The Best Fantasy Show That Premiered Each Year of the 2010s

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The 2010s were a turning point for fantasy television, demonstrating how well the medium could tell these kinds of stories and paving the way for the surge of fantasy projects we’ve seen recently. While fantasy had some success before the 2000s, the 21st century really saw it gain momentum, with franchises like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings dominating in movies. On TV, shows like Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries showed there was a strong audience for fantastical stories. This became especially clear in the 2010s, which gave us some of the most popular and successful fantasy shows ever made.

Two fantasy series especially captured the public’s imagination in 2011 and 2016, becoming landmark projects for the 21st century and raising the bar for the genre. However, the 2010s offered much more than just these two hits. The decade was filled with fantastic fantasy television, starting with a fun adventure featuring a man and a shapeshifting dog, and concluding with a thought-provoking story about destiny. All of this contributed to the rich TV landscape we enjoy today, providing plenty of options for fantasy fans.

10) 2010 – Adventure Time

The start of the 2010s was a great time for fantasy TV, and Adventure Time, which premiered in April 2010, led the way. This Cartoon Network show uniquely combined grand fantasy elements with silly, unexpected humor, making it incredibly fun to watch. While early episodes featured Jake and Finn on self-contained adventures, the series gradually built a larger, overarching story. This focus on developing the characters we grew to love is what made the show so special. Adventure Time was essentially the only standout fantasy series of 2010, but even without that, its ten seasons and ongoing spinoffs suggest it would have become a classic anyway.

9) 2011 – Game of Thrones

2011 was a pivotal year for fantasy television, largely thanks to the premiere of Game of Thrones. The show, based on George R.R. Martin’s novels, debuted in April and immediately raised the bar for fantasy TV. It became clear just how impactful the series would be when a shocking moment – Joffrey’s order to execute Ned Stark – unfolded, setting it apart from anything seen before. Game of Thrones quickly became one of the most acclaimed shows of the decade. While other fantasy series like Grimm, Camelot, and Teen Wolf also launched in 2011, none achieved the same level of success or influence as the HBO hit, even in its first season.

8) 2012 – Gravity Falls

Lots of shows have tried to imitate Game of Thrones, but it took a while for others to appear. The year after Game of Thrones debuted, there wasn’t much new fantasy programming. The only standout was Gravity Falls, a Disney animated series about twin siblings and their spooky adventures in a mysterious town. Though it only lasted two seasons, Gravity Falls gained a dedicated following because it was genuinely heartwarming and skillfully balanced humor with emotional moments. This was due to strong writing and well-developed characters. The show’s intriguing mysteries also kept viewers hooked.

7) 2013 – The Originals

In 2013, fantasy TV shows mostly focused on the supernatural. Shows like Fox’s Sleepy Hollow blended fantasy and horror, while Lifetime’s Witches of East End aimed to recapture the magic of shows like Charmed and Buffy. But the biggest hit of the year was The Originals, a spin-off of the popular 2000s show The Vampire Diaries. The Originals put the Mikaelson family front and center, drawing in fans who loved them on TVD. They were always some of the most compelling characters, and this show finally gave them the spotlight they deserved – and arguably surpassed The Vampire Diaries in quality. It traded in teen drama for more complex, darker storylines, appealing to viewers who wanted something a little different.

6) 2014 – Outlander

The 2010s also saw the arrival of popular fantasy series like Outlander, which premiered in August 2014 and is still running, with its final season coming next year. The show successfully adapted Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling novels, offering a refreshing take on the genre by focusing on romance and a less intense approach to fantasy. This focus on romance is something that could benefit the genre, especially with the growing popularity of romantasy books. 2014 was a strong year for fantasy overall, with the debuts of Penny Dreadful, Over the Garden Wall, and The Leftovers. While Penny Dreadful and Over the Garden Wall are comparable in quality to Outlander, they haven’t reached the same level of widespread popularity. Whether The Leftovers truly fits into the fantasy genre is debatable, so Outlander stands out as the most impactful series from that year.

5) 2015 – The Magicians

2015 was a relatively quiet year for fantasy releases, but the biggest standout was undoubtedly The Magicians, Syfy’s adaptation of Lev Grossman’s novels. Even with more fantasy shows available, The Magicians would still be considered highly influential. The show offered a fresh, more realistic take on the magic school genre, well before shows like Wednesday. Despite being imperfect, the characters were engaging and relatable, keeping viewers hooked for five seasons. While BBC One’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell was also excellent, I believe The Magicians ultimately reached a wider audience and had a greater overall impact that year.

4) 2016 – Stranger Things

As a huge fan of TV, I remember 2016 being a massive year for fantasy, right up there with 2011. It was the year Stranger Things exploded onto the scene – seriously, after just one season, everyone was talking about it! I was instantly hooked by the characters, the clever story, and that amazing ’80s vibe. Even now, with Season 5 generating so much buzz almost a decade later, it’s clear the show has made a real impact. Whether the ending is perfect or not, Stranger Things will definitely be remembered as one of the best fantasy and horror shows of the last ten years. It completely overshadowed other shows that came out that year, like Lucifer, Shadowhunters, and The Shannara Chronicles – none of them even came close!

3) 2017 – Castlevania

Following the success of Stranger Things, 2017 didn’t offer many major fantasy shows. While American Gods quickly lost steam, Castlevania emerged as the standout fantasy series of the year. The Netflix show generated a lot of buzz and gained a solid fanbase with generally positive feedback. Its compelling characters – Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard – were a key draw, and the show’s exploration of Dracula’s world and exciting action sequences were also highlights. Although the show had some weaker moments over its four seasons, it remains one of the most memorable fantasy series of the 2010s. With limited competition in 2017, Castlevania truly stood out in the genre.

2) 2018 – The Dragon Prince

2018 saw a bit more fantasy content than 2017, but The Dragon Prince really stood out. It’s a shame this animated Netflix series doesn’t get as much attention as Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which was also popular that year. While Sabrina had a strong start but lost momentum, The Dragon Prince consistently improved over its seven seasons. Watching the characters grow up added to the show’s appeal and helped create a rich, immersive fantasy world that viewers wanted to revisit. With beautiful animation, clever humor, and genuinely moving moments, I think The Dragon Prince is a better show than Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and definitely better than Legacies, the second spinoff of The Vampire Diaries, which also debuted in 2018.

1) 2019 – His Dark Materials

When Game of Thrones finished in 2019, interest in fantasy television really began to grow. That year saw the arrival of several exciting new shows, including The Witcher, His Dark Materials, Good Omens, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Carnival Row, and The Umbrella Academy. It was a fantastic year for the genre, and many of these shows found loyal audiences and continued with multiple seasons. Looking back, His Dark Materials stands out as the most consistently strong series.

Several Netflix shows started strong but lost momentum, like The Witcher and The Umbrella Academy. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and Carnival Row were both excellent but didn’t get enough attention, leading to cancellations. Good Omens stood out for its acting and quality, comparable to His Dark Materials. Both were potential highlights of 2019, but His Dark Materials likely has the more compelling story, doing a great job of adapting Philip Pullman’s novels and exploring themes of free will.

What fantasy show from the 2010s did you enjoy the most? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-12-15 05:14