6 Modern Fantasy Shows That Are 10/10, No Notes

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that involves magic, monsters, and sometimes, imaginative worlds far beyond that of our own. It's a popular genre because it offers a form of escapism from everyday life, which is often far less interesting. In recent years, fantasy has been an extremely popular genre in movies and television, especially with the use of film techniques. This is also because of the rise of streaming platforms and on-demand viewing, with networks often creating their own exclusive fantasy series to attract subscribers.

Now it's pretty well-known that perfection isn't actually achievable—that's just the nature of things. However, many of these fantasy series come pretty close to that. Whether they're animated or live-action, whether they're based on novels or not, or whether they're geared towards kids or adults, these are the best modern fantasy TV shows that are about as close to perfection as they can be.

6 'Primal' (2019–Present)

Genndy Tartakovsky is the animator best known for his classic '90s and '00s cartoons like Samurai Jack and Dexter's Laboratory. Most of what he worked on is considered children's shows, which makes Primal a wonderful departure from the box he was placed into. Primal is clearly Tartakovsky's passion project, judged solely on how long each season takes. This is because it's easy to tell how much genuine care he is putting into the whole thing, and it shows with every single frame.

Primal is set in some sort of fantasy world or alternate history, where cavemen coexist alongside dinosaurs. Alongside the cavemen are just about every famous ancient civilization imaginable, from the Ancient Egyptians to the Vikings. It sounds juvenile at first, but this show is actually deeply serious and dramatic, with many heartbreaking moments in the animated series being way too intense for children. It's definitely clear whenever someone deeply loves the art that they're creating, and Primal is just another example of this. Because of this, it's basically perfect in every way.

5 'House of the Dragon' (2022–Present)

House of the Dragon is the long-awaited prequel to Game of Thrones, the show that single-handedly kick-started the trend of epic fantasy TV shows. Based on works by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones ended in a famously divisive spot, with many fans despising the way it was handled. As such, House of the Dragon proved to be the much-needed breath of fresh air that made fans fall in love with the world of Westeros again, proving there are still plenty of stories left to be told.

House of the Dragon is set 300 years before its predecessor, following the rise and reign of the Targaryen Dynasty. It depicts how they conquered the Seven Kingdoms with the use of their dragons, and how they met opposition from other noble houses as they ruled. This is a series that reminded audiences of what they love so much about Game of Thrones. It's got the same level of romance, political drama, and brutal violence that made the original show popular. House of the Dragon was exactly what the universe needed, and, so far, has done a pretty much perfect job of telling the tale of the Targaryens.

4 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' (2023–Present)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is based on a YA fantasy novel series by Rick Riordan. There was an attempted movie franchise based on the books that came out in the early 2010s, but they only made it about two movies in before crashing and burning spectacularly. The movies disappointed fans and critics alike, proving the beloved fantasy series really needed a proper adaptation. Disney+ got right on it and saw to a reboot, with Riordan more heavily involved. What results is a series much more faithful to its source material that, so far, fans have appreciated much, much more.

The plot follows the titular Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), an adolescent who discovers he is the son of the Greek god Poseidon. He is whisked away to Camp Half-Blood, where other demigods train to be heroes. Throughout his adventures, Percy and his friends encounter many obscure and iconic beasts from Greek mythology, and many deities, as well. The show is only two seasons in, but so far, it's been a much more successful prospect than the movies. It's got some razor-sharp dialogue rife with witty humor, loaded with action, and full of sweeping adventure. There's really not a whole lot wrong with this series, which is why it's been such a sensation amongst dedicated fans.

3 'Arcane' (2021–2024)

When it comes to movies or TV shows based on video games, the general stereotype is that they're usually quick cash grabs made with very little care or attention to the source material. They frequently disappoint fans and perform poorly with critics. Arcane is very much an exception to this stereotype. The series is based on the MOBA video game League of Legends, which is immensely popular in the PC Gaming community. Fortunately, some of the game's creators were heavily involved in the production of Arcane, ensuring that fans would be satisfied with it. And satisfied, they were.

Arcane is a bit of a mix of everything, from romance to sci-fi, and even to steampunk and fantasy. The two seasons tell the story of Vi (Hailee Steinfeld), one of the game's playable champions. While the second season wasn't received quite as well as the first one, it still scored very high in many reviews and didn't overstay its welcome. Two seasons were all this series really needed to tell the story it wanted to tell and move on. Turns out, that only served it for the better. While fans probably wish it were a bit longer, this series proved to be excellent in every aspect and barely missed a beat when it came to producing a quality show. It was actually received so well that it even attracted some non-fans of League of Legends, which is pretty impressive.

2 'Kingdom' (2019–2021)

Kingdom is a South Korean fantasy/horror series that is set in the Kingdom of Joseon, which once encompassed the entire Korean Peninsula. Set at the end of the Middle Ages, the plot follows a feud between the current reigning family and the tyrannical Haewon Cho clan. The story begins when the King of Joseon contracts smallpox and dies, which leaves his adult son, Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hun), as the heir. However, the King's new wife and Lee Chang's stepmother, who is part of the Haewon Cho, wants to secure her family's place on the throne. She has a baby on the way, who will be first in line upon birth, so the Haewon Cho clan devises a devious plan to keep the throne. They intend to use a mythical resurrection plant to bring the King back to life until the baby is born. Unfortunately, this accidentally unleashes a zombie plague on Joseon.

Based on a web comic turned graphic novel, Kingdom received universal acclaim and near-perfect scores from critics and audiences alike. It's got political intrigue, gruesome violence, and some pretty freaky zombies, too. The undead in this show make The Walking Dead look like Sesame Street—no kidding. The series produced two seasons and a special prequel episode before being soft-canceled. Though Netflix hasn't made an official announcement of its cancellation, after nearly five years without any word, it's safe to say it likely isn't coming back. However, it's still perfect in almost every single aspect, and is an exciting watch from beginning to end.

1 'The Legend of Vox Machina' (2022–Present)

The Legend of Vox Machina comes from pretty humble beginnings. It actually started as a custom Dungeons & Dragons campaign that was part of the Critical Role podcast. It basically began as a bunch of friends sitting around playing a tabletop role-playing game. The result of that, though, is one of the most brilliant fantasy TV shows ever created. It deeply immerses the viewer in its world, coming with stunning animation and a surprisingly heartfelt storyline.

What's really neat is that the members of Critical Role actually voice their in-universe characters, helping the series feel nostalgic for fans of the original podcast. Even then, though, the show attracted tons of attention from non-fans, as its expansive lore and rich universe let the imagination really run wild. It might not be the most popular show on this list, but it really should be, because this show was made with love, which results in a series that is, by every sense of the word, perfect.