7 Fantasy TV Shows With Dragons That Are 10/10 Masterpieces

If there’s one thing fantasy fans can’t get enough of, it’s dragons. There’s just something so alluring about giant flying lizards that can breathe fire. Dragons have been a long-standing part of folklore and mythology across many cultures around the world, which is why they’ve transcended into fantasy literature, television, and movies.

In fact, several fantasy TV shows have featured dragons. Some might have them show up only once in a while, whereas others have dragons as a regular part of their programming. Sure, any TV show can put a dragon in it — that doesn’t automatically make it good. These shows, on the other hand, are very good indeed. These are the best fantasy TV shows that feature dragons, and that are masterpieces.

‘Adventure Time’ (2010–2018)

Image via Cartoon Network

The Cartoon Network series Adventure Time is full of tons of fantasy elements, but it’s more whimsical than epic. The Land of Ooo is a weird and wonderful place full of magic and monsters, but the real magic comes in the form of the numerous friends the heroes make. The dragons in this show are a little bit weird-looking and unorthodox when it comes to dragons. They’re mostly serpentine, and less reptilian.

For example, there’s Whipple the Happy Dragon (Josh Fadem), a green sea serpent creature who is frequently targeted by pirates. Then there’s the blanket dragon, which is a pink, fluffy dragon with literal blankets for wings. While they’re a far cry from the scaly fire-breathers that fans have come to expect, the creativity and imagination behind these dragons is enough to keep things interesting. The show, of course, is pretty funny, and is the best happy-go-lucky show to watch when you’re feeling down.

‘The Dragon Prince’ (2018–2024)

Image via Netflix

With a name like The Dragon Prince, you’d better believe there are dragons in it. The story of this 3D animated series is that the continent of Xadia has been split in half after humans discover how to use dark magic. The humans are confined to the West whilst the elves are confined to the East. The border consists of a river of molten lava watched over by the King of the Dragons himself. But this all changes when the king is slain, and his only egg goes missing.

Dragons are kind of a crucial part of this show. Most of them are friendly, though some are hostile. They have a special relationship with the elves and a general disdain for humans, which is understandable considering humanity killed the King of the Dragons. The dragons have unique variations too, and don’t just breathe fire. Some are lightning-based and others are more akin to cosmic beasts. This show is not just adventurous, but it was clearly made with love. It also happens to be a great show to binge.

‘Merlin’ (2008–2012)

Image via BBC

Merlin is based on Arthurian legend, and is an origin story for the eponymous wizard. Most legends portray Merlin as a grouchy old wizard with a stereotypical appearance: blue robes adorned with silver stars and moons, matching pointy hat, spectacles, long grey beard, the works. This show portrays the wizard as a much younger character, who is just beginning to learn his powers.

The show is a low fantasy at heart, meaning much of it intersects with the real world. However, it does feature many creatures from European folklore, including dragons. Though the dragons don’t appear right away, they’re still a prominent fixture of the show, even if the CGI is a bit outdated. Merlin might be a bit underrated, but it definitely deserves more attention based on how good it is.

‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (2022–Present)

Image via Prime Video

The Legend of Vox Machina is based on a custom campaign in the popular tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons. In the world of D&D, dragons definitely exist — it’s literally in the name — so it’s natural to assume that they will in this animated series, as well. In this universe, dragons are mythical, god-like figures, with a pantheon of five responsible for conquering much of the world. This is known as the Chroma Conclave.

Each dragon in the Conclave has a distinct attribute. There’s your standard fire-breather, but others are more attuned to ice, lightning, or poison. These dragons make up a significant portion of the show’s lore and of its current canon, and even appear in the flesh from time to time. Beyond the dragons, this show has received nothing but excellent reviews. It’s a fantasy-lover’s dream, containing anything a fan could ever want from the genre.

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)

Image via Nickelodeon

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In the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the dragons are long thought to be extinct. They make an appearance in flashback or historical sequences for the most part, but other than that, it’s assumed they are all dead. However, by the end of the third season, they appear alive and in the flesh, to help the heroes in their crusade against tyranny.

The dragons in this show are based on East Asian interpretations of the creatures. This means they don’t have long, bat-like wings. Instead, they are snake-like and fly without the use of wings, though they still breathe fire. While the dragons in this show are seldom glimpsed, with the episodes they appear in being few and far between, they’re still fun to watch, much like the rest of the show. It’s well-established at this point that this series is an absolute masterpiece.

‘House of the Dragon’ (2022–Present)

General rule of thumb: when a fantasy TV show has the word “dragon” in the title, it’s generally safe to assume that there will be dragons in there somewhere. Such is the case with House of the Dragon, a prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set 300 years prior to the events of the main sequence, this show follows the Targaryen family in their rise to power, forming a dynasty that would last for centuries.

The sigil of the house is, fittingly, a dragon, mirroring how they use actual dragons to conquer Westeros. See, the Targaryens are known for riding their pet dragons and using them as weapons of war, so there’s lots of dragon action in this show. As for the show itself, it is full of political intrigue, familial drama, epic battles, romance, and sharp dialogue — everything that made the original series great.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Image via HBO

Game of Thrones is the fantasy TV series that started it all. HBO’s original epic fantasy series, based on the novels by George R. R. Martin, follows the lives of nine royal families as they feud over the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. While they’re doing this, a supernatural threat from centuries ago is slowly gathering strength in the North, preparing to bring about an end to all of humanity.

The dragons in this show aren’t as numerous as the ones in House of the Dragon, but they are still a prominent part of the series. All three dragons are the pets of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), who names them Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. These dragons allow her to wage war against her enemies, and become a defining feature of her character. They are sort of a novelty considering dragons were previously believed to be extinct. While many people loathed the final season of this show, one cannot deny that the rest of it is pretty near perfect.