story of Lady Jane Grey (Emily Bader). The series followsJane as she reluctantly enters an arranged marriage, is suddenly thrust into power, and tries to make a real change in England.
InMy Lady Jane, England is split into two groups: the Ethians, who can turn into animals, and the Verity, who cannot. Things become complicated for Jane as she falls in love with her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel), who is secretly Ethian.My Lady Janeis an excellent fantasy series withhigh stakes, a strong emotional throughline, and the perfect blend of historical fiction and fantastical elements.
My Lady Jane
My Lady Jane is a Prime Video original series created by Gemma Burgess. The story is a “what if” style story of English royal history where King Henry VIII’s son Edward, Lady Jane Grey, and her husband Guildford all survive their real-life deaths. In the retelling of history, Jane Grey takes center stage, becoming queen and immediately finding herself facing nefarious villains.
5’Galavant' (2015–2016)
Created by Dan Fogelman
Galavanttakes place in a fairytale world with a comedic spin, and it follows a once-successful knight named Galavant (Joshua Sasse). After spending a long time wallowing after being left by his true love, Madalena (Mallory Jansen),Galavant finally gets a second chance in the form of an epic quest. The quest is actually a trap, though, so that Madalena’s husband, King Richard (Timothy Omundson), can kill Galavant.
For fantasy fans who love the tone of films likeThe Princess Bride,Ella Enchanted, andMonty Python and the Holy Grail, there isno better show to watch thanGalavant. The series starts out with the grounded fairytale elements of knights in an old-timey kingdom, theneventually implements more classic fantasy elements, like an evil sorcerer and even a dragon. To top it all off,Galavanthas a number of silly and over-the-top musical numbers per episode.
A musical comedy adventure featuring a knight on a quest for love who helps a childish king to see the error of his ways.
4’Game of Thrones' (2011–2019)
Created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss
Even with its unbelievably disappointing ending,Game of Thronesis one of the classic fantasy TV shows. The show did a great job of bringing theGeorge R. R. Martinbooks to life,with epic settings, wild plot twists, and some of the best and most visceral death scenes put to screen. The series followsthe fight to see who will get to sit on the Iron Throne and rule the Seven Kingdoms, as well as a number of quests that occur during the meantime.
Game of Throneshas since inspired a number of prequel series that are on the way, as well as the currently-runningHouse of the Dragon. The show is an essential watch for fantasy fans, both for those looking to watch the spin-offs, and for those who appreciate truly excellent world-building. Withsome of the absolutely best fantasy characters and lore,Game of Thronesis a series that everyone should watch.
Game Of Thrones
Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.
3’The Good Place' (2016–2020)
Created by Michael Schur
The Good Placeis one of a number of great sitcoms with fantasy twists, but this one stands out due to its unique setting. The series follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a selfish woman who has just died.When Eleanor gets sent to The Good Place by mistake, she convinces her mistakenly-assigned soulmate, Ethics and Moral Philosophy Professor Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper), to teach her how to be a good person.
Aside from having one of the best TV plot twists of all time in its Season 1 finale,The Good Placeis just a really well-written and intentional fantasy series.It uses Eleanor’s journey in the afterlife to explore major philosophical questions, while also introducing a number of wildly funny and creative pieces of fantastical lore related to various aspects of the afterlife.
The Good Place
2’Interview with the Vampire' (2022–)
Created by Rolin Jones
Based on theAnne Ricenovels, AMC’sInterview with the Vampiretells the story of vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), as he shares his story with journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) in the present day. In the past, Louis meets the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), andthey develop an intense relationship, as Lestat turns him and they become companions.
Even thoughInterview with the Vampireis still currently releasing seasons, it is already one of the great fantasy series. In just two seasons, the show has both brought the Anne Rice novels to life, while also making a number of phenomenal changes that have made it really stand out. It isone of the best vampire showsof all time, andfor fantasy fans looking to watch just one series about vampires, it should be this one.
Interview with the Vampire
Based on Anne Rice’s iconic novel, follow Louis de Pointe’s epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality, as told to the journalist Daniel Molloy.
1’Pushing Daisies' (2007–2009)
Created by Bryan Fuller
There is no fantasy TV show that is as essential of a viewing experience asPushing Daisies. The series follows a piemaker named Ned (Lee Pace),who can wake the dead with a single touch. Ned uses his power to help Private Investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) solve murders. When the latest murder victim is Ned’s childhood sweetheart, Chuck (Anna Friel), Ned finds himself unable to touch her back to being dead.
Pushing Daisiesis the perfect blendof a crime procedural with silly and over-the-top deaths, and a beautiful but forbidden fairytale romance (because Ned and Chuck can’t touch, or she will die again for good). It has one of the best TV settings of all time, andNed’s powers are handled in a really creative and compelling way, as he struggles to navigate all the rules related to them.
Pushing Daisies
NEXT:These 10 Great Fantasy Shows Deserved To Get One More Season
