So, Game of Thrones is well and truly over with the prequel not looking to land anywhere in the near future, and we have binge-watched The Witcher and will probably have to wait a year for season two. What now?
Of you are a fan of the fantasy genre set in fantastic worlds with magic, witches, elves and other amazing creatures, here are ten new and back catalogue fantasy shows that you can use to fill the void.
Carnival Row (2019-)
These new Amazon Prime show follows a group of mythical creatures who have been forced out of their homeland by war. They find themselves refugees in a city, and must adapt to their new way of life, but they are not always welcomed by the existing citizens of the town. Things are only made more complicated when a string of unsolved murders occur. Starring Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne and Simon McBurney, season two will be arriving some time in 2020 as well.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019-)
Maybe you skipped this Jim Henson series when it landed on Netflix in 2019, thinking it was just for kids. But while puppets may play the leading roles, this show is a bona fide fantasy epic for adults. Set on the planet of Thra, the Gelfling race are an underclass used and abused by the Skeksis overloads, who they treat as gods. Things start to change when a small group of Gelflings band together to form a resistance, and discover the true source of the power of the Skeksis.
Legend of the Seeker (2008-2010)
Very loosely based on the popular novels by Terry Goodkind (I’ve read them, so they must be popular), this is a story set in a fantasy world where magic is commonplace. The story begins with an invading army, and one Confessor determined to stop them by fulfilling a prophecy. To do this, she must seek out a Wizard and a Seeker. With all the characters unsure of what role they must play, it seems that they will cause more harm than good on their quest to save the world. Starring Craig Horner Bridget Regan and Bruce Spence.
The Magicians (2015-)
Set in our own world, but revealing a veiled world of magic, Quentin finds himself invited to enrol in Brakebills University, a secret academy where magicians are trained. Not only does he discover his own magical abilities, but also that the fantasy novels he grew up with as a child were based on the real world of magic. While he learns about the ordered world of magic, his childhood friend is not admitted to the university and must follow a darker path to uncover her abilities. Starring Jason Ralph, Stella Maeve and Olivia Taylor Dudley.
Merlin (2008-2012)
Based on the Arthurian legend, this show does better than most at bringing the story, character and magic alive! Starting out during the reign of Uther Pendragon, Arthur is an arrogant prince, Morgana is Uther’s ward, and Merlin is trying to learn magic and hide his secret in a land where magic has been outlawed. Starring Colin Morgan, Angel Coulby, Bradley James and Katie McGrath, it has just the right mix of magic and human stories.
Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)
In the fictional town of Storybrooke, Maine, characters from fairy tales are living out their lives as humans, with all memories of their true selves and how they got to this town lost. They have been stuck in this stale limbo for 28 years. All this changes when the lost child of Snow White and Prince Charming, sent away in the catastrophe that created the town, shows up after 28 years. The enchantment that held everyone in place and kept magic out starts to break down, and the characters start remembering. Starring Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Carlyle and Lana Parrilla.
Penny Dreadful (2014-2016)
This show brings to life characters from 19th century British penny dreadful gothic horror stories. We see Dorian Gray, played by Reeve Carney, Malcolm Murray, played by Timothy Dalton, and Vanessa Ives, plated by Eva Green, teaming up to try and keep the strange creatures that occupy 19th century London at bay. Also expect to encounter Dracula, Frankenstein and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. A new spin off series also started production in 2019.
Shadowhunters (2016-2019)
definitely borrowing from the classic that is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Clary Fray, played by Katherine McNamara, finds out on her 18th birthday that she is not the normal girl that she thought, but rather a half-human, half-angel hybrid destined to hunt down the demons that are trying to cause havoc on earth. Clara must embark on a journey of discovery about herself, and the true nature of the world. Also starring Dominic Sherwood and Alberto Rosende.
The Shannara Chronicles (2016-2017)
Based on the novels by Terry Brooks, it is set in a fictional world known as the Four Lands. Here, demons had been expelled to a place called the Forbidding, but now they are threatening to renter the world as the ancient tree that bound them is dying. A group of young people, under the guidance of the last living druid, then embark on a mission to save the tree, and stop their world from being overrun by demons. Stars Austin Butler, Poppy Drayton, Ivana Baquero and Manu Bennett
Van Helsing (2016-)
Set in the near future, vampires have abandoned their life of secrecy and decided to take their rightful place at the top of the food chain. Vanessa Van Helsing, a descendant of the famous vampire hunter, awakens after being in a coma for three years to find the world a very different place, and herself with a calling as she has a unique ability to turn vampires into humans. This makes her their number one target. Starring Kelly Overton, Jonathan Scarfe and Christopher Heyerdahl.