Dreams On Screen: The 15 Greatest Fantasy TV Shows

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Dreams On Screen: The 15 Greatest Fantasy TV Shows
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TV shows often have a lot to say about the world around us. But sometimes, we prefer it when they take us to a different world entirely – whether it’s one filled with knights and dragons, demons and spectres, or strange lands beyond our belief. With the release of House of the Dragon Season Two keeping many fantasy fans on the edge of their seats, we’re running down the very best fantasy shows ever to grace the small screen – and bring just a little bit of magic into our homes.

By Victoria Luxford

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Dreams On Screen: The 15 Greatest Fantasy TV Shows.
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Once Upon a Time (2011-2018) – What if there was a place where fairy tales, and the characters within them, were real? That’s the premise of this wildly popular fantasy show, starring Jennifer Morrison as a woman who discovers the people of her town are actually fairy-tale legends trapped in our world and unable to remember who they truly are. Featuring modern takes on characters like Cinderella, Captain Hook, Rapunzel and Pinocchio, the mystery and magic of this show brought many beloved fairy tales into adulthood, and gave them a darker twist. It also provided fans their first glimpses of breakout stars like Jamie Dornan.

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Dreams On Screen: The 15 Greatest Fantasy TV Shows.
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The Wheel of Time (2021-Present) – Oscar-nominated star Rosamund Pike leads this series as Moiraine, a powerful member of the organisation Aes Sedai who’s on the hunt for the foretold coming of the Dragon Reborn – a prophesied figure who will either save the world from evil, or leave it in ashes. While some shows focus on special effects and empty spectacle, this series – born from the books by Robert Jordan – combines fantastical entertainment with thoughtful character development, giving audiences a reason to care about the fate of the people they are watching. In a crowded fantasy landscape, The Wheel of Time is grand enough to forge its own path.

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Dreams On Screen: The 15 Greatest Fantasy TV Shows.
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Merlin (2008-2012) – This modest British TV production might have ended in 2012, but its legions of followers have ensured the show’s legend endures. Putting a different spin on the legend of King Arthur, this story is told, of course, from the perspective of the sorcerer Merlin (Colin Morgan). In the show, Merlin learns of his powers and his destiny to protect Prince Arthur, but must keep his powers secret due to the current king’s ban on practicing magic. Elegantly told, the show blended action, humour and heart to find a place in the affections of fantasy lovers, even more than a decade after it ended.

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Dreams On Screen: The 15 Greatest Fantasy TV Shows.
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Disenchantment (2018-2023) – When the creators of The Simpsons come up with a new show, you know it’s something worth checking out. Disenchantment was a hilarious spoof on the fantasy genre, following hard-partying princess Bean, who doesn’t seem fit for the destiny laid out for her, along with her ‘personal demon’ Luci and a besotted elf named, appropriately, Elfo. Offering a smart take on many of the usual fantasy tropes, the show was packed full of wit, as well as a few touching moments. The show’s devoted following also fell for its use of non-conventional heroes and storylines that include a wider range of themes.

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Outlander (2014-2024) – Eras collide as a World War II nurse (Caitríona Balfe) travels to Scotland for a second honeymoon, only to be mysteriously transported back to 16th-century Scotland where she’s taken in by a battling clan, and falls for one of their warriors (Sam Heughan). Based on the books by Diana Gabaldon, the show has lasted for eight seasons and a decade of epic adventure, with sweeping romance and a combination of history and fantasy making for a story that’s proven irresistible to millions.

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Sandman (2022-Present) – Neil Gaiman’s wonderful comic book series comes to vivid life in this captivating TV series. Tom Sturridge plays Dream, a mystical personification of dreaming, who is released from over a century of imprisonment and attempts to reclaim his realm. Considered ‘unfilmable’ by TV and movie producers in the past, Gaiman himself was on hand to help develop a faithful adaptation. A hit with viewers, it has delighted fans of the source material with its dark, playful tone and incredibly well-cast ensemble.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022-Present) – How do you build upon some of the most beloved stories in history? For The Rings of Power, the answer lies in research. The makers of the most expensive TV show ever made studied the appendices of J.R.R. Tolkein’s novels to create a story set around the Second Age of Middle Earth, a thousand years before the events of Lord of the Rings. The result is an expansive, beautiful show about the creation of the Rings of Power, one that has already drawn in millions of viewers thanks to its spectacle and imagination.

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The Witcher (2019-Present) – The Witcher was originally a series of novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, before becoming a popular video game series. The TV adaptation draws from the books, and original star Henry Cavill seemed to be the perfect person to play the show’s lead, Geralt of Rivia, a magically enhanced monster hunter (or ‘Witcher’) whose need for solitude is disturbed when a young girl’s destiny becomes entwined with his own. Liam Hemsworth will be taking over as the lead for the fourth and final season, but Cavill’s performance has already ensured that Geralt will go down in history as one of TV’s great fantasy heroes.

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His Dark Materials (2019-2022) – Adaptations of popular books don’t always gain the approval of the original author, but Philip Pullman was enthusiastic in his praise of the HBO adaptation of his work. “I think it’s great… I’m very happy with it,” he said of the TV telling of the story of Lyra, a young orphan in a magical alternate Britain uncovering a kidnapping plot related to the disappearance of her friend. Featuring the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andrew Scott and James McAvoy, the book series’ fan base took the show to its heart and expanded the beloved universe even further.

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Good Omens (2019-Present) – British actors David Tennant and Michael Sheen are very close in real life, so it made perfect sense for the friends to play opposite each other in another adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s work. Tennant portrays a demon named Crowley, a representative of Hell living on Earth who is comfortable with his life, and his unlikely friendship with angel Aziraphale (Sheen). When the end of times is announced by their superiors, the pair work together to keep life on Earth as it is. Funny, touching and featuring one of the great TV duos, it’s clear to see why so many have come to love the series.

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The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) – Expanding on a classic 1980s adventure is no easy task, but this incredible prequel to Jim Henson’s 1982 film The Dark Crystal manages to replicate the world perfectly. Set on the planet Thra, it focuses on the peaceful Gelfling people and their efforts to overthrow the villainous Skeksis, who rule the planet and threaten to plunge it into darkness. The show featured a star-studded voice cast, from future stars like Taron Egerton and Anya Taylor-Joy to established legends like Mark Hamill and Jason Isaacs. Capturing the thrills, terror and adventure of the previous story, the show only lasted one season, but left a lasting impression.

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Dreams On Screen: The 15 Greatest Fantasy TV Shows.
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One Piece (2023-Present) – What’s a fantasy story without a quest for a magical artefact? One Piece, for its part, has a prize that few can match! Based on the classic manga series, the show follows a group of pirates in pursuit of the eponymous One Piece, a fabled treasure that will make them the most famous pirates in the land. While live-action manga adaptations aren’t always well-received, this series has brought the energy, adventure and fun of the source material to life, telling a story that will be instantly accessible to lovers of the franchise, as well as to those coming to it for the first time.

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Supernatural (2005-2020) – No matter how good the show is, achieving longevity in TV is a difficult task. So, when a show lasts 327 episodes and spans three different decades, you know you’re onto something special. Supernatural follows two brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) as they hunt demons, ghosts, monsters and other supernatural beings. What kept the show going for 15 seasons was the bond between the two stars, an increasingly inventive formula that saw the pair fight and team up with a variety of different supernatural beings, and a fan base that just couldn’t get enough.

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Doctor Who (1963-Present) – It’s arguable that the BBC time travel show can be considered sci-fi, but there’s more than a little bit of fantasy in there, too. The continuing adventures of The Doctor, a Time Lord travelling through time and space to right wrongs with his various assistants, has been a beloved part of the TV landscape for decades, particularly since its 2005 revival. From classic Doctors like Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, to modern heroes like David Tennant and current star Ncuti Gatwa, the effects may have evolved, but the sense of adventure never left.

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Game of Thrones (2011-2019) – Quite simply the benchmark when it comes to fantasy television, Game of Thrones arguably formed the peak of what many termed the era of ‘prestige TV’ in the 2010s. A high-budget, large-scale epic fantasy based on the novels by George R. R. Martin, tens of millions around the world tuned in every week to watch the different noble families of the mythical continent of Westeros plot, scheme and kill their way to the Iron Throne. The final season proved divisive among viewers, but the show’s place in history is assured, along with the growing fan base for its spinoff, House of the Dragon.

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Dreams On Screen: The 15 Greatest Fantasy TV Shows

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