Today, we're looking at fantasy series! In the evenings, especially in winter, it's cosy to curl up on the TV sofa and watch a series. And why not immerse yourself in an imaginative fairytale world? Here are 12 fantasy series we've watched, and another 15 we have yet to watch...
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Fantasy series on TV
While all TV series are to some extent based on fantasy, what is special about a fantasy series is that the setting is also a fantasy world. The setting is a place beyond or outside our own world, in a way that is often not exactly definable.
Some people don't like this fantasy dimension. Others love it. We belong to the latter group, and I think it's because we enjoy being immersed in another reality. At the same time, it is often the case that the dilemmas discussed in the fictional worlds are very human, and can be relevant in our ordinary, real world as well.
Anyway, here are 26 fantasy series to watch in 2022. Many are classic adventures with witches and wizards, while others straddle the line between fantasy, science fiction and dystopian fiction.
First, a bunch of fantasy series that we've seen
1. Stranger Things
A boy in a small town disappears and the inhabitants become aware of a mystery involving secret experiments, supernatural powers and a special little girl. We loved this series, especially the first two seasons.
- Actors: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard
- From: 2016
- Seasons: 3 (season 4 coming in 2022)
- Was: Netflix
2. the Witcher
The Witcher follows the mutated monster hunter Geralt. This is a series about monsters, magic and fate, based on the books of Andrzej Sapkowski.
- Actors: Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan
- From: 2019
- Seasons: 2
- Was: Netflix
3. The story of the Return of the Dragon
A powerful woman comes to a small village, claiming that the dark forces are coming and that one of the youngsters is the reborn Dragon. We've just started watching this fantasy series, and we're hooked.
- Actors: Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney
- From: 2021
- Seasons: 1
- Was: Amazon Prime
4. ragnarok
In a small Norwegian town plagued by pollution and melting glaciers, a group of young people discover they have supernatural powers. We really liked this series, which draws on Nordic mythology.
- Actors: David Stakston, Herman Tømmeraas, Theresa Frostad Eggesbø.
- From: 2020
- Seasons: 2
- Was: Netflix
5. merlin
The young wizard Merlin is the servant of Prince Arthur and has to solve countless difficult situations, but has to hide his magic because magic is punishable by death.
- Actors: Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath
- From: 2008
- Seasons: 5
- Was: Netflix
6. The Hobbit
This story, made up of three films, follows Bilbo Baggins the Hobbit on his travels and adventures, along with dwarves and the wizard Gandalf.
- Actors: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Graham McTavish, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett.
- From: 2012
- Seasons: 3 films
- Was: ViaPlay
7. The Lord of the Rings
Frodo the Hobbit gets hold of a dangerous and powerful ring, and a series of exciting adventures begin. A classic and fantastic adventure story!
- Actors: Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt, Simon Chandler
- From: 2000
- Seasons: 3 films
- Was: ViaPlay
8. Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a compelling fantasy series set in a fictional fairytale world full of fantasy. The story is based on the novel series The Legend of Ice and Fire by author George R.R. Martin.
- Actors: Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley, Lena Headay, Emilia Clarke
- From: 2011
- Seasons: 8
- Was: HBO
9. The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian is set in the same fictional universe as Star Wars. This is more sci-fi than classic fantasy, but still plenty of fantasy!
- Actors: Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito
- From: 2019
- Seasons: 2
- Was: Disney
10. a handmaid's tale
In a dystopian future where the country of Gilead (formerly the USA) is ruled by a religious extremist government, fertile women are enslaved. A terrifying and captivating story of the future!
- Actors: Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski
- From: 2017
- Seasons: 4
- Was: HBO
11. Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of popular fantasy films based on the novels of the author J.K. Rowling. These films offer great adventures for the whole family.
- Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
- From: 2001
- Seasons: 8 films
- Was: HBO, ViaPlay
12. Outlander
A story about a time-travelling woman and her two loves, based on the fantasy books of Diana Gabaldon.
- Actors: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies
- From: 2014
- Seasons: 5
- Was: Netflix
And then more fantasy series that we haven't seen yet...
13. The Stand
A post-apocalyptic TV series based on a novel of the same name by author Stephen King.
- Actors: James Marsden, Odessa Young, Jovan Adepo, Henry Zaga
- From: 2020
- Seasons: 1
- Was: HBO
14. Shadow and Bone
A teenage series about orphaned cartoonist Alina Starkov, who unleashes a force that changes the fate of her war-torn world.
- Actors: Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Ben Barnes
- From: 2021
- Seasons: 1
- Was: Netflix
15. Sweet Toth
An adventure full of danger in a post-apocalyptic world, with a boy who is half human and half deer.
- Actors: Nonso Anozie, Christian Convery, Adeel Akhtar
- From: 2021
- Seasons: 1
- Was: Netflix
16. Invisible city
A man discovers, after a severe loss, that mythical creatures live among humans. These turn out to be the key to his mysterious past.
- Actors: Marco Pigossi, Alessandra Negrini, Fábio Lago
- From: 2021
- Seasons: 1
- Was: Netflix
17. requests
Elena Michaels runs away from a pack of werewolves that turned her into a monster, but a series of horrific murders changes everything.
- Actors: Laura Vandervoort, Greyston Holt, Greg Bryk
- From: 2014
- Seasons: 3
- Was: Netflix
18. His Dark Materials
A fantasy series based on the book trilogy The Dark Matter by Philip Pullman, which follows the girl Lyra as she searches for her kidnapped friend.
- Actors: Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Anne-Marie Duff
- From: 2019
- Seasons: 2
- Was: HBO
19. snowpiercer
The earth has frozen over and the last surviving people live on a big train that never stops. The train is divided by class, and people are unhappy.
- Actors: Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Mickey Sumner
- From: 2020
- Seasons: 2
- Was: Netflix
20. The Rain
Six years ago, the majority of Scandinavia's population was wiped out by a vicious virus. Two siblings, along with other survivors, seek protection and answers.
- Actors: Alba August, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
- From: 2018
- Seasons: 3
- Was: Netflix
21. War of the Worlds
More sci-fi than fantasy perhaps, but still fantasy! George and Amy are living together in the UK when aliens invade Earth.
- Actors: Eleanor Tomlinson, Rafe Spall, Robert Carlyle, Rupert Graves, Woody Norman, Jonathan Aris
- From: 2018
- Seasons: 1
- Was: SVT Play
22. Lockey and Key
After their father's murder, three siblings and their mother move to their father's family farm, where they discover magical keys.
- Actors: Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones
- From: 2020
- Seasons: 2
- Was: Netflix
23. lost
Lost is an American television series that follows the survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious tropical island.
- Actors: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell
- From: 2004
- Seasons: 6
- Was: Disney
24. The 100
97 years after Earth was destroyed in a nuclear apocalypse, 100 inhabitants from a space station are sent to the planet to assess whether it is habitable or not.
- Actors: Eliza Taylor, Paige Turco, Bob Morley
- From: 2014
- Seasons: 7
- Was: Netflix
25. American Gods
When Shadow Moon is released from prison, he meets the mystical Mr Wednesday and the protagonist soon finds himself in a world of magic.
- Actors: Ricky Whittle, Pablo Schreiber, Ian McShane
- From: 2017
- Seasons: 3
- Was: Amazon Prime
26th Katla
The Katla volcano erupts dramatically and mysteries hidden under the ice are revealed.
- Actors: Guðrún Eyfjörð, Íris Tanja Flygenring, Aliette Opheim
- From: 2021
- Seasons: 3
- Was: Netflix
More TV series for dark winter nights
It's not just fantasy series that can brighten up dark winter evenings. We have also previously given tips on various TV series. You can find our previous tips here:
Do you have any other tips for fantasy series?
Have you seen any of these fantasy series? Which ones have you liked and which not? Can you suggest some more? Feel free to share your tips!
You might also like:
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Maria/emjis says:
Winter time is TV time. 😅 Netflix is watched every night. Of the ones you've seen, only #3 and #9 we haven't seen....
No 22 is good.
I can't think of any fantasy films right now. I only really remember the last one we saw and it was a really good film:
Don't look up
La casa de papel is very good.
The unforgivable too.
Warrior Well ok.
The Castaeman.
The old guard.
Those are some of the ones I can think of. We've just seen London has fallen as well.
Have a nice film day!
28 December 2021 - 11:47
Helena says:
I agree! We also watch more films and TV series now! We just saw Don't look up and liked it very much! Thank you for further tips!
28 December 2021 - 18:46
JoY says:
Wow how many you have found. No, it's not my thing, although I have seen Lost when it was on TV and Lord of the Rings at the cinema. Personally, I'm stuck with all the sugar-sweet American Christmas films. After three minutes you know how the end will be, the snow falls and they get each other hahaha.
Wishing you cosy series evenings on the last days of 2021. Happy New Year Hugs
28 December 2021 - 15:43
Helena says:
These Christmas films sound cosy! I actually thought about including "A Christmas Story" in this list, there is a lot of fantasy in it. Good continuation and Happy New Year!
28 December 2021 - 18:49
BP says:
Guess I got a little confused here. I thought I wasn't a fan of fantasy at all, but obviously I'm wrong there. I have actually read five of your examples. Read, that is, not seen. The only series I've seen on TV is "Handmaid's Tale".
28 December 2021 - 18:33
Helena says:
Fantasy is a somewhat "sliding" genre, it feels like, and can probably be defined a bit differently. I think The Lord of the Rings is "typical" fantasy, but everything that takes place in some kind of fantasy world can fit 😉.
28 December 2021 - 18:51