Best Fantasy Dramas To Stream Now
Fantasy genres are having a moment right now. With House of the Dragon and Rings of Power currently streaming weekly on HBO Max and Prime Video, respectively, it’s an excellent time to be a fantasy fan.
Whether you’re just getting into the genre or are looking for new series to watch, here are some classic fantasy series to get your binge on. To stick to the traditional fantasy genre, we’re not including series that might have sci-fi elements to them.
1. House of the Dragon
A prequel to Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the story of the Targaryen family tree and takes place almost 200 years before.
With showrunners Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal at the helm, viewers can expect to see epic battles, gorgeous cinematography, and intense drama. Fans of the Thrones franchise will also be glad to know that the franchise’s creator, George R.R. Martin is heavily involved in the creation of the series, which means House of the Dragon isn’t going to stray too far from its written material.
House of the Dragon streams on HBO Max every Sunday at 9pm EST.
2. The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power
Like House of the Dragon, Rings of Power is a sequel to the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) and Hobbit series.
As its name suggests, the series follows the events leading up to the creation of Sauron’s ring. Fans of the LOTR franchise see a young Galadriel as a warrior commander on the quest to avenge her brother’s death.
With a US $715 million budget, Rings of Power sets the record for being the most expensive show ever made.
Rings of Power streams on Prime Video every Friday at 9pm EDT.
3. The Witcher
Based on the book series of the same name, The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia, a demon hunter of sorts who struggles with following his heart and doing the right things while carrying out his duties.
Viewers can expect to see some beautifully created characters and animation work that transports them to an entirely different world.
The Witcher currently has two seasons on Netflix, with a third in the works. The third season is slated for release in mid-2023.
4. Xena: Warrior Princess
Perhaps one of the most popular fantasy dramas of its time, Xena: Warrior Princess, follows the life and adventures of the powerful Greek princess. The series essentially catapulted actress Lucy Lawless to fame. Following her portrayal of Xena, Lawless became an icon in her own right as a strong female lead. The Xena series also became a fixture in pop culture.
5. Carnival Row
Starring Orlando Bloom (famous for his role as Legolas in LOTR) and Cara Delevigne, Carnival Row centres around two characters as they investigate strings of unsolved murders and navigate the world around them.
Carnival Row is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
6. His Dark Materials
This fantasy drama series is based on a trilogy of novels of the same name. Starring James McAvoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Dafne Keen, the series revolves around Lyra, an orphan searching for a missing friend. She then discovers that there’s something deeper surrounding her friend’s disappearance.
There are currently two seasons available, with the third set for release at the end of 2022.
His Dark Materials is currently available for streaming on HBO Max.
Every year, books and new materials are released, which then subsequently become series or films, making the fantasy genre even more exciting. In 2023, fantasy fans can expect to see another Game of Thrones prequel, 1,000 Ships that tells us the story of Princess Nymeria.