Fantasyseriescan be among the best ontelevisionandstreaming—a journey to another world can provide the perfect escape from our real one. On top of telling compelling stories, fantasy stories also often use their unique worlds and characters to explore real-world social and political issues. And the genre can be so expansive that shows can be drastically different from each other in everything from setting to tone.
Some of the best fantasy shows have also been some of the shortest,whether by accident or by design. And while the downside is audiences have sometimes been left wanting more, short-lived fantasy shows can also make the most of their runtime, with tight writing and great pacing which means there’s not a single bad episode and nothing worth skipping.
10’Shadow and Bone' (2021–2023)
Created by Eric Heisserer
Young orphaned girl Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) discovered she was a magic user known as a Grisha in Netflix seriesShadow and Bone, set in the fictional world of Ravka, divided by the dangerous and terrifying Shadow Fold. Alina’s power was so strong, she had the ability to destroy the Shadow Fold and its villainous creator. The show was based on the Grishaverse trilogy andSix of Crowsduology byLeigh Bardugo.
Shadow and Bonepresented a fascinating world of magic,with a setting and story which could easily appeal to viewers who wouldn’t normally consider themselves fans of fantasy—on top of the dedicated fanbase it has already attracted. Although the second season felt somewhat rushed, it was a great series overall, and its interesting story made it an easy binge-watch.Because it was canceled, however, the series endedwith a few cliffhangers.
Shadow and Bone
9’His Dark Materials' (2019–2022)
Created by Jack Thorne
When a friend of Lyra’s (Dafne Keen) was kidnapped, she and her daemon—an animalistic representation of the human soul—set out to find him inHis Dark Materials. On their journey, they discovered a plot to kidnap other children and that it was related toan invisible substance called Dust, a powerful but sinister organization called the Magisterium and parallel worlds. The series was based onthe book trilogy of the same namebyPhilip Pullman.
His Dark Materialswas a fascinating journey into a rich fantasy world, one which was fairly faithful to the original books—and one which avoided making the same mistakes as the trilogy’s film adaptation, with each season covering the events of one book. The series was a slow burn which didn’t always get the credit it deserved, especially when it came to elements like character development.Ruth Wilsonstood out as the menacing Mrs. Coulter, playing her to perfection.
His Dark Materials
8’Avatar: The Last Airbender' (2005–2008)
Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko
Set in a world divided into four kingdoms based on four elements—water, earth, fire and air—which its residents could control, the animated seriesAvatar: The Last Airbenderfollowed Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen), the Avatar, capable of controlling all four elements. Throughout the series, Aang worked to master control of the elements with the help of the siblings who discovered him, all while they were pursued by the villainous Fire Nation. A live-action reboot premiered on Netflix in 2024.
Avatarremains not only an acclaimed fantasy series, but an acclaimed animated series, as well—and the fact that it continues to appeal to audiences of all ages is a testament to its quality. It took place in a rich world with layered characters who experienced great growth throughout the series, one of its greatest qualities. In addition, Avatar was beloved for its humor and themes like friendship and complicated family dynamics.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
7’Good Omens' (2019–2025)
Created by Neil Gaiman
The straight-laced angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tennant) enjoyed life on Earth and wouldn’t let their differences get in the way of their friendship inGood Omens. They worked together to prevent Armageddon—after losing track of the Antichrist, an 11-year-old boy. The series was based on the novel of the same name byNeil GaimanandTerry Pratchett, and after two seasons, the story will concludewith a single 90-minute episode.
Unfortunately, the legacy ofGood Omenshas been marred by the behavior of and controversy surrounding Gaiman—but fans are still hoping for a conclusion, especially after Season 2’s cliffhanger ending. It was an entertaining fantasy series which poked fun at horror movies likeThe Omen.One of the most enjoyable things about it was theundeniable chemistry between Aziraphale and Crowley, and Sheen and Tennant were great in the roles.
Good Omens
6’Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency' (2016–2017)
Created by Max Landis
When bellhop Todd Brotzman (Elijah Wood) discovered a millionaire guest at his hotel had been murdered, he became a person of interest in the crime—until Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) began investigating the case inDirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Todd then became his reluctant assistant, working alongside him in a variety of other bizarre cases. The show was inspired by the novel series of the same name byDouglas Adamsand was its second adaptation. It lasted just two seasons.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agencyput a fun, otherworldly spin on police procedurals, and while other shows had treaded similar territory, the series never felt like it was a copycat thanks to its absolutely wild storylines. Dirk and Todd’s cases involved everything from the supernatural to the CIA, all with hilarity. Despite a drop in ratings between the two seasons, the series received critical praise and retained a dedicated fanbase.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
5’The 10th Kingdom' (2000)
Directed by David Carson and Herbert Wise
The NBC miniseriesThe 10th Kingdomfollowed a young woman, Virginia (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), and her father, who crossed paths with a dog who was actually an enchanted prince, leading them to be transported from New York City—known as the 10th Kingdom—via magic mirror to a fairy tale world. There, nine kingdoms were once ruled by queens, including Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella and Riding Hood, with an Evil Queen (Dianne Wiest) plotting to take over.
The 10th Kingdomplayed with familiar fairy tales, similar to the wayOnce Upon a Timewould years later. The series is often overlooked,but it was exactly what fantasy fans are often looking for in a series. Although it could be a little campy and some of its effects look dated,it still holds up well today. The fact that it still has an enthusiastic fanbase is a testament to how good it really was.
The 10th Kingdom
4’Kaos' (2024)
Created by Charlie Covell
Netflix seriesKaospresentedGreek mythology with a modern twist. Prometheus (Stephen Dillane), the series’ narrator, was kept shackled to a cliff by Zeus (Jeff Goldblum) as punishment for standing up to him, while Zeus became concerned a prophecy predicting his downfall was about to come true after discovering signs of aging and mortality. And he was right to be worried, as elsewhere, on Earth, three humans were destined to save humanity.
The famous, rich stories of Greek mythology have been repurposed and retold time and time again,but never quite like this.Kaoswas sharp and funny, with a stellar soundtrack to go with it. And with its single season of just eight episodes, it was a quick but fun watch and worked well as a standalone, although it would’ve been great to see how additional seasons would’ve represented other Greek gods and explored their stories.
A contemporary series that casts a fresh light on iconic mythological tales, weaving together stories of gods and mortals to reflect on modern societal issues. Through a narrative that blends ancient mythology with current themes, it challenges characters and viewers alike to consider the nature of destiny and human interaction.
3’Over the Garden Wall' (2014)
Created by Katie Krentz and Patrick McHale
In the animated seriesOver the Garden Wall, brothers Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Greg (Collin Dean) get lost in a strange forest known as the Unknown. As they tried to make their way out, they crossed paths with a number of strange creatures, including a bluebird named Beatrice (Melanie Lynskey), who helped them find their way home. The series was based on the animated shortTome of the Unknown: Harvest Melody, and both were written byPatrick McHale.
Over the Garden Wallwas critically acclaimed and beloved by fans thanks to its sharp writing,and the less one knows about it going in, the better. The series was also notable for its ambiguous ending, and because of this and a few plot twists, it lends itself well to multiple viewings. Its setting—and the fact it is still often aired close to Halloween— makes it a perfect cozy fall story.
Over the Garden Wall
2’Pushing Daisies' (2007–2009)
Created by Bryan Fuller
The ABC comedy-dramaPushing Daisiesfollowed Ned, (Lee Pace), a pastry chef who had the ability to bring the dead back to life with just a touch and often used this power to help solve murders by bringing the victim back to life for just 30 seconds. One of the cases needing Ned’s abilities was the death of his childhood crush, Charlotte “Chuck” Charles (Anna Friel)—and he chose to keep her alive by never touching her again.
When it comes to tragically short-lived shows of any genre, it’s almost impossible not to think ofPushing Daisies—as new fans discover it on streaming, they’re sure to continue to lament its cancellation for years to come. The series was a cross between a forensics procedural and fantasy,and it was consistently great, without a single bad episode during its run. Due to its cancellation, however, some loose ends were never tied up.
Pushing Daisies
1’Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell' (2015)
Directed by Toby Haynes
Seven-episode BBC seriesJonathan Strange and Mr. Norrellwas set in 19th-century England during the Napoleonic Wars, where magic was no longer performed, except for by one man—the titular Mr. Norrell (Eddie Marsan), the country’s first magician in nearly 300 years who sought to make magic respectable once more. His apprentice was the young novice Jonathan Strange (Bertie Carvel). The show was based on the novel of the same name bySusanna Clarke.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrellpresented a British period drama with a fantasy twist. The series managed to tell a complex story in a single season, making the most of each episode and its runtime. Although it left out some minor characters and subplots, the series was a fantastic adaptation of its source material,on top of beinga nearly perfect fantasy series, and it brought Clarke’s world to life wonderfully.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
In an alternate history, during the time of real life Napoleonic Wars, two men of destiny, the gifted recluse Mr. Norrell and daring spellcasting novice Jonathan Strange, use magic to help England.
