Aang air-gliding with a large smile in Avatar: The Last Airbender.Image via Nickelodeon
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Dawson Nyffenegger
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Fantasy is a genre that can either go very well or very poorly, depending on various factors. First of all, if one is using source material, as so many fantasy movies and TV shows do, the adaptation has to be faithful so as not to alienate the fanbase. Secondly, it has to make the story's world feel more immersive and engrossing than real life, since fantasy is pretty much a form of escapism. Then there are all the traditional aspects of cinematography, animation, special effects, dialogue, acting, etc.
When it comes to television, fantasy has been a booming genre with the rise of streaming platforms and on-demand viewing. As a result, many fantasy series have tried to be the next big hit, only to fail miserably. Many other series are good or even great, but are still lacking in a few aspects. However, there are a rare few that have almost nothing wrong with them, delivering perfection (or something close to it) every single episode.
7 'The Legend of Vox Machina' (2022—Present)
Raishan in her draconic formImage via Amazon Prime Video
The Legend of Vox Machina has some pretty humble beginnings, starting off as a Dungeons & Dragons campaign played by the Critical Role podcast. From humble beginnings, though, came a Prime Video deal and eventually, one of the finest animated fantasy series ever to grace the small screen. This world has everything, from magic to monsters and even the occasional dragon or two. This is all supplemented by a truly incredible art style, which is pure eye candy to look at.
What's even more awesome is that the people behind the podcast ended up voicing their own in-game characters, making them feel familiar to returning fans, but also authentic to newcomers. With soaring critical scores and nothing but positive reviews, calling this show perfection is no exaggeration. Each episode is curated with such love and care that one cannot help but give it a solid 10/10 every single time.
6 'House of the Dragon' (2022—Present)
Rhaenyra on a rocky cliff with two roaring dragons behind in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 7.Image via HBO
It's no secret that the HBO original series Game of Thrones didn't exactly have a satisfying conclusion. However, the prequel series, House of the Dragon, has so far proven to be a major step in the right direction to breathe new life into the universe. Both shows are, of course, based on works by George R. R. Martin, who had a heavier hand in the prequel's production than that of the original show, which is probably why it's on a steadier streak.
This prequel series is set 300 years before the main show and is about the family history and lineage of House Targaryen, which became the ruling house of Westeros after their conquest and unification of the Seven Kingdoms. Though there's only been two seasons thus far, every episode has been absolutely brilliant, including much of the same gruesome violence, familial conflict, political intrigue, and steamy romance that fans of Game of Thrones loved.
5 'The Twilight Zone' (1959–1964)
Rod Serling narrates the opening of The Twilight Zone episode "The After Hours."Image via CBS
The original run of The Twilight Zone may not have been the first anthology TV series ever made, but it was definitely a pioneering entry into the format. This series describes itself as being about ordinary people facing extraordinary situations and delves into the realm of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, though this largely depends on the episode. Sometimes, there are episodes involving magic or supernatural abilities; other times, there are aliens involved.
Because it's an anthology series, every episode functions as its own individual story, with a closed conclusion that typically doesn't leave any loose ends. But where it really shines is that each episode contains a monumental plot twist, some of which are absolutely flooring. There's a reason The Twilight Zone is still so popular after all these decades and received numerous reboots: each episode is a phenomenal bit of work.
4 '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
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities is a criminally underrated Netflix miniseries curated by Guillermo del Toro himself. Del Toro is known for his dark fantasy thriller films and is a unique and visionary filmmaker, so this series was absolutely warranted and welcome. The show is actually an anthology series, meaning each episode acts as its own individual story, with a proper conclusion at the end (and generally, some major plot twist, too).
This series explores everything from witchcraft and black magic to giant mutant rats and is a combination of both fantasy and horror tropes, a signature of del Toro's iconic branding. Reminiscent of his many award-winning films, Cabinet of Curiosities is only a few episodes long, but it makes every second count with the way it builds tension and allows the director's visions to come to life in a truly disturbing yet engrossing way.
3 'Arcane' (2021–2024)
Jinx's sacrifice in 'Arcane.'Image via Netflix
Arcane is the hit Netflix series based on the immensely popular MOBA video game League of Legends. Despite the fact that the series only ran for two seasons, each episode is pretty near perfect in all regards. Some say the episodes in Season 2 dipped in quality a bit, but even then, they're still pretty amazing. The meager number of episodes isn't a reflection of its quality whatsoever — the show wasn't prematurely canceled; rather, the showrunners just felt that they had told the story they needed to tell and decided to end it.
This show is a bit of a blend of everything, from fantasy to sci-fi and even dipping into steampunk, as per the world of the video game. Arcane was something truly special for Netflix, as the show not only attracted a bunch of veteran players of League of Legends, but also a brand new fanbase who had never played a single match of the game before. It's a modern masterpiece that should absolutely be seen by any fantasy fan.
2 'His Dark Materials' (2019–2022)
Sian Clifford as Lady Salmakia the Gallivespian in His Dark Materials Season 3Image via HBO
Back in 2008, there was an attempted movie adaptation of Philip Pullman's popular novel trilogy, but it failed miserably, and all plans for sequels were canceled. The movie was absolutely nothing like the book upon which it was ostensibly based and garnered nothing but disappointment from fans and critics alike. Approximately 10 years later, HBO decided to give it another go, and this time, it was much more successful.
His Dark Materials follows a young girl living in a parallel version of our world who is destined to defeat a dastardly corporation controlling the Earth and save the planet from turmoil, traveling across the multiverse as she does so. The show was able to receive a proper conclusion and was a much more faithful adaptation of the novels, garnering unanimous approval from fans. Though it's a tad underrated, this really is a perfect fantasy show that deserves lots more love.
1 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' (2005-2008)
Aang with glowing eyes and symbol on his forehead with moving objects in Avatar: The Last Airbender.Image via Nickelodeon
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a Nickelodeon show, but it certainly doesn't feel like one. Unlike most Nickelodeon cartoons, this show actually has continuity to it, meaning it has to be watched from beginning to end to be fully understood. While there is a fair bit of comedy in it, its primary focus is on its story, which is about a lost chosen one called the Avatar who is destined to master the four elements and bring harmony to the four corresponding nations.
Not only is there a grand sense of action and adventure to be had in this series, but a fair bit of moral wisdom, too, which is why it became so popular amongst both kids and adults. Though like any show, there are some episodes that are indeed weaker than others, even these weaker episodes deserve perfect scores for everything that they offer. Across all three seasons, this series delivers nothing but perfection in each and every episode.
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Avatar: The Last Airbender
TV-Y7
Animation
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Release Date
2005 - 2008
Network
Nickelodeon
Showrunner
Michael Dante DiMartino
Directors
Giancarlo Volpe, Ethan Spaulding, Lauren MacMullan, Dave Filoni, Joaquim Dos Santos, Anthony Lioi
Cast
See All-
Zach Tyler Eisen
Aang (voice)
-
Mae Whitman
Katara
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