It’s difficult to getfantasytelevision just right, so very few additions to the genre are perfect from start to finish. Even popularshows likeGame of Throneshave their shortcomings, and most series don’t reach the heights of the HBO phenomenon. Fantasy projects that last for more than a handful of seasons also risk the inevitable highs and lows of such long runs. The latter ensures these series aren’t totally flawless, even if their highest points get close.
Althoughit’s difficult to find fantasy TV shows that are a 10/10 overall, perfect seasons are a bit easier to come by. FromGame of ThronestoThe Boys,there are numerous series that boast at least one flawless outing. Even if there are dips in quality before or after, viewers can look forward to that well-balanced and well-crafted chapter.
Game of Thronesseason 4 is the peak of the HBO series, and it serves as a turning point for the adaptation. Season 5 is where the story really begins to diverge from George R.R. Martin’sSong of Ice and Firebooks. And even with seasons 6 and 7 boasting great episodes,Game of Thronesnever again reaches the heights of its early outings. It’s fitting, then, that the last fully faithful season of the show does such a stellar job of bringing Martin’s work to life.
On the heels of the Red Wedding in season 3,Game of Thrones’fourth season hits the ground running and never really lets up. Just as Martin packs so much action and suspense into the latter half ofA Storm of Swords,HBO’s iteration delivers huge twist after huge twist. From Joffrey Baratheon’s long-awaited demise in episode 2 to episode 9’s Battle for the Wall,there’s so much to love aboutGame of Thronesseason 4. It packs a powerful punch on a first watch, and its pacing makes it one of the easiest outings to revisit.
Supernaturalspans a whopping 15 seasons, so it will come as little surprise that the CW series has its highs and lows. Its later outings vary in terms of storytelling and quality, butSupernaturalseason 5 is a standout— and it’s hard to find many flaws in its 22-episode run. Season 5 was initially supposed to end the long-running series, and given how well its final episodes concluded this chapter of Sam and Dean’s story, many viewers maintain it should have wrapped up there.
8 Behind-The-Scenes Supernatural Details That Change How You Watch The Show
Supernatural has lots of interesting trivia that cast members have revealed, but here are just 8 BTS details that will change how you watch the show.
Supernaturalseason 5 drastically improves on the pacing of the earlier seasons, moving away from episodic, monster-of-the-week storytelling and focusing on the Winchesters' larger narrative. It also features more of fan-favorite characters like Castiel and Crowley, striking an impressive balance between the main characters and supporting cast — one other seasons don’t always manage. The stakes feel higher than ever, and the emotional beats never fail to land.Supernaturalnever really tops season 5, and it’s a shame the show undoes the finale’s tragic sacrifices.
Lucifernearly ended with season 3, but Netflix picked the supernatural procedural up for more outings — and it had to find its footing all over again after moving to the streaming service. Theearly seasons ofLuciferboast a lighthearted, fun dynamic that the show never fully recaptures. However, they’re a bit too episodic to maintain a high quality across each and every episode. The pacing of Lucifer and Chloe’s story, as well as their “will they, won’t they” relationship, picks up significantly in later outings. But season 4 has major flaws, and season 6 ends on a divisive note.
Luciferseason 5 benefits from Netflix’s production quality and pacing while also leaning into the character dynamics and humor from the early outings. It moves the ball on Lucifer and Chloe’s romance, features great twists, and sees Tom Ellis giving an impressive double performance as Lucifer and Michael. And of course, season 5’s ending is more satisfying than that of season 6.It hits all the right emotional beats throughout its 16-episode run, and that can’t be said of every other outing.
More than 20 years later, someviewers still swear byLost’s finale— but there’s no denying the ABC show’s ending is controversial. Additionally, withLostclocking in at six seasons, there are points where it drags, even though the series gets off to a strong start. This preventsLostfrom being a 10/10 show overall, but there are near-perfect chapters of the story. AndLostseason 2 is one of them, as the mysteries it introduces keep viewers on the edges of their seats, while the characters and setting are developed enough to genuinely feel invested.
Lost Season 2’s Biggest Twist Changed The Whole Dynamic Of The Show
In the second season of Lost, the deaths of Ana Lucia and Libby changed the dynamic of the show for many reasons, such as character absences.
Lostseason 2 begins to reveal more about the island, and even if the answers to the mysteries sometimes prove underwhelming later on, this outing captures the story’s full potential. The hatch storyline and the narrative surrounding the Others both feel constantly engaging, and they ensure a fast-paced and fun ride. WhileLostnever fully falls off,season 2 feels like one of its peaks — perhaps the highest of them.
The Umbrella Academyseason 4’s endingis so messy and divisive that it ensures the Netflix series will never be a 10/10 from beginning to end. However, there are some truly great episodes throughout the show’s run, andThe Umbrella Academyseason 2 feels like a perfect season of television in the midst of it all. Withthe Hargreeves siblings' dynamics fully established after season 1, and the looming threat of the apocalypse still feeling like a genuine threat, season 2 manages to deliver on all the series' strengths.
The Umbrella Academyseason 2’s setting makes it all the more memorable, with the characters' journey taking them back to the ’60s. This gives the story a unique aesthetic, and it allows the show to explore difficult topics like racism and homophobia more naturally. Although the Hargreeves siblings spend a decent portion of this outing apart, it’s incredibly satisfying when they come together to save the world again. Season 1 doesn’t have enough build-up to reach the same level of satisfaction, and seasons 3 and 4 take a dip in quality in that regard.
Stranger Thingsis afantasy TV show that doesn’t have a bad season, but there are some notable flaws throughout its run — and that can’t be said of season 1 alone.There’s a reasonStranger Thingsbecame such a phenomenon after season 1, and it’s because the series' first outing is nearly perfect. It could easily be a standalone with its tight storytelling, but it also gives viewers enough of its strange world and charming characters that more outings are welcome.
Stranger Thingsseason 1 balances its horror and humor better than the later outings, and it also boasts an impressive, atmospheric setting that starts to feel less novel over time. Perhaps it’s because the characters grow up over the course of the show, butStranger Things’first eight episodes have a distinct magic to them that starts to get lost as time goes on. It’s still a great series, but season 1 reaches heights the others don’t. The world arguably gets too large in later outings, but perhapsStranger Thingsseason 5will recapture what made season 1 so great.
4The Legend Of Korra Season 3
Premiered On June 22, 2025
The Legend of Korragets a bad rap, as theAvatar: The Last Airbendersequel had big shoes to fill. After all, the original serieswasa 10/10 from start to finish, setting the bar high for anything that came after.The Legend of Korranever fully reached the heights of its predecessor, and that’s partly because it didn’t have an overarching story. Instead,each season ofThe Legend of Korrahas its own contained narrative. And this setup ensures thatThe Legend of Korra’s four seasonsvary in terms of quality.
The Legend of Korrastill never feels likeATLA, but it heavily benefits from its differences in season 3.
The Legend of Korraseason 3, though, stands out as the best among them— and it’s difficult to find flaws in its narrative. Book 3 leans into the sequel series' darker and more mature themes, introducing one of the Nickelodeon franchise’s best villains: Zaheer. The stakes feel appropriately high at this point of the show, and the series begins to explore more serious topics, like PTSD.The Legend of Korrastill never feels likeATLA, but it heavily benefits from its differences in season 3.
The early seasons ofMy Hero Academiaare some of the best that shōnen anime has to offer, and season 3 easily takes the series to a 10/10. While the story reaches several other highs after All Might loses his power, the entire lead-up to his season 3 confrontation with All for One is masterfully crafted.That fight cementsMy Hero Academiaseason 3 as a perfect outing of television, with moments like Deku vs. Muscular, Deku vs. Kacchan, and the Bakugo retrieval mission adding fuel to that argument.
My Hero Academiaseason 3 also benefits from some of the best animation of the entire series, as well as some of the best character growth. While later outings are also strong, this one sets itself apart — likely because there aren’t even many minor complaints to make about it.
The Vampire Diariesis far from a perfect series — some of its seasons are downright messy — but the sophomore outing encapsulates everything viewers love about the teen drama. Season 1 takes time to find its footing, but season 2 manages to raise the stakes for Elena while maintaining the romance storylines and supernatural antics the show became known for. The pacing is masterfully done, almost all the characters are at their best, and the lore doesn’t get overly complicated and contradictory.
10 Ways The Vampire Diaries Changed From Season 1 To The Series Finale
The Vampire Diaries changed a huge amount from the beginning to the end, with characters, places, and even the tone of the show all shifting.
The tensions between Elena, Damon, and Stefan are at their best inThe VampireDiariesseason 2, proof that delivering on the “will they, won’t they” romances in such series doesn’t always benefit the story. Seasons 3 and 4 maintain the strengths of season 2, but they have notable flaws — from inconsistent character writing to an iffy tonal shift. These certainly won’t prevent fans from rewatchingThe Vampire Diariesevery fall, but they stop the show from being a perfect product as a whole. Fortunately, season 2 manages to be a 10/10.
Allfour seasons ofThe Boysare diabolical in their subversion of common superhero tropes and political commentary, but the more recent ones have their shortcomings. Pacing issues and inconsistent stakes crop up inThe Boysseason 3, but they become real issues in season 4 — even if it ends on one of the best cliffhangers thus far.The Boysfirst two outings get the anti-superhero show off to a more impressive start than most TV shows, however. Andseason 2 gets pretty close to being perfect.
The Boysseason 2 continues to deliver on the shock value, comedy, and social commentary of season 1 — but it does so while raising the stakes, furthering the conflict between Butcher and Homelander, and diving deeper into its great cast of characters. The second season’s ending is fittingly tragic, and it showcasesThe Boys’potential. Season 2 doesn’t struggle with some of the minor issues that seasons 3 and 4 do, allowing it to join the ranks of other 10/10fantasyseasons. With any luck,The Boysseason 5 will surpass it.
