Entertainment

9 Fantasy Shows That Rival Lord of the Rings

Nairavoice · Nov 5, 2026 · 8 min read

The Lord of the Rings may be the poster child of fantasy, but other works can also give the epic masterpiece a run for its money. J.R.R. Tolkien‘s legendary story follows Frodo Baggins as he inherits the One Ring and sets out to destroy it, saving Middle-earth and its inhabitants in the process. The Lord of the Rings has told plenty of stories about heroes, villains, and saving the world from doom, but fantasy shows have found their own ways to explore those same big ideas.

Some have taken things a step further by breaking away from the usual good-versus-evil divide, showing how fantasy can be a lot closer to home than we realize, or proving that a story doesn’t need to be grand in scale to be great. From a fight for the Iron Throne to an adventure across the Grand Line, here are the fantasy shows that rival The Lord of the Rings.

‘The Witcher’ (2019–Present)

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    Image via Netflix</figure>

The Witcher demystifies what it means to be a hero. One might think that being a monster hunter would make Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill and Liam Hemsworth) a noble figure in the eyes of villagers. However, his title and powers often do him more harm than good. To those who fear him, he’s a monster; to those with money, he’s simply useful.

Unlike The Lord of the Rings, which relies on a more traditional distinction between good and evil, The Witcher embraces moral ambiguity. Its morally complex characters aren’t just for show; they portray how good and evil constantly overlap. Even the noblest intentions can cause harm, while the most wicked people may still have a shred of integrity.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

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    Image via HBO</figure>

Everything is political, including fantasy shows. For all of Game of Thrones‘ imagined realms and treacherous dragons, much of the show revolves around the pursuit of political power. Unlike The Lord of the Rings, where the central conflict is about destroying the One Ring and preventing its power from falling into the wrong hands, Game of Thrones focuses on the very human struggle to claim the throne.

This is a huge reason why Game of Thrones appeals even to non-fantasy watchers. The show explores the mechanics of gaining power, revealing the tactics and strategies people use to get there. In the process, it exposes the deeply human strengths and flaws of its characters, often leading to some of television’s most shocking betrayals and plot twists.

‘One Piece’ (2023–Present)

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    Image via Netflix</figure>

At its heart, One Piece is a coming-of-age story about growing together, except that they’re on a ship in the middle of the sea. Despite coming from different worlds, One Piece shares one thing in common with The Lord of the Rings: both feature their own ragtag teams. Instead of the Fellowship, One Piece has the equally eccentric Straw Hat crew.

Unlike the Fellowship, which eventually breaks apart, the Straw Hats remain together throughout their pirate adventures. Each member brings something different to the crew, playing an important role aboard the ship and in the story’s emotional arcs. Their relationships also shape how they grow as individuals, making One Piece more than just a fantasy adventure.

‘Merlin’ (2008–2012)

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    Image via BBC</figure>

The Lord of the Rings wowed fans with its grandiose, epic fantasy, but Merlin proves that “common,” everyday magic can be just as intriguing. Sure, there’s destiny, royalty, and marvelous creatures, but Merlin also knows how to have fun with its ridiculous shenanigans, which is a true ode to the fantasy genre itself.

Think getting possessed by a goblin or briefly marrying a troll. Merlin knows when to take a cheeky breather between all the spectacle. While it’s based on Arthurian legend, the show isn’t strict about following canon. It allows its characters to grow, change, and fall from grace, showing that the only way to fulfill one’s prophecy is to allow oneself to evolve when circumstances call for it.

‘The Sandman’ (2022–2025)

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    Image via Netflix</figure>

Season 2 may have its pacing issues, but it’s hard not to give The Sandman its flowers for changing the fantasy landscape on streaming. Rather than telling a story from one perspective, as is the case with Frodo, The Sandman gives individual episodes room to tell their own stories while contributing to Morpheus’ (Tom Sturridge) larger journey.

This allows the show to experiment with its storytelling while maintaining its central quest. Thanks to this experimentation, The Sandman isn’t confined to traditional fantasy norms. Whether it’s a story about freeing a former lover from an author or a serial-killer storyline, the series meshes horror, drama, and mythology into a darker, grittier fantasy setting, making it all the more of a shame that the show was canceled so abruptly.

‘Castlevania’ (2017–2021)

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    Image via Netflix</figure>

Unlike The Lord of the Rings and its traditional high-fantasy beliefs, where heroes generally represent the forces of good, Castlevania twists the genre with a bloodier, morally complicated story in which even the villains have a point. This beautifully hand-drawn, anime-inspired take on Dracula wants audiences to sympathize with characters who are otherwise canonically evil.

Set in 15th-century Wallachia, the Gothic fantasy initially presents Dracula as a bloodthirsty murderer, only to reveal that his crusade against humanity comes from profound grief rather than simple vengeance. The series makes righteousness a debatable concept, questioning whether institutions that preach morality actually practice what they preach, while suggesting that those who endure the greatest suffering may have the clearest understanding of humanity.

‘His Dark Materials’ (2019–2022)

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    Image via HBO</figure>

His Dark Materials isn’t afraid to get philosophical, downright uncomfortable, and, some might say, dangerously close to blasphemous. While The Lord of the Rings explores good and evil through opposing, supernatural forces, His Dark Materials gives these ideas a more concrete form through corrupt institutions inspired by religious establishments. These institutions claim to uphold righteousness but resort to cruel methods, sacrificing innocent lives for their so-called greater good.

What begins as a child’s adventure quickly becomes something much bigger as Lyra gets caught between curious scholars and an authoritarian religious institution. Armored polar bears, talking spirit animals, and parallel universes share the screen with religious persecution, Original Sin, and a prophecy about a new Eve—adding layer after layer to this complex but tightly written fantasy series.

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)

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    Image via Nickelodeon</figure>

Right from the get-go, Avatar: The Last Airbender excels at something The Lord of the Rings couldn’t do: putting a group of children at the center of its story. There’s something earnest and painfully honest about watching children forced to grow up in war-torn nations, especially when they’re tasked with saving them.

In a world ruled by four elements, Aang must fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, but he can’t do it without his newfound friends. Throughout three seasons, this crew faces hardships, sacrifices, and losses that even adults would struggle to handle. But Avatar isn’t just about becoming the strongest warrior. It’s also about breaking free from others’ expectations, challenging prophecies, and finding the courage to forge our own paths.

‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ (2023–Present)

Image via Disney+
Image via Disney+
Image via Disney+
Image via Disney+
Image via Disney+

Image via Disney+

Image via Disney+
Image via Disney+
Image via Disney+
Image via Disney+
Image via Disney+

Image via Disney+

The Lord of the Rings will forever be timeless, but younger generations of fantasy enthusiasts are looking for something more modern and relatable. Look no further than Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The 2010s movie adaptations ignited interest in Rick Riordan‘s books, and the latest television adaptation does the story even more justice by taking it further through its episodic format.

It’s classic Greek mythology with a modern-day makeover, giving it a more approachable feel to even non-fantasy viewers. While the story revolves around celestial, supernatural battles, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is ultimately about young kids trying to find their place in a world where their parents are worshiped as gods.

12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson, is coming to terms with his newfound divine powers when the sky god, Zeus, accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt; with his friend’s help, Percy must restore order to Olympus.

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