10 Must-Watch Completed Fantasy Series for Every Fan

Many fantasy TV series stand the test of time, remaining classics many years later, discovered by new audiences, and often rewatched by others. The best fantasy TV shows of all time are all extremely different from each other, but they are memorable and important to the genre. Some fantasy TV shows have even changed the genre forever with their creativity and new approaches.

Many are masterpieces thanks to their excellent worldbuilding and complex character arcs, while others are extremely unusual without the overused plot points you find in just about every genre. Even if you aren’t a fan of common fantasy genre staples like dragons and magic, there are some fantasy series everyone should watch at least once.

Lucifer

2016 – 2021

The supernatural detective series put a new spin on both the police procedural genre and biblical characters. Lucifer lasted for six seasons and followed the devil as he helped solve crimes in Los Angeles with the help or hindrance of other biblical figures, including Eve and Gabriel. The show hit a slump in season 3, but it found its feet again, with explosive new storylines.

People who aren’t fans of more traditional epic fantasy must watch Lucifer for its blend of character-driven wit and the way it reimagines the world represented in the Bible. Tom Ellis gave a standout performance as the charming and conflicted Lucifer Morningstar, and his redemption arc is one of the best storylines in a TV show of any genre.

Kipo And The Age Of Wonderbeasts

2020

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is a post-apocalyptic fantasy series suitable for most audiences. The show is set in a world occupied by humans and enormous mutated animal species known as Mutes, many of which have their own factions. The premise is both exciting and hilarious, reimagining cats as lumberjacks, frogs as mob bosses, and raccoons as exercise fanatics.

That said, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts tackles some dark topics in an age-accessible way, including betrayal and loss. There’s a diverse cast, positive LGBTQ+ representation, and with just three seasons, viewers don’t have to wait long for a satisfying ending. Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts is criminally underrated despite its 100% positive Rotten Tomatoes rating, and it has a great soundtrack.

Supernatural

2005 – 2020

Not all fantasy shows with more than five seasons can keep up their momentum, but Supernatural‘s 15 seasons tell an epic saga unlike virtually any other fantasy TV show. Supernatural follows the brothers Sam and Dean Winchester as they hunt monsters, getting tangled in a cosmic battle. The format was originally a simple monster-of-the-week, but its success allowed Supernatural to be more ambitious.

Few fantasy shows have lasted as long as Supernatural, and this allowed the writers to experiment. The show could be funny, mysterious, and extremely dark, sometimes within the same episode. While shows have high and low points, nine of the seasons have a 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It is a masterpiece of both fantasy and drama, which deserves at least one watch.

His Dark Materials

2019 – 2022

After the movie adaptation of Philip Pullman’s novel trilogy did not do the books justice, the British His Dark Materials trilogy both captured their tone and some of their best moments. His Dark Materials is the perfect blend of fantasy and sci-fi, so even people who aren’t fans of the fantasy genre should watch it. Each season of His Dark Materials corresponds to one of the books.

The show boasts one of the best TV casts of all time, featuring Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and James McAvoy. While the source material could have been confusing onscreen, His Dark Materials tells the story seamlessly, jumping through several parallel worlds. His Dark Materials appears whimsical but is a deep exploration of philosophy, free will, and organized religion.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

2005 – 2008

Avatar: The Last Airbender is an epic fantasy TV show that is better than most movies. The story explores war, redemption, duty, and other heavy subjects, but in a way that is accessible to audiences of any age. Avatar: The Last Airbender was originally aimed at younger viewers, but it has a following among much older people for its worldbuilding.

The show has significant emotional weight behind it, as well as an exploration of loyalty and triumph after war. It is a must-watch, especially for children and young adults, as it is full of diverse and positive role models of all types. Many of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s best moments involve lessons learned with the help of characters like Uncle Iroh and Katara.

Arcane

2021 – 2024

Arcane is a two-season fantasy TV show with elements of sci-fi and steampunk. The story expands on the lore of the video game franchise League of Legends, with the strained relationship between the sisters Vi and Jinx at its center. It is one of the few fantasy TV shows without a bad season, and has a visually stunning animation style.

TV shows based on video games are not always successful, but Arcane is one of the best. The show keeps aspects of League of Legends that fans will recognize, while telling a story that people will follow even if they are not familiar with the games. Arcane has a 100% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, and character and costume designs that will inspire cosplayers for years.

Xena: Warrior Princess

1995 – 2001

The 1990s saw a surge of female-led fantasy series. While many were overshadowed by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Xena: Warrior Princess also grew a huge following when it launched two years earlier. Lucy Lawless’s career-defining portrayal of Xena helped to make the series a hit, and while it has become more campy as it ages, Xena: Warrior Princess is a 1990s fantasy show that holds up well.

Xena had a range of weapons and fighting prowess, leading to some great stunts, and the show broke boundaries when it came to representing same-sex relationships in the 1990s. Xena and Gabrielle’s love story might not have been spelled out, but it was clear from the context that the two were life partners, making Xena: Warrior Princess an important piece of LGBTQ+ history.

Grimm

2011 – 2017

Grimm is the perfect fantasy TV show for people who don’t like fantasy, as it blends crime and fantasy, with a darker tone than Lucifer. The show does not just add a fantasy twist to the police procedural genre, as it verges into full-on horror at times. While the special effects might not always hold up today, many of Grimm‘s monsters are still terrifying.

The six seasons of Grimm follow a police homicide detective as he discovers that he is descended from a line of criminal profilers, who must keep the peace between the worlds of humans and monsters. The show generally follows a monster-of-the-week format and features many references to classic folklore. Fantasy fans must watch the show for its blend of genres and dark storylines.

Game of Thrones

2011 – 2019

Image via HBO

Game of Thrones has been overshadowed by its disappointing ending, which means that even people who have not seen the show sometimes know what happens. However, everyone should watch Game of Thrones at least once, as its legacy is undeniable and important. The show pushed the boundaries of what was possible in a TV production and introduced iconic fantasy characters.

Aside from the visually stunning fantasy elements like dragons, Game of Thrones is a great story of political intrigue, and the earlier seasons are masterclasses in both writing and character development. Game of Thrones even has one of the best fantasy TV show episodes of all time, in “The Rains of Castamere,” better known as “The Red Wedding” episode.

Adventure Time

2010 – 2018

Adventure Time‘s protagonists, Finn and Jake, explore the post-apocalyptic but bright and whimsical Land of Ooo, helping its inhabitants with their various problems. While Adventure Time began as a very simple show, it became much more over the course of its 283 episodes. The show has typical fantasy elements like magic, but approaches them in a very different way.

Adventure Time‘s princesses have quirks and hobbies, like the scientist Princess Bubblegum, who is rarely a damsel in distress. The show explores some dark themes and philosophical questions, while still being fun and popular with families of all kinds. Adventure Time‘s originality, worldbuilding, and great LGBTQ+ representation have earned it a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and the status of a fantasy TV show masterpiece.