Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the DragonImage via HBO
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Dawson Nyffenegger
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The world of television is vastly different from what it was. Today, there are TV shows out there with the budget of blockbuster films, something that would have never been considered as early as 20 years ago. As television advances, so too do its various genres, including fantasy. Fantasy has historically been king of a hard genre to adapt to TV, because the stories are only limited by the writer's imagination, but the adaptation of said story is often limited by budget, which usually needs to be huge to capture everything.
But in recent years, this has become even more feasible, with many networks dishing out the required budget to make some cinematic marvels in bite-sized, episodic format. This saw a huge spike in popularity in the 2010s, but in the 2020s, fantasy television is more popular than ever, with some real gems being released by various networks. These are the best fantasy shows of the 2020s, which prove that fantasy is only going to get bigger and better with time.
15 'Fate: The Winx Saga' (2021–2022)
Image via Netflix
The Winx Club brand is something that is generally targeted towards little girls. The brand started as a Nickelodeon cartoon in the 2000s, which, of course, was used to sell dolls and toys based on the show. A lot of kids liked it, but let's be real, it isn't exactly high art. Fate: The Winx Saga is a show that offered a new spin on things. Instead of girls under the age of 10, it targeted adolescent girls and functioned as a sort of teen fantasy drama.
Most of the characters make a comeback in a new way, being shown in live-action for the first time. The tone is noticeably darker, and it feels like an honest attempt to relate to those who grew up watching the original series. Critical scores for this series were not fantastic, but audience scores were much higher. Though it was canceled after two seasons, Fate: The Winx Saga definitely found its niche of fans, many of whom loved it for nostalgia as well as its new spin on an old formula.
14 'Castlevania: Nocturne' (2023–)
Sekhmet in Castlevania Nocturne Season 2Image via Netflix
Castlevania: Nocturne is a sequel to the original Castlevania animated series, which in turn is based on a classic video game series. Though the art style is definitely inspired by anime, it doesn't technically fit the definition, because it's made by American creators rather than Japanese animators. But this works because it makes it more digestible for non-anime fans. Set during the French Revolution, the series follows a vampire hunter who is determined to prevent a vampiric god from rising to power and causing the apocalypse.
The Castlevania IP became beloved for its overall style, taking inspiration from Gothic horror elements, including vampires, werewolves, and European architecture, helping it feel distinct and fresh compared to other anime shows. While Nocturne felt kind of disappointing compared to the awesomeness of the original series, it still does a pretty good job and is a far cry from being mediocre.
13 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' (2024–)
Gordon Cormier as Aang reading a book in Avatar the Last AirbenderImage via Netflix
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a Netflix live-action remake of the 2000s Nickelodeon cartoon of the same name. The story follows the Avatar, Aang (Gordon Cormier), a young boy from the Air Tribe, and the last living person able to master the art of airbending. He is destined to bring unity to the other tribes of Earth, Water, and Fire by mastering their manipulation of their elements, bringing peace to the continent, and making friends along the way.
The live-action version isn't quite as incredible as the animated series was, but it does provide a new take on the story and has plenty of moments of fan service for those who have watched the original. While some aspects were lacking, it featured a cast of fresh young actors and veteran performers alike, yet had the same sweeping sense of drama and adventure that made the original great. It didn't just get the seal of approval from returning fans, but it has also attracted a slew of new viewers to the brand.
12 'Kaos' (2024)
Zeus (Jeff Goldblum) smiles in 'KAOS'Image via Netflix
Kaos is a fantasy/comedy that was unfortunately canceled far too soon for its own good. This show was about the Greek Pantheon of gods and titans, specifically about Prometheus (Stephen Dillane), who was condemned to suffer eternally for stealing fire and bestowing it upon humanity. After centuries of torture, Prometheus enacts his plan to overthrow Zeus (Jeff Goldblum), but must do so with the help of three unsuspecting humans.
The premature cancellation came as an unwanted shock, as critical and audience reviews were pretty good. Nothing fantastic, mind you, but still very good. This makes the abrupt axing of Kaos even more jarring, especially considering it was only given one short season. Even though this show was let go early, that doesn't mean it isn't worth your time. It's a perfect show for fans of Greek mythology and for dark comedy enjoyers alike.
11 'The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself' (2022)
Image via Netflix
The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself is yet another show that received an abrupt and unprompted cancellation after just one season, which is an unfair treatment that it didn't deserve. This teen drama is based on a novel trilogy by Sally Green and revolves around one particular individual, an adolescent named Nathan (Jay Lycurgo). Nathan discovers that he is the illegitimate son of a renowned and dangerous witch, and is suddenly swept up in a war between witch clans as they both seek to control him.
Though the series may have lasted only eight episodes, critics and audiences were actually pretty pleased with it. Many loved it for its witty dialogue, expert acting, and haunting beauty. The reason it failed is unfortunately due to a lack of viewership, as it never really drew in the numbers that it needed to. While this is a real shame, it's something fantasy fans should definitely check out, especially if you're into the teen fantasy drama type of shows.
10 'Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities' (2022)
Guillermo del Toro sits at a desk filled with books and papers, talking to the camera in Cabinet of Curiosities.Image via Netflix
Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is sort of known for his acclaimed fantasy horror flicks like Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, so it's only fitting that he would be given his own fantasy horror miniseries to tell the stories that may not necessarily work in movie form. For that, there's Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities, a highly underrated anthology series consisting of eight episodes, all curated by del Toro himself.
Since it's an anthology series, each episode acts as its own self-contained story, presenting different concepts, creatures, settings, and themes throughout. This ranges from giant rats to parasites to terrifying entities from beyond, so there's really no telling what the next episode will bring to the table. The fact that it can be picked up and dropped at any time, since there's no overarching narrative,e combined with the personal flair of one of the finest filmmakers of the modern day, makes it a stunning dark fantasy series that has never gotten the attention that it deserves.
9 'One Piece' (2023–)
Inaki Godoy in 'One Piece' pointing toward the camera while on a boatImage via Netflix
One Piece is a Netflix live-action adaptation of the classic 1997 anime series, which is actually still ongoing nearly 30 years later. The show stars Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), a young aspiring pirate who has eaten a Devil Fruit, allowing him to turn his body into rubber in the blink of an eye. He, along with his friends, decides to embark on a journey across the sea to find the missing piece of an ancient map that will supposedly lead to untold riches.
Though the original anime reigns supreme in terms of sheer quality and entertainment value, the live-action adaptation has also done a pretty good job and is definitely more palatable for non-anime fans in the way that it presents itself. This incredible pirate TV series is full of humor, ridiculousness, yet sweeping adventure, and has generated quite a bit of buzz in just eight episodes, though there are more planned to come.
8 'Shadow and Bone' (2021–2023)
Kit Young's Jesper protecting Jack Wolfe's Wylan in Shadow and Bone Season 2.Image via 21 Laps Entertainment
Shadow and Bone is an urban fantasy series set in the Grishaverse, a universe of stories established by author Leigh Bardugo. Most fantasy shows take place in worlds reminiscent of Medieval Europe, but Shadow and Bone takes a bit of a different approach, taking place in a world that feels more like Victorian England. Shadow and Bone was unfortunately canceled far too soon, on a cliffhanger no less, due to low viewership, but it's a real diamond in the rough that frankly deserved better.
The magic of the Grishaverse comes to life in this brilliant urban fantasy series, featuring some steampunk elements, along with a cast of lovable and memorable characters, and some very well done worldbuilding. It is kind of a shame that it was canceled so prematurely, yet for what little time it had, it made sure to deliver in every aspect, never having a dull moment, and becoming a hit for fans of the novels.
7 'Wednesday' (2022–)
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in 'Wednesday' Season 2Image via Netflix
Wednesday is the hit Netflix original series that's got everybody talking. A spin-off of the original 1960s sitcom The Addams Family, this show depicts the daughter of the family, Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega), as the main character. With updated technology, more jokes, and more supernatural mysteries to explore, this is a show that offered a brand new spin on a decades-old IP, which was due for a fresh revival after a pretty lackluster animated film a few years back.
The fantasy elements here come from the aspects of Gothic horror, like in the Addams' helpful pet and assistant, the Thing, which is a disembodied hand with a mind of its own. There's also the family's butler, Lurch (George Burcea), who seems to be inspired by Frankenstein's monster. This series really allowed Jenna Ortega to become a household name, and it is the freshest the overall Addams Family brand has felt in ages.
6 'The Wheel of Time' (2021–2025)
Josha Stradowski and Daniel Henney practicing swords in The Wheel of Time Season 3.Image via Prime Video
The Wheel of Time is the hit Amazon Prime Video series based on the late Robert Jordan's novel series of the same name. The story follows Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), a sorceress known as an Aes Sedai who arrives in the remote region of the Two Rivers, searching for the Dragon Reborn, a powerful individual who is destined to either save the world from the clutches of the Dark One, or to destroy it.
The first season was pretty meh, but subsequent seasons have really picked up in quality, with the recent third season being the absolute best as of yet. Though the series is far from a 100% faithful adaptation of the source material, the show is still very entertaining, with a vast, rich world full of lovable characters, diverse environments, and secrets untold. It's been one of Amazon Prime's most successful original series, which is only getting better and better as it goes on.
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One Piece (Live-Action)
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