Fantasy is one of the most alluring storytelling genres of all time. Its promise of grand and wondrous worlds of adventure and magic is truly enchanting, regardless of whether it’s in the form of a lively, inviting escapism or a dark and macabre drama. Television, with its near-limitless storytelling scope, constantly improving production value, and vast accessibility to the masses, has become a brilliant vessel for some of the most captivating and compelling fantasy stories audiences have seen.
In particular, these series emphasize that fact, excelling with such magnificence and majesty that they could easily have been labeled as perfect were it not for a couple of minor flaws. Wanting to both celebrate the brilliance of these series and comment on some of their more damning pitfalls, this list will discuss those fantasy series that are almost perfect. They might not be flawless, but that arguably makes them even better.
10
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997-2003)
Running for seven seasons across the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, few series are more defining of the turn-of-the-millennium era than Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The genre-meshing hit show combines elements of fantasy, action, horror, and coming-of-age drama as it follows teenager Buffy Anne Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in her exploits as a monster-slaying warrior, striving to keep her hometown safe from all manner of mythical beasts while also surviving the rigors of high school.
While the bulk of the series thrives as a masterclass of genre-mixing mania and camp fun, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is still marred by some unfortunate flaws, not least of which is the dip in quality of its later seasons. The series is also dubious with some of its characters’ abilities and power levels throughout the story. However, none of its flaws come close to staining Buffy’s status as an all-time television icon and one of the best cult hits the small screen has ever seen.
9
‘The Originals’ (2013-2018)
A five-season spin-off of The Vampire Diaries, The Originalsis a noticeable improvement on its parent series that thrives with its darker and more mature tone and a more compelling array of central characters. Following the Mikaelson siblings, who are the first vampires in existence, as they relocate to the French Quarter of New Orleans, the series explores the supernatural conflicts and politics the trio embroil themselves in as they settle into their new home.
Not unlike many other series with such an extensive run, The Originals does lose some of its vibrancy and punch in its later seasons, with issues of pacing becoming more prominent, especially as the story’s tone stagnates and becomes quite cyclical. Overall, The Originals is a bold and daring expansion of The Vampire Diaries that grows beyond its predecessor with its grittier style and more intense focus, but it does have a handful of flaws that prevent it from being a true masterpiece of fantasy television.
8
‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021-2025)
Despite its cancellation after just three seasons, The Wheel of Timeexcels as an enchanting high-fantasy adventure that soars with its magnificent realization of author Robert Jordan’s expansive story world. It follows Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike), a member of a magical organization, as she seeks out four young people from a secluded village, believing one of them to be the reincarnation of the Dragon, a prophesied being of tremendous power whose fate is to either save the world or destroy it.
With its enormous narrative scope and array of memorable performances, The Wheel of Time is an enticing premise initially marred by some pacing issues and departures from the source material that still managed to find its rhythm as it went on. By the time it was axed at the end of its third season, the series had become one of the more intriguing and enrapturing fantasy series currently airing. It could easily have evolved into a medium-defining sensation had it gone on with many of the pitfalls that kept it from being genre perfection being overcome.
7
‘Galavant’ (2015-2016)
Another series that was prematurely canceled, Galavant’s two-season run provides one of the most maniacally engaging fantasy series television has ever seen. Combining its otherworldly allure with musical numbers and outbursts of comedy, the series follows disgraced knight Galavant (Joshua Sasse) as he sets out to reclaim his reputation and honor by fighting against the tyranny of the evil King Richard (Timothy Omundson), the one responsible for kidnapping Galavant’s true love, Madalena (Mallory Jansen), who then decided to stay with Richard for wealth and power.
It may be more of a parody of fantasy tropes than it is an outright fantasy spectacle in itself, but Galavant still offers a rousing adventure that incorporates plenty of genre fun through its appetite for silliness and amusing musical mayhem. While the first season has its inconsistencies and pitfalls, Season 2 finds a captivating fervor in its audacious narrative decisions and its numerous narrative threads. It is a shame that the series wasn’t allowed to evolve further, as its mixture of zany comedy, fantasy adventure, and impressive production value is something of a rarity in television and film.
6
‘Merlin’ (2008-2012)
A family-friendly spin on the Arthurian legend that places an enchanting focus on a young Merlin (Colin Morgan) and his endeavors in the realm of Camelot, Merlinis an inviting, humorous, and heartfelt yarn. It focuses on Merlin’s blooming friendship with Prince Arthur (Bradley James) as he is assigned to work as his manservant, giving the series an exuberant and joyous core. Its setting of a Camelot where the practice of magic has been outlawed imbues Merlin’s developing grasp on spellcasting with an exciting tension.
While its take on the story is refreshing and eager to indulge in its rich fantasy basis, Merlin does falter with some flaws that somewhat undo its spellbinding brilliance, with its plot holes and some underwhelming CGI occasionally marring the viewing experience. It largely overcomes these pitfalls to be a wonderful fantasy spectacle, especially for immersing younger viewers in the scope and splendor of the genre, but its wayward moments are enough to prevent Merlin from being categorized as fantasy perfection.
5
‘Carnival Row’ (2019-2023)
An amalgamation of high-fantasy wonder, social drama, and murder mystery eeriness set amid the Victorian era-esque city of the Burgue, Carnival Rowcontains both flourishes of inspired brilliance and unbecoming sways of mediocrity. Its status as a near-perfect fantasy series, then, comes more from its obvious potential than its execution. With the city spitefully divided between the human locals and the refugee faes whose homeland has been decimated by war, it centers on Rycroft Philostrate’s (Orlando Bloom) investigation of a fae murder that leads him to all corners of the city’s social sphere while unearthing a horrific conspiracy.
At its very best, Carnival Row is a richly atmospheric and complexly layered story of hate and injustice that excels when it focuses on the darkest depths of Rycroft’s investigation and the blatant disregard society has for the victim of the brutal crime. However, other elements of the series are undone by shallow and uninspired writing that leads to plot progression that is stagnated and bloated. As such, Carnival Row is defined by its passages of absorbing excellence as much as it is by its frustrating flaws. It is easy to see the potential for perfection in its fabric, even if it is ultimately cut short by its litany of shortcomings.
4
‘Outlander’ (2014)
One of the biggest series from the 2010s that is still currently airing, Outlanderdelivers a sweeping story of magical fantasy, historical drama, and touching romance with its brilliant adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s novels. Army veteran Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe) is honeymooning with her husband in the wake of WWII when she is swept back in time 200 years to the final years of the Jacobite rebellions, where she meets and falls in love with Highland warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Despite the shifting circumstances that, at times, keep them centuries apart, the duo always strive to be back with each other and embark on a globe-trotting adventure through history.
Outlander features many unique facets by virtue of its original premise and thrives through the heartfelt nature of its central romance and the allure of its characters. However, portions of its story have always been marred by pacing issues and pivotal points where it deviates from the source material, often resulting in weaker character development and less efficient storytelling. It still stands as a landmark series in the realm of fantasy television, but Outlander still has some damning flaws that undermine its brilliance, which have arguably been exacerbated as the series has gone on, and more characters have been introduced.
3
‘The Sandman’ (2022-2025)
Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, The Sandmanis something of an underrated hit of modern television. With an enchanting and confounding story set across the vast possibilities of the realm of Dreaming, it follows the personification of Dreams (Tom Sturridge) as he is freed from a century of captivity and embarks on a monumental quest across different worlds and timelines to restore order to his domain.
The series is as dazzling as it is immersive, soaring off the allure of its spellbinding visual divinity, strong central performances, and immaculate world-building to deliver an enticing story that blurs the line between reality, dreams, and fantasy. Were it not for a handful of glaring subplot woes and overly confusing narrative connections that distract from the magic and magnitude of the main story, The Sandman would comfortably be not only a work of perfection, but arguably the greatest fantasy series of all time.
2
‘Penny Dreadful’ (2014-2016)
One of the most underrated hits of 2010s television, Penny Dreadfulis a mesmerizing marriage of dark fantasy and horror adventure that flaunts a star-studded cast and impressive production value throughout the entirety of its three-season run. Adventurer Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton) assembles a team to help him rescue his daughter from the clutches of a vampire. Consisting of mysterious medium Vanessa Ives (Eva Green), gunslinging showman Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett), and dark scientist Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway), the series follows Murray’s party’s lives during their search for his daughter, as well as in the aftermath of the mission.
Decadently macabre, Penny Dreadful finds its defining strengths in its indulgence of darkness and the humanity hiding within, a point perhaps best exemplified by characters like Ives and Frankenstein’s monster, known as the Creature (Rory Kinnear). Offering bloody suspense, engrossing narrative turns, and a vast array of enticing characters, Penny Dreadful is an alluring gem of dark fantasy entertainment that only stumbles through occasional forays into cartoonish silliness and a hurried ending that undermines some of its character arcs.
1
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011-2019)
For the majority of its run, Game of Throneswasn’t just fantasy perfection; it was arguably the single most enthralling piece of television the medium has ever seen. With its immense production value and brilliant basis on George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, the show follows the political maneuvering of the warring houses of Westeros. All the while, a forgotten heir to the Iron Throne rallies an army to launch her conquest from Essos, while an ancient evil from the north emerges after lying dormant for centuries.
At its best, every episode was essential viewing. Not only a television spectacle but a defining cultural movement of the 2010s, its high drama and savage unpredictability sparked an intoxicating viewing experience that engulfed the world with its vastness and volatility. The first six seasons soared as a masterful immersion in a gripping fantasy world, and while some cracks began to appear in Season 7, it was ultimately its cataclysmic eighth and final season that saw the series fall short of perfection. It may be a case where audiences should be more appreciative of the greatness of Game of Thrones when it was at its best, but it is difficult to deny the hollow and shattering feeling its finale evoked from its many millions of fans.
