One of the biggest challenges that everyfantasyTV show faces is ensuring that the pacing is right. Bad pacing can kill a series before it even begins, making the audience lose interest and struggle to make sense of the many plot threads and interweaving storylines. Fortunately, when it comes to these projects, even when there is a litany of characters and stories to balance,the writing keeps the series on track, encouraging viewers to stick with the show through to the end.
Some of thesefantasy TV shows weren’t as big as they should’ve beenand remain underrated additions to the fantasy genre. It can be daunting to start some of these series, as they’re longer and involve intricate world-building. While this isn’t uncommon with fantasy, it’s critical that a show has well-crafted pacing to combat getting bogged down by the exposition that’s necessary for all speculative fiction. When the pacing is just right, there’s enough action, character development, and world-building to satisfy any audience member.
Based on the iconic, sweeping fantasy novel series by Robert Jordan, Prime’s adaptation ofThe Wheel of Timehas introduced a new generation of fantasy fans to the story. With a fantastic ensemble cast led by Rosamund Pike, Madeleine Madden, and Josha Stradowski, among many others,The Wheel of Timehas a lot of characters and storylines to contend with.However, the fact that the show so easily balances its many plot threads makes it impressive to watch.
It’s true thatThe Wheel of Timeis high fantasy, but this shouldn’t dissuade audiences from starting the show.
The Wheel of Timenovels belong to alengthy fantasy series that isn’t as scary as it looks. Though the series is equally intimidating, it’s more accessible and understandable than most viewers realize. It’s true thatThe Wheel of Timeis high fantasy, but this shouldn’t dissuade audiences from starting the show. Even for viewers who don’t typically watch fantasy,The Wheel of Timehas something compelling to offer, making it impossible to stop watching after the first episode.
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Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell voice the lead characters ofArcane,the sisters Vi and Jinx.Arcaneintroduces the young women living in the oppressed undercity of Zaun and quickly pits them against each other through their circumstances, and the abuses of their world that change them as people. However, watching Vi and Jinx grow and change throughoutArcaneis just as exciting and dynamic as the action and adventure that define the series.
10 Fantasy TV Shows That Never Had A Bad Season
These fantasy TV shows achieved the rare feat of maintaining their quality in every installment, crafting practically perfect additions to the genre.
Based on the world of the video game seriesLeague of Legends,Arcaneuses this high-octane landscape and makes it into a digestible yet otherworldly universe. There have been hints that Netflix plans on expanding the world ofArcanewith additional spinoffs and new characters.If the performance and reception ofArcaneare any indication, these new series will be just as intricate and perfectly plotted,leaving audiences astounded.
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The fantastical romance seriesMy Lady Janebecame a highlight of the 2024 TV lineup almost as soon as the series premiered.Starring Emily Bader and Edward Bluemel as Lady Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley,the tragic lovers at the heart ofMy Lady Jane, the series is unabashedly romantic but has an edge of independence. As much as the show follows Jane’s romantic journey, it also sees her become a competent queen and discover the strength to fight for what’s right.
My Lady Janehas fun juxtaposing its historical and fantasy elements, developing a unique sense of humor that sets it apart from the typical genre fare.
My Lady Janehas fun juxtaposing its historical and fantasy elements, developing a unique sense of humor that sets it apart from the typical genre fare.My Lady Janeis a fast-paced series, taking the audience on many different adventures throughout the show, but the pieces of the story seamlessly fit together by the end of the narrative. Even thoughMy Lady Janewon’t be back for season 2, it’s still exciting to be immersed in the series' world.
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The gorgeously styled, magical world ofPushing Daisiesmade the short-lived TV series one to be remembered for a long time. From its campy, retro aesthetic to the amazing lead performances from Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, and Kristin Chenoweth,Pushing Daisiesis the kind of fantasy show that doesn’t get made anymore. Thoughthere’s a dreamy, fairytale-like quality toPushing Daisies,that doesn’t stop the series from moving at a quick pace.
It’s a shame thatPushing Daisieswas cut short and canceled after just two seasons, asit’s become much more than a cult classic, hailed for its boundary-pushing formatand emotional heart. While the look and design ofPushing Daisiesis often what gets the most attention, as it juxtaposes the morbid and dark conceit of the story, the relationships and character development are just as strong. The overarching storyline of every season is well-balanced by the episodic adventures.
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The acclaimed animated TV showThe Legend of Vox Machinais the best example of a Dungeons and Dragons adaptationthat viewers and fans have seen in a long time. Based on the web seriesCritical Role,The Legend of Vox Machinadoesn’t limit itself to being an exact adaptation of the show’s campaigns or following the rules of gameplay exactly. Instead, the series shines because it takes the settings and characters and blends them into a more traditional fantasy format.
Just enough time is spent on exposition, action, and character development to satisfy any audience member and make the story move at a quick pace.
This makes the show easier to digest and understand for viewers unfamiliar with D&D, but this isn’t to say thatThe Legend of Vox Machinais unoriginal in any way. Just enough time is spent on exposition, action, and character development to satisfy any audience member and make the story move at a quick pace. However,The Legend of Vox Machinaalso knows when to slow things down and make the characters and viewers sit with what they’ve seen.
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His Dark Materialsis aperfect fantasy TV show for young adults, blending just enough darkness into the adventure and wonder of the story. Based on Philip Pullman’s iconic novel trilogy of the same name,His Dark Materialshad great source material to work with in bringing the story to life onscreen.Dafne Keen leads the cast as Lyra, the young woman who sets off to stop the dark forces of her realityfrom breaking the boundaries between worlds.
ThoughHis Dark Materialscenters on a young protagonist, the series isn’t afraid to be dark and interrogative of big ideas and constructions like religion and government. There was a lot of pressure onHis Dark Materialsto be a faithful adaptation of Pullman’s work after the disappointing 2007 movie iteration. Fortunately,His Dark Materialsgets better with every installment, tackling the layered world and heavy world-buildingwith ease.His Dark Materialis an example of a show that fully develops each book of a series to the fullest extent.
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Over ten years afterOver the Garden Wallfirst premiered,Cartoon Network’s atmospheric limited series has lost none of its potency.Only ten episodes long, with each installment running only eleven minutes, this is a short time forOver the Garden Wallto tell its story and communicate its message. However, there isn’t a single wasted second of the series, keeping the audience interested and invested from the first moments of episode 1.
Short, Excellent Fantasy TV Shows Are Rare, But You Can Binge These 5 In Just One Day
Though the fantasy genre is known for some long-winded additions to the TV landscape, these short and sweet series are easy to get lost in.
Set in the gorgeous but forbidding setting of the Unknown, the two young brothers, Wirt and Greg, are the perfect protagonists,as they ask the right questions but are open to their experiences. Each installment presents a new adventure and experience, with the over-arching storyline slowly being built over the course of the series. When we fully understand where Greg and Wirt have gone and their backstory, the information is seamlessly presented and elevated in each standalone story.
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Based on the video game series of the same name,Castlevaniaquickly established itself as one of thebest vampire TV showsof recent years.Following the story of Dracula, who descends into a rage and depression after the death of his human wife,Castlevaniatouches upon humanity’s faults and prejudices more than anything. While the supernatural elements ofCastlevaniamake the series an otherworldly experience, these are well-balanced by the emotional realism.
It’s unsurprising thatCastlevaniawas quickly expanded into the spinoff seriesCastlevania: Nocturne, bringing intricate new facets of the story’s world to life. Knowing that there’s even moreCastlevaniato dive into after the original show makes it even more fun to fall in love with the narrative and characters. There’s a lot of lore and world-building to get through in series likeCastlevania.The fact thatthe show communicates this information without slowing down is a testament to its pacing.
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Natasha Lyonne is mesmerizing as Nadia, the protagonist ofRussian Doll,who finds herself stuck in a time loop on her 36th birthday. Though the time loop trope can easily grow stale and repetitive,Russian Dollevades these pitfalls, cementing itself as iconic and retaining the audience’s attention throughout the episodes. Nadia is a fun character to spend time with, butRussian Dollsucceeds because it gives the viewer just enough information about the mystery to keep them satisfied and intrigued.
Full of contradictions and sharp dialogue,Russian Dollis the kind of series that can’t be contained by a single genre.
ThoughRussian Dollexists in a heightened version of reality, it’s undeniably a fantasy and flawlessly plays with the rules of its magic system to raise the stakes in season 2. It would have been easy to keep watchingRussian Dollfor many seasons, but there is a sense of comfort in knowing that both installments ofRussian Dollare perfectly paced and will always deliver. Full of contradictions and sharp dialogue,Russian Dollis the kind of series that can’t be contained by a single genre.
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The Good Placeproves that sometimes it’s after death that your life truly gets started. This is the case for the characters inThe Good Place, who meet in what they believe to be a version of heaven, but it soon turns out to be much more complicated than that. Funny, poignant, and full of depth and complexity,The Good Placetouches upon the big questions of life and death while remaining rooted in the character developmentand relationships of its core group.
Every season ofThe Good Placegives its characters something new to grapple with, changing the stakes, setting, and conceit of the series with ease. However, the show retains its strength because it finds such a healthy balance between the comedic and serious, taking its fantasy elements in stride. Though sitcom pacing is usually pretty standard,The Good Placeuses itsfantasypremise as a tool to expand past the pitfalls of the genre and become a classic.
