By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 1 minute ago

The 90s were the heyday of fantasy television programming. Some of it was iconic and still remembered today; other series are barely a ripple in fans’ collective memory. Fantasy has always been a more closed-off genre than science fiction, thanks to the popularity of Star Wars and Star Trek. However, before Aragorn and Frodo brought their fellowship to the big screen, TV set the stage by whisking us away to fantastic places, from other worlds to our own towns.

Fantasy has always been narrower than science fiction due to the limits it faces. Once magic evolves into machines, it becomes less fantasy and more like a flavor of sci-fi. The icons and the forgettable attempts in the 90s era of television created enduring classics. Not every series was intended solely for adults: several were tailored for young adults and children. Fantasy offers fewer entries into the genre but draws just as many dedicated fans as science fiction does. 

Hercules Paves The Way

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, with Kevin Sorbo as the titular Hercules, starts the strongman’s adventures inside fantasy-infused Hellenistic Greece. Throughout the series, time is merely a suggestion as they meet groups of people separated not just by distance on a largely unexplored continent but also by centuries and millennia. The grand adventure begins with five made-for-TV movies that set the stage for characters and story elements. Hercules ran for an impressive 111 episodes before it was canceled during filming its sixth season.

The show is very episodic, with each episode being a largely self-contained story of Hercules and his sidekick Iolas helping a settlement, traveling band, or any of the other supernatural entities that inhabit this fantastical Greece, showing that the worst monsters are sometimes just as human as those around them. This wouldn’t be Hercules without him also having to overcome mythological menaces, from minotaurs to the whims of fickle gods.

Xena Alters The Course Of Television

Before she had her own show, Xena the Warrior Princess was one of the early sidekicks to Sorbo’s Hercules for three episodes. Initial plans called for her to be killed off, but she proved to be such a fan favorite that, as the Greek gods are known for, her fate was changed. It was that shift in the alignment of the stars that created one of the most enduring legacies of the 90s.

As an icon of the LGB movement with the unspoken romance between Xena and Gabrielle, the series altered the course of the television programming that came after it. Xena: Warrior Princess so immediately overtook Hercules in ratings and cultural influence that by the second season, it was the leading syndicated drama series on American television. Running for 134 episodes over six seasons, like with the Hercules plotline, time became a ball of yarn and production was the kitten batting it around without remorse.

Charmed By Three Sisters

One of the fantastical things about fantasy is that it does transcend time and place. Take the hit television series Charmed. Following three sisters who discover that they are witches destined to help protect the Earth against evil, Charmed ran for over 8 seasons and 178 episodes. It gave us many highs and lows, characters died, and new characters replaced them. Drama and action kept fans engaged throughout its run, which ended in 2006 after premiering in 1998. A reboot made in 2018 also lasted for three more seasons, but with different characters.

As a series, Charmed was more than just a show for girls; its female leads drew fans from everywhere. The series started close to the sisters as they learn their powers and the dangers of their new world. Minor threats like rival warlocks and old magical effects expand into multiversal enemies, such as demon lords, going so far as to include The Source of All Evil. What would a paranormal series about witches be without some romance?  One sister ends up with an angel, another falls in love with a demon. Their family dynamics are rather complicated, making holiday dinners awkward.   

Sabrina Makes Sitcoms Magical

While many of the other shows tried to have serious plots that lasted entire seasons, Sabrina the Teenaged Witch was a take on the fantastical in the modern day, but as a sitcom. It follows Sabrina from her first day at a new high school after moving in with her two aunts. Each season took place over roughly one academic school year. Being a sitcom, the episodes are all largely self-contained plots with a little carryover to from longer narrative arcs.

We aren’t just thrust into Sabrina’s world; we are given a chance to explore it with her as she learns about her powers, her family’s powers, and the wider supernatural world. The series starts with her first levitation with her aunts watching lovingly from the door. Throughout much of the first season, she blunders and bumbles through each misadventure, with the resolution happening by the end of the episode. She learns her aunts’ cat is actually a witch who was cursed into that form a century ago for trying to conquer the world.

The series aired for seven seasons, from 1996 to 2003, with 163 episodes, in addition to three made-for-TV movies. Sabrina the Teenaged Witch created an endearing legacy that saw a reframing with Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which ran for two seasons and did not get the traction the original had. We might all be waiting a while for more Sabrina shows as there are many hurdles that would need to be overcome in production, but the original episodes of this fun, charming series are available for free on Tubi, along with other streaming services.

Highlander: The Series Wins Awards

In the 1990s we got to see so many amazing adventures that to go over them all would fill this article and many others. Honorable mentions include the series Highlander, which saw Adrian Paul playing Duncan MacLeod and was an international hit.

Airing for six seasons and 119 episodes, the show was set outside the continuity of the films, where Christopher Lambert’s Connor did not win the prize. Nominated for several awards during its run, the show was highlighted by fan acclaim and the acting abilities of the cast.

Beastmaster Has Three Seasons Of Impact

BeastMaster does not have the staying power of the other shows as it only had three seasons and 66 episodes. It follows the new adventures of the beast master Dar in the fantastical world that he lives in.

There is plenty of action and adventure, but as the seasons progress, pacifism and themes of nature begin to emerge from Dar. It highlights an era of their world when technology is advancing, as the older ways of magic and naturalism are getting replaced. Mortal and immortal perils threaten Dar, his animal companions, and the wider world. To catch this wild ride, tune into Tubi and Roku while they’re still showing it.

Fantasy Horror Made Fun For Kids

Fantasy and sci-fi from the 1990s for kids could fill an entire article of its own, yet two shows are endearing and fun to watch. Both feature comedic, horror, and fantasy elements, as well as some episodes of great storytelling. Those two series are Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? ran for 10 seasons between 1991 to 1996. In 1999 it was revived for two more seasons, and then again much later in 2020, when it ran for three seasons until 2022. An anthology of horror, fantasy, and drama told in independent episodes, the show has endured because it has been a safe space for kids to explore the horror genre.

Goosebumps, which followed the books by children’s horror author R.L. Stine, aired for four seasons, with 74 episodes of horror, drama, fantasy, and sci-fi all thrown into it. As an anthology series, each episode or pair of episodes was standalone, telling a frightening tale, from haunted Halloween masks, a radio station only the dead can hear, and an evil sponge. 43 of the original 62 books were adapted into an episode(s) for this series, as well as a movie starring Jack Black.

1990s Television Paved The Way For Peter Jackson

With programming accessible to all ages, the 1990s stopped treating fantasy as a guilty pleasure and embraced it as serious entertainment. This helped pave the way for the success of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, the early Chronicles of Narnia movies, and other adult fantasy entertainment, especially as those kids grew up and introduced their own children to their childhood heroes.

Thanks to those efforts, fantasy is now thriving, with more Tolkien content coming out every day, as well as upcoming releases like Masters of the Universe and The Odyssey. Fantasy is alive in modern entertainment, and we have the 1990s to thank for convincing Hollywood to carry us away into magical worlds.

Olivia Culpo celebrated her 34th birthday with her growing family by her side.

“This birthday!!!” Culpo wrote via Instagram Stories on Friday, May 8, sharing a maternity photo.

In the snapshot, the model wore a bump-hugging floral sundress with cap sleeves.

Culpo and her husband, Christian McCaffrey, announced earlier on Friday that they are expecting baby No. 2.

“Best birthday gift ❤️,” she wrote via Instagram, sharing family photos with McCaffrey, 29, and daughter Colette, 10 months. “Baby #2 coming soon.”

Related: Olivia Culpo Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 2 With Christian McCaffrey

Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey are expecting another bundle of joy. “Best birthday gift ❤️,” Culpo, 34, wrote via Instagram on Friday, May 8, confirming that she is pregnant. “Baby #2 coming soon 🥹.” Culpo’s post included a photo of her and McCaffrey, 29, sitting on a picnic blanket out in nature. The couple shared […]

Advertisement

Culpo and McCaffrey, who said “I do” in 2024, welcomed Colette last year in July 2025.

“Colette is so lucky to have the best daddy in the world,” Culpo wrote via Instagram at the time, alongside a pic of her husband watching their daughter in a hospital isolette. “A love like no other.”

According to Culpo, McCaffrey’s bond with Colette has only grown since her arrival.

“I always knew he would be a really good dad because he’s a really good person,” Culpo exclusively told Us Weekly in February. “He has a really good example because his parents are great. He will be such a good example and protector to her. I know that she’ll always be able to feel like she has someone who loves her more than anything. I feel like everybody deserves to feel that.”

Culpo, who admitted that she is a self-proclaimed “daddy’s girl,” believes that Colette will be the same as she grows up.

“I just feel like that’s what they’re going to be like, too. It’s a really beautiful thing to see so early on,” Culpo predicted. “She loves her dad, and little girls really do. You see the way that they light up with their dad.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

As for McCaffrey, he has sung his wife’s praises as a parent as well.

“Watching Olivia become a mom has been so cool. We had [Colette] in July, which was right before training camp so I was kind of in go-mode and went through the whole season. There’s challenges that come with that. So, to now take a breath and be able to be a dad has been really, really fun,” the San Francisco 49ers star told Us in February. “We have the same values in life, there’s never really any conflict when it comes to that stuff. Obviously I can’t be there for most of the day, and she really does love it. As a girl dad, you definitely get softer. I don’t care what anyone says.”

Culpo and McCaffrey have not yet publicly revealed the sex of baby No. 2.

Wisconsin parents, Kevin McCall and Christina Davis, have reportedly been arrested after the mom allegedly gave their 1-year-old whiskey and found their baby dead in their crib.

RELATED: Say, WHAT?! Wisconsin Woman Faces Charges After Stabbing Her Boyfriend Because He Allegedly Wanted To Air Fry Dinner (VIDEO)

Wisconsin Mom Allegedly Gave 1-Year-Old Whiskey & Found Baby Dead In Crib

According to Law & Crime, on February 22, police responded to a call about a “pulseless non-breathing child” at an apartment complex. Once there, police reportedly found McCall and Davis on the porch, while their baby was taken to the hospital. Ultimately, though staff reportedly tried to resuscitate the baby, the child was pronounced dead.

Per the outlet, Christina Davis recalled the events of her day to the police. This, reportedly, alleging she had gone to work and returned home to find her older daughter in “punishment.” Then, while Kevin McCall was allegedly fixing his video game controller, Davis went to check on her younger child, and she found the child “stiff” with their eyes “rolling back into their head.” Then, she and McCall called 911.

Wisconsin Parents Kevin McCall and Christina Davis Reportedly Arrested

Per Law & Crime, when Davis spoke with police, she admitted that she did not feed the baby or change their diaper that day. Additionally, McCall admitted that he did not check on the baby while Davis was at work. And police reportedly noted that the baby was “covered in urine and feces” when officials saw the child at the hospital.

Ultimately, police spoke with Davis’ older daughter, and the child alleged that the parents often asked her to watch the baby. Additionally, the daughter alleged that the day before the incident, Davis had made the baby a bottle. And it contained “medicine” to make the baby “pass out.” The child reportedly showed the “medicine” to be a bottle of whiskey.

Kevin McCall and Christina Davis were arrested and charged with chronic neglect of a child. Per the outlet, they are being held in custody under a $10,000 bond. Lastly, the outlet reports that they are due back in court on May 29.

A Father In Florida Was Charged After His Infant Drowned In A Bathtub While He Was Allegedly Playing Video Games

Kevin McCall and Christina Davis are not the only parents facing the law after a fatal incident involving their child. As The Shade Room previously reported, Joshua Ruiz-Martinez was arrested in Florida in February 2025. At the time, it was reported that Ruiz-Martinez was playing videos after he placed his infant daughter in a bathtub and left her alone for around ten minutes.

Ultimately, he returned to find his daughter “submerged” underneath the water.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Florida Father Charged After Infant Daughter Drowned In Bathtub While He Was Allegedly Playing Video Games

Some revenge stories are built around justice. Others are built around a damaged man trying to aim his pain at the people who deserve it before it eats him alive. This one falls into that second, much messier category. It takes a familiar title, pulls it back toward its literary roots, and turns one man’s trauma into a seven-episode thriller about violence, protection, and the cost of becoming useful again when the world has already broken you.

Man on Fire is now streaming on Netflix. Based on A.J. Quinnell’s 1980 novel, the series stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen, Candyman) as John Creasy, a former Special Forces mercenary struggling with PTSD after leaving the field. His attempt to build something like a fresh start is interrupted by a new need for revenge, pulling him back toward the violence he was trying to escape. The seven-episode series premiered on Netflix on April 30, 2026.

The cast includes Billie Boullet (A Small Light, The Worst Witch) as Poe Rayburn, Scoot McNairy (Argo, Halt and Catch Fire) as Henry Tappan, Alice Braga (City of God, I Am Legend) as Valeria Melo, Bobby Cannavale (The Station Agent, Boardwalk Empire) as Paul Rayburn, Paul Ben-Victor (The Wire, Entourage) as Moncrief, and Thomás Aquino (Bacurau, Private Desert) as Prado Soares.

Is ‘Man on Fire’ Worth Watching?

Collider’s review stated that Man on Fire works best as a slow-burn action thriller rather than a nonstop explosion machine. The series follows John Creasy as a damaged former operative pulled back into violence after a bombing leaves a teenage girl in danger. While the show takes its time getting there, the review argues that the slower pacing helps build both the characters and the stakes.

The biggest reason it works is Abdul-Mateen II. According to the review, he gives Creasy real weight as both an action hero and a broken man, making the character’s grief and instability just as compelling as the shootouts and chases. The review notes that the show occasionally gets a little crowded with side plots and characters, but the twists, set pieces, and emotional core keep it gripping. In the end, Man on Fire is not a reinvention, but it is a strong, character-driven binge with a star-making lead turn. Can’t argue with that.

Man on Fire is now streaming on Netflix.

Advertisement

Release Date

April 30, 2026

Advertisement

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Advertisement

Kyle Killen

Directors

Clare Kilner, Vicente Amorim, Steven Caple Jr.

Advertisement

Writers

Kyle Killen

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Zara Larsson didn’t let a potentially disastrous wardrobe malfunction keep her from delivering yet another high-energy performance.

Larsson, 28, kicked off Today’s summer concert series on Friday, May 8, where she regaled attendees with renditions of her biggest hits. In between routines, the musician realized that one of the heels from her bedazzled pumps had broken completely off.

“We’ve got to dance extra hard because I lost my heel,” the pop star quipped during her set, before seamlessly kicking off the introduction to “Lush Life.”

Advertisement

Related: Zara Larsson Claims She Lost $3 Million Brand Deal Over Abortion Joke

Zara Larsson claimed her joke about abortion cost her a seven-figure paycheck. “I lost $3 million, which is the biggest brand deal I’d been offered in my life,” the pop star, 28, said in an interview with The Guardian published on Friday, April 3, following widespread backlash over her remark. “I was genuinely like, ‘OK, […]

After the concert ended, Larsson stressed that she was proud of her performance.

“I was soooo nervous this morning because my voice was literally gone,” she wrote via her Instagram Stories later that day. “But we pushed thru!!! I had so much fun! Thank you to everyone for pulling up on me so early.”

She continued, “We also did ‘Lush Life’ with one heel! Loool!”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Larsson released her latest album, Midnight Sun, in 2025, showcasing a new musical era.

“I think people are just really seeing this new confidence,” she told Vogue in September 2025. “I started off signed to a label so young. You’ve got choreographers, stylists, producer, and writers thrown at you — all amazing people — but that makes it hard to figure out who you are. For the first time in my life, all parts of me and my art feels cohesive. I’m connecting with people in a new way.”

She added, “I planted the seed and the fans are watering it. I love all my really big songs — I knew when they were gonna be a smash — but I maybe didn’t have the world around it that I wanted. Turns out, you don’t have to do too much. You just have to start from within. I don’t want to just be a performer, I want to be an artist.”

RELATED: Hantavirus Cruise Deaths Spark Fear As Officials Push Back On Panic & The Internet Has Flashbacks

Disney Cruise Crew Among Disturbing Arrest Sweep

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 28 individuals were arrested after agents boarded eight cruise ships docked in San Diego between April 23 and April 27 as part of a coordinated operation targeting child sexual exploitation material (CSEM). Officials say 26 of the suspects were crew members from the Philippines, with one each from Portugal and Indonesia. CBP stated that 27 of the 28 individuals were allegedly involved in the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing of CSEM or child pornography. It was also added that their visas were canceled and they were repatriated to their countries of citizenship.

More Details On The Probe & Investigation

While CBP did not initially name the cruise line involved, reporting later identified one of the ships as a Disney Cruise Line vessel. The operation reportedly included staffers from multiple ships, though authorities have not disclosed the names of the other cruise lines involved. Video circulating online also appeared to show enforcement officers detaining crew members aboard a Disney Magic ship, fueling even more concern and speculation among passengers.

In response, Disney Cruise Line issued a statement emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy. “We have a zero-tolerance policy for this type of behavior and fully cooperated with law enforcement,” the company told Variety. “While the majority of these individuals were not from our cruise line, those who were are no longer with the company.” The company has not released additional details regarding the employees involved. As the investigation continues, CBP has confirmed that the operation remains ongoing, with authorities still withholding the names of the ships and individuals involved beyond the confirmed arrests.

And, Instagram user @phuck_ya_barbie shared, “Between this Disney weirdness, the new virus, and the titanic sinking, this is why I would never do a dang cruise😭😭😭”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @ageofaaliyah claimed, “at this point, everybody just stay in the house“

While Instagram user @thevoicewash11224 added, “What and the Mickey Mouse Do We Have Here🤦🏾‍♂️”

Finally, Instagram user @__cmt wrote, “All of this better drop them cruise rates immediately“

RELATED: Got ‘Em! United States Will Reportedly Begin Snatching Passports From Parents Who Owe Child Support

DreamDoll has the internet talking after name-dropping Shedeur Sanders and his father, Deion Sanders, in her new song. While the rapper’s lyrics wasted no time sparking conversation online, Shedeur wasted no time hopping into the comments with a response of his own.

Related: DreamDoll Addresses Resurfaced Videos Of Her Twerking In Church And After Service (WATCH)

DreamDoll’s Lyrics Catch Shedeur Sander’s Attention

On Friday, Bronx rapper DreamDoll released her new song along with the visuals for ‘Too Established/Maybelline.’ In the track, listeners quickly noticed a few bars where she rapped, “For richer or for poor, do I want the daddy or Shedeur?”

This instantly sparked reactions online as fans picked up on the shoutout to Shedeur Sanders and his father, Coach Prime.

Shedeur also appeared to notice the lyrics and slid into DreamDoll’s comments, writing, “hold up wym by that 🤔😂.”

In which DreamDoll responded with a simple “😇.”

Social Media Reacts

Social media users quickly chimed in with reactions, with many joking that DreamDoll may have just shot her shot at the Sanders family.

Instagram user @dawnwawnjulio wrote, “He knew what she meant 😂😂😂🫠”

Another Instagram user @klaaireslair wrote, “girl pls. wasn’t nobody looking Deion way until Karrueche got w him.”

While Instagram user @chelseabhurley wrote, “That’s a bar 🔥”

Instagram user @niirosee wrote, “BOTHHHH BABY”

Another Instagram user @iamkahlee wrote, “Well you can’t have the daddy he taken 💁🏽‍♀️🤣”

While Instagram user @india__monae wrote, “the son 🔥”

Instagram user @looktofly wrote, “She love her a man in a relationship 😂😂”

Another Instagram user @bssdwgbre wrote, “Sayin that about a man you got a ten year age gap with is crazzyyy lol but let a man have said it 💀”

While Instagram user @littletrice_iam wrote, “She ate that 🔥❤️ Hell both 🤣🤣🤣”

Shedeur Sanders Recently Celebrated A Major Milestone

Before the viral interaction with DreamDoll, Shedeur Sanders was already making headlines after officially graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in sociology. The quarterback celebrated the milestone alongside classmates and teammates as clips and photos from the ceremony made rounds online.

Related: Whew! Yung Miami Speaks Out After Dating Speculation Is Sparked Surrounding Her & Shedeur Sanders

Brandi Glanville is offering an update on LeAnn Rimes’ ongoing health issues.

“She really is sick,” Glanville, 53, said on the Thursday, May 7, episode of her “Brandi Unfiltered” podcast. “She has something. I know she gets sick every time she leaves the country, much like myself. We’re twinning all the time.”

Glanville further revealed that her two sons, whom she shares with ex-husband Eddie Cibrian, have shared update on Rimes’ illnesses with her. (Cibrian, 52, has been married to Rimes, 43, since 2011.)

“They are like, ‘She is so sick,’” the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star recalled on her podcast. “They are so health-conscious, [and] they have, like, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in their dining room.”

Related: Brandi Glanville Shades LeAnn Rimes for Crying During Jaw Release Treatment

Brandi Glanville is far from impressed after country music singer LeAnn Rimes shared an emotional video highlighting her recent jaw release treatment. “We did see LeAnn Rimes in the news today,” Glanville, 53, said on the Thursday, April 2, episode of her “Unfiltered” podcast. “I don’t understand why I saw it, and I’ve had that […]

Glanville explained that Rimes has an undisclosed illness and is battling “a tooth thing.”

“You have to realize everything dentally f***s with your vocal cords,” Glanville quipped. “So, if that tooth gets pulled, and she’s very nervous about it, her perfect pitch could be gone. She has veneers … and [those] can trap in bacteria and stuff.”

According to Glanville, Rimes has laryngitis “on top of it.”

“She’s doing everything to protect her voice because that is her everything,” the former Bravo star said. “LeAnn said that a singer that she knew got sick and lost her voice. I said, ‘Well, I got sick and lost my face.’”

Glanville, who has dealt with unexplained facial disfigurement for more than two years, shot down speculation that Rimes was merely copying her.

Related: Brandi Glanville Thanks LeAnn Rimes for Trying to Help With Face Parasite

Brandi Glanville found an ally in LeAnn Rimes as the stress over her face parasite continues. “Happy Christmas,” Glanville, 52, captioned an Instagram post, which included a family photo with her kids Mason 21, and Jake, 17, Rimes, ex-husband Eddie Cibrian and more extended family on Thursday, December 26. “Not my favorite look for my […]

“She really is sick, she does have laryngitis, she has a tooth situation and everything she’s doing is to protect her moneymaker,” Glanville stressed. “That’s been her life for, think about it, since she was a child. So, they go to bed at 8:30. They have, like, a whole room of all these machines and lymphatic drainage and they wake up at 4:00 and do yoga. They’re like, ‘Health, health health.’”

As Rimes navigated her various health scares, rumors also swirled that the 9-1-1: Nashville actress was in the running to join The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“I hope it’s true about RHOBH,” Glanville tweeted on Wednesday, May 6, reacting to the speculation. “I mean, she got everything else of mine — husband, kids, boobs, bronco, random illnesses. She might as well just be a housewife and finish it off once and for all.”

Rimes, however, has since shut down the speculation.

“No, no…. no housewives for me,” Rimes stated via social media that night. “Playing Dixie on 911 Nashville is [enough] drama for me.”