Entertainment
10 Fantasy Shows That Are the Perfect Weekend Binge
For a fantasy fan, there are few better weekend plans than sitting down with an incredible show and binge-watching the whole thing in just a couple of sittings. This is a genre that, at its best, can be incredibly addictive, and over the years, many TV creatives have taken advantage of that and delivered some of the most irresistibly entertaining genre shows the small screen has ever seen.
From pure fantasy masterpieces that are still ongoing, such as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, to science fantasy hybrids that have already delivered their resounding finales, like Arcane, as long as these fantasy shows run for 20 hours or less in total, they’re perfectly possible to binge over the course of a single delightful weekend.
10
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (2026–Present)
Of course, it’s typically most enjoyable to do a weekend binge of a fantasy show that’s already complete; but it’s also perfectly valid to want to catch up with a currently ongoing fantasy gem, and there are currently few ongoing fantasy shows better than A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. It has hardly been a surprise just how prolific the Game of Thrones franchise has been following the success of the original HBO show, but even fans of the series may be surprised by how good this prequel spin-off is.
It’s one of the best fantasy shows with under 40 episodes, and even though it doesn’t yet have the benefit of a satisfying conclusion, the three-and-a-half hours of runtime of its surprisingly breezy first season should nevertheless make for an incredible Saturday night watch. Will it eventually become too long to binge in a single weekend? Perhaps. As such, now’s about as great a time as ever for those who haven’t watched it to dive right in.
9
‘The Lost Room’ (2006)
The 2000s were the true peak and Golden Age of science fiction television, at least in North America. As such, the genre proved to be immensely prolific throughout those 10 years, which makes it unsurprising that many great sci-fi series ended up slipping under the radar. Case in point: The Lost Room, one of those sci-fi miniseries that are true masterpieces.
One of Syfy’s best miniseries ever, The Lost Room is science fantasy at its most technically dazzling, wonderfully written, and charmingly imaginative. A mere four-and-a-half hours are all it takes for this exceptional cult classic to deliver an awfully underappreciated mystery box thriller whose fast pacing, creative fantasy elements, and incredible cast all make it essential viewing for fans of the genre.
8
‘Pushing Daisies’ (2007–Present)
Most of history’s best fantasy shows are dramas, but that’s not to demerit exceptional fantasy comedies like Pushing Daisies. One of those forgotten fantasy shows that are perfect from start to finish, this quirky cult classic was designed as a “forensic fairy tale,” and even though it was canceled after only two short-lived seasons, a third is currently being developed and waiting to be properly greenlit.
The show had to put together a rushed and not-entirely-satisfying conclusion due to being canceled, so it may not be the most thoroughly fulfilling of weekend binges; but it’s all nonetheless so clever, so gleefully idiosyncratic, and so irresistibly funny that it’s easy to ignore any shortcomings. Pushing Daisies offers 15-and-a-half hours of pure whimsy and a surprisingly effective balance between heartfelt drama and laugh-out-loud comedy.
7
‘Ghosts’ (2019–2023)
As if any more proof were needed of just how exceptional fantasy comedy TV shows can be, there’s also the British sitcom Ghosts, one of the best fantasy shows to binge in one week. The haunted house genre has provided several of the scariest stories in the history of horror, but in this instance, what’s proven beyond a shadow of a doubt is that ghost stories can be absolutely hilarious too.
Though it ran for five seasons, those looking for a less daunting weekend binge shouldn’t be scared of Ghosts: It’s only about 15 hours long, which should provide a perfectly entertaining weekend. Combining its comedically brilliant writing with an ensemble that’s nothing short of perfect, it’s a clever (and quintessentially British) farce which all fans of ghost-focused fantasy should add to their watchlist.
6
‘Over the Garden Wall’ (2014)
Unfortunately, there are many television lovers out there who tend to look down on animation as a lesser form of content, but not fantasy fans. How could they, when there exist shows like the masterful miniseries Over the Garden Wall? The Cartoon Network’s first miniseries ever, this cult classic only keeps getting better with age.
Indeed, Over the Garden Wall is one of the best animated miniseries of all time, and proof that even the most coldhearted of adult fantasy fans can enjoy fantasy cartoons mostly aimed at children when they’re done with this level of passion and artistry. Tonally and thematically masterful, this two-hour series is easier to watch in a single sitting than several of the best fantasy films of all time—and it can even be said to be superior to a lot of them.
5
‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ (2024–2026)
With the rise of magical realism—blending fantastical elements into realistic, even mundane settings—Latin America became the epicenter of world literature between the 1960s and 1970s, producing masterpieces of the caliber of Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez‘s undisputed magnum opus: One Hundred Years of Solitude, the greatest work of literature to grace the Spanish language since Don Quixote. Netflix’s television adaptation may not be quite as groundbreaking, legendary, or downright flawless, but it sure is worth checking out.
No matter where they’re from, what kinds of fantasy stories they tend to like, or even whether they’re familiar with the source material or not even in the slightest, anyone and everyone who loves this genre should check out Netflix’s One Hundred Years of Solitude. It’s no surprise that one of the best magical realism books of all time inspired one of the best magical realism TV shows of all time, one that can be watched in just around 15 hours.
4
‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)
Anime television started becoming more and more mainstream throughout the entire world between the late ’90s and early 2000s. By the time Death Note came into the picture, the medium was already considerably popular throughout the globe, making the level of success that it achieved much less surprising, though not any less admirable. After all, it’s one of the most perfect anime of the last 30 years that we’re talking about here.
In just about 18 hours and 30 minutes, fans of animated television will be treated to this nearly-perfect adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata‘s manga series. Full of gripping tension, high stakes, and psychologically overwhelming suspense, this is one of the most unforgettable cat-and-mouse thriller stories that the small screen has ever housed.
3
‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’ (2004)
Part sci-fi, part fantasy, part horror, and 100% genius, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is one of the greatest parody shows in the history of television. Satirizing low-budget horror television from the ’80s and poking fun at the pompous egos who created them, this delightfully hilarious British comedy is one of those classic sitcoms better than most modern shows.
But Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is very far from a one-trick pony, either comedically or as a multi-layered satire. It’s full of exquisite twists and effective surprises, making it a perfectly varied and fun weekend activity to engage in over the course of just around three hours. Smart, star-studded, and genius in its meta aspects, it’s a genre series that anyone looking for a good laugh should watch at least once.
2
‘Gravity Falls’ (2012–2016)
Further proof that fantasy cartoons aimed at children can absolutely work for grown-ups as well, Gravity Falls may very well be the biggest cult classic that the Disney Channel ever produced. It is, after all, one of those animated shows without any significant flaws, a delightfully funny and inventive series which anyone who loves genre storytelling should be perfectly capable of enjoying—regardless of their age.
Inspired by the likes of Twin Peaks and The X-Files, Gravity Falls is a series intimately tied to the history of the great fantasy, sci-fi, and horror shows from the past, making it essential viewing for anyone who loves these genres. Colorful and full of vibrant lore and world-building, it’s a show that constantly amazes with the sheer depth of its writing, how compelling its characters are, and how fun each of its 20 hours of runtime is.
1
‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)
Who could have possibly predicted that a Netflix series based on League of Legends, of all video games, would end up becoming the single most universally acclaimed animated show of the 2020s so far? Arcane is just that good, bolstered by an incredible blend of steampunk sci-fi and fantasy elements that help deliver a hard-hitting story about class, family, and fate.
All in all, it’s one of the most perfect fantasy shows of the last 20 years, the sort of animated series that has something in it for everyone. Jaw-dropping visuals, nail-biting action, fascinating lore and world-building, compelling character development, and a killer soundtrack are but a few of the reasons why anyone who watches Arcane inevitably ends up falling in love with it. With just a little over 12 hours on their hands and a weekend to sit down in pure enjoyment, anyone could see what all the hype is about.
Arcane
- Release Date
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2021 – 2024
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Christian Linke
- Directors
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Barth Maunoury, Marietta Ren, Christelle Abgrall
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