Furthermore, the best fantasy keeps the viewer coming back for more, even after the end credits roll. Whether it’s the detailed worldbuilding, nuanced character journeys, or exciting twists that recontextualize the entire series, the greatest fantasy can turn a casual binge into a show that’s even better on rewatch. Similarly, there are plenty of iconic fantasy worlds that viewers can get lost in, over and over again.
Merlin
A Young Sorcerer Forges A Bond With Camelot’s Arrogant Crown Prince
There have been countless fantasy series inspired by Arthurian legends, but none are as captivating as Merlin. BBC’s 2008 medieval fantasy follows the titular sorcerer Merlin (Colin Morgan), who becomes the closest confidant of Arthur Pendragon (Bradley James), prince and eventual king of Camelot. The rub, of course, is that magic is banned in the kingdom— and punishable by death.
Prophecies, secrets, and destinies drive the story of Merlin, making it just as entertaining and even more interesting on the second watch. The CGI elements may be dated, but the look adds an air of nostalgia without ruining the immersion completely. Plus, Merlin has some of the best TV couples that never went canon, making it a fan-favorite with high rewatchability.
The Magicians
A Ragtag Group Of Magic-Wielding Students Must Save The World
The Magicians was a cult classic throughout the late 2010s, but its popularity has thankfully grown in recent years. The modern fantasy centers on Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, a clandestine school for up-and-coming magicians. At the start of the series, protagonist Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph) enrolls, partially inspired by a beloved book series from his childhood: Fillory and Further.
As the main characters of The Magicians slowly discover, however, Fillory and Further is far from fiction, and the human world needs all the magic wielders it can get to ward off evil. The ensemble cast end practically unrecognizable from their first appearances, and rewatching The Magicians for the character arcs is just as fascinating as scouring for clues regarding the central mystery.
Attack on Titan
A Rogue Militia Take On Cannibalistic Giants
Fantasy shows set in the real world may boast impressive graphics, makeup, and set design, but there’s just as much artistry in the animation of titles like Attack on Titan. Since its 2013 premiere, the dark fantasy has become a quintessential watch for any anime fan, but its high-octane action sequences and bittersweet story beats have universal appeal.
At the heart of the anime is a band of fighters in the Survey Corps, a group dedicated to taking down monstrous, man-eating creatures known as Titans. The team is composed of fully-developed characters and moral dilemmas galore, meaning Attack on Titan is a can’t skip anime, but it also had endless rewatch potential for narrative-driven viewers.
Good Omens
A Demon & An Angel Sabotage Divine Doomsday Prepping
Credit: Prime Video via MovieStillsDB
Mythology is the foundation of numerous fantasy worlds and magic systems, and Good Omens is a biblically accurate example— literally. The series follows Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and Crowley (David Tennant), an angel and demon who form an unconventional friendship throughout the millennia of human history. The pair become so enamored with Earth, in fact, they decide to go against their divine and demonic orders and stop the imminent apocalypse.
Prime Video’s 3-Part Fantasy Series Is One Of The Best Of The Decade
Prime Video is home to great fantasy shows, among them one that has become unfairly underrated and is unlike any other fantasy show you’ll find.
There are few perfect Prime Video shows that are as comforting to watch as Good Omens, but its two seasons are far more detailed than many realize. From recasting actors in new roles to hiding self-referential jokes in plain sight, Good Omens is like an Easter egg hunt for eagle-eyed viewers, and it only gets exponentially more rewarding with each rewatch.
Once Upon a Time
Classic Storybook Figures Build New Lives In Coastal Maine
Once upon a time, in the land of Storybrooke, Maine, a young boy named Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) set off on a quest to find his birth mother, a bounty hunter named Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison). Unbeknownst to her, however, she wasn’t just an East Coaster with a mysterious past; Emma was actually the daughter of two fairy tale characters.
Across its seven seasons, Once Upon a Time perfected live-action adaptations of classic characters from hit Disney movies, Brothers Grimm folk tales, and more. The show is the perfect balance of real-life angst and magical whimsy, tied together with the campiest bow imaginable. Whether it’s to relive a heartwarming love story or a devastating plot twist, Once Upon a Time is a comfort watch that never gets old.
The Good Place
Four Misfit Souls Find Each Other In The Afterlife
Rather than take place in a make-believe world of mystical creatures or flashy magic tricks, The Good Place opts for a much more subdued approach— but it nonetheless packs a powerful punch. The eponymous “good place” begins as a friendly neighborhood ostensibly created to reward people who lived a good life prior to their death.
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Critical Response To The Good Place |
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|---|---|
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Season |
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|
Season 1 |
92% |
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Season 2 |
100% |
|
Season 3 |
98% |
|
Season 4 |
100% |
Yet, not everything is as it seems, starting with ne’er-do-well Eleanor Shellstrop’s (Kristen Bell) mistaken entry. The Good Place‘s plot twist is one of the best in modern television history, and rewatching from the beginning while knowing every twist and turn feels like watching another story entirely.
Penny Dreadful
A Delightfully Dark Reimagining Of Literary Villains
There are fantasies that adapt existing material and there are fantasies that create their own innovative plots, but Penny Dreadful exists somewhere in between. The hidden gem dark fantasy takes Gothic literary characters— ranging from Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney) to Dr. Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway)— and puts them in the creative melting pot of 19th century London.
Without question, Penny Dreadful is an underrated horror masterpiece, but it’s even more striking due to it telling a complete, comprehensive story in three short seasons. Whether you’re a literature nerd or haven’t read a book since grade school, Penny Dreadful has a truly bewitching storyline that gets better each time you watch it.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
One Of The Most Iconic Animated Series Of All Time
Avatar: The Last Airbender is arguably one of the most popular animated series of all time, and it comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen it. The three-season seminal classic follows the eponymous Avatar, Aang, who must maintain peace between four distinct nations: the Fire Nation, the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, and the nearly-extinct Air Nomads.
The elemental bending disciplines in Avatar: The Last Airbender are based on traditional Chinese martial arts, with Waterbending corresponding to Tai Chi, Earthbending with Hung Gar, Airbending with Baguazhang, and Firebending with Northern Shaolin Kung Fu.
Though it was conceived as a children’s show, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a must-watch for viewers of all ages. The storytelling is rife with sociopolitical commentary, emotional character arcs, and other striking allegories that set it apart from typical cartoons. Each rewatch will give you something new to appreciate, which in turn protects Avatar: The Last Airbender’s infallible legacy.
Castlevania
A Lone Hunter Must Stop The World’s Most Renowned Vampire
Based on the esteemed video game franchise of the same name, Castlevania is one of the greatest Netflix original anime ever made. The animated series crafts a cohesive storyline from the lore of multiple Castlevania games, mainly focusing on protagonists Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage) and Adrian “Alucard” Țepeș (James Callis), who aim to stop Dracula’s (Graham McTavish) reign of terror.
The fantasy horror is just as visually striking as the iconic video games, but its story is surprisingly grounded, especially considering the sheer scope of its source material. Long before Arcane and Fallout, Castlevania proved video game adaptations could be successful shows, and it has only gotten better with age.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
A Teenage Girl Takes On Horror Movie Monsters & High School Drama
It’s rare for a show to have such a lasting impact on television nearly 30 years after its premiere, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains wildly influential for modern fantasy, horror, and teen dramas. The quirky coming-of-age series follows the eponymous Slayer, Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a normal teen whose extracurricular activities include hunting monsters and saving the world.
By merging typical teen dramas with slasher movie clichés, Buffy the Vampire Slayer rewrote the rules of horror, and countless dark fantasies have mined it for inspiration throughout the past three decades. Nevertheless, nothing can beat the original, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer is still an unmatched fantasy show that you can watch countless times without getting bored.
- Release Date
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1997 – 2003
- Network
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The WB