10 Nearly Perfect Fantasy Shows, Ranked

Game of Thrones may be one of the best fantasy series ever made, but its perfection is marred by a few flaws. The HBO fantasy epic follows the brutal power struggle among noble families as they fight for the Iron Throne.

The cultural phenomenon that is Game of Thrones was able to amass a huge fanbase, leading the show to be widely regarded as one of the greatest TV dramas of all time. From complex characters and haunting lore to high-stakes storytelling and shocking twists, Game of Thrones brought to screens a fantasy unlike any other. The amazing fantasy series is mostly perfect, except for its lagging final seasons, which were albeit good, but not as great as most fans had hoped. Despite lingering heated discussions on how the series’ ending, Game of Thrones, will forever remain a masterfully crafted work of fantasy art.

This sweeping fantasy is a true stunner that brings to life a captivating tale worth investing in. The HBO show, His Dark Materials, is a TV adaptation of Philip Pullman’s acclaimed fantasy trilogy and centers on the young Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen), who, while living as an orphan at Jordan College, is swept into an adventure when children start disappearing.

His Dark Materials is a horrendously underrated fantasy series. Those who have found the show consistently praise it for its visuals, cast, musical score, and utter faithfulness to its source material. From beautiful CGI and cinematography to rich storytelling and fantastically charming characters, His Dark Materials is the near-perfect watch any fantasy lover would enjoy. Its only embellishment on its perfection is likely its slower pacing, which can often try viewers' patience. With an intoxicating story, rich lore, and an overall enchanting saga, His Dark Materials stands as a high-quality fantasy epic that is one of the best book-to-screen adaptations to ever exist.

Pushing Daisies is a whimsical early 2000s fantasy series that deserves far more recognition than it's received. The 2007 series follows the pie-maker Ned (Lee Pace), who wields a unique ability to bring the dead back to life with a single touch, and with another touch, take back the life he gave them, permanently. In a twist of fate, Ned revives his childhood sweetheart, only able to have an intimate relationship with her without ever touching her.

In a whirlwind of mystery, fantasy, and romance, Pushing Daisies offers audiences a fantastic time with its clever plot. The show’s story is a tale of romance that takes on a unique twist that leads to some of the most hilarious and sweetly romantic moments ever witnessed on television. Pushing Daisies was nearly perfect in its execution and creativity, but its abrupt cancellation led to its final episodes feeling rushed and left fans hungry for more—unfortunately, one of the show’s biggest flaws. With many fun episodes under its belt, Pushing Daisies still remains a wonderful fantasy watch.

This beloved fantasy icon is a Netflix series that skillfully blends haunting mythology with brutal combat. The Witcher centers on the solitary monster hunter with supernatural abilities, Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), as he travels the land, navigating deadly beasts, treacherous humans, and the meddling of destiny.

The Witcher came onto the scene in a burst of grit, action, and stunning fantasy, captivating audiences with its folkloric storytelling. Henry Cavill’s performance as Geralt, complete with a dry wit and a deep, gruff voice, allowed fans to eagerly latch onto the series, finding the character rather lovable and intriguing. The Witcher's flaws began to become more apparent as it continued to diverge from its source material, especially following the actor change for its already beloved leading man. Nevertheless, The Witcher is a quality adventure capable of captivating viewers with its immersive and extremely memorable moments.

Merlin came to fans during the perfect era of fantasy and stood strong as a fantastic reimagining of the Arthurian legends. The beloved fantasy classic tells the story of the young, clumsy wizard, Merlin (Colin Morgan), in his early years in Camelot as a servant to then, prince, Arthur (Bradley James).

Merlin may have had modest beginnings, but with each season, the series became more likable, growing a fanbase that consistently praised its brilliance. The series doesn’t take itself too seriously, featuring plenty of humor and classic tropes- yet it still somehow delivers exceptional emotional moments. Merlin was rather perfect but did falter at times with its repetitive plot formulas and occasional cheap CGI. These things are easy to overlook, since Merlin’s abundant heart, fun, and adventure stand as a nearly perfect comfort-watch.

This animated good time is one of Netflix’s best fantasy originals and stands as a near-perfect watch for audiences of all ages. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is a colorful reboot of the 1980s She-Ra cartoon, focusing on teen orphan Adora (Aimee Carrero), a loyal and determined soldier of the evil Horde—until she discovers a magical sword capable of transforming her into the warrior princess known as She-Ra.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is an incredibly fun series that stands as a modern, inclusive reimagining of a beloved classic. Though it wields colorful animation and plenty of humor, the animated series does gradually deepen, touching on darker topics while providing deadly stakes for its characters. Its nearly perfectness stems from its brightly colored animated decisions, as most believe that it is strictly a children’s show, and most adults tend to shy away from it before giving it a real chance. With a surprising amount of heart, depth, and inclusiveness, She-Ra proves that it’s an incredible fantasy that belongs to all generations.

The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself is an incredible fantasy drama that only lasted one season before it was axed by Netflix. The British series follows an English teen, Nathan Byrne (Jay Lycurgo), as he navigates life as the illegitimate son of a notorious Blood Witch responsible for a deadly massacre.

With a quality edge and an expected dark violence to it, The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself stands as a rather captivating watch. The show masterfully explores tense themes of prejudice and identity, while also managing to be darkly funny. While The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself only hosts a single season, it stands as a very incredible one, with only one major flaw: fans will never get to see Nathan’s story unfold due to its cancellation. Nonetheless, that single season stands as a boundary-pushing fantasy drama that wields both emotion and captivating grit.

This CW wonder is one of the best the network ever produced, with its tale of immortality, power, and passion. The Originals is the iconic spin-off of the beloved series The Vampire Diaries, focusing on the world’s first vampires, the Mikaelson siblings, as they make their return to the atmospheric city of New Orleans.

From its rich New Orleans backdrop and Southern Gothic vibe to its thick vampire lore and family drama, there is quite a lot to love about The Originals. Many have lauded the series as the stronger fantasy hit in comparison to its parent series. With a leading man like Joseph Morgan’s Klaus, the series achieved a greatness many weren’t expecting. But alas, The Originals is a CW show, so the series had a penchant for melodramatics, which some viewers had a problem stomaching while watching such a would-be serious show. This, of course, didn’t take too much away from the show’s charm, as it is a rather elite example of a near-perfect fantasy series done right.

Shadow and Bone is one of modern fantasy’s best, with its story that brings to life monsters, political intrigue, magic, and romance. Adapted from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels, the Netflix fantasy epic centers on an orphaned mapmaker in the war-torn kingdom of Ravka, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), as she discovers that she is a rare magic-wielder, or Grisha, with the power to command sunlight.

With a stunning backdrop of a richly built fantasy world, Shadow and Bone dishes out a tale of romance, heist capers, and political mayhem. While honoring some of its source material, the brilliant series also reinvents itself enough to keep things exciting for readers and newbies alike. Shadow and Bone, with all its perfect qualities, does have a few drawbacks—such as uneven pacing and tons of fantasy terminology that can feel a bit overwhelming for newcomers—but the near-perfect series remains a whirlwind of an engrossing escape for fantasy fans.

This Canadian urban fantasy series skillfully balances romance and darkness quite fiercely. Bitten, a terribly underrated series based on Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld novels, follows the world’s only female werewolf, Elena Michaels (Laura Vandervoort), who navigates life determined to live normally after she was turned into a werewolf by her ex-lover Clayton (Greyston Holt). Unfortunately, she isn’t able to hide from her past or her feelings as she’d like.

With a masterful mix of steamy romance, dark horror, and tons of supernatural drama, Bitten offers audiences quite the wild ride. The show delivers a fresh perspective by having an incredibly strong leading lady in a male-dominated trope. It’s truly as angsty as they come, with romantic tension between Clay and Elena only elevating the story’s supernatural elements. Bitten is often considered nearly perfect due to its sometimes slightly off-pacing and budget limitations, but overall, even with its underrated status, the series' engaging storyline, fantastic characters, angsty romantic moments, and satisfying arc for its butt-kicking lead, place it amongst fantasy TVs finest.