Top 10 Fantasy Shows

One of many shows in which fairytales are recycled, reimagined and repackaged to fit a contemporary setting, this part-police procedural, part-fantasy drama follows Detective Nick Burkhardt as he hunts various mythological creatures to keep balance between our worlds. Detective Burkhardt is the latest in a long line of “Grimms,” who’re tasked with the dubious job of handling dangerous magical beasts without getting killed. The result is a show that’s funny and legitimately scary at the same time.

Before becoming a critical flop starring the omnipresent Johnny Depp, “Dark Shadows” was an unassuming gothic soap opera that aired weekdays beginning in the ‘60s. Back then, it was a seemingly self-reflexive serial about the humdrum everyday lives of the Collins family: a motley crew of mystery-shrouded yuppies whose oddball “cousin” Barnabas is actually an immortal vampire. Supernatural silliness ensues as they face off against werewolves, warlocks, witches and other unearthly abominations.

Take three witches, a talking cat and a wacky assortment of supernatural cameos and what do you get? This weekly sitcom about a young girl who’s just trying to come to terms with high school, young love and omnipotent occult power. The majority of the show involved Sabrina dealing with situations you’d expect a freshman to get into, with the added bonus of her magical abilities bringing some fantasy elements to this TGIF mainstay.

Though it’s an apparently morbid show about the afterlife of a young woman who’s tasked with retrieving the souls of the recently deceased, “Dead Like Me” tackles the reality of a family dealing with loss and succumbing to pressure. After the protagonist is struck and killed by a de-orbiting toilet seat, she becomes a grim reaper and must find people, like herself, who’ve been killed in conspicuous accidents to escort their souls to the hereafter.

This charming classic kicked off a cycle of shows that dealt with the intrusion of supernatural elements in an all-too-normal reality. Young, unassuming Darrin Stephens gets more than he bargains for when he marries youthful Samantha when she turns out to be a centuries-old witch. Wackiness is the result, as the young couple comes into conflict with troubles both natural and supernatural, including a strange extended family comprised of other witches and warlocks.

A veritable cult of males, young and old, were pleasantly surprised when this “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” spinoff hit airwaves. Starring the curvaceous Lucy Lawless and a cast of character actors dredged up from various soap operas, “Xena” tackled the trials and tribulations of the eponymous character, who was forced to battle deities and monsters in equal measure. To some this may be a daunting task, especially in a skimpy leather outfit; but to Xena, it’s standard.

Paranormal investigator heartthrobs Sam and Dean Winchester are on the case when it comes to demons, angels, vampires, werewolves and the like. Their mother was killed by a demon when they were both young and now the brothers Winchester are out for vengeance, while trying to keep the world from being overrun with hellish demons. However, while it’s a fantasy series through-and-through, we love “Supernatural” cause of its sense of humor.

Acclaimed by critics and beloved by fans, “Lost” transcended its status as a cult hit to become a mainstream phenomenon. To keep viewers intrigued, writers invented crazy twists, hints and revelations that got more outrageous by the season. Of course, some would say this came back to haunt them when the audience expected a satisfactory explanation for such fantastical storylines; but to this day true fans continue to debate what the island was anyway.

With its strong female lead, kickass action, adventure and comedy, “Buffy” changed fantasy television for good. Created and directed by Joss Whedon, the series follows Buffy Summers as she tries to reconcile her life as a cheerleading freshman and her ancestry as a vampire hunter. With sharp writing and enough substance and flash to keep both die-hard fans and casual observers entertained, “Buffy” is loved as both a teen drama and an epic fantasy series.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Touched by an Angel” (1994-2003)
- “Once Upon a Time” (2011-)
- “Angel” (1999-2004)

With his series of political charged fantasy books, George R.R. Martin sparked an international phenomenon. Closely paralleling the drama-heavy storylines and fascinating characters in his books; this live-action series questions morality and the lengths to which a person will go to succeed. Huge in scope and in scale, with titillating sex and thrilling violence, “Game of Thrones” in epic high fantasy at its best.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite fantasy show? For more epic top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.