For years, fantasy has been one of television’s most prolific and popular genres. For those who enjoy genre television, there’s nothing quite like a well-made show about magicians, dragons, mythological creatures, and the vividly-imagined fictional worlds that they inhabit. Regardless of how they approach the genre and its usual tropes, several of the greatest genre TV shows of all time are fantasy.
It’s one thing for a fantasy series to be great, but to see one that’s genuinely perfect is an even rarer occurrence. Shows like ***Game of Thrones ***are undeniably among the greatest pieces of content that the small screen has ever seen, but people tend to agree that they’re not at all perfect. There are only a precious handful of fantasy masterpieces that can truly claim to be devoid of any significantly bothersome flaws. Of course, in order to say that a show is perfect from start to finish, it must have a finish. In other words, shows must be complete in order to qualify for this list.
The BBC’s Merlin is proof that even when aimed at audiences on the younger side, fantasy can still provide absolutely delightful televisual experiences. This is one of the best fantasy shows that nobody seems to remember anymore, loosely based on different stories from Arthurian legends. Reimagining such tales as the story of a young warlock sent to serve as Arthur’s manservant, *Merlin *shines thanks to its creativity and deep understanding of the source material.
It’s probably not a show that Arthurian legend purists will adore, but those who don’t mind putting twists on the source material will inevitably be delighted by Merlin. Over the course of its four seasons, the show kept growing darker, more original, and more emotionally mature in ways that made it feel like it was growing up alongside its audience. Irresistibly fun and bolstered by the out-of-this-world chemistry shared between its two main characters, it’s essential viewing for all those who love family-friendly fantasy.
Fantasy television and teen shows wouldn’t be what they are today without Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This supernatural drama, loosely based on the 1992 film of the same name written by the series’ creator, Joss Whedon, is one of the most influential female-led projects of the ’90s and 2000s. Over the course of nearly 150 episodes, it obviously had a few lackluster ones to offer along the way, but none of them significant enough to taint its reputation as one of the best fantasy shows of all time.
It’s one of the most important and genre-defining fantasy shows out there, a feminist gem that has inspired countless generations of creatives over the years. The cast *and *casting are both absolutely phenomenal, the X-Files-inspired “case of the week” format works wonderfully over the course of the whole show, and the more serialized elements of the narrative are every bit as enthralling. Teen-focused fantasy shows don’t really get any more perfect than this.
Back in 2007, **Chris Weitz **adapted Philip Pullman’s novel ***Northern Lights ***in the form of The Golden Compass. This made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move. Following that catastrophe, fans of the ***His Dark Materials ***trilogy could only hope that if ever the books were adapted again, it would be with more care and love for the source material. Thankfully for them, that’s precisely what HBO’s *His Dark Materials *is: As exceptional of an adaptation of Pullman’s work as fans could ever possibly hope for.
Whether *His Dark Materials *is or isn’t a perfect *adaptation *is very much up for debate, but it’s almost undeniably a perfect fantasy show. It’s certainly one of the best HBO show sleeper hits, every bit as mature, impressively complex, and philosophically-charged as those who love the source material were expecting. From the cast to the high-budget production values, virtually everything about this show makes it one of the most perfect fantasy outings the small screen has seen in years.
There are only a handful of fantasy miniseries that are true masterpieces, and not only is ***Over the Garden Wall ***undeniably one of them: It may just be the best of them all. Beautifully atmospheric and perfectly character-driven, this occasionally quite spooky kids’ show is undeniable proof that media aimed at children can also greatly appeal to adults. *Over the Garden Wall *has one of the biggest cult followings of any fantasy miniseries, thanks to its atmospheric tone and its powerful themes of mortality and navigating difficult times.
Visually exquisite, featuring some excellent voice performances (mainly Elijah Wood’s and Collin Dean’s), and with a sense of humor that blends perfectly with the scary fairy-tale setting, **Over the Garden Wall is a masterclass in how to build an airtight fantasy miniseries. Dark, yet sweet, and absolutely stunning in virtually every way that matters, it may not be a very long show, but its story sticks with you for years after the credits roll on the finale.
The scores below reveal how the Force sees you. Your highest number is your true alignment. Read on to understand what that means — and what it will cost you.
Disciplined, compassionate, and deeply attuned to the living Force, you have walked the path long enough to understand its demands — and accept them. You lead not through authority alone, but through example. You have felt the pull of the dark side and chosen otherwise, every time. That is not certainty. That is courage.
You are earnest, powerful, and brimming with potential — and you know it, which is both your greatest asset and your most dangerous flaw. You act before you think, trust your gut over your training, and sometimes confuse impatience for bravery. The Masters see something in you, though. The question isn’t whether you have what it takes — it’s whether you’ll be patient enough to find out.
You are not simply dangerous — you are certain, and that is worse. You have decided what the galaxy needs, and you have decided you are the one to deliver it. Your power is genuine and formidable, earned through sacrifice that would have broken lesser beings. But examine your victories carefully. Every Sith believed their cause was righteous. The dark side’s cruelest trick is that it agrees with you.
You were forged in fire and reshaped by those who found you at your lowest. You serve, because service gave you structure when you had none. Your allegiance is not to an ideology — it is to survival and to the master who gave you purpose. But there is something buried beneath the conditioning. The Jedi you hunt? You recognize them. Because you remember what it felt like before the choice was taken from you.
You have looked at the Jedi Code and the Sith Code and found both of them incomplete. You walk the line not out of indecision but out of conviction — you genuinely believe both extremes miss something essential. The Jedi don’t fully trust you. The Sith think you’re wasting your potential. They’re both partially right. But so are you.
Another animated fantasy show aimed mainly at children, ***Gravity Falls ***is perhaps an even *bigger *cult classic among viewers of all ages. It’s one of the highest-rated 2010s TV comedies on IMDb, a mystery box series whose inspirations (shows like ***Twin Peaks ***and The X-Files) are irrefutable proof that, though aimed at kids, it’s a show perfectly enjoyable by anyone who loves the genre, regardless of their age. Winner of two Emmy Awards, it has become one of the most influential animated shows of the 21st century in the years since its conclusion.
And what a conclusion it was. Indeed, from its incredible pilot until its showstopping finale (one of the highest-rated TV episodes of all time on IMDb), *Gravity Falls *never lost its spark. It can be funny, it can be mysterious, it can be emotional, it can be dramatic; and through it all, it never ceases to be visually stunning and exceptionally well-written. Warm-hearted and with some of the most layered lore of any Disney show in history, it should be considered essential viewing for everyone who would call themselves a fantasy television fan.
Romantasy is a subgenre that many people tend to look down upon as lesser, but masterful shows like the K-drama ***Alchemy of Souls ***prove that love stories in fantasy worlds can be just as exceptional as any other sort of fantasy tale. Following the growth of young mages as they overcome their twisted fates, this is one of the best international fantasy shows ever, a two-season gem full of intrigue, romance, action, and literally magical moments.
It’s an emotional roller coaster of a show that definitely takes some level of enjoyment of romantasy as a prerequisite for its enjoyment, but it’s more than worth every second even for those who typically prefer their fantasy shows romance-less. From its beautifully imaginative first season to its emotionally cathartic finale, it’s one of the best fantasy K-dramas out there.
Another incredible international fantasy show, the French series The Returned is set in a small French mountain town where the dead begin to inexplicably return, forcing the townsfolk to confront their tumultuous past as they seek to understand the phenomenon. It’s one of the best French mystery shows ever, deserving winner of an International Emmy for Best Drama Series.
When they think of stories about dead people returning to the land of the living, people tend to first think of zombie shows and the likes. Though certainly creepy, **The Returned takes a refreshingly different approach to the concept, building a slow, eerie, and atmospheric tone to explore this story full of interesting symbolism and fascinating themes. Powerfully dramatic and more focused on its characters than on shock value, it’s an absolutely flawless show that all fans of dark fantasy should check out.
As not only the highest-rated animated show on IMDb, but also the highest-rated fantasy show on the platform, ***Avatar: The Last Airbender ***needs no introduction. As if any more proof were needed that fantasy shows geared toward children can still manage to capture the love and imagination of countless adults, this tremendously popular modern classic has always been praised as one of the best animated shows of the 2000s, perfect in virtually every way.
The colorful and vibrant visuals? Perfect. The fascinating characters and their engrossing arcs? Perfect. The story and all of its deep lore? Perfect. The structure, pacing, and journey toward one of the best series finales in the history of fantasy television? To no one’s surprise, all of it is perfect as well. It would take a professional nitpicker to find any kind of considerably show-ruining flaw in Avatar: The Last Airbender, which will likely remain the most beloved animated show in history for many years longer.
Avatar: The Last Airbender ](/tag/avatar-the-last-airbender/)
](/tag/animation/)
](/tag/action/)
](/tag/adventure/)
](/tag/fantasy/)
Michael Dante DiMartino
Giancarlo Volpe, Ethan Spaulding, Lauren MacMullan, Dave Filoni, Joaquim Dos Santos, Anthony Lioi