Fantasy TV is incredibly diverse, spanning everything from realistic stories with a touch of magic to completely imaginative worlds that need detailed explanation. The most successful fantasy shows usually establish these unique worlds right away in their first episodes, hooking viewers and making them want to keep watching.
Many fantasy TV shows are perfect for watching all at once, but others unfold over several years and build a huge, dedicated fanbase. It’s common for shows that run a long time to eventually lose quality, leaving viewers unsatisfied. However, the shows we’re talking about are exceptions – they’re lengthy, but consistently excellent and worth investing your time in.
Grimm
2011-2017, 6 Seasons
Grimm is a TV show about a detective in Portland who comes from a family of hunters that have battled supernatural creatures for generations. It’s known for having incredibly well-designed monsters, and while many episodes focus on a different creature each week, the show manages to stay fresh and avoid feeling predictable. Critics have also praised Grimm for its realistic characters and how it blends detective drama with fantasy elements.
Grimm blends fantasy and police investigation in a fresh and captivating way, offering a darker atmosphere than most fantasy shows. The series lasted six seasons, and four of those seasons received perfect scores on Rotten Tomatoes – a remarkable achievement. Though the series ending sparked debate among viewers, it remains a popular topic of conversation even today, long after the show concluded.
Xena: Warrior Princess
1995-2001, 6 Seasons
The 1990s were a fantastic time for fantasy television. While some of the special effects look dated now, this mostly impacts shows that depended heavily on visuals. Xena: Warrior Princess was packed with action, magic, and a surprising love story between two women, and once you start watching, you’ll wish you’d discovered it earlier.
Lucy Lawless became a star thanks to her role in Xena: Warrior Princess, and the show’s costumes and action sequences are still well-remembered. Although it ran for six seasons, Xena didn’t achieve the same level of popularity as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, Xena was so beloved that its fans actively tried to change the ending and even bring the show back for additional seasons.
Outlander
2014-2026, 8 Seasons
Lots of fantasy shows look and feel like historical dramas, often using a medieval style. But Outlander does something unique by setting its story in Scotland in the early 20th century. The show follows Claire, a former WWII nurse, who unexpectedly travels back in time and finds love with a Scottish warrior, mixing romance and fantasy elements.
After seven successful seasons, Outlander will end in 2026. While the show has faced criticism for its intense violence and depictions of assault – something not uncommon in fantasy TV – it remains a compelling choice for viewers who enjoy historical dramas with realistic and sometimes challenging storylines. It’s a series that rewards a long-term commitment.
Attack On Titan
2013-2023, 4 Seasons
Many people assume animated shows and fantasy stories are just for kids and are generally happy, but Attack on Titan is different. It’s a dark fantasy series about the fight for humanity’s survival against massive, human-like monsters called Titans. These Titans force the last of humankind to live in fear behind huge walls.
Despite being a very dark and violent show, Attack on Titan received perfect scores on Rotten Tomatoes for three of its four seasons. The show aired over a ten-year period with significant gaps between seasons. Now that the series has concluded, it’s a worthwhile watch if you’re looking for something immersive.
True Blood
2008-2014, 7 Seasons
Even though some of the later seasons of True Blood weren’t everyone’s favorite, the show is still enjoyable thanks to its humor and memorable fantasy characters. True Blood imagines a world where vampires can drink synthetic blood, removing the need to hunt humans, and cleverly uses this fantastical premise to explore issues like prejudice and discrimination.
While True Blood definitely delivers on horror and gore – it’s about vampires, after all – what really sets it apart is its witty humor. The show is full of memorable lines, offers a fresh take on classic creatures like werewolves and fairies, and boasts an incredible soundtrack.
Once Upon A Time
2011-2018, 7 Seasons
The idea behind Once Upon a Time was so unusual that it could have easily failed, or it could have become a wonderfully entertaining escape. A lot of the actors played dual roles, portraying both fairytale characters and their present-day selves who’d forgotten their pasts. The show had some particularly strong performances, like Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin, and it was generally a lot of fun to watch.
While the special effects haven’t aged perfectly, this actually enhances the show’s over-the-top, dramatic style. Once Upon a Time ran for seven seasons and featured compelling twists on classic fairytale stories, along with some truly moving scenes. Though the final season isn’t the strongest, the series is still worth watching to see how the story concludes.
Game of Thrones
2011-2019, 8 Seasons
While the final season of Game of Thrones is often criticized for feeling rushed, it’s easy to forget just how impactful the show was overall. It truly revolutionized television, and it’s still worth watching to understand how it changed the industry. Although the writing quality dipped in later seasons, the show remained visually stunning.
It’s easy to overlook the fact that some of the most memorable and impactful moments in Game of Thrones happened in its later seasons, like the Battle of the Bastards (season 6) and Brienne of Tarth’s knighting (season 8). Game of Thrones also provides important background for the events in House of the Dragon, making it a truly significant television series.
Lost
2004-2010, 6 Seasons
Even if you didn’t watch Lost when it originally aired, it’s still worth checking out. The show had a massive impact on how fans discuss and theorize about TV shows. Plus, even those familiar with the plot will likely be surprised by the finale, making the entire series a rewarding experience.
The plane crash that opened Lost, along with its mysterious island location, immediately grabbed viewers’ attention. It was also one of the first big shows to inspire a huge online community where fans shared and debated their theories about what was really going on. The show featured a fantastic cast, and it’s still enjoyable today to see familiar faces from other TV shows.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
1997-2003, 7 Seasons
When it comes to 90s fantasy TV shows that are still enjoyable today, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is truly one of the best. It became famous for its ‘monster of the week’ episodes, and it was revolutionary to feature a strong, capable young woman fighting monsters instead of being the typical damsel in distress. This helped pave the way for more powerful female characters in television.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is remembered for its positive portrayal of the relationship between Tara and Willow, and it concluded after seven seasons without leaving fans on a cliffhanger. Luckily, there’s still more Buffy to enjoy – including the spin-off show Angel, the ongoing comic books, and a brand new reboot – making it easy for new viewers to get invested even after the original series finale.
Supernatural
2005-2020, 15 Seasons
Running for 15 seasons, Supernatural is a remarkably long-running fantasy series. It started with self-contained stories focusing on different monsters each week, but gradually developed into a complex, overarching story. While it’s a long show, Supernatural is definitely worth watching for the story of the Winchester brothers and its compelling portrayal of figures from the Bible.
Many consider Supernatural to be one of the best fantasy TV shows ever made. While it started with a simple monster-hunting premise, it grew into something much deeper over its 15 seasons. It still featured plenty of supernatural creatures, but also explored big questions about life, death, and what it means to be human, all while keeping the strong bond between Sam and Dean as the heart of the story.
Read More
- 10 Most Badass Moments From Arrow
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Wednesday Season 2 Completely Changes a Key Addams Family Character
- Dynasty Warriors remastered title and Dynasty Warriors: Origins major DLC announced
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition coming to PS5 on November 4
- Jimmy Kimmel Slams ‘Angry Finger Pointing’ Following Charlie Kirk Shooting After Building a Career off Angry Finger Pointing
- Jon Cryer Says He Was Paid “a Third” of Charlie Sheen’s Salary
- The Simpsons Kills Off Marge Simpson In Shocking Twist
- Timothee Chalamet heist film
- Tom Holland Proved Why He Shouldn’t Be the New James Bond 3 Years Ago
2025-10-29 02:21