Fantasy tv positively exploded after Sport of Thrones‘ success, however a number of the best series in the genre got here out earlier than HBO’s hit. These titles proved that fantasy may attraction to a large viewers throughout their time on air, with lots of them accumulating devoted followings and securing lasting legacies due to it.
Additionally they prevented the pressure to be the “next Game of Thrones,” making certain that every of them introduced one thing distinctive and fascinating to the desk. Viewers who solely bought into the style due to Sport of Thrones ought to return and watch these older sequence, as they’re important viewing for fantasy lovers.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
1997-2003
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a basic for good purpose; the present revolutionized the fantasy style within the ’90s with its kickass heroine and monster-of-the-week episodes. Though Buffy‘s particular results present its age, the sequence in any other case holds up properly. Whether or not you are rewatching it for nostalgic causes or beginning it for the primary time, you will go away happy.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is on no account an ideal sequence, however it affords a number of the greatest supernatural storylines on tv. The sequence boasts unimaginable heroes, compelling villains, and enjoyable adventures with a stunning quantity of emotional depth. It was forward of its time, and it stays amongst fantasy’s most interesting, even after all of the post-Sport of Thrones releases.
Charmed
1998-2006
One other game-changing fantasy present from the ’90s is Charmed, and whereas its legacy is not fairly as large as Buffy‘s, it is nonetheless among the many greatest additions to the style prior to now 30 years. Debuting in 1998, Charmed adopted a bunch of sisters — who additionally occurred to be witches — as they hunted supernatural threats.
Charmed does an important job with its themes of sisterhood, making certain viewers really feel linked to its leads and their relationships with each other. This makes the sequence’ emotional blows that rather more memorable, and it helps promote the sequence’ drama.
Xena: Warrior Princess
1995-2001
Xena: Warrior Princess walked in order that reveals like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed may run, and it holds up surprisingly properly for a sequence that is 30 years previous. Anybody who loves fantasy with a strong heroine on the helm should watch the 1995 present. It is a pleasure to see Lucy Lawless’ lead search redemption by combating highly effective, ill-intended foes.
And Xena’s journey absolutely unpacks the complexity of her character, refusing to carry again as a result of she’s the lead or as a result of she’s supposed to suit neatly into some archetype. Xena: Warrior Princess additionally masterfully injects humor into its run, hanging an important tone that makes falling into it an extremely enjoyable trip.
Avatar: The Final Airbender
2005-2008
Avatar: The Final Airbender got here out within the early 2000s, and because it celebrates its twentieth anniversary in 2025, it is likely to be even extra fashionable than when it was on air. That is comprehensible, as the Nickelodeon sequence is actually timeless. Its emphasis on hope whereas tackling endlessly related points makes it a pleasure to look at, whether or not it is for the primary time or the fiftieth.
The Final Airbender‘s success may be attributed to its steadiness of humor and depth, lovable characters, and elemental magic system. All of them come collectively to type a real masterpiece of a sequence. The franchise remains to be increasing, however nothing beats the unique.
2009-2010
Quite a few fantasy anime debuted previous to Sport of Thrones, however Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood actually is the very best of them. Premiering in 2009 — simply two years earlier than the HBO sequence — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has all the things you might need in a fantasy story.
Its premise, which sees two brothers on a journey to search out the thinker’s stone, digs into authorities conspiracies and ethical dilemmas that make for gripping tv. If that is not sufficient incentive to dive in, its plausible leads and sophisticated aspect characters are a few of anime’s best-written. Add in its good method to alchemy, and it is an undeniably nice fantasy title.
Pushing Daisies
2007-2009
Pushing Daisies is an incredibly underrated fantasy show with a bonkers premise at its heart: a chef who has the power to resurrect the useless. The 2007 sequence lives as much as its enjoyable idea, too, making its cancellation after simply two seasons extra disappointing. The 2 outings that do exist are charming and enjoyable whereas tackling necessary matters, like mortality and grief.
Pushing Daisies stays a compelling watch virtually 20 years later, and it is nonetheless extremely distinctive in comparison with different fantasy fare. It is felony that it hasn’t grow to be extra acknowledged, as all the things from its visuals to its romance to its humor works in its favor.
Carnivàle
2003-2005
HBO tried its hand at the fantasy genre with Carnivàle in 2003, virtually a full decade previous to releasing Sport of Thrones. Set amid the Nice Despair, Carnivàle follows teen Ben Hawkins as he uncovers extraordinary skills and turns into an necessary chess piece in a battle between good and evil.
Carnivàle took frequent themes and ideas and put a novel spin on them, not less than for the time it was airing. It is a disgrace it did not take off extra, because it may have been an early fantasy hit for HBO. Sadly, it was canceled after two seasons, however it nonetheless makes for an interesting binge.
Merlin
2008-2012
Sport of Thrones and Merlin overlapped simply barely, with the latter taking its last bow as season 2 of HBO’s adaptation was starting. Nonetheless, the vast majority of Merlin‘s run unfolded previous to Sport of Thrones, drawing new followers to the fantasy style with its spin on Arthurian legend. Its method to the acquainted characters and story felt contemporary and thrilling, and it nonetheless makes for an important viewing expertise.
Colin Morgan’s efficiency because the present’s title character is without doubt one of the highlights of Merlin, and his chemistry with Arthur star Bradley James fuels the dynamic that made the sequence so profitable. Merlin‘s ending additionally packs a strong punch, one that may stick with viewers lengthy after they’ve completed the present. It is really a standout of the 2000s and 2010s.
Supernatural
2005-2020
Supernatural had such a prolonged run that it overlapped with Sport of Thrones‘ time on air, however the CW sequence premiered six years earlier than the HBO present, capitalizing on the recognition of different monster-of-the-week reveals. Supernatural owes rather a lot to Buffy, however it additionally grew to become a phenomenon in its personal proper. There is a purpose it ran for 15 seasons.
Supernatural has a powerful emotional core, with the bond between the Winchester brothers giving viewers greater than sufficient purpose to comply with them into each daunting state of affairs they face. After all, the emotional beats are completely balanced by the present’s signature humor. It is refreshing that Supernatural by no means takes itself too significantly, and it permits it to reinvent itself repeatedly.
The Vampire Diaries
2009-2017
The Vampire Diaries debuted a few years earlier than Sport of Thrones, although it remained on air all through the 2010s, identical to the HBO present. The Vampire Diaries completely blended supernatural fantasy narratives with teen drama, making it an addicting watch from begin to end. Its first few seasons, particularly, are unimaginable to place down.
Elena’s discovery of the supernatural underbelly of Mystic Falls makes for a gripping trip filled with twists and turns, and the Salvatore brothers are a number of the greatest vampires to grace tv prior to now 20 years (although Interview With the Vampire now takes the cake). TVD is entertaining fantasy and makes for an unimaginable rewatch, cementing its lasting legacy.
