Entertainment
The Best Fantasy Shows From Every Year of the 2000s
The 2000s were the beginning of a new millennium and a new era of television, which meant things needed to change, and quickly. Cable television reigned supreme, since this was before streaming services, and many networks were looking for ways to attract attention by way of new, exciting TV shows of all genres. From animation to live-action, there was no shortage of iconic shows produced during this decade.
Even fantasy had a lot of new entries, and this was before the fantasy boom of the 2010s and 2020s. Many of these fantasy series became icons for millennials and the new generation of Zoomers, who still go back to watch their favorites from time to time. Each year of the 2000s saw something amazing released; series that have barely left the spotlight since their inception. These are the best fantasy TV shows from every year of the 2000s.
10
‘Inuyasha’ (2000–2004)
Inuyasha might not be quite as popular as the other anime shows on this list, but it was pretty popular nonetheless. The franchise spawned a sizable multimedia empire, including feature-length films, video games, and a line of toys and action figures, all of which sold very well. This anime series is about a girl who magically travels back in time to Feudal Japan to assist a young half-demon in recovering the shards of a great gem of power.
DVDs of this series sold millions of copies internationally and topped the bestseller lists for three whole weeks. It’s not commonly talked about anymore, but for the 2000s, this was the beginning of a new era of anime and a great addition to the fantasy genre. Truth be told, not a lot of fantasy shows came out in 2000, but even if there had been more, Inuyasha still would’ve taken the number one spot among anime due to sheer popularity and critical response.
9
‘The Fairly OddParents’ (2001–2017)
The Fairly OddParents is a crucial part of many a Zoomer’s childhood. This Nickelodeon fantasy/comedy cartoon features Timmy Turner (Tara Strong), an average kid who no one understands. He has two dim-witted parents, an evil babysitter, and is frequently the target of bullies. To abate his misery, he receives two fairy godparents from the Fairy World, who are there to grant his every wish and make his childhood a little easier.
Timmy often makes outlandish or dangerous wishes during moments of anger or misery, which always come back to bite him in the butt later. Still, the first few seasons of this show are absolute comedy gold. It is easily one of the finest cartoons Nickelodeon has ever produced. There weren’t a lot of ’00s kids who didn’t wish they had fairies of their own, which is part of the reason why the show is such a staple of the decade.
8
‘Naruto’ (2002–2007)
Naruto is another anime series that skyrocketed to popularity upon release, eventually becoming known as one of the “Big Three” anime series. What this effectively means is that it constantly dominated charts, had an enormous cultural impact, and received international attention. That alone should speak to how popular Naruto was, and why it is still a major streaming hit all these years later.
The premise is pretty simple: it’s about a young, rebellious ninja who struggles to find his identity and achieve his dreams. In this world, though, ninjas often have some magical powers, which is why it’s a fantasy. At heart, this series is definitely more of a comedy, not that it doesn’t feature great action and adventure. So many memes have been made of this show that it’s not even funny, and it still gets quoted in casual conversation to this day. It’s easily the best and most culturally important fantasy show that came out in 2002.
7
‘Dead Like Me’ (2003–2004)
Dead Like Me is a dark dramedy with fantasy overtones, which was actually pretty popular for its time. Currently, it’s mostly been forgotten, which is kind of a shame because it was kind of a hit in 2003. The show follows Georgia (Ellen Muth), a college-aged woman who is abruptly killed by a falling toilet seat jettisoned from a space station. Yes, really. Upon reaching the great beyond, she is informed that in her death, she will have a job, and that job is to serve one of the reapers who escort the souls of the departed to the afterlife.
Her new boss happens to be a guy named Rube (Mandy Patinkin), who is kind of a jerk, but also becomes a sort of father figure to Georgia. Their chemistry on screen together is really something, which only contributes to the bleak comedy that the show became known for. Overall, it was received very well, particularly in the second season, for its wit and biting humor about the nature of life and death. It’s an underrated cult classic that just has to be seen.
6
‘Lost’ (2004–2010)
Lost was a show that really took the world by storm with its complex plot, wide cast of characters, and surprising substance. Of course, many were disappointed with the way Lost ended, yet many still agree that the first few seasons were absolutely perfect. The series follows a group of survivors from a plane crash on an uncharted island. But the island is no ordinary land mass, as strange forces lurk deep in the jungle.
This show dives into everything from mystery to sci-fi, and yes, fantasy. What’s even better is that the show lets all of its diverse characters have their own time to shine in the spotlight, thanks to a series of flashback sequences showing their lives before they arrived on the island. Excitement about Lost might have died down a bit with time, but when it came out, this was huge, and for a good reason. It’s just so intriguing and has a little something for everyone.
5
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a Nickelodeon cartoon meant to emulate the anime art style, despite being made by an American studio. Unlike most other Nick cartoons, this one had proper continuity, with a story arc over numerous episodes. It can’t be picked up or dropped at any time—it has to be watched from beginning to end. This is worth it, though, because the world that the creators made for this series is incredibly immersive.
The series is set in a continent inspired by East Asia, made up of four nations based on the elements of fire, air, water, and earth. Each nation is home to sorcerers called “benders,” who can manipulate the element of their nation at will. The Fire Nation, using their war machines and firebenders, has begun a conquest of the rest of the continent, which patiently awaits the arrival of the Avatar, who is destined to master all four elements and unite the nations. This show garnered a huge following and even got a live-action remake for Netflix. There’s just no other show like this one, which has carved out a legendary legacy for itself.
4
‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)
Death Note is such a popular and influential anime series that it’s honestly kind of shocking it only lasted a year. As many know by now, the series is about a magical book. If someone’s full name is written in the book, that person will die almost immediately. It was a premise that really caught on, receiving a terrible live-action remake via Netflix, and even being parodied during a Treehouse of Horror episode of The Simpsons.
It’s honestly amazing that a show with one season and 37 episodes could have this much widespread impact, yet Death Note delivers. It isn’t just because of the darkness or the chemistry between characters, but also because the premise is just so intriguing. Be honest, everybody who knows about this show has wondered what they would do with a real-life death note if they had one. While it may not be the ideal choice for non-anime fans, this is considered one of the greatest anime series of all time by many a seasoned viewer.
3
‘The Wizards of Waverly Place’ (2007–2012)
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The Wizards of Waverly Place is a Disney sitcom that aired on the Disney Channel, and which quickly became one of the most popular kids’ sitcoms of the decade. The series is about a family of wizards living in suburban New York City, and all the misadventures they have. Their normal lives often clash with their learning to master their magical abilities, resulting in many comedic situations.
The series features a young Selena Gomez and Jake T. Austin as part of the Russo family, a group of siblings who frequently work on magical experiments and such. It might be a little bit cringeworthy to look back on as an adult, but for the time, this show was kind of a big deal, to say the least. It was extremely popular among the youth and proved to be a breakout role for many of its young actors. Even now, a lot of adults look back on this show with fond nostalgia.
2
‘Merlin’ (2008–2012)
Merlin is a pretty popular fantasy TV show that was met with a lot of critical acclaim, so there’s little doubt that it deserves the number one spot for the best fantasy show of 2008. The series, true to its name, is about Merlin (Colin Morgan), the wizard from Arthurian legend. Typically, in the stories, Merlin is depicted as a grouchy old fuddy-duddy with a long silvery beard, a blue robe and pointy hat, and a wand or staff. Pretty standard wizard stuff.
This show serves as more of an origin story for Merlin, though, with a much younger version of the character learning how to use his magical powers and meeting his future allies. There’s not only a grand sense of adventure and action in this series, but there’s also some great comedic timing and some heartfelt romance, too. It’s a refreshing take on a classic character, one that did pretty well for itself, and which still had a dedicated following.
1
‘The Vampire Diaries’ (2009–2017)
The Vampire Diaries came out at the peak of the Twilight craze, which didn’t really do a lot for its reputation. Like Twilight, many assumed that this show was just going to be a sappy and moody romance with vampires and werewolves, and very little substance to it apart from that. But The Vampire Diaries ended up outlasting Twilight, breaking away from these comparisons and becoming something much more unique.
Yes, it’s primarily a romantasy series, and yes, there are indeed vampires in it. But it has a lot more emotional depth than Twilight. While Twilight fans, of course, tend to appreciate The Vampire Diaries, the show also attracted a lot of other fans, too, which is why it was able to last for eight whole years before concluding its story. For something that seemed like a quick cash grab capitalizing on a trend, it did pretty well for itself, developing a fanbase that persists nearly 10 years later.
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