Game of Thrones, based on the novels by George R. R. Martin, became an immense cultural phenomenon that kickstarted a wave of fantasy TV that is still ongoing. The eight-season HBO epic shows what can happen when studios put the budget of a feature film into a TV show, producing shows with massive scale and hundreds of characters, where magic and monsters come to life in an entirely new way.
Game of Thrones was met with extremely positive reviews, or at least, up until its final season, anyway. It’s probably going to be considered one of the largest TV events in history, yet there are still plenty of shows that received the same level of acclaim. Whether they’re animated or live action, a small handful of fantasy TV shows have reached the same level of quality and amassed millions of fans, even if they’re not quite as groundbreaking or legendary.
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‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)
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Image via Wit Studio</figure>
Attack on Titan is a Japanese anime set in a dystopian world where the last surviving remnants of humanity live in a walled-off civilization, safe from the flesh-eating titans that roam the outside world. The humans live peacefully like this for 100 years, until the titans breach the wall in the Shinganshina District, upending society and triggering a war for humanity’s very survival. Fighting the titans is certainly no easy feat either, as they regenerate virtually all wounds and can only be killed by severing the nape of the neck. The show is a bit steampunk with its cannons and specialized grappling apparatus, but there are still themes of magic and monsters.
Despite the fact that the show is an anime, it was absolutely revolutionary, even spreading to non-anime fans. One of the primary reasons behind this is due to its stellar world-building, and its immediate establishment of a dark atmosphere. The show is clearly made with care, as well, since only four seasons came out across its 10-year run. This means each season was worked on and perfected for years before it was released, of course. What results is a plot that gets more intricate as the show goes on, easily keeping the viewers invested. Attack on Titan has received nothing but good reviews, and has appealed to a surprisingly broad audience.
5
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)
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Image via The WB</figure>
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a legendary bit of television history. Created by Joss Whedon and based on a 1992 movie of the same name, the show follows Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who, as you might have guessed, is a vampire slayer. More specifically, she works as a professional monster hunter by night, all while trying to balance the life of a normal teenage girl. She has to navigate the awkwardness of puberty, struggles to find her place in social circles, and seeks a sense of identity and purpose in her life, much like any teenager would.
This was one of the earliest TV shows to use the “monster of the week” formula, yet it still followed a clearly structured narrative. The fact that it was so fantastical, yet so relatable, made it an instant success that people loved. Nearly 30 years after it first came out, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is seen as a nostalgic staple of the late 90s and early 00s, to the point that the show is practically synonymous with the era. Sure, the show had some episodes that were less than stellar, but the fact remains that Buffy received, and continues to receive, a lot of acclaim.
4
‘Adventure Time’ (2010–2018)
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Image via Cartoon Network</figure>
Adventure Time is a Cartoon Network original series that was supposed to be for kids, but that adults have found joy in as well. While it is a comedy series at heart, it also has high adventure, fantastic and memorable characters, and some strikingly emotional moments. The show is set in the mystical Land of Ooo, where pretty much nothing is off-limits. There’s a race of sentient lemon-people, a dog that can stretch like rubber, a kingdom made of candy, and so much more to discover in this wonderful show.
Straight away, the theme song brings a relaxed, innocent vibe, showing that this show is not about high stakes, but is about friendship, exploration, and relaxation. Adventure Time is family-friendly, sweet, and earnest, and is easy to watch and even easier to love. Cartoon Network really struck gold with this one, to the point that the show doesn’t really have many haters. Regardless of your age, if you haven’t checked this one out yet, it’s definitely time to.
- You lead with honor even when it costs you, because you understand that a reputation built
on integrity is the only one worth having. - Your loyalty to family and people runs deep, not as sentiment but as a code that
doesn’t bend when things get difficult. - The North endures because Starks endure, not by being the cleverest players in the game, but
by being the kind of people others are willing to follow into the cold. - You are that kind of person. The pack survives. The lone wolf does not. You already know
which one you are.
- You are sharper than most people realize, and you have learned to use that gap to your
advantage. - A Lannister always pays their debts, and you always keep your word, because your word is an
instrument of power, and instruments must be kept in working order. - You love your family with a ferocity that sometimes blinds you, and you know it, and you do
it anyway. - The lion doesn’t concern itself with the opinion of sheep. Neither, in the end, do you.
- You are capable of extraordinary things, and you know it, and that knowledge is both your
greatest strength and your most dangerous quality. - The Targaryen words are not just words to you. They are a philosophy about what change
requires and what it costs. - The Targaryens at their best were transformative rulers who broke chains and defied the
limits of what anyone thought possible. - At your best, so are you. The dragon has three heads. You are one of them.
- Ours is the fury, and yours is a kind of intensity that commands attention, respect, and
occasionally caution from those who underestimate what’s behind it. - You value strength and straight dealing. You’d rather know where you stand than
navigate a web of courtly whispers. - The Baratheons built their house on the back of one of the greatest military victories in
Westerosi history, and then struggled with what came after. - The lesson of your house is that winning is not the end of the story. Governing is. You are
learning that too.
- Growing Strong is your house’s motto, and you live it: patiently, strategically, always
investing in the relationships and resources that will matter most when it counts. - You are charming by choice and calculating by nature, a combination that makes you one of
the most effective players in any room you enter. - The Tyrells fed King’s Landing and shaped its politics without ever sitting on the Iron
Throne, and they were arguably more powerful for it. - You know that the person who controls the food controls the kingdom. And you always know
where the food is.
3
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)
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Image via Nickelodeon</figure>
Avatar: The Last Airbender is set on a continent based on East Asia called the Four Nations. Each nation is represented by one of the four elements: air, fire, earth, or water. Within these nations are magic users called “benders,” who are able to manipulate their country’s element to their will. Using this ability to their advantage, the industrialized Fire Nation wages war on the other three, throwing the continent into turmoil. Yet, it is prophesied that eventually, a chosen one known as the Avatar will arise, master the four elements, and bring harmony to the land.
This is actually a Nickelodeon series, which means it definitely has its fair share of comedy. However, it opts to forgo traditional Nicktoons and present a continuous, linear narrative rather than a series of loosely-connected episodes. Moreover, it was drawn to look like Japanese anime, even though it was made entirely in the United States. It’s “Americanime,” if you will. Beyond the comedy and the high adventure, both kids and adults have come to adore this show for the profound moral wisdom contained within. This has resulted in a long legacy filled with genuine adoration. It is constantly being discovered and rediscovered and has refused to grow old as the decades have gone by.
2
‘Pokémon’ (1997–Present)
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Image via The Pokémon Company</figure>
Pokémon has built a huge multimedia empire since the first video game came out in 1996. Only a year after the game’s release, a Japanese anime was produced based on the universe. This show, much like the games themselves, has become a huge part of many a childhood. Considering it’s set in a world populated by over 1,000 made-up creatures, many of which have supernatural or magical powers, it certainly fits the bill of a fantasy series, albeit it’s considered more of a science fantasy. The franchise has spanned multiple generations and is constantly evolving, coming out with new pocket monsters to collect and learn about.
The TV show includes themes of friendship, living in harmony with animals, and youth triumphing over all, which are universal concepts that resonate with almost everybody. Though different generations remember different eras of the show from their childhood, it has remained a consistent part of growing up all over the world. Pokémon is a testament to how something popular can transcend time and space to become a worldwide phenomenon.
1
‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959-1964)
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Image via CBS</figure>
The Twilight Zone might just be one of the most revolutionary TV shows of all time. This is an anthology series, meaning each and every episode has its own distinct story, setting, cast of characters, and plot twist. Make no mistake, either–these plot twists are almost always jaw-dropping. The show’s premise is simple: it features a bunch of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. This vague storyline allows the series to explore a variety of genres, from horror to sci-fi, and yes, even to fantasy. Sometimes, it has to do with aliens and time travel, other times with ghosts or demons, and that’s only scratching the surface.
In the nearly seven decades since its release, The Twilight Zone has remained a timeless, groundbreaking TV show. It has inspired numerous revivals, reboots, and spin-offs. It never gets boring for even a second, with each episode being just as complex and thrilling as the one before it. The Twilight Zone is a classic; there’s just no other way to put it, and because of that, the show has gained universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike. There really are no bad episodes in this one.
The Twilight Zone
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