Entertainment
8 Years Later, Netflix’s 7-Part Fantasy Epic Is Still One of the Best Shows To Binge
Netflix has quite a few fantasy shows to boast of, ranging from The Witcher to Shadow and Bone to Arcane, but few, if any, are quite as good as The Dragon Prince. The 2018 animated fantasy series may not be the most widely known, but it has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, which it certainly earned. Over the course of seven seasons, the series takes the characters on a sprawling adventure full of magic and danger as they attempt to unite a divided world and bring peace after a thousand-year-old conflict. Balancing humor and heart, the story explores loyalty, empathy, and how to break the cycle of violence in a way that is accessible to fairly young audience members.
Created by Aaron Ehasz, who is best known for his work as the head writer on Avatar: The Last Airbender, the series thrives on its complex magix system and dynamic characters. The Dragon Prince not only lasted a considerable time, but in July 2025, it was announced that a sequel series titled The Dragon King is in the works. This proves the lasting love for this world, and it’s not hard to see why. With its lovable characters and impeccable worldbuilding, few shows can compete with The Dragon Prince.
What Is ‘The Dragon Prince’ About?
The Dragon Prince stands out because there is no show quite like it. The series tells an ambitious story of friendship and acceptance as it brings together an unlikely group to solve the world’s problems. Following a brutal war between the human kingdoms of Katolis and Xadia’s Dragon King, Moonshadow Elf assassins are sent to kill Katolis’ king, Harrow (Luc Roderique), and his son, Prince Ezran (Sasha Rojen). Though Harrow doesn’t survive the attack, Ezran and his half-brother, Callum (Jack DeSena), escape the attack and discover Dragon King’s unhatched egg. With this, the pair manages to change the heart of the youngest assassin sent after them, Rayla (Paula Burrows), and perhaps, change the course of the war. Ezran, Callum, and Rayla must work together to return it to its mother in hopes of creating a lasting peace, forcing them to set aside their differences and trust each other.
However, their mission is not simple, especially with Harrow’s advisor, Viren (Jason Simpson), angling for power and sending his loyal and talented children, Soren (Jesse Inocalla) and Claudia (Racquel Belmonte), after the trio. However, that is only the beginning of the journey. Throughout the series, Ezran, Callum, Rayla, and their allies must contend with ruthless dark mages, embittered dragons, and a godlike elf set on revenge, which raises the story’s stakes as the characters make difficult decisions. Yet, even with all the danger, the characters never lose their humor. Callum has a never-ending capacity for sarcasm, Ezran carries his grumpy Glow Toad, Bait, with him everywhere, and the magic they encounter doesn’t always make sense. Ultimately, the light-hearted tone and epic story balance each other out, making the series both thrilling and hilarious.
‘The Dragon Prince’ Sets Itself Apart With Compelling Characters and an Intricate World
There is a lot to love about The Dragon Prince, but what stands out the most is its lovable characters and epic worldbuilding. The characters carry the series, with redemption arcs and meaningful development for each of the central players. Ezran, in particular, is forced to take on more responsibility as he becomes the next king, while Callum undergoes important self-discoveries, and Rayla must contend with her past. Yet, none of those contend with Soren’s fascinating arc. Despite being used for comedic relief, Soren slowly becomes one of the most well-rounded characters in the series. These characters are easily the highlight of the series, but their story largely works because of the sprawling magical world they are in.
The Dragon Prince slowly takes the audience to every corner of the world, making Xadia an expansive and captivating world. The kingdoms of Katolis and Xadia couldn’t be more different, as Katolis’ mages are rare, while Xadia is brimming with magic. However, each region has different rules based on six different Primal Sources of magic, and the series slowly explores them all. Moonshadow, Skywing, Sunfire, Earthblood, Tidebound, and Startouch Elves all have different societies and abilities that the characters learn from, showing just how intricate the world is. With its fascinating world and endearing characters, The Dragon Prince proves itself to be an excellent but underrated fantasy series.
The Dragon Prince is streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
- Release Date
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2018 – 2024-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Justin Richmond
- Directors
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Justin Richmond
- Writers
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Justin Richmond
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