Entertainment

8 Fantasy Shows From the 2010s That Are Perfect From Start to Finish

Nairavoice · Oct 26, 2026 · 12 min read

Fantasy is a captivating storytelling genre that has been around for centuries. From inspiring tales of dragons and lost kingdoms to harrowing haunts about undead creatures and ghouls, nothing captures the imagination quite like fantasy. As the medium has morphed over the years, some staples still hold fast, like a hero worth rooting for, an obstacle to overcome, or a villain to defeat. When it comes to creating worlds worth visiting and characters that merit cherishing, fantasy is king.

Television has a rich, varied history of fantasy series. Some of the best were released in the 2010s. This decade saw a rise in animated series that paved the way for current classics. It also launched several sweeping live-action epics like Once Upon a Time and Game of Thrones. While those series shined in their own right, they faltered at the finish line and ended poorly, souring many fans on the series. However, these shows did not. From start to finish, these 2010 fantasy TV shows not only launched well and maintained their momentum, but they stuck the landing. These are the most perfect fantasy shows from the 2010s.

‘Galavant’ (2015–2016)

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    Image via ABC</figure>

There is nothing quite like ABC’s Galavant. A musical comedy set during medieval times, it is brimming with modern jokes and toe-tapping numbers. The music of the series has two powerhouses behind it: Christopher Lennertz, the Emmy Award-winning composer known for his work on series like The Boys and Supernatural, and Alan Menken, the eight-time Oscar winner celebrated for his work on Disney movies like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.

Even though the music in the series is ideal, it is the refreshing blend of self-aware characters and meta humor that knocks this one out of the park. As Collider’s Kendall Myers summarizes, “This 2015 musical series takes the self-aware humor of Monty Python and the fairy tale tropes of Princess Bride to create something entirely unique.” The creators of Galavant knew that having such an extraordinary series would come with a limited lifespan, and while it was picked up for a second season, they were careful to have the major plotlines resolved in case it wasn’t picked up for a third, and sadly, the show wasn’t. The two seasons of Galavant that do exist are perfect as they are, and it makes for a singular gem of TV comedy that remains exceptional and flawless.

‘Over the Garden Wall’ (2014)

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    Image via Cartoon Network</figure>

Sibling relationships can be complicated, and half-brothers Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Gregory (Collin Dean) are no exception in Over the Garden Wall. As the older sibling, Wirt feels responsible for Gregory as they navigate their way through a mysterious forest just beyond their home. Gregory, on the other hand, seems untroubled by anxious thoughts or worry, and views all the strange and unique circumstances they encounter through the eyes of a child. Wirt is a protagonist audiences can identify with, and Gregory steals hearts with his sweet innocence.

Over the Garden Wall is a miniseries masterpiece. The story is intriguing, and the dynamic between the two brothers feels authentic. It has a distinctive mise en scène. The presentation is similar to an anime at times and it has an unmistakable vibe. Over the Garden Wall‘s cozy creepiness makes it a perfect watch for fall, and it has become an annual viewing tradition for many fans.

‘The Good Place’ (2016–2020)

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    Image via NBC</figure>

When Eleanor Shellstrop’s (Kristen Bell) life ends, the exciting and surprising events in her afterlife are about to begin in The Good Place. Having a TV series set in a postmortem paradise is fascinating, and The Good Place delivers on all fronts. It is thought-provoking and poignant at times, and laugh-out-loud funny at others. The characters are not what they seem, and neither are many aspects of the show, which contains some of the biggest plot twists in sitcom history.

After streaming for several years on Netflix, this NBC show has recently moved to Prime Video. This means The Good Place now has access to a whole new audience, and Prime members are discovering why The Good Place is so, well, good. At four seasons long, The Good Place can be a perfectly dedicated weekend binge, and you will wonder why you haven’t watched it sooner.

‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ (2017–2019)

Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

The creators of A Series of Unfortunate Events hold to the original author’s ethos and don’t talk down to their audience. Weaving a tale of woe and misfortune, the series is a sharp satire of human behavior, and it is cunningly clever. The series of children’s books, written by Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket, follows the Baudelaire orphans as they bounce between distant relatives and familial acquaintances after the sudden death of their parents. The siblings’ new circumstances are made all the more complicated because a nefarious foe named Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris) is seeking to obtain their fortune by any means necessary, even killing the three remaining Baudelaires.

Neil Patrick Harris is quintessential as Olaf, and watching him portray the Count in various disguises throughout the series is sublime. All the cast are phenomenal, and the show includes several cameos and guest appearances by well-known actors. The dreary melancholy of the series adds a palpable atmosphere, and A Series of Unfortunate Events blends fantasy and steampunk aesthetics together in a highly engaging way. It has endless rewatchability, and there is always something new to notice in this spectacular series.

Four of the largest communities on the planet, and four completely
different reasons to belong to one. Here is yours, what it would give you, and the argument you
would be having within a week.

You belong to the fandom that is really about comfort. Hogwarts
works on people because it is a place rather than a plot, and the pull is not the wizard war
so much as the corridors, the food, the weather and the sense that somebody is expecting
you.

You are drawn to belonging, which is why this fandom sorted itself into houses within
about five minutes and has never stopped.
This is the most social of the four, and the one most likely to know which type every
single person in your life would be.
The books are built to be reread rather than analysed, and rereading is exactly what you
do with things you love.
The new HBO series is bringing the whole thing back one book at a time, which means the
arguments are about to start all over again.

You belong to the deepest fandom on this list, the one where
somebody has always read further than you and is quietly delighted to say so. Middle-earth
rewards patience more than any other world in popular culture.

You like the sense that the story you are reading is only the visible part of something
enormous, which is precisely how Tolkien built it.
This fandom takes adaptation seriously to a degree that other fandoms find slightly
alarming, and it has good reasons for that.
Your favourite thing about the books is probably the bit that is not action at all,
which is the walking, the songs and the long goodbyes.
Nobody here thinks heroism belongs to the powerful, and the whole story exists to make
that argument.

You belong to the loudest and largest tent of the four, the one
where three generations are all watching the same thing and none of them agree about any of
it. That disagreement is not a flaw in this fandom, it is the main activity.

You want something you can share with absolutely everybody, from a six year old to a
grandparent, and this is the only one on the list that really does that.
Nobody argues like Star Wars fans argue, and the argument has been running since roughly
1980 with no sign of resolution.
The pull here is sensory before it is narrative, since it is the sound design, the score
and the look of a used and dented galaxy.
You would be first in the queue, in costume, with strong opinions and a genuinely good
time.

You belong to the thinking fandom, the one that turns up for the
argument rather than the explosion. Trek has always been a series of ethical problems in
space, and the people who love it love being asked what they would have done.

You are an optimist in a way that is currently unfashionable, and this is the only major
franchise still willing to say the future might be better.
The best episodes are the ones where nobody fires anything, which is a sentence that
makes perfect sense to this fandom and to nobody else.
Starfleet Academy brought the franchise back to a classroom in 2026, which is
appropriate, because Trek has always been a bit of a seminar.
You would want the conversation afterwards more than the episode itself, and here you
will always find somebody willing to have it.

‘My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic’ (2010–2019)

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    Image via Discovery Family</figure>

One of the biggest surprises to come out of the 2010s was My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Based on the popular toys and TV show from the 1980s, this animated series was a reinvigoration of the brand. With distinct new characters to follow and fascinating plot lines to get wrapped up in, the unassuming series became greater than the sum of its parts. My Little Pony spilled out of its target demographic and genre boundaries to become a massive pop culture hit with surprising audiences. An unexpected outcome was the traction the series gained with adult male fans who called themselves “bronies.” Great writing speaks for itself, and My Little Pony did not discriminate. The solid storytelling entertained adults and children alike.

This year has seen a renaissance of all things 2010, and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic may be next. As recent film adaptations of popular ’80s kids’ toys like Masters of the Universe, Street Fighter, and Matchbox the Movie gain notoriety, MLP could be poised for a comeback as well. A live-action My Little Pony film is reportedly in the works, and the kingdom of Equestria looks to be next to get a non-animated movie makeover.

‘Penny Dreadful’ (2014–2016)

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    Image via Showtime</figure>

Much more than literary fanfic, Penny Dreadful weaves compelling narratives involving some of Gothic fantasy’s most famous characters into one cohesive tale. Centered around the figure of Vanessa Ives (Eva Green), the series features iconic figures such as Dr. Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway), Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney), and Dracula (Christian Camargo). The series dives deeply into concepts about good versus evil and how the protagonists must combat villainy from without and from within.

Penny Dreadful adds dimension to the well-known personas and avoids feeling kitschy or pandering. It has strong female characters and an empowered retelling of the Bride of Frankenstein. The finale of Penny Dreadful left viewers shocked. Many fans did not expect the close of Season 3 to be the conclusion of the series, and Vanessa’s fate divided devotees. Creator John Logan stated that his intent was always to have the show revolve around Vanessa, and her conclusion was the one he aimed for. This abrupt but intentional ending ensured Penny Dreadful remained potent, and the series ended before it could dilute itself with further seasons.

‘Gravity Falls’ (2012–2016)

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    Image via Disney Channel</figure>

An animated series that Collider’s Jeffrey Harris calls “Twin Peaks Meets The X-Files,” Gravity Falls is cultivated storytelling that is packaged like none other. The inconspicuous animation is almost misdirection, giving the illusion that the TV show will be about playground antics or outdoor camping. However, the visuals end up providing the perfect vehicle for the strange, mysterious, and intriguing story told within the saga.

Gravity Falls follows twin siblings Mabel (Kristen Schaal) and Dipper (Jason Ritter) as they stay with their great-uncle, or “Grunkle” Stan (Alex Hirsch), in Gravity Falls. As the twins spend time in the secluded town, they start to witness strange phenomena. Like The X-Files, Gravity Falls has monster-of-the-week episodes alongside larger, more connected storylines. It has a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and continues to be a favored choice on streaming. Fans of series like The X-Files and Twin Peaks should definitely give it a watch.

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

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    Image via Wit Studio</figure>

A series that is responsible for breaking the internet has to be noteworthy. There was such a high demand for viewership for the final episode of Attack on Titan that the overload crashed Crunchyroll. Even non-anime fans tuned in to see the spectacle, and everyone was glued to their screens, watching the drama unfold.

Already considered a modern classic, Attack on Titan follows a teenager named Eren Jaeger (Bryce Papenbrook and Yûki Kaji) who seeks revenge after his mother and home village are destroyed by human-eating leviathans called Titans. There are several layers to the story in Attack on Titan, and you will have to watch the series to appreciate them all. Attack on Titan takes no prisoners, and it tells exactly the story it wants to, whether fans like the outcome or not. It is one of the best anime of the past 10 years and quite possibly of all time.

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