Entertainment
10 Greatest Fantasy TV Masterpieces of the 21st Century, Ranked
The 21st century has seen a lot of new fantasy TV shows come out, largely due to the rapid advancement of filming technology. Television has come a long way since the 1990s, mainly due to streaming services and on-demand viewing. This new trend means studios earn more money, which means they can dump more of their budget into their original series, giving them higher production value. This opens the doors to tell a whole bunch of new stories that otherwise would be reserved for movies or books.
The result is an uptick in fantasy shows, across all subgenres, from low to high, from urban to dark. They’re becoming pretty popular because fantasy offers a form of escapism, to let people get just a taste of worlds that are so much more interesting than the one we actually live in. Over the last 26 years, a lot of fantasy shows haven’t just impressed people–they’ve established themselves as legendary. These are the best fantasy TV masterpieces of the 21st century.
10
‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ (2019)
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance served as a prequel to the 1982 Jim Henson film. Like the original, the series takes viewers to the distant planet Thra, a world crafted with intricate puppetry and gorgeous sets. This Netflix original follows the splintering of the Dark Crystal itself, which releases magic and spawns two new races of beings into the world: the Mystics and the Skeksis. The Skeksis quickly begin to use the power of the crystal to take over the native life of Thra and build a tyrannical empire.
While this series was an extension of the story and was absolutely gorgeous to look at, viewers were none too pleased when Netflix unceremoniously cancelled it after just one season. This really sucks, because the show garnered excellent reviews from both critics and fans, who praised the respect it had for Henson’s original work, as well as the detail put into every piece. Even though it was cut short, it’s not a stretch to call it a masterpiece.
9
‘Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities’ (2022)
Film director Guillermo del Toro is sort of known for his dark fantasy movies, which is why Netflix offered him a miniseries, called Cabinet of Curiosities, which served as del Toro’s own personal playground. The show is an anthology miniseries, meaning each episode has its own plot and characters, with a definitive conclusion. All of the stories are taken straight from del Toro’s “ideas” box, and have the same dark flair that makes his movies so good.
Cabinet of Curiosities explores a variety of themes from fantasy and horror, and it presents them in a way that isn’t just fun to look at, but that will also make the viewer think for a while. Since this is a miniseries, it never got a second season, but that doesn’t change the fact that every single episode of this show is a masterpiece, and thus, so is the show itself.
8
‘Gravity Falls’ (2012–2016)
Gravity Falls initially seemed like a casual Cartoon Network show, but it has developed quite the cult following in the years since its release. The story follows two kids as they live with their uncle in the town of Gravity Falls, Oregon, which is more than meets the eye. Here, the siblings uncover many supernatural mysteries beyond their understanding. Turns out the Pacific Northwest has a lot of secrets hiding beneath the surface.
This show is unexpectedly deep, delving into themes of philosophy and existentialism through the use of metaphor. It does have its fair share of humour, but most people ended up liking the show for the weaving and intricate narrative it presented, as well as its odd but lovable characters. Gravity Falls remains an underground masterpiece that is still being rediscovered by fans of all ages.
7
‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)
Attack on Titan is a Japanese anime series based on the manga of the same name. The show opens up inside humanity’s last remaining refuge, a massive group of settlements surrounded by towering walls. This is to keep the flesh-eating titans out, which is a system that lasts for about 100 years. One fateful day, though, the titans breach the walls and turn society upside-down, forcing humanity to fight a war for its very survival.
The plot eventually thickens, and more about the outside world is revealed, and it becomes increasingly clear that everything the viewer thought they knew about this dark universe was completely wrong. Attack on Titan is widely regarded as one of the best anime series ever, as well as one of the most accessible and friendly to non-fans of anime. Its dark and dangerous world, so much fun to ease into, and the worldbuilding is just superb.
6
‘Over the Garden Wall’ (2014)
Over the Garden Wall was something of a passion project, and this is made obvious. Every single frame of this animated miniseries is crafted and curated with such love and care that it literally oozes with quality. Accessible to both kids and adults, Over the Garden Wall is about two brothers who get lost in a deep, dark forest called the Unknown, and must find their way home whilst avoiding the mysterious things that lurk within the woods.
The series, like Gravity Falls, is so much deeper than it initially lets on. On top of being chock-full of star power thanks to some big names in the cast, the whimsical cartoon gets pretty dark in a way that few people would expect from it. It is absolutely a masterpiece that 100% earned every single bit of praise it got, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you should definitely go and check it out.
5
‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)
Arcane is based on the MOBA video game League of Legends, which has millions of active players. The 3D animated series follows two of the game’s playable champions in a tale of love, vengeance, and sacrifice. Lots of different genres are woven into the story here, from steampunk to fantasy, and even to sci-fi, because that’s just the kind of world that League of Legends has.
This show was so brilliant that it even won an Emmy, which isn’t exactly common for a series based on a video game. With direct involvement from game developers, this show was proof that video game adaptations can be excellent, provided one has the right input and deeply cares about their project. The best part? This show actually had a proper conclusion, deciding that two seasons were all it really needed. It was so enjoyable that it even attracted millions of viewers who had never played League before.
4
‘Kingdom’ (2019–2021)
Kingdom is a South Korean fantasy/horror series set in the Kingdom of Joseon (present-day Korea) at the turn of the 17th Century. Following the Imjin War with Japan, the Haewon Cho Clan makes an effort to seize the throne from the Lee family. To do this, they utilize a mythical resurrection plant, which is said to bring back the dead. The problem is, they accidentally unleash a zombie horde in the process.
This show has it all: political intrigue, horror, gruesome violence, and epic fight sequences. Yet, it never really got the attention it so rightfully deserved. The worst part about it is that it ended on a cliffhanger. Sure, there has been no official word regarding its cancellation, but after five years, it’s safe to say that it probably isn’t coming back. Either way, though, what’s there is pretty near perfect and is easily a 10/10 by any metric. It’s an underrated masterpiece that you definitely need to check out if you haven’t already.
3
‘House of the Dragon’ (2022–Present)
House of the Dragon is the long-anticipated prequel to Game of Thrones. Set 300 years before the events of the main series, this show follows the Targaryen family as they conquer the Seven Kingdoms and seek to maintain their rule against opposing factions. True to its name, the show does indeed feature lots of dragons, which, let’s be honest, are always a plus. Dragons are just plain cool, you know?
A lot of this show is about politics, but it also features plenty of action and adventure, especially given the war between the Targaryens and the Hightowers. Not only do they physically fight via swords and spears, but they also make a series of political maneuvers in an effort to tear down their opponents’ reputation. It’s just a fantastic series that has pretty much everything you could ever want from an epic fantasy saga.
2
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)
Avatar: The Last Airbender was pretty ambitious for a Nickelodeon cartoon. This one wasn’t a comedy at heart–it had an actual, continuous narrative, meaning you can’t just pick it up and drop it at any point, unlike most other Nicktoons. The story is about a continent consisting of four nations, which each correspond to the elements of water, fire, air, and earth. Within these nations are mages called “benders,” who can manipulate their country’s element to their will.
However, the Fire Nation has launched a massive assault on the other three nations, throwing the continent into chaos. It is said that in these dark times, an Avatar is prophesied to rise, master all four elements, and unite the tribes, bringing peace to the land. This show earned legendary status because not only does it have great comedy and adventure, but there’s a lot of genuine moral wisdom in there, too. While it’s meant for kids, adults tend to like it as well, which goes to show just how masterful the whole thing really is.
1
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
A lot of the fantasy TV shows on this list probably wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for Game of Thrones. This show single-handedly kickstarted a massive wave of fantasy television, a trend that is still going on 15 years later. Based on the unfinished novel series by George R. R. Martin, this show is about nine royal families squabbling for the throne of the realm whilst a primordial force of evil is silently gathering strength to the North, which threatens to end the world itself.
The budget in this show is absolutely insane. It’s got massive battle sequences, political drama, steamy romance, abrasive punchlines, and family drama. There’s a little bit of everything for everybody. A lot of people didn’t like the last one or two seasons, which is understandable, but you can’t deny that everything that came before that was absolutely phenomenal. To call this show a masterpiece is honestly kind of selling it short.
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