Though there’s little more exciting than getting swept away by a fantasy world in a movie, many TV shows have proven that the genre shines on television. Films typically have bigger budgets, relying on spectacle and big names to draw audiences to the box office, but they often fall short of their small-screen counterparts. Even when the budgets are limited, TV series give their all to these fantasy worlds.

Every fantasy fan must watch these shows, not just because they’re amazing additions to the genre, but because they’re such vivid character studies. One of the biggest differences between movies and TV series is the amount of time that the writers and audiences get to spend with the characters. The visual effects might not be as impressive, but the relationships are better developed and nuanced.

The Shannara Chronicles (2016–2017)

Before he was a movie star, leading blockbusters like Elvis, Austin Butler played Wil Ohmsford, the protagonist of the fantasy series The Shannara Chronicles. Alongside him, Poppy Drayton and Ivana Baquero round out the cast, and the central trio embark on classic medieval fantasy adventures, anchored by the world-building from the source material.

Based on the Sword of Shannara books by Terry Brooks, The Shannara Chronicles might have had a bit of a rocky start, but the series found its footing in its second, and final, season. For younger audiences looking to dive into speculative fiction, The Shannara Chronicles is much more complex than a typical supernatural teen drama, as it’s invested in a rich magical lore.

Though short-lived, The Shannara Chronicles is a memorable addition to the genre, holding its own against some of the blockbuster high fantasy films that fail to capture the magic of these types of stories. In some ways, The Shannara Chronicles has more in common with early 1990s fantasy television than the splashy projects of the modern era.

Wynonna Earp (2016–2021)

Fantasy TV shows that blend other genres are always thrilling, and the cross between speculative fiction and Western genres has been increasing in popularity in recent years. While the space-Western is a well-known facet of this niche, Wynonna Earp grapples with the supernatural’s connection to gunslinging lawmen and their wild ways.

Wynonna Earp puts another twist on the genre by following the adventures of the titular character, Wynonna, who’s a descendant of the real historical figure, Wyatt Earp. However, in this world, it’s her birthright to stop the revenants, or demonic entities that rise from the dead in pursuit of revenge and other fantastical creatures.

As the seasons progress, Wynonna Earp digs into its characters, exploring their lives and relationships, and allowing the story to expand beyond the scope of Wynonna’s experience. Unafraid to lean into the fun tropes of the Western genre while still subverting audience expectations, Wynonna Earp is the Wild West fantasy we’ve been waiting for, outshining many modern Western movies.

Merlin (2008–2012)

By today’s standards, the visual effects and CGI monsters in Merlin are a little bit silly, making it obvious just how far television has come, even in low-budget projects. Following the adventures of Merlin and Arthur as the pair age into adulthood and attempt to fulfill their destinies, Merlin was about their relationships first and foremost, even if each installment saw them beating back a supernatural threat.

One of the issues with the film adaptations of the Arthurian legends is the fact that they can only tackle one facet of the hundreds of adventures and quests that Arthur and his knights embarked on. Merlin avoids this by mining the classic tales for inspiration while simultaneously crafting original plots that push the boundaries of the traditional narratives.

I’ll never get over Merlin‘s devastating ending, as the series features one of the saddest fantasy finales of all time. However, Merlin is an ideal 2000s fantasy show to revisit, as it strikes a playful balance between the serious and comedic. This tonal dichotomy is something that magical movies often struggle with, as they don’t have as much time to explore the story’s world.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

When it comes to the fantasy shows that are considered mandatory viewing by fans of the genre, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is often ranked as number one. Changing the genre for the better and establishing a precedent for bringing contemporary pop culture conversations into fantasy worlds, Buffy has been enormously influential, especially for lower-budget series looking to break into the speculative fiction world.

When rewatching Buffy season 1, there’s little question that the visual effects and monsters can be a little comical. It doesn’t come as a surprise that the series relies on the dark shadows of the cemeteries. However, this is part of the charm and magic of Buffy, as it wouldn’t look or feel as riveting and propulsive with the high-budget sheen of recent fantasy projects.

As Buffy progressed and changed networks, establishing itself as more than a cult classic and fostering one of the most loyal fanbases in recent history, it received additional resources. However, there’s something nostalgic about Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s ability to capture the audience’s attention with its story and characters, not its spectacle, which is often what fantasy films rely on.

Supernatural (2005–2020)

As one of the longest-running and most definitive additions to the fantasy and monster-of-the-week genres of the 21st century, Supernatural immediately distinguished itself. Though the budget did increase as the seasons progressed and the show established itself as a must-watch series, the early seasons of Supernatural are charmingly scrappy. However, this didn’t stop the audience from being terrified by the monsters onscreen.

The visual effects in a fantasy show are often one of the most expensive aspects of the project, and Supernatural found creative ways around directly showing the creatures that weren’t as well-designed. By reusing sets, having the Winchesters spend most of their time in the Impala, and relying on monsters that can appear human, Supernatural was able to sustain itself for a long time.

Even with a limited budget, Supernatural pushed itself, putting out 22 or 23-episode seasons, which was far more installments than some of the most expensive contemporary shows. When compared to the films coming out when Supernatural was on the air, the series proved itself to be far more innovative, crafting meta storylines and speaking directly to the fans.

The Magicians (2015–2020)

Loosely based on Lev Grossman’s book series of the same name, The Magicians ran for five seasons on Syfy, gaining traction but never quite reaching the heights of fantasy heavy-hitters like Game of Thrones. What The Magicians might have lacked in the budget and resource department, the show made up for in the complexity and depth of the story and characters.

The Magicians is great from start to finish, keeping the audience guessing and managing to raise the stakes without making the audience feel that the plot development came out of nowhere. Balancing the narrative’s relationships to the real and fantastical elements of the story, The Magicians wasn’t afraid to put its characters through a lot, facing grief and change at every turn, especially in the later seasons.

It’s a shame that The Magicians is still underrated today, as the series grapples with some of the most pressing questions of the fantasy genre. By poking fun at itself and the pitfalls that many fantasy movies and TV shows fall victim to, The Magicians addresses the ridiculous nature of some magical stories while maintaining a deep love for them.

Pushing Daisies (2007–2009)

One of the most unique fantasy TV shows of the early 2000s, Pushing Daisies might not belong to the high fantasy genre, but that doesn’t make it less compelling than the films that fall into this category. Starring Lee Pace as a young man, Ned, with the power to bring people back from the dead with one touch, Pushing Daisies lives up to its offbeat premise.

Pace is joined by Anna Friel as Chuck, his childhood sweetheart. The pair have better chemistry and depth than most onscreen couples in movies. Though the series uses an episodic formula, seeing Ned solve crimes and try to keep his talents a secret, the overarching plots of Pushing Daisies could’ve kept the series going for years, winning hearts through its silly visual effects.

What Pushing Daisies does better than a typical fantasy movie is let the audience be sucked into the quirky and campy sensibilities without trying to tackle too much at a time. While Pushing Daisies deserves many more seasons, it’s a thrill to revisit the show today and see how ahead of its time the project was, in both storytelling and aesthetic.