In the mood for some magic? What about myths or adventure? A great fantasy show can be the best escape, letting you lose yourself in an exciting new world. Fight a few monsters, cast a spell or two, and discover enchanting new secrets in Prime Video’s library of fantasy series.
Can’t find what you’re looking for here? Check out our list of the best shows on Prime Video or the best fantasy shows on Hulu and Netflix to binge-watch.
Editor’s note: This article was last updated January 2023 to include Three Pines.
The X-Files (1993-2018)
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Created by: Chris Carter
Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick
The X-Files is ingrained into pop culture and included on countless prestigious lists ranking the best shows of all time – and for good reason. The premise is simple enough: Two FBI agents, Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson), investigate unexplained cases suspected to have some supernatural element to them. Though the monsters and fantasy elements are compelling, it’s the dynamic between Mulder and Scully – the believer and the skeptic – that sets this series apart. Their undeniable chemistry acts as the cornerstone of the show, grounding some of the more outlandish elements. The X-Files is a must-watch for any sci-fi fan. – Taylor Gates
Three Pines (2022-present)
Creator: Emilia di Girolamo
Cast: Alfred Molina, Rossif Sutherland, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Sarah Booth, Anna Tierney
Becoming one of the most talked about crime dramas on the streaming service, Three Pines, based on Louise Penny’s novel series, was created for television by Emilia di Girolamo. Through the eight-episode first season, Three Pines follows the Sûreté du Québec police force’s Chief Inspector Gamache, played aloofly by Alfred Molina (Spider-man: No Way Home), as he weaves his way through four murder mysteries occurring in the idyllic Canadian town. Along with co-stars Rossif Sutherland (Reign) and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Molina wades through gruesome horrors, uncovering revelations about himself as well the criminals he’s determined to catch. – Yael Tygiel
Dead Like Me (2003-2004)
Creator: Bryan Fuller
Cast: Ellen Muth, Mandy Patinkin, Laura Harris, Callum Blue, Jasmine Guy, Cynthia Stevenson,
Bryan Fuller‘s production company is called Living Dead Guy, and the inspiration for that might be, in part, the first show he ever created. Originally running on Showtime, Dead Like Me stars Ellen Muth as George, who has a really bad day that ends with her getting killed by a falling toilet seat. However, death is not the end for her — instead, she joins Rube (Mandy Patinkin) and his team of reapers, who help souls transition to the afterlife. For fans of Fuller’s other shows, including Hannibal and American Gods, the first season is a must-see, especially thanks to the tender father-daughter bond that develops between George and Rube. Dead Like Me, like so many shows about mortality, is really about the beauty of life.- Liz Shannon Miller
Timewasters (2017-2019)
Created by: Daniel Lawrence Taylor
Cast: Adelayo Adedayo, Daniel Lawrence Taylor, Kadiff Kirwan, Samson Kayo
Timewasters offers a fun, fresh take on time travel media. Featuring a struggling jazz quartet, the band gets the chance for a pretty massive rebrand when they find a machine that propels them back to 1920s London, where they must try to fit in and start to thrive with their unique sound. The series tackles serious issues like racism but does so with a humorous touch. If you’re looking for a sci-fi show that combines genre, history, and comedy, look no further than Timewasters. – Taylor Gates
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022-present)
Creator: Patrick McKay, John D. Payne
Cast: Morfydd Clark, Nazanin Boniadi, Peter Mullan
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power takes place in J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous Middle-earth universe long before the events of the previous novels and movies, allowing a deeper dive into the fascinating mythology and rich world. Created by Patrick McKay and John D. Payne, the show seamlessly blends elements fans have come to love and expect from the franchise with exciting new surprises and adventures. It’s one of the most expensive series ever produced – and it shows. From its breathtaking visuals and cinematography to standout performances by Morfydd Clark, Nazanin Boniadi, and Peter Mullan,The Rings of Power is transportive and stunning in every way. – Taylor Gates
Bewitched (1964-1972)
Created by: Sol Saks
Cast: Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Agnes Moorehead
Bewitched is a beloved fantasy sitcom that centers around a witch named Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery). After she meets and marries a mortal man named Darrin (Dick York), she vows to live her life as a typical suburban housewife. However, this rarely ever goes according to plan, as most episodes see Dick becoming the victim of some kind of spell, with Samantha having to fix it all while keeping her powers a secret from the world. From the snappy writing to the irresistible charm of Montgomery, Bewitched is a classic for a reason. – Taylor Gates
The Underground Railroad (2021)
Creator: Barry Jenkins
Cast: Thuso Mbedu, Chase Dillon, Joel Edgerton, William Jackson Harper
A magical story set in a historically real turbulent time in American History, TheUnderground Railroad tells the story of Cora (Thuso Mbedu), an enslaved woman from Georgia, who discovers a fictional subterranean train as a means of escape, set up by a network of abolitionists who helped free slaves from the south.Barry Jenkins (If Beale Street Could Talk) adapted the Pulitzer-winning fantasy fiction novel into this creatively crafted mini-series featuring powerful performances from Mbedu, as well asJoel Edgerton (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Aaron Pierre, and William Jackson Harper (The Good Place). – Yael Tygiel
Dramaworld (2016)
Created by: Josh Billig, Chris Martin
Cast: Liv Hewson, Sean Dulake, Justin Chon
Korean dramas have become immensely popular all over the world, and Dramaworld comedically explores this obsession by following a college student named Claire (Liv Hewson), who finds herself transported into her favorite program, Taste of Love. While in the Kdrama world, Claire tries to repair a storyline – and ultimately makes things even more complicated – as well as falls for her crush, Joon Park (Sean Dulake). The show has been lauded for its clever premise and cameos from popular Kpop and Kdrama stars in nearly every episode. – Taylor Gates
The Outpost (2018-2021)
Created by: Jason Faller, Kynan Griffin
Cast: Jessica Green, Jake Stormoen, Imogen Waterhouse
The Outpost centers around Talon (Jessica Green), the last remaining survivor of a race called the Blackbloods. Years after her entire village was destroyed, she seeks revenge on those who killed her loved ones. However, on her journey to do so, she discovers she has supernatural powers and must learn to control them in order to save herself and the entire world. Quippy and filled with adventure, this show will appeal to fans of series like Xena. – Taylor Gates
The Librarians (2014-2018)
Created by: John Rogers
Cast: Rebecca Romijn, Christian Kane, Lindy Booth, John Harlan Kim
The Librarians centers around a group that goes on various adventures to save ancient – and often magical – artifacts. There are four recruits we follow throughout the series: a colonel named Eve (Rebecca Romijn), expert hacker Ezekiel (John Harlan Kim), science and math whiz Cassandra (Lindy Booth), and historian Jacob (Christian Kane). Its exciting action sequences, focus on problem-solving and knowledge, and silly tone make this show something the entire family can enjoy. – Taylor Gates
Merlin (2008-2012)
Created by: Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy
Cast: Colin Morgan, Angel Coulby, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson and John Hurt
Based on the Arthurian legends and the close friendship between Merlin and King Arthur, Merlin acts as an origin story for many of the Arthurian legends we have known. When young warlock Merlin (Colin Morgan) is sent to the kingdom of Camelot by his mother because of his “special gift,” he somehow ends up saving Prince Arthur’s (Bradley James) life, which leads to him becoming Arthur’s manservant. Merlin soon learns that the reason for his gift is to protect Arthur. Still, Merlin must hide his powers because magic was banned in Camelot by Arthur’s father, King Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head), and those caught practicing it are executed. Taking some of the most iconic characters of the legend, Merlin runs free with the ideas and acts as an origin story not only for Arthur and Merlin but for Morgana, Gwen, Lancelot, and so many more. One of the BBC’s most popular shows worldwide, Merlin is an excellent series for fans of the legends and newcomers who just want a good, fun fantasy show. – Arianne Binette
The Legend of Vox Machina (2022-present)
Created by: Matthew Mercer
Cast: Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham
Critical Role is well-known and praised for being one of the main roleplay podcasts that launched Dungeons and Dragons back into the zeitgeist and lead to a slew of tabletop gaming podcasts. But the show took it one step further with the launch ofThe Legend of Vox Machina, an animated show based on their Critical Role campaign. While hundreds of episodes of a podcast might be difficult to digest for any casual audience member curious about what the excitement is about. First funded via a Kickstarter campaign, if large studios couldn’t see the merit of the Critical Role fandom, they are definitely kicking themselves now. Within an hour of launch, the Kickstarter surpassed $1 million, and it’s release through Prime Video has garnered critical and audience praise for its blending of humor, fantasy, and chaos. If you love fantasy and you enjoy the grittiness of shows like The Boys and Invincible, this is the show for you. — Therese Lacson
Carnival Row (2019-present)
Created by: René Echevarria, Travis Beacham
Cast: Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne, Simon McBurney, David Gyasi, Tamzin Merchant, Karla Crome, Arty Froushan, Carolline Ford, Indira Varma, Jared Harris
An urban fantasy set in a steampunk world with dashes of true crime and political commentary, there is a surprising amount to love when it comes to Carnival Row. Starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, the series follows mythical creatures who culturally clash with the humans of the city. The show draws clear parallels to the struggles that immigrant populations feel when they arrive to a new country. While the story can sometimes be burdened by too many storylines, the world of Carnival Row is an intriguing one. The murder-mystery aspect and neo-noir tone keeps it interesting, and for lovers of the oft-neglected urban fantasy subgenre, this is sure to scratch an itch. — Therese Lacson
Good Omens (2019-2022)
Created by: Neil Gaiman
Cast: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Daniel Mays, Sian Brooke, Ned Dennehy, Ariyon Bakare, Nick Offerman, Anna Maxwell Martin, Nina Sosanya, Doon Mackichan, Sam Taylor Buck, Jon Hamm, Adria Arjona, Miranda Richardson, Michael McKean, Jack Whitehall, Mireille Enos, Bill Paterson, Yusuf Gatewood
More often than not, TV shows inspired by books fail to capture the original author’s intentions when translating a story to the small screen. Thank God (and the Devil) Prime Video’s Good Omens was created for TV by Neil Gaiman, who wrote the original book of the same name with fantasy legend Terry Pratchett. Set in the middle of the Apocalypse, Good Omens follows the demon Crowley (David Tennant) and the angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) as they try to prevent the end of the world. While the forces of Heaven and Hell are eager to finally meet in combat in the war to end all wars, Aziraphale and Crowley don’t want to put an end to their mortal lives and will do anything to prevent the rise of the Antichrist. Besides diving deep into Christian theology to create a fantastic universe, Good Omens also features one of the best friendships on TV, since Aziraphale and Crowley learn that good and evil do not exist in extremes after spending millennia building a loving relationship. — Marco Vito Oddo
American Gods (2017-2021)
Created by: Bryan Fuller, Michael Green
Cast: Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Crispin Glover, Bruce Langley, Yetide Badaki, Pablo Schreiber, Ian McShane, Orlando Jones, Mousa Kraish, Omid Abtahi, Demore Barnes, Ashley Reyes
Neil Gaiman’s American Gods is a novel that explores the limits of human faith, showing how we put our collective trust in entities that exist beyond the constraints of religion. Prime Video’s adaptation of American God follows the same path, sticking to the same story beats but letting its characters roam free to make their own choices. The story follows Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle), a former convicted who gets hired as a driver by the mysterious Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane). Shadow Moon’s job is to drive Mr. Wednesday and help him unite the Old Gods from ancient cultures, who must fight back lest they get destroyed by the New Gods at the center of humanity’s faith, such as Media, Globalization, and Technology. American Gods is a curious meditation about what we choose to believe, and how our collective trust in major entities makes them stronger to control our lives. As a fantasy series set in our time, American Gods also offers something unique compared to other productions of the genre. — Marco Vito Oddo
The Wheel of Time (2021-present)
Created by: Rafe Judkins
Cast: Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Zoe Robins, Madeleine Madden, Josha Stradowski, Marcus Rutherford, Barney Harris, Kate Fleetwood, Sophie Okonedo, Fares Fares
Based on the best selling and beloved fantasy series by Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time follows a group of kids in a fantasy land. All hailing from the same small village, they meet a mysterious man and woman who tell them that one of them is the fabled Dragon Reborn. The high fantasy adventure might seem a bit like The Lord of the Rings at first, but then it takes a sharp turn. Rosamund Pike stars as Moiraine Sedai, the mysterious woman who is a member of a female group of magic users called the Aes Sedai. While the first season does a lot to set up the future story, it also plays out like its own mini quest line. By the end of the season, major secrets and destinies are revealed. If you’re a fan of high fantasy, but perhaps didn’t like the grimdark aspect of Game of Thrones, take a look at this series. — Therese Lacson
Grimm (2011-2017)
Created by: Stephen Carpenter, David Greenwalt, and Jim Kouf
Cast: David Giuntoli, Elizabeth Tulloch, Russell Hornsby, Silas Weir Mitchell, Reggie Lee, Bree Turner, Sasha Roiz, Claire Coffee
The fantasy series Grimmbegins with Portland detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) discovering that fairy tale creatures are real and hiding in plain sight – some kind and helpful, others bloodthirsty and vengeful. Only the hunters he’s descended from, the Grimm, and other creatures can see their true form. Not only does he have to find a way to protect the city from threats only he and a few others can see, but he also has to unpack his family history and their legacy as Grimms. The series balances a procedural drama “crime-of-the-week” format with exceptional world-building that makes Portland feel like another world. Grimm isn’t afraid to explore the darker origins of classic tales, and even amongst the plethora of on-screen fairy tale adaptations available, the seriesis truly something special. – Brynna Arens
