10 Great Fantasy TV Shows That Deserved More Seasons

Fantasy TV shows are some of the most innovative in the television sphere and require lots of worldbuilding to get their premises off the ground. This means that if a fantasy series ends too soon, critical pieces of lore and character-building might never be revealed. Ending on a cliffhanger is a significant disappointment for audiences who watch magical TV shows, as these series usually have high stakes, so the characters’ lives might hang in the balance. In many cases, even if a show is universally beloved by critics and audiences, this doesn’t mean it will be saved from cancelation.

Like fantasy, many promising sci-fi TV shows were canceled too soon, as speculative fiction isn’t always a crossover hit with a large number of audience members. Even if a series isn’t canceled and reaches its planned length, there still might be more that the writers and characters could explore with further stories. When a fantasy TV show is well written, worlds are created that could sustain a variety of plots and characters in different corners of the universe, regardless of whether the main characters are involved.

10 Game Of Thrones (2011–2019)

One of the most famous fantasy series of the past decade

The Game of Thrones franchise is getting a second life through the recent prequel series House of the Dragon, which has captured the attention of audiences who couldn’t get enough of the original series. Though George R.R. Martin criticized House of the Dragon, many fans appreciate that the show is avoiding some of the mistakes of the later seasons of Game of Thrones. Though the original series went on for eight seasons, the final season left off with more stories to be told.

There was pressure for the series to wrap everything up neatly in season 8, but the many loose ends and interweaving plotlines left too much in the air to be tackled in just one season.

The sudden change in characterization that many protagonists experienced in Game of Thrones season 8 is part of why it’s the lowest-rated season of the show. There was pressure for the series to wrap everything up neatly in season 8, but the many loose ends and interweaving plotlines left too much in the air to be tackled in just one season. If the series had received one or two more installments, the methodical and well-planned pace of the early seasons could have returned, making for a more satisfying ending.

9 Arcane (2021–2024)

The League of Legends show with a rich lore and history

Unfortunately, Arcane‘s long-awaited season 2 will be the final installment of the show, even though it’s consistently been highlighted as Netflix’s best animated fantasy series. Based on the League of Legends video games, Arcane paves the way for video game adaptations everywhere and stands out because of the intricate worldbuilding and great character design. The main characters, Vi and Jinx, are excellent foils, and the series makes good on the video game’s legacy of using intricate fight choreography in the animation.

Arcane season 2 will be the last not because the series is canceled, but because the narrative arc of Vi and Jinx has reached its end (via Netflix). With any luck, the success of Arcane season 2 will open the door for further spinoffs or prequels within the world of Arcane, as the series created a rich and diverse setting with many stories to be told. The warm critical and audience reception of Arcane season 1 puts pressure on the upcoming installment, but it’s unlikely that the series will falter in its final season.

Arcane
season 2 will be released on Netflix on November 9th, 16th, and 23rd.

8 Cursed (2020)

Arthurian legend is made relevant to the present day in Netflix’s short-lived series

Katherine Langford might be best known for her role as Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why, but she took a step into the fantasy genre in Cursed​​​​​​, the Netflix retelling of Arthurian legends. Langford plays Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, in the tales of King Arthur. Cursed introduces Nimue and Arthur in a new way, making them equals and love interests in a quest to find Merlin. It can be difficult to take on the source material as famous as that of Camelot.

Retellings of classic stories through the lens of underrepresented female characters have become more popular in the fantasy sphere over the past few years.

However, Cursed does a good job of differentiating itself by focusing on the Fey and the young Nimue. Canceled after just one season, Cursed never managed to find its footing or be taken seriously enough to justify its complex concept. Retellings of classic stories through the lens of underrepresented female characters have become more popular in the fantasy sphere over the past few years. Cursed fulfills this niche, and if it had come out today, Cursed might have hit home with more viewers.

7 Shadow And Bone (2021–2023)

Based on Leigh Bardugo’s novels, Shadow and Bone brought the YA genre to new viewers

Netflix’s Shadow and Bone combined the storylines of Leigh Bardugo’s two book series, Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows, as they’re both set in the Grishaverse. The magic system in Shadow and Bone pertains to the Grisha, a select group of people who can manipulate elements, with Alina Starvok (Jessie Mei Li) being the only Sun Summoner. It’s a gripping premise, and the show brings the visuals of Bardugo’s work to life well, balancing the mystery of Alina’s world with the action and thievery of Kaz (Freddy Carter) and the Crows.

Shadow and Bone was canceled way before its time, as the series still had another book to chronicle and could have continued on with the Crows for much longer after that. Interest and love for the series haven’t wavered with the dedicated members of its fanbase. This leaves some hope that Shadow and Bone, or a Six of Crows, spinoff might return to Netflix in the future. Until then, seasons 1 and 2 are a great way to scratch the fantasy itch.

6 A Discovery Of Witches (2018–2022)

This romantic fantasy drama sees the world of witches clash with that of vampires and daemons

Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode bring to life the witch Diana and the vampire Matthew in A Discovery of Witches, the TV series based on Deborah Harkness’s All Souls book trilogy. A Discovery of Witches ran for three seasons and was praised for the onscreen dynamic between Palmer and Goode, as well as the well-crafted premise. Though A Discovery of Witches ended after adapting all of its books, the story’s world left room for further plots and seasons of the show.

A Discovery of Witches
is a rare show that blends its fantasy elements with the stakes of the real world seamlessly.

There have been plenty of instances when a TV series extends beyond its source material, as The Magicians only had three books in the trilogy, but the show went on for five seasons. The same could easily have been possible for A Discovery of Witches, as Palmer and Goode’s chemistry would have kept audiences coming back for more for a long time. A Discovery of Witches is a rare show that blends its fantasy elements with the stakes of the real world seamlessly.

5 My Lady Jane (2024)

The abrupt cancelation of the fantasy period drama has caused a stir

Judging by the outcry from fans and critics alike, there’s no question that Amazon Prime canceling My Lady Jane was a mistake. Following the story of the novel of the same name, My Lady Jane saw Emily Bader play the titular Jane Grey in a fantastical historical retelling of the fate of the real Jane Grey in Tudor England. Her love interest, Guildford Dudley, played by the charming Edward Bluemel, stands by her side as Jane ascends to the throne and must fight for what she believes in, no matter the cost.

Jane and Guildford are one of the best couples in period romance TV shows, as they love and support each other. They depict a great example of a healthy relationship while incorporating the best and most steamy parts of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Though My Lady Jane season 1 left off with a conclusion that provides some satisfaction, it also left much open-ended and paved the way for many more seasons of excitement for Jane and Guildford as they work to change the country.

4 Penny Dreadful (2014–2016)

This gothic fantasy series had thrills and chills that could have lasted forever

Eva Green anchors the ghoulish drama Penny Dreadful, which ran for only three seasons despite strong critical and audience acclaim. The second half of Penny Dreadful season 3 made sure that there wasn’t much room for the series to continue into the future, but had some small changes been made, the viewer could have seen Vanessa Ives continue on her journey across the world. Penny Dreadful only touched upon the English monsters and legends in seasons 1 and 2, with some exploration of Indigenous American folklore in season 3.

Penny Dreadful
successfully reinvented itself several times over its three seasons, and it would have been possible for it to do this yet again if given the opportunity.

Penny Dreadful successfully reinvented itself several times over its three seasons, and it would have been possible for it to do this yet again if given the opportunity. Overall, Penny Dreadful‘s horror and supernatural elements meant the show didn’t connect with all viewers, but anyone could appreciate the way the series humanized the monsters of gothic literature and brought them to life with amazing visual effects and makeup. While the show did receive a spinoff in 2018, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, the series only ran for one season.

3 The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance (2019)

The followup to the iconic original movie, this TV show lived up to expectations

A prequel to the beloved 1982 fantasy film, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance further explores the world of Thra and the Gelfings. Taking place before the Skeksis almost exterminated the Gelfings, the TV show is every bit as beautiful and magical as its predecessor, The Dark Crystal. The visuals were almost universally praised, as the series used new technologies to make the world even more realistic, but kept all the practical effects and the integrity of the puppets that made The Dark Crystal so iconic.

The show had big shoes to fill and high expectations upon its shoulders, as the legacy of The Dark Crystal has only grown and become more iconic in the canon of 1980s fantasy films. While it can be difficult to create a series when most audience members know how it will end, The Age of Resistance still had some memorable moments and kept the viewer guessing. Though it was an expensive and time-consuming production, further seasons of the show would have been well worth it.

2 The Owl House (2020–2023)

Disney’s most boundary-pushing animated series only got three seasons

The world of the Boiling Isles might be more frightening than that of Earth, but fledgling witch Luz finds her sudden transportation there more exciting than alarming. The Owl House was frequently compared with other animated series like She-Ra and the Princess of Power, Steven Universe, and Gravity Falls, but the series quickly distinguished itself as something new. Though it’s a children’s show, The Owl House never shied away from tackling adult themes and stories, taking its audience seriously.

The Owl House
has been praised for its commitment to displaying positive depictions of characters with LGBTQ+ identities and weaving queer relationships into the show.

The Owl House has been praised for its commitment to displaying positive depictions of characters with LGBTQ+ identities and weaving queer relationships into the show. The romance between Luz and Amity is one of the most compelling of the show, and the budding connection between them is both realistic and relatable for a wide variety of audiences. The Owl House was canceled after season 3 for many reasons, but the show’s short run doesn’t take away from its significant impact.

1 Pushing Daisies (2007–2009)

A gifted piemaker brings people back from the dead in this cult classic fantasy TV series

Before Lee Pace was the frightening Brother Day in Apple TV+’s Foundation, he was the piemaker Ned in Pushing Daisies, a mystery series with a fantastical twist. Ned is born with the ability to bring people back to life with one touch, but if he touches them a second time, they’re gone forever. The series kicks off with him bringing back his childhood sweetheart, Chuck (Anna Friel), and the pair teaming up with Emerson (Chi McBride) to solve murders for the reward.

The whimsical and surrealist tone and visuals of Pushing Daisies made it unlike anything else on TV, and the premise opened the door for many seasons of intrigue. Additionally, the forbidden romance between Ned and Chuck is sweet and tender, and the fact that they can never touch adds enduring conflict to every moment of the series. It’s almost universally agreed upon that Pushing Daisies had plenty of additional seasons in it and that the series only would’ve kept getting better as a hallmark of fantasy TV.