There are loads of fantasy TV shows that audiences love for their stellar visual effects and high-quality production value, but there are also many other titles with a low budget that are just as great. The best fantasy TV shows of 2024 demonstrate just how much the genre has grown and changed, but these projects also highlight just how expensive they are to make. Fantasy is such a wide-ranged genre, and when wild and wacky creatures or magic are involved, a lot of behind-the-scenes work is needed.
Even the best animated fantasy TV shows ever are familiar with these struggles. Creating a particular chunk of animation, with all kinds of imagery and detailing, is a lengthy and costly process. However, money isn’t everything, and making a good TV show is possible without breaking the bank. Fantasy stories are up to interpretation and rely on the imagination of others, especially for book adaptations, and these TV shows achieve excellence without needing a huge budget.
9 Merlin
The Return To Camelot
There are plenty of TV shows like Merlin, but the original BBC series is the best of the bunch. The reimagining of the famous fable focuses on the titular character, a spectacular warlock in the land of Camelot. Merlin is remembered for its astonishing creatures and beautiful cinematography, and despite its low budget, the show has aged well. Despite ending in 2012, Merlin still holds up brilliantly, especially because of its engaging storylines.
The will-they-won’t-they relationship between Arthur and Merlin is fantastic and compelling. In fact, it’s one of the core reasons why Merlin is still such a rewatchable TV show. Although the production value of Merlin increases with its later seasons, the earlier installments are still amazing and are also the reason why the show is so popular in the first place. While it’s unlikely that a Merlin revival is ever going to happen, there’s always hope from dedicated viewers, and it’d be interesting to see the show return in an era of television where special effects are more impressive than ever.
8 Primeval
Dinosaurs In A Modern World
Primeval brings dinosaurs, insects, and all manner of creatures to the screen in season 1. Although the visual effects in Primeval aren’t the strongest, especially in the initial episodes, the effort that its production makes is very apparent. The strange threats the team faces every week may not look completely accurate, but this doesn’t stop viewers from investing in the story. However, some elements are ahead of their time, particularly any scenes involving bright flashes of light, like in Primeval’s pilot with the “anomaly.”
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What’s so great about Primeval is that it mixes both sci-fi and fantasy. The group of scientists is very technical and always lead with facts first, but are often thrown off when they face a life form that either shouldn’t exist or has been extinct for billions of years. Even when they think they’ve seen everything they can, something new appears and shifts the dynamics all over again. Primeval isn’t one of the best British sci-fi franchises, or even fantasy, either, but it is a brilliantly underrated TV show that transports audiences to a modern world with a mythical twist.
7 The Outpost
Visually Lacking, But An Incredible Tale
The Outpost is an underappreciated title and one of the CW’s best original shows. The show focuses on Talon, the sole survivor of the Blackblood race, who seeks out the murderous gang that causes the demise of her family, friends, and everyone she knows. Talon’s mysterious and supernatural powers are the most prominent contribution to The Outpost ’s visual budget, although critics often voice their disappointment over the execution of these scenes. Despite the show looking cheap at times, The Outpost is still worth watching.
When overlooking the special effects, it’s easy to be enthralled by Talon’s story. Her character development from season 1 to season 4 is well-paced and fascinating. Talon’s determination to get justice for her village and battle against Everit Dred keeps things interesting, and her connection to the powerful Lu-Qiri is a unique addition to a typical good vs evil story. The Outpost might not be celebrated for its technical qualities, but the show’s two Saturn Award nominations for its storylines and characters prove that this doesn’t matter.
6 The Magicians
This Magical World Uses Its Low Budget To Its Advantage
The Magicians is a fabulous TV alternative to the Harry Potter movies and a great title for lovers of fantasy. The show follows two key characters, Quentin Coldwater and Julia Wicker, two childhood friends with magical abilities who follow very different paths. With Quentin inside Brakebills University and Julia stuck outside, the pair’s interactions with dangerous magic result in all manner of chaos. There is one scene from The Magicians books that should’ve been cut from the show, but other than that, it does a solid job of staying true to the source material.
Creator Sera Gamble has previously mentioned that The Magicians’ low budget is actually a benefit, as it forces the writers to focus on making the story as impactful as possible (via Vox). However, certain moments in the show look more expensive than others. Quentin and Julia cross paths with gods, demons, and beasts, but the big hitters look better. For example, the flying moths are intricately designed, whereas the werewolf transformations are comparable to a cheesy horror movie. The Magicians surpasses the books in several ways, and while words better translate the mystical imagery, the show is still amazing.
5 Ren
Short But Powerful
Ren only has nine episodes, but it’s still a fantastic miniseries to binge in a weekend. The titular character is a young woman who is touched by an ancient spirit, which forces her to embark on a journey that changes her and teaches her just who she is. Ren is set in the fantastical world of Alathia, which is similar to that of King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, with several characters that are comparable to the hit HBO show, too. Ren’s interactions with outlaws Lyanna and Hunter are crucial to the show’s storyline.
Even though Ren’s hesitation to trust the pair is an intriguing part of the plot, it doesn’t distract from the show’s visual style. It is praised for its set and costume design, but Ren lacks polish, although it does add to the charm of the show. The makeup that is used for injuries is a particular stand out, and it unfortunately draws attention away from the scene because it looks unrealistic. However, it isn’t detrimental to the overall appeal of the show. Ren is a feel-good and enjoyable title, and even with the low budget, it’s still an immersive watch.
4 The Shannara Chronicles
An Underrated Adaptation Of Terry Brook’s Novels
The Shannara Chronicles is sadly canceled now, but it’s a TV show that is still beloved by many. The show is based on Terry Brook’s trilogy of novels entitled The Sword of Shannara, with season 1 strangely following the events of the second book, The Elfstones of Shannara. Austin Butler portrays Wil Ohmsford, the human-elf hybrid and the last member of the titular Shannara family, who is destined to save the Four Lands against the demons who escape their banishment to another world. The Shannara Chronicles has a similar atmosphere to Lord of the Rings, just without the large budget.
Austin Butler’s forgotten 2010s fantasy TV show is hugely underrated, and it’s still disappointing that it’s cut short just as things get interesting. The Shannara Chronicles is an unusual show for MTV to produce, especially because it is so fantasy-focused, although it does explain why the production’s funding is so limited. Despite this, The Shannara Chronicles is ambitious with its imagery. The show isn’t afraid to attempt scenes with large-scale special effects, and even when it doesn’t quite work, it makes up for it with top-quality lighting and cinematography.
3 Being Human
A Supernatural And Fantastical Story
Being Human is a brilliant British show about a werewolf, vampire, and ghost living together under one roof. While this initially seems like a setup for a sitcom, the use of dark plotlines and enthralling dramatics prove it otherwise. The show has been remade for US audiences, and while there are differences between the British and American versions of Being Human, the original is the clear winner of the two. Being Human is a BBC Three show from 2008, and many titles from this time have a low budget, as the terrestrial channel produces primarily alternative and online-only content.
However, despite this, Being Human ’s special effects are relatively ahead of its time. The shots of creatures, injuries, and blood are occasionally cheesy, but they aren’t so low-quality that it’s an eyesore. For example, Annie is a ghost. In the promotional material, the character’s opacity is dropped to make her appear ethereal, but in the show itself, she looks completely normal. This adds to the realism of Being Human, and it adds an extra layer to the narrative that the show’s characters have normal-ish lives outside of their supernatural forms.
2 Wynonna Earp
Beautifully Designed, Despite A Lack Of Funding
Wynonna Earp follows the titular character, the great-great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp, who is gifted with the power to return revenant outlaws on her birthday. Wynonna’s quest to break the Earp family curse by fighting back against a range of different supernatural beings and her revenge against the revenants who kidnap her sister is amazingly engaging, and her characterization from seasons 1 to 4 is fantastic. The show may have come to an end in 2021, but a new special, Wynonna Earp: Vengeance, is due to air in September 2024 for viewers to enjoy.
The combined elements of fantasy, Western, and horror in Wynonna Earp make it a unique title, but it’s not immediately obvious that the show has a smaller budget. The magical Peacemaker gun doesn’t look cheap, and the shots she fires in moments where special effects are used aren’t too over-the-top. Even more ambitious scenes like Waverly as an angel are well executed. Waverly’s angel powers in Wynonna Earp are fascinating, but the detail in her wings is particularly incredible and very intricately designed. However, the change in her form fits perfectly, and it looks almost natural.
1 AFK: The Webseries
A YouTube Series That Could Easily Be A Netflix Hit
AFK: The Webseries is an excellent online series that focuses on a group of video game enthusiasts who wake up in the bodies of their characters. The initial setup is similar to the new generation of the Jumanji movies, with several of the core personalities swapping genders and appearances. The group is thrown into a world that is completely outside their comfort zones and empty of modern technology, but it is far from safe, and they instead use their gaming prowess in a battle for survival.
Unlike other low-budget TV shows, AFK: The Webseries has to work even harder to stand out because it is online content. Despite this, the fantasy show has some outstanding graphics and special effects, and it proves that amateur filmmakers and producers have the potential to work on massive blockbusters. AFK: The Webseries has limited funding but is fueled by a passionate team. At a glance, it looks like a sketch comedy set in a medieval world, but with a little more money, AFK: The Webseries ’ visuals could easily rival some of the biggest TV shows airing right now.
