From the outside, Fantasy
may seem to be a hard genre to swallow, and some may want to stay grounded in more realistic stories absent of such world-building. However, among the best fantasy TV shows of all time are those that gained a reputation for luring in viewers who didn’t consider themselves to be fantasy fans. Such series have brilliant enough writing to convert anyone or present their fantasy in an easy-to-understand (or alternatively hand-waved) way.
They may achieve this by blending the fantasy with another, more familiar genre. Or the story boasts some of the best fantasy TV characters ever, who will doubtlessly win audience investment through empathy and charisma. With these skillful writing techniques, a handful of fantasy shows have contributed to a growing appreciation for the genre among the doubtful, leading to a boom in recent times.
10
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
The High Fantasy Epic That Redefined The Genre
Game of Thrones was widely known as the fantasy show that attracted non-fantasy fans. The high-fantasy saga has a scale that was unrivaled at the time, with slow-burn, detailed storylines; gritty world-building; and fantastic performances of iconic characters abound. The mature nature of it and the “anyone can die” advertisement makes it easy to see why people who might have considered fantasy too fanciful for them could make an exception for Game of Thrones.
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Yet somewhere along the way, people doubtlessly became devoted to the most fantasy parts of Game of Thrones, from Daenerys’ growing dragons to the advancing threat of the White Walkers. At least up until Game of Thrones’ controversial final season, it was a show unlike any other that mixed fantasy with the trappings of a highbrow, period political drama that was deeply thought-provoking — and its popularity certainly convinced even more people to watch just to see what it was all about.
9
Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)
Fairy Tale Characters Everyone Knows & Loves
Once Upon a Time is a cheesy but charming fantasy adventure, following a young woman who winds up in a small town in Maine where the residents are supposedly all famous fairy tale characters who have forgotten their true identities. It’s an easy entry into the fantasy genre because most audiences are probably familiar with the characters who are the basis of it. It is engaging by forcing them to piece together who everyone is in the real world, drawing upon their childhoods.
At least for the first season, the fantasy-heavy flashbacks happen alongside mostly separate, entirely realistic drama in the present. Thus, the story is able to show how the morals of fairy tales are entwined in the real world. Once Upon a Time gets more fantasy-dependent and more convoluted as it goes on, but the first season especially may convince people to look into more revisionist tales.
8
Supernatural (2005-2020)
The Winchesters’ Adventures Are Riveting & Funny To Anyone
Supernatural can be looked at as a procedural, with the Winchesters tackling one monster after another in rapid succession. For this reason, it may appeal to fans of other procedurals in its approach of two people answering their calling, which means many high-stakes adventures. However, the dynamic between Sam and Dean is also largely responsible for Supernatural‘s success across different demographics.
The bickering brothers turn the show into a comedy that anyone can enjoy alongside the supernatural antics. The show also has something of a reputation that suggests its magic system isn’t to be taken too seriously, with constant resurrections across its 15 seasons. With plenty of characters that inspire devoted fandoms, wacky hijinks all around, and an emotional core still, Supernatural has proven that it will always be an enjoyable watch, despite any flaws.
Some Of The Best Fantasy Anime Out There
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is both excellent for those who don’t think of themselves as fantasy fans and a good starter anime. The magic system is almost scientific, the characters are simultaneously serious and hilarious, and the action is flashy. It effortlessly ropes viewers into the building conflict of a country with a corrupt government and the supernatural forces that would destroy it, bypassing the stylistic conventions that people may not be used to depending on their typical selections.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood then simply has a great story about the misuse of power, both supernatural and political, that most can understand the implications of. The main plot revolves around the two young Elric brothers trying to repair a mistake they made when they attempted to use alchemy for resurrection, while their adult allies scheme to take down the government and atone for their own crimes.
6
Stranger Things (2016-2025)
The Netflix Series Popular Enough To Launch The Era Of Streaming
Stranger Things absolutely exploded when it first premiered back in 2016, completely changing the TV landscape, which it certainly couldn’t have accomplished with only genre-specific fans. However, the signature Netflix series is a blend of horror, Goonies-style childhood adventures, ’80s nostalgia, coming of age, and mystery. Its young cast quickly endears itself to all viewers, while known stars like Winona Ryder attract more people.
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The kids are certainly funny, no matter how dire things get, and the show’s fantasy is enjoyably quirky when they link it to D&D lore — which, if the viewer is not a fantasy aficionado, are references they are not going to understand either. As the show grows, the characters do too, showing off more relationships and elements of early teendom and the 1980s that only cement non-fantasy fans, while people more versed in fantasy might be critiquing world-building more.
5
Shadow And Bone (2021-2023)
Netflix’s Easy-To-Digest Fantasy Adaptation Gone Too Soon
Shadow and Bone was adapted from the bestselling Grishaverse novel series, combining the flagship trilogy and spinoffs into one storyline packed with riveting characters. The magic system is also very straightforward, and the show juggles so many subplots that there is something for everyone. Featuring Alina’s rise to becoming her world’s savior, Nina and Matthias’ adorable enemies-to-lovers romance, and the Crows pulling off many brilliant heists, it is a perfect blend of entertainment.
Several of the characters are designed to be perfectly deadly and so much fun to root for, from criminal mastermind Kaz Brekker to powerful wind-wielding witch Zoya Nazyalensky. Shadow and Bone was sadly canceled before it had the chance to adapt some of the best material from the books yet. However, longtime fantasy fans and general audiences can still enjoy the characters’ exploits up until that point.
4
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
The Classic Subverted Horror Story About Everyone’s Favorite Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a classic, which is a teen comedy-drama as well as a supernatural adventure. When Buffy moves to a new school, hoping for once that her role as a Slayer won’t get in the way of her having a normal life, she somehow gets what she wishes for, yet also not. She must keep fending off monsters, but along the way, makes true friends, experiences heartbreaking romance, goes through family tragedy — the whole coming-of-age experience.
People have connected with Buffy and her friends for decades now, and this will not cease to be true anytime soon. With a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot in the works, the franchise may soon successfully be finding a way to speak to an entirely new generation. The key to its success will again be leveraging the fantasy for conflict, only because it makes it more difficult for normal teenagers to live the happy lives they deserve.
3
The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
There Are Plenty Of Dramatics In Mystic Falls To Keep People Hooked
The Vampire Diaries appeals to broad audiences for similar reasons to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Namely, the vampiric conflicts are the backdrop for a small-town coming-of-age saga. Several of the characters have such a sarcastic, lively approach to their combination of world-ending battles and teenage strife that it is impossible not to root for them, from Caroline’s extreme organization to Damon’s laugh-out-loud one-liners.
Nina Dobrev certainly steals the show when she plays her usual character’s evil doppelgänger Katherine Pierce, storming through the story with a sassy, destructive confidence. The lore of The Vampire Diaries is alternatively simple and confusing at different points, but many of the characters are deeply charismatic. The Vampire Diaries is driven by powerful moments of coming into one’s own and heartrending relationships, whether they be romantic, friendship, or familial.
2
Good Omens (2019-2025)
Aziraphale & Crowley Are Enough To Hold This Show Up
Good Omens also gets a boost from the audience likely having some understanding of the lore it is based on, giving them the satisfaction of making these connections and seeing how the show twists it. However, it is also the type of show that almost doesn’t need its plot because it is so obviously carried by the chemistry between the leads. Anyone will enjoy watching the banter between Michael Sheen and David Tennant for days, regardless of what is going on around their characters.
This is in addition to a great supporting cast who are just as goofy and engaging when they are on-screen through the two Good Omens seasons so far. Good Omens is meant to prompt thought about redemption and the state of the world but is ever heartwarming and comedic in the way it approaches this. There are stories of regular people woven in, who lend weight to the world-ending conflicts.
1
The Witcher (2019-Present)
Toss A Coin To Your Witcher
The Witcher, of course, boasts the star power of Henry Cavill, but Anya Chalotra and Freya Allen can still command the screen alongside him and quickly earned the same fan appreciation. Another gritty fantasy series, The Witcher has great action and alluring characters, as well as some interesting timeline choices that would make it interesting in any genre. Somehow, it can also pull off humor and a smash-hit single on top of this.
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Especially if one was a one-time fantasy fan in Game of Thrones, they are likely to give The Witcher a try. What they will find are more dynamic characters and human tales with simply cool set dressings. This is how many fantasy shows are able to speak to untypical audiences, by simply investing in the characters and dialogue rather than incredibly detailed world-building.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
