10 Best Live-Action Fantasy TV Shows of the 21st Century

Originally published September 14, 2026. This article covers the best sci-fi television shows of the 21st century.

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There’s nothing quite like curling up under the blankets to watch a good fantasy show. We’re now officially in the ‘ber months, and if you’re feeling that urge to drop everything for a lengthy binge-watch, don’t resist it. And since it’s officially Bestember here at Sideshow, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best fantasy shows of the 21st century (a tall order, I know). Use it to find your next fantasy to watch, or to be reminded of a few old favorites to add to your rewatch list.

• The Magicians
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
• Wynonna Earp
• The Wheel of Time
• Game of Thrones
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
• Supernatural
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• What We Do in the Shadows
• Outlander

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The Magicians

• First Episode: “Unauthorized Magic” (December 16, 2015)

Syfy was on a hot streak in the 2010s, and The Magicians was a big reason for that. The adaptation of Lev Grossman’s fantasy trilogy was a mature Harry Potter that explored mental health with equal parts dark humor and compassion. It was also heavily influenced by The Chronicles of Narnia with its inclusion of Fillory. The strong performances, intricate magic system, and fascinating characters really sold it for me, too. The cherry on top? Each season had one musical episode. Hey, it’s easy to do a musical episode when your world is full of magic.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

• First Episode: “A Shadow of the Past” (September 1, 2022)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power gets unnecessary hate, in my humble opinion. Season 2 upped its game, expanding its narrative in scope and scale. The production values were through the roof. The Sack of Eregion felt like it belonged on the big screen with how cinematic it looked. Charlie Vickers’ performance as Sauron also deserves more love – he deserves a place in the pantheon of formidable TV villains. Bring on season 3.

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Wynonna Earp

• First Episode: “Purgatory” (April 1, 2016)

Wynonna Earp was Syfy’s Little Show That Could, managing to come back from the brink of death not once but twice due to the sheer power of fandom. While the door is open for more Purgatory shenanigans, we Earpers are blessed to have four seasons and a TV special of this silly show. Wynonna Earp drew from its main influence, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and retooled it for a modern audience, complete with campy villains, an acerbic wit, and one “crazy chick with a gun.”

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The Wheel of Time

• First Episode: “Leavetaking” (November 19, 2021)

The Wheel of Time was another high fantasy series on Prime Video that didn’t deserve the vitriol it got. I think the creatives did a solid job of adapting Robert Jordan’s dense world for the small screen, and season 3 was its best showing. The visuals were stunning, and the costumes took this viewer’s breath away. It was an immersive show that was just getting started before its untimely cancellation. Here’s hoping it finds life elsewhere down the line.

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Game of Thrones

• First Episode: “Winter Is Coming” (April 17, 2011)

Did you really think I would make a fantasy list without Game of Thrones? The HBO adaptation isn’t just one of the most popular TV shows in history, but it also defined high fantasy in the 21st century. It raised the bar for what came after it. Game of Thrones was appointment TV during its heyday, and its first four seasons are probably some of the best this medium has produced. And as an avid fan of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, those first four seasons really bring those books to life.

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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

• First Episode: “The Hedge Knight” (January 18, 2026)

Speaking of GRRM adaptations, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms just aired its inaugural season this past winter, but it deserves a place on this list. It’s easily one of the most faithful adaptations I’ve ever seen. The series doesn’t have dragons like its predecessors, but it contains hallmarks of a GRRM story: chivalrous knights, underdogs rising victorious, and two pals just trying to make their way through a terrifying world. It’s bursting at the seams with humor and heart (and considerably less violence). Dunk and Egg forever.

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Supernatural

• First Episode: “Pilot” (September 13, 2005)

Supernatural was one of the longest-running live-action shows out there, at least it was on the CW. It was (and still is) a juggernaut among fandom spaces. Remember the SuperWhoLock Tumblr era of the early 2010s? What started as essentially a monster-of-the-week series evolved into something more: two brothers saving the world repeatedly, often going to hell and back, while “carrying on.” As Bobby Singer said, “Family don’t end in blood,” and that unbreakable bond was woven into the fabric of Supernatural’s DNA.

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer

• First Episode: “Welcome to the Hellmouth” (March 10, 1997)

Buffy Summers was who I aspired to be as a kid, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer really opened the doors of genre TV for me. It changed the game while it was on the air, and it’s still in the pop culture zeitgeist 23 years after its conclusion. While I’m disappointed that we won’t get that reboot, I’m grateful for the seven seasons and 144 episodes we did get. Buffy reminded the world that women can and should lead their own stories, that women can be heroes. And guess what? We’re nerds, too. It was a sharp, smart, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking affair that has aged like fine wine.

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What We Do in the Shadows

• First Episode: “Pilot” (March 27, 2019)

I adored the What We Do in the Shadows 2014 movie, so naturally, I was on board for a TV series. Little did I know that it would become one of my comfort shows. What We Do in the Shadows is more of a mockumentary with fantasy elements, but it deserves a place on this list. It provided laughs aplenty during its run, especially in the COVID era, and its cast turned in some of the best comedic performances in the medium. If you need a dose of spooky yet hilarious escapism, look no further than this show.

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Outlander

• First Episode: “Sassenach” (August 9, 2014)

Outlander brought the steam to TV again, with people the world over falling head over heels for a hunky Scottish dude who called his lady “Sassenach.” While one might consider this more romantic drama than anything, the time-travel aspect is crucial to the narrative. After all, Claire Fraser wound up in 1700s Scotland because of some magical stones. Outlander got a little soapy in its later seasons, but the chemistry between the two leads was captivating, the time-travel system was intriguing, and the Scottish backdrop was, in a word, stunning.

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What are your favorite fantasy shows from this century?

Join the conversation with other fantasy fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!