Unveiling the Hidden Gems: The Most Underrated Fantasy TV Shows You May Have Missed

Summary

The best fantasy series offer a wide range of tones and can cater to a variety of audiences, with elements like swords, sorcery, beat cops, and even animated fantasy.

Underrated fantasy shows like Lockwood & Co., Willow, BeastMaster, and The Adventures of Merlin should not be overlooked. They showcase captivating storytelling and thrilling adventures while avoiding supernatural love triangles or relying on established fanbases. These shows successfully explore complex issues and feature engaging characters.

Underrated fantasy shows are just as excellent as mainstream successes, offering a wide range of tones and appealing to diverse audiences. These shows encompass various elements such as swords, sorcery, law enforcement, agencies, and even animation, resulting in a vast array of content that caters to individual preferences. However, despite their exploration of complex themes and captivating characters, some of these creative fantasy series are often overlooked if they lack a supernatural love triangle or an established fanbase.

In recent years, the number of fantasy TV shows has increased significantly, with acclaimed series like Good Omens, The Sandman, The Witcher, Game of Thrones, Supernatural, and Stranger Things attracting both critical acclaim and a devoted following. Specifically, The Witcher, Supernatural, and Game of Thrones have become iconic cultural references, despite facing criticism for their lackluster series finales. Nonetheless, there are numerous smaller fantasy shows that are equally deserving of viewership. These shows offer everything found in mainstream series and can be indulged in over a weekend, inspiring the imagination of viewers.

10 Lockwood & Co.

9 Willow

Lockwood and Co. takes readers on a thrilling journey with three young ghost hunters. Among them is Lucy Carlyle, a psychic endowed with extraordinary abilities. She joins forces with Anthony Lockwood, a fascinating and enigmatic figure who owns and leads the ghost-hunting agency Lucy becomes a part of. Alongside them is George Karim, Lockwood and Co.'s esteemed head of research.

In this intriguing world, the dead have been mysteriously resurfacing from their graves for several years. This unexplainable phenomenon has hindered technological progress and claimed the lives of those unfortunate enough to come into contact with these tormented spirits. While adults remain oblivious to their presence, it is children who possess the ability to perceive these restless ghosts. This has led to the establishment of ghost-hunting agencies like Lockwood and Co., devoted to protecting society from these supernatural threats.

Lucy, Anthony, and George find themselves embarking on perilous quests to safeguard London from the clutches of vengeful spirits. As they strive to unravel the enigma behind these ghostly apparitions, they are pulled deeper into a captivating mystery that holds the key to their city's salvation.

Willow is a sequel to the 1988 film, set two decades after the original story. During this time, Elora Danaan has been kept hidden from the world. However, after the Tanthalos royal family is attacked and Prince Airk is abducted, Queen Sorsha is compelled to send her daughter Princess Kit, the aspiring knight Jade, Prince Graydon, Willow, and the humble kitchen maid Dove on a mission to rescue the prince and vanquish the malevolence that has seized him. Regrettably, Willow is currently unavailable for streaming on Disney+. Nevertheless, if it were to make a comeback, it would definitely be worth watching.

8 BeastMaster

7 The Legend of Vox Machina

BeastMaster, a fantasy show that concluded in 2002, tells the story of Dar (Daniel Goddard), the final survivor of his tribe. He embarks on a journey across the land, using his unique ability to communicate with animals to safeguard both creatures and people, all while in search of his lost loved one, Kyra (Natalie Mendoza). Accompanying Dar on his adventures are his friend Tao (Jackson Raine) and a warrior named Arina (Marjean Holden), both of whom are the sole survivors of their respective people. Together, these three heroes confront the formidable Balcifer the Dark One (Jeremy Callaghan) and uncover the remains of Dar's family.

The Legend of Vox Machina is an animated fantasy show that chronicles the exploits of Vox Machina, a band of mercenaries tasked with safeguarding the realm of Tal'Dorei from various imminent perils. Drawing inspiration from the original Critical Role actual-play series, the members, including Keyleth (portrayed by Marisha Ray), Vex (portrayed by Laura Bailey), Vax (portrayed by Liam O'Brien), Percy (portrayed by Taliesin Jaffe), Scanlan (portrayed by Sam Riegle), Pike (portrayed by Ashley Johnson), and Grog (portrayed by Travis Willingham), must unite their forces while confronting their inner struggles. Their endeavors involve thwarting the nefarious schemes of the Briarwoods (portrayed by Grey Griffin and Matthew Mercer) and withstanding a devastating assault by the Chroma Conclave, a formidable alliance of dragons.

6 American Gods

American Gods is a captivating television series based on the acclaimed novel by Neil Gaiman. This extraordinary narrative revolves around the life of Shadow Moon (portrayed by Ricky Whittle), a recently released prisoner attempting to make his way back home. However, Fate has a different plan for him, as he becomes entangled in a mysterious realm where the ancient deities of the past, like Odin and Anansi, face the bleak prospect of being forgotten amidst the overwhelming dominance of new gods embodying the forces of globalization and technology. In this intriguing new world, Shadow finds himself employed by the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday (played by Ian McShane), forcing him to confront both his haunting past and the wife he reluctantly left behind.

5 The Adventures of Merlin

The Adventures of Merlin is a classic fantasy show that follows the story of Merlin, a young and powerful warlock played by Colin Morgan. Merlin finds himself in a challenging situation when he arrives in the court of King Uther Pendragon, portrayed by Anthony Head. Unfortunately, magic has been outlawed by King Uther, and the last remaining dragon, played by John Hurt, is imprisoned beneath the castle. This puts Merlin in a precarious position. However, with Merlin's assistance, there is a prophecy that Prince Arthur, played by Bradley James, will bring magic back to the kingdom. Thus, Merlin and Arthur join forces to combat the schemes of Morgana, portrayed by Katie McGrath, who is a sorceress.

4 Wynonna Earp

3 Grimm

In 2021, the popular TV show Wynonna Earp, which falls under the fantasy genre, came to an end. The series revolves around the protagonist, Wynonna Earp, who is the great-great-granddaughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp. Upon inheriting the unique ability to banish revenants (outlaws reincarnated by Wyatt) back to the depths of hell, Wynonna confronts the challenge of breaking her family curse and battling the supernatural beings that haunt her hometown. Accompanied by her sister Waverly Earp, Special Agent Xavier Dolls, the immortal Doc Holliday, and Officer Nicole Haught, Wynonna embarks on a courageous journey to restore peace and rid her community of menacing creatures.

Grimm, a captivating blend of fantasy and police procedural genres, concluded in 2017. The show centers around Homicide Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli), who embarks on a transformative journey upon discovering his ancestry as a Grimm, a lineage of protectors. These Grimms possess the important task of preserving the delicate equilibrium between humanity and the mythical and fairy-tale creatures referred to as Wesen. Nick's courageous exploits against perilous beings are aided by his Wesen confidant, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), and his partner in crime-solving, Detective Hank Griffin (Russell Hornsby).

2 Camelot

1 Galavant

In 2011, Camelot, another adaptation of the King Arthur mythos, came to a close. This captivating fantasy series approached the legend with a more realistic and gritty touch. After the sudden demise of King Uther, Merlin (played by Joseph Fiennes) crowns Arthur (portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower), the unknown son and rightful heir of Uther, as the new king. Together with Arthur's birth mother Igraine (Claire Forlani), his foster brother Kay (Peter Mooney), and his faithful warriors Leontes (Philip Winchester), Gawain (Clive Standen), Ulfus (Jamie Downey), and Brastias (Diarmaid Murtagh), King Arthur embarks on a journey to embrace his lineage and defend Britain. However, his half-sister Morgan (Eva Green) cunningly schemes to seize the throne.

The medieval fantasy TV series called Galavant is the last one to be mentioned. The show revolves around the character Galavant (played by Joshua Sasse), a charming knight facing tough times and determined to restore his reputation by triumphing over the Evil King Richard (portrayed by Timothy Omundson). In addition to besmirching Galavant's name, King Richard has also abducted Galavant's beloved, Madalena (portrayed by Mallory Jansen). Galavant embarks on a musical quest to rescue Madalena and defeat Richard, accompanied by his loyal squire, Sid (portrayed by Luke Youngblood), and aided by Princess Isabella (played by Karen David), whose realm has been conquered by Richard.