Summary

  • Fantasy shows can capture grand adventures, making them popular and everlasting.
  • Merlin delves into the Arthurian myth, focusing on Merlin's journey to become a legend.
  • Supernatural's Winchester brothers face off against dangerous monsters in a secret war.

Fantasy is one of the grandest genres in fiction, creating entire worlds of magic and monsters. While one of the hardest genres to pull off, there have been shows and series that adapt previously published authors' stories to create entirely new ones for fans to enjoy.

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Fantasy shows take viewers on amazing adventures of slaying dragons, discovering treasure, and saving the world. However, fantasy is a vast genre that can be told in any number of ways. Special shows capture lightning in a bottle, go on multiple seasons, and become cult classics. Here are some of the best fantasy shows with more than 50 episodes.

8 Merlin

A Magical Journey Through Arthurian Legend

Merlin holding his hand up, preparing a spell
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Merlin
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Release Date
2008 - 2012
Network
BBC One
Showrunner
Julian Jones
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Seasons
5
Streaming Service(s)
Peacock, Prime Video

The story of how Arthur pulled his sword from the stone and became the king of kings is a pretty well-known aspect of the Arthurian Legend. However, Merlin tells the story of a young wizard named Merlin on his way to becoming one of the most vital individuals in the stories.

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Merlin is sent to Camelot to serve under Gaius and King Uther. Upon arriving, Merlin must deal with sinister plots as his new friend, Arthur, becomes a target of evildoing. While magic is punishable by death, Merlin must also protect his secret or lose his head.

7 The Magicians

Students Of The Mystic Arts Risk It All

The Magicians Alice Quinn and Quentin Coldwater
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The Magicians
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Release Date
2015 - 2020-00-00
Network
SyFy
Showrunner
Sera Gamble
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Seasons
5
Streaming Service(s)
Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, AppleTV+

The Magicians was an original series adapted from the novels by Lev Grossman. The story follows a group of young teens who become enrolled in a magical university and begin being trained as Magicians.

The main character is Quentin Coldwater, an eccentric and sensitive young man who must fight the currents trying to force him out of his destiny as he learns more and more about the world of magic. Quentin and his friends must take on powerful forces and deal with their own internal struggles to grow and overcome grave challenges.

6 Outlander

A Woman Tumbles Through Love And Time

Outlander
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Outlander
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TV-MA
Sci-Fi
Drama
Fantasy
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Release Date
2014 - 2026-00-00
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Streaming
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Seasons
8

Claire Randla was a nurse living a simple life until she was suddenly pulled into the past during the Jacobite Rising in 1700s Scotland. In a strange land with no way to return to her own time, Claire makes the best of it and finds love and a perilous journey of justice.

The series takes a winding turn and explores the difficulties Claire faces with her uncertain fate being pushed and pulled through multiple centuries, losing her love, finding her family, and surviving a war-torn country.

5 Once Upon A Time

Classic Fairytails Come To Life

Regina Mills in Once Upon A Time
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Once Upon A Time
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Release Date
2011 - 2018-00-00
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WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
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Seasons
7
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix

Once Upon A Time is a unique show that takes the famous fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and brings them to life in a small town called Storybrooke. Starring Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Emma must investigate and take on mysterious occurrences that begin to spread all over town where fairy tale creatures have been brought into the real world and robbed of their memories thanks to the Evil Queen, played by Lana Parilla. The story is a spiraling mystery of fantastical proportions with several twists and turns no one sees coming.

4 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

A Story Of The Legendary Demi-God

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Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
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Release Date
1995 - 1999-00-00
Writers
Christian Williams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
Franchise(s)
Hercules
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Seasons
6
Streaming Service(s)
Prime Video

The legend of Hercules has been told many times, but one of the most beloved series was the 90s action-drama starring Kevin Sorbo. In the series, Hercules travels the known world and goes from place to place, trying to do good and help those in need.

Accompanying him is Iolaus, his most trusted friend. Hercules fights against evil that tries to plunge the world into chaos, and on more than one occasion, even stands tall against the gods themselves. The series lasted six seasons and even spawned a spin-off.

3 Xena: Warrior Princess

The Warrior Princess Takes On All Comers

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Xena: Warrior Princess
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Release Date
1995 - 2001-00-00
Network
Syndication
Showrunner
Sam Raimi
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Seasons
6
Streaming Service(s)
AppleTV+

The legendary Lucy Lawless stars as the Warrior Princess Xena in the action-packed series. The first expansion of the Hercules universe, Xena was a recurring character in Hercules who, upon receiving her own show, became a hero for the masses.

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The series mirrors the plot of Hercules but expands on Xena's lore and history. As a reformed warlord, Xena traveled far and wide to help those in need and take on the gods themselves if need be. Xena: Warrior Princess lasted six seasons and is highly favored of the two shows.

2 Supernatural

Brothers Hunt The Things That Go Bump In The Night

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Supernatural
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TV-14
Drama
Mystery
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Action
Supernatural
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Release Date
2005 - 2020
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Seasons
15
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Supernatural follows the Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean, played by Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, who travel around the country, slaying cryptid monsters and demons. The brothers face off against some of the most dangerous monsters in lore while trying to find their father.

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Their travels find them enthralled in a secret war between heaven and hell that they are destined to take part in. The devil seeks to free himself and burn the Earth to cinders, and Sam and Dean must stop him. Supernatural has gone for sixteen seasons and a spin-off, with rumors of the series returning once again.

1 Game Of Thrones

A Masterfully Told Story Of Swords And Crowns

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Game Of Thrones
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Release Date
2011 - 2019-00-00
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Seasons
8
Streaming Service(s)
MAX
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Game of Thrones is an adaptation of the renowned series by George R.R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire. The show tells the story from multiple perspectives, exploring several characters at once per season. Starting in Winterfell, Game of Thrones follows the Starks as they are pulled into politics and come under threat from one of the most powerful families in the seven kingdoms.

All the while, a secret evil looms on the horizon just in time to lay waste to the land if they can not put aside their differences and work together. Game of Thrones lasts eight seasons and has a prequel series called House of the Dragon that is currently airing.

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