American-made TV productions have often dominated the fantasy genre, with shows from other countries getting less attention. This means that there are plenty ofexcellent fantasy shows that you have never heard of. Fantasy TV shows from outside the USA regularly lean into legends and mysteries from other cultures, which are often exciting to hear about and see brought to life onscreen.
The best fantasy shows of all time create entire new worlds for viewers that are unforgettable years later. That said, some works of fantasy have been so popular that they have defined the genre for generations. These days, somefantasy TV can even rivalLord of the Ringsin terms of scale and budget. However, there are also a lot of underrated, lesser-known series out there.
10Les Revenants
France
Les Revenantsis a French fantasy TV series that had an American remakecalledThe Returned. WhileThe Returnedis the more well-known version,Les Revenantsis the better TV show by far. The show is set in an isolated alpine village, where people who have died begin to return. However,Les Revenantsis not a typical zombie show.
While there are some horror elements inLes Revenants, the show is more of a dark and thoughtful fantasy. As strange phenomena begin to occur, the show makes its audience consider what it means to be alive and to love. It is a quiet and philosophical masterpiece with some devastating moments that will stay with viewers for years to come.
9Katla
Iceland
Iceland already looks like a fantasy setting, so it is not surprising that many fantasy masterpieces, includingGame of Thrones, have been filmed there. That said,Katlais one of the best fantasy TV shows that is rooted in the culture of Icelandrather than just using the country as a backdrop.Katlacombines a mystery story with Icelandic folklore.
The TV show is named after a real volcano in Iceland, and tells the story of what happens when it erupts, revealing previously missing people coming out of the rubble.The cast ofKatlaall give excellent performances, and season 1 focuses on Gríma, whose missing sister returns to the volcano.Like many great works of fantasy,Katlaexplores deep themeslike mental illness and grief.
8Ragnarok
Norway And Denmark
Norse mythology has been a popular subject on TV recently, and yet the TV seriesRagnarokhas an original take on it. The show is a coming-of-age drama in which teenagers discover that they are the reincarnations of Norse gods. The premise might sound a little over-the-top, and one of the greatest strengths of the show is that it does not take itself too seriously.
Ragnarokfeatures several Norse godsand deals with environmental impact and climate change through the lens of Norse mythology. The main characters fight against their town’s wealthy and oppressive family, hitting many common tropes in teen dramas. However,Ragnaroktells this familiar “good vs. evil” story in an original way, which is a hallmark of the best fantasy stories.
The Brazilian fantasy seriesInvisible Citycombines a detective mystery with a hidden world of battling fantasy creaturesand gods. Most of the characters are based on Brazilian mythology, which might be unfamiliar to viewers who have mostly experienced American-based fantasy stories.Invisible Cityis filmed like a movie, making it both beautiful and haunting to look at.
Eric, an environmental police officer, looks into a case in which a river dolphin is washed ashore, but appears to be replaced with a man’s body.Invisible Citytakes its time telling the story, and the result is a well-deserved 89% positive audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
6His Dark Materials
UK
His Dark Materialsis one of the most faithful book-to-screen adaptations to be made. After the very disappointing movie adaptation,The Golden Compass,the book was given a second chance as a TV show.His Dark Materialstakes place in several different parallel universes, but the TV show is always easy to follow, with a fantastic cast of veteran actors.
The TV adaptation ofHis Dark Materialseven addresses the criticism of organized religion that is a central theme in the book. This avoided the movie’s problem where it tried to appeal to too many people at once. The show keeps the scale of the movie, but tells the story with better pacing, with each season corresponding to one of the books.
5Shahmaran
Turkey
The Turkish drama seriesShahmaranbegins with a family conflict as Şahsu, a psychology professor, travels to Adana for work and to confront her estranged grandfather. However, she quicklydiscoversa cult that worships Şahmaran, the mythical queen of snakes. The cult is waiting for a prophecy to be fulfilled, and when Şahsu meets a strange man, the mystery deepens.
Shahmaranlasted for two seasons and has a 91% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.The half-woman, half-snake goddess is a mysterious presence at the center of the show, which is both intense and exciting for the way it covers a mythical creature that rarely gets attention onscreen. Thefantasy show was praised for its excellent pacing, its premise, and the performances of the main cast.
4Cleverman
Australia
Of all thegreat Australian TV shows available on Netflix,Clevermanis one of the most exciting. While Australia is a popular setting for TV, with its wildlife providing excitement in documentaries and fictional shows, its Aboriginal lore often gets overlooked.Clevermancombines Australia’s Aboriginal lore with a dystopian universe, making the show both unusual and fascinating.
Clevermanexplores themes of racism, identity, and exploitationby reimagining several Aboriginal Dreamtime stories in a grittier context. The show tells the story of two estranged brothers who are forced together to fight for their survival when one of them is named the Cleverman. This is an important cultural title, identifying a healer and the conduit between worlds.
3Attack On Titan
Japan
Attack on Titanisa harrowing and realistic depiction of war. The anime might be difficult to watch at times, but it is one of the greatest fantasy TV shows of all time. Based on Hajime Isayama’s manga,Attack on Titanis a dark storyset in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction, constantly under threat from giant creatures called Titans.
The show builds a terrifying world in which humans live in walled cities to protect themselves from the Titans. Still,Attack on Titanhas mastered the art of psychological horrorand constantly pushes boundaries. It is a common misconception that the fantasy genre is always child-focused, andAttack on Titanperfectly illustrates why this is not true.
2Dark
Germany
The moody and disturbing German fantasy seriesDarkcombines the fantasy and sci-fi genres, revolving around a mysterious cave.Darkfollows the residents of the fictional town of Winden, Germany, in the aftermath of the disappearance of two children.Darkis a mind-bending sci-fi masterpieceas well as a very clever work of fantasy, embracing elements of German folklore.
Many stories in German folklore feature children disappearing in dark forests, andDarkuses this setting to great effect, before turning the story upside down.Darkinvolves time travel and has some of the most shocking twists in any TV series. It was an instant hit on Netflix and is still one of the best fantasy TV shows of all time.
1Kingdom
South Korea
Kingdomis a South Korean horror masterpiecethat has been described as “Game of Thrones meets The Walking Dead.” The show brings elements of fantasy to the zombie genre, with characters searching for a mythical resurrection plant that will bring the dead king back to life. Unfortunately for them, this does not go to plan, and they accidentally release a zombie plague.
LikeThe Walking Dead, Kingdomis based on a successful graphic novel, and likeGame of Thrones, it is full of political scheming and intrigue. The 17th-century historical setting gives a new and unusual aspect to the zombie genre, and the fantasy elements inKingdommake it a TV show that stands apart from many others.
