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Good fantasy TV shows need to have the stellar ability of worldbuilding, as fantasy is a genre that relies on the ability to create an immersive fictional universe, full of fantastical elements, to capture the viewers’ interest. While fantasy books are able to dedicate pages to creating a detailed world, fantasy TV shows need to do it in a shorter period. But many successful shows have created immersive worlds for viewers and elevated their shows into the majestic and whimsical. Here are 10 such shows.
The Whitcher, Arcane, and other fantasy TV shows that have fantastic worldbuilding
1. The Wheel of Time
Based on the book series of the same name by Robert Jordan, this fantasy series is developed by Rafe Judkins and features Rosamund Pike, Zoe Robins, and others. The show focuses on Moiraine Damodred (Pike), who is a member of the Aes Sedai, a powerful organization of women. This organization can channel the One Power, and they seek four young people from a village, as one of them is the reincarnation of the Dragon. The reincarnation is prophesied to either save the world from an evil called the Dark One or that person could break it again. The book series by Jordan is massive, and therefore the show had a lot of worldbuilding to do, and it did that with clarity. It is one of the best fantasy TV shows for worldbuilding, as it offers details about the cultural and social work of a character and has excellent interweaving of many settings and characters. Therefore, it is one of the must-watch fantasy TV shows.
2. His Dark Materials
Written by Jack Thorne and based on the trilogy of novels by Philip Pullman, this fantasy drama features Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, and others. The series has been noted for its visuals, production values, and faithfulness to the source material that has resulted in impressive worldbuilding. Therefore, it is one of the must-watch fantasy TV shows. The show is set in a multi-world reality where human souls manifest as animal companions called daemons. Amidst all this, there is a girl called Lyra, who discovers a dangerous secret about the Magisterium, a political and religious body that governs everyone. Lyra is a special girl, and she must encounter various challenges, as a witches’ prophecy prophesizes that she will change the world. It is one of the best fantasy TV shows about worldbuilding, as it explores various realities and worlds and interconnects them beautifully.
3. Game of Thrones
Based on the fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, this fantasy drama is created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and is one of the most popular shows in the world. The series gained a massive fan following during its airing and was praised for its visuals, intricate and massive worldbuilding, and interesting characters. The show focuses on a group of noble families in the fictional world of Westeros, where the Seven Kingdoms want the power to rule over the Iron Throne. While having a strong source material is just one part of the challenge, adapting it brilliantly to TV is another. And the famous show was able to do it wonderfully. It is therefore one of the best fantasy TV shows and revolutionized the modern fantasy genre. The series portrays a layered world and offers a rich and complex world. It uses the huge ensemble cast well, as the characters are able to be at various locations and give a feeling of expansiveness to the show. Therefore, it is one of the must-watch fantasy TV shows.
4. Arcane
Created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, this steampunk and action-and-adventure fantasy series is based on the League of Legends game by Riot Games. Voiced by Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell, the show focuses on two sisters, Violet, or Vi, and Powder, or Jinx. The sisters find themselves amidst a growing conflict between the underbelly of Zaun and the rich city of Piltover. The show is one of the most successful animated fantasy series and is therefore one of the best fantasy TV shows. Noted for its worldbuilding, soundtrack, visuals, and more, the show has won various awards as well. As a steampunk show, it blends science and magic to create a unique world for the viewers and offers a stark contrast between the poor world of Zaun and the rich world of Piltover. The show has themes of class struggle and class disparities, and it is therefore one of the must-watch fantasy TV shows.
5. Good Omens
Based on the 1990 novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, this fantasy comedy show features Michael Sheen, David Tennant, and others. The show focuses on the demon Crowley (Tennant) and the angel Aziraphale (Sheen), who are longtime acquaintances and have grown used to each other. The two represent the Heaven and the Hell and have agreed that they would not let the conflict between the two sides lead to the destruction of their friendship. When news about an Armageddon comes, the two team up to prevent the coming of the Antichrist and the end of the world. It is one of the must-watch fantasy TV shows, as Tennant and Sheen deliver stellar performances, and their chemistry offers an anchor for the otherworldly elements in the show. The show has an expansive world as it covers Earth, Heaven, and Hell. Therefore, it is one of the best fantasy TV shows.
6. The Sandman
Developed by Neil Gaiman, David S. Goyer, and Allan Heinberg, this fantasy drama show is based on the 1989 to 1996 comic book written by Neil Gaiman, which was published by DC Comics. Starring Tom Sturridge as the titular character, the show tells the story of Dream/Morpheus, who is The Sandman. The show focuses on Morpheus, who is the personification of dreams and is one of the seven Endless, who is captured due to an occult ritual that happened in 1916. However, Morpheus escapes in 2022 and sets out to restore the order to his realm of the Dreaming. The show has excellent scenes of the realm of Dream, where Morpheus and his subjects live. Therefore, it is one of the must-watch fantasy TV shows. The acclaimed show has a bizarre and quirky ambiance throughout that makes it one of the best fantasy TV shows with worldbuilding. The regular world and the fantasy world clash brilliantly in the show and are therefore the perfect watch for fantasy fans.
7. The Legend of Vox Machina
Based on the first campaign of the Dungeons and Dragons web series Critical Role, this animated fantasy and action series features the voices of Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, and others. The show has received widespread acclaim for its faithfulness to the campaign, animation, story, and writing. The show is therefore one of the best fantasy TV shows. It is set on Exandria, which is a fictional world. Other fictional worlds include Tal’Dorei, Emon, and Whitestone. The show has several arcs, and one of them focuses on the Vox Machina crew avenging the murder of the rulers of Whitestone by the evil Lord and Lady Briarwood. The show has expansive worlds, as it is inspired by Matthew Mercer’s campaign, which created many worlds. There are biomes, magical objects, and creatures invented by Mercer. Therefore, the show is one of the must-watch fantasy TV shows.
8. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, this animated fantasy and action show features the voices of Mae Whitman, Jack DeSena, and others. The show is set in a world where some people can telekinetically manipulate one of the four elements of water, earth, fire, and air. There are Asian themes of martial arts in the show as well. Only one person, however, can control all four elements, and that person is called the Avatar. That person is the link between the physical and the spirit world as well and protects people from evil. The show focuses on Aang, the current Avatar, who must defeat the Fire Lord Ozai. The show spawned a whole franchise and is one of the most influential animations. It has received praise for its visuals, humor, and reflection upon serious themes like war, class warfare, and more. It is one of the best fantasy TV shows and has many different worlds based on the four elements that have been given a lot of attention and are detailed.
9. Stranger Things
Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, and others, this modern fantasy and sci-fi horror series is created by the Duffer brothers. Set in the 1980s, the show has become one of the most influential series since its premiere because of its nostalgic factor, comprehensive storyline, soundtrack, and performances. The series focuses on a fictional town of Hawkins in Indiana, where a bunch of people begin experiencing supernatural occurrences after an illegal scientific experiment leads to monsters coming outside from another dimension. One of the most important concepts in the show is the “Upside Down,” which refers to the otherworldly dimension that is dangerous and full of monsters. Therefore, the show has fantasy concepts layered within and is one of the must-watch fantasy TV shows. The show provides a parallel world to the viewers for a sense of place and reality. Therefore, it is one of the best fantasy TV shows.
10. The Witcher
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Created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and based on the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, this fantasy drama is one of the fantasy TV shows that feature Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, and others. The series is set in a medieval world called the “Continent” and explores the legend of Geralt of Rivia and others. The main focus of the show is Geralt and Ciri. Ciri is the princess of Cirilla, and Geralt (Cavill) is a monster hunter known as the “witcher.” The fates of Ciri and Geralt are linked, and Geralt has to keep Ciri safe from evil people who want to exploit the “Elder Blood” and the powerful magic that Ciri has. The show creates a vast world and even deviates from the novels to create its own story. However, its worldbuilding is stellar, and it is one of the must-watch fantasy TV shows.
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