When the topic offantasyTV shows arises, viewers tend to think of series likeGame of ThronesandThe Rings of Power— examples that very clearly fit the genre. These shows tend to be high fantasy, and they take place in worlds full of the extraordinary. With so many projectstrying to copyGame of Thrones’success, there’s no shortage of straightforward fantasy stories to dive into. However,there are also great fantasy shows that blend their magical settings and themes with other genres.
Fantasy and horror are a common combination, as anything supernatural tends to fall into both categories. However, some series even successfully blend fantasy with sci-fi, romance, and comedy; the possibilities are endless. Dipping into multiple categories alone doesn’t ensure these shows are good, though. Such projects need to strike the right balance of both genres to succeed, andonly a handful of fantasy TV shows accomplish that.
Supernatural
Cast
Supernatural is a television series that follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, who were raised by their father to hunt and combat supernatural entities after losing their mother to a demonic force. Traversing the American landscape in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, they face numerous paranormal threats.
Supernaturalis one of the most recognizable CW shows, as it had 15 seasons to capture the hearts of viewers. For most, it didn’t take that long to get wrapped up in the Winchester brothers’ monster-hunting antics. Even with its first couple of seasons taking on a monster-of-the-week format,Supernaturalmanages to hook viewers with its lovable main characters and overarching mystery plots. It somehow finds a way to feel grounded in the real world and fantastical all at once.
With its heavy focus on creatures that don’t actually exist,Supernaturalis very clearly a fantasy series — but it balances that out with its horror elements.
With its heavy focus on creatures that don’t actually exist,Supernaturalis very clearly a fantasy series — but it balances that out with its horror elements. It’d be difficult to have a TV show with ghosts, demons, and urban legends that didn’t fall into the horror category to some extent. But while many combinations of horror and fantasy lean too far in one direction,Supernaturalstrikes an impressive balance. It rarely feels so scary that it will keep you up at night, but it uses unsettling horror tropes and monsters to create a fantasy version of the real world.
The Mandalorian
Released on August 06, 2025 The Mandalorian follows a lone gunfighter navigating the galaxy’s outer reaches after the Galactic Empire’s fall. As a skilled bounty hunter, he operates in a lawless universe, undertaking various missions on the fringes of the New Republic’s territories.
MostStar Warsprojects straddle the line between fantasy and sci-fi, andThe Mandalorianis no exception. The series is set in space and features futuristic technology, which are hallmarks of the sci-fi genre. However,The Mandalorian’s central themes and focus on the Force give it a fantasy feel as well.Star Wars’magic system is a huge reason the franchise falls into the fantasy category, as it highlights the existence of the extraordinary in this universe. Unlike straight sci-fi stories,Star Warsdoesn’t solely depend on technological advancements to move its plots forward.
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The Mandalorianalso manages to expand theStar Warsuniverse, exploring new settings and introducing new characters and lore. The emphasis on world-building gives the Disney+ series a lot in common with popular fantasy shows, underscoring the way it spills over into the genre. Anyone who loves a good blend of sci-fi and fantasy will appreciate anyStar Warsproject, butThe Mandalorianleans into the latter more than the movies do.
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
Netflix’sStranger Thingsis categorized as both fantasy and horror, and the show embodies both genres impressively. The Netflix hit plays up its horror elements from the very beginning, making Will’s disappearance and the arrival of the Upside Down as unsettling as possible. However, it draws heavy inspiration fromDungeons & Dragons— a fantasy tabletop RPG — and its use of extraordinary powers like Eleven’s places it in the fantasy category.
Overall, the reason it’s hard to tell whereStranger Thingslands is because it blends the two categories so seamlessly.
Stranger Thingsarguably leans more horror in terms of its aesthetic, especially as the series continues. However, its focus on good overcoming evil and themes like friendship align more with fantasy stories than horror ones. Overall, the reason it’s hard to tell whereStranger Thingslands is because it blends the two categories so seamlessly. It even throws in sci-fi and mystery components, proving stories don’t need to commit to a single genre to be a success.
My Lady Jane
My Lady Jane is a Prime Video original series created by Gemma Burgess. The story is a “what if” style story of English royal history where King Henry VIII’s son Edward, Lady Jane Grey, and her husband Guildford all survive their real-life deaths. In the retelling of history, Jane Grey takes center stage, becoming queen and immediately finding herself facing nefarious villains.
My Lady Janemay have been canceledby Amazon after just one season, but it makes a fun addition to the fantasy genre — and some of the greatest aspects of the show stem from its romance focus. Based on the book of the same name,My Lady Janereimagines the life of Lady Jane Grey, putting a feminist spin on her story and changing its outcome. It also adds in humans that can turn into animals, replacing the religious conflicts of 16th century England with more fantastical problems.
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But at its core,My Lady Janeis still very much a romance story about Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guildford Dudley. Their relationship fuels the story, balancing its fantasy conflict expertly. It’s a shameMy Lady Janewon’t get to reveal what becomes of England after its heroine’s escape — but it’s a relief that Jane and Dudley at least get their happy ending.
Wednesday
Wednesday follows the journey of Wednesday Addams as she attends Nevermore Academy, a boarding school for outcasts. Tasked with mastering her psychic abilities, she confronts a series of town murders and a haunting family mystery from 25 years ago, all while managing new social dynamics.
Often compared toStranger Things,Wednesdayis another Netflix series that expertly blends fantasy and horror. While there are some criticisms about the show leaning more into fantasy than horror, this makes a certain amount of sense given its young adult focus. It also sounds likeWednesdayseason 2 will ramp up the horror, which is an exciting prospect that could further align it with Netflix’s other hit show.
Even ifWednesdaycontinues on its current path, it has a solid balance of horror themes like the Monster while also taking advantage of its magic school setting. That backdrop, along with the extraordinary powers seen at Nevermore Academy, ensuresWednesdaywill never lose sight of its fantasy roots. That said, the supernatural aspects of Wednesday Addams' journey have a lot of potential for horror moments. The show has already delivered on that a bit, blending its two genres effectively.
The Good Place
Eleanor Shellstrop finds in The Good Place, both the name of the fantasy comedy series from creator Michael Schur and a fictionalized heaven where those who have done good in life will end up. However, Eleanor discovers that the life she was believed to have led was a lie, as it seems The Good Place got the wrong “Eleanor Shellstrop.” When it’s revealed that three others are there under the same false pretenses, they concoct a plan to truly become “Good” to earn their place there - while hiding the truth.
The Good Placeis touted as more of a comedy or sitcom than a fantasy series, but the fact that it follows characters traversing the afterlife gives it a place in each of these categories. And even ifThe Good Placedoesn’t have an equal balance of fantasy and comedy, it arguably has the right one. The show features just enough of the extraordinary to help it stand out and get its point across. However, it still manages to feel grounded in the very human subjects it explores.
The Good Placeproves a show doesn’t need an even blend of two genres to have a successful one.
Despite taking place in the afterlife,The Good Placedoesn’t feel that different from any other sitcom, and that’s a testament to the writers' ability to balance genres. They never overdo the fantastical parts of the story, but it’s clear from early on that they exist.The Good Placeproves a show doesn’t need an even blend of two genres to have a successful one.
The Vampire Diaries
Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.
The Vampire Diariesis a supernatural fantasy series, but part of the reason the show is so beloved is that it also feels like a teen drama. This is becauseThe Vampire Diariesexpertly infuses its fantasy narrative with romance, making the relationships between the characters an equal priority. Love is at the center of the story, even as it embarks on adventures featuring werewolf packs and witch covens.
Even knowing how things pan out, the character moments and romances make returning toThe Vampire Diariesfeel like returning home.
While romantic subplots aren’t necessarily uncommon for supernatural shows, it’s the wayThe Vampire Diariesbalances them with its fantasy narratives that makes it stand out among similar titles. Its relationships feel fully formed and engaging outside the rest of the story, and this is probably why the CW show makes for such a great rewatch. Even knowing how things pan out, the character moments and romances make returning toThe Vampire Diariesfeel like returning home.
Locke & Key
Starring Darby Stanchfield and Connor Jessup, Lock & Key is a Horror and Fantasy television series created for Netflix and based on the comic series of the same name. The premise follows three kids who move to a special home and find supernatural and magical keys.
Locke & Keyinitially seems like a haunted house story, and the show maintains a horror focus throughout its three-season run. However,the Netflix series also proves to be a fantasy tale, with the house offering up keys that give the Locke family various powers, each more extraordinary than the next. While there are unsettling moments — along with ghosts and shapeshifting — it feels very much likeWednesdayin the use of its horror tropes. It never gets too terrifying, and it primarily uses them to drive a narrative that has a greater fantasy feel to it.
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Locke & Key’s good vs. evil story and hopeful ending lean more into fantasy conventions than horror ones, and the show also gradually veers away from horror as it continues. This doesn’t necessarily hurt the series, though, asit straddled the line between horror and fantasy from the beginning.
Outlander
Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married nurse from 1945, who is transported back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst political intrigue and danger, she navigates life in the past and becomes torn between loyalty to her husband and the love for a dashing young warrior.
Outlanderis one of the best examples of genre-blending, as the historical fantasy series also falls into the romance category — and some viewers file it under sci-fi as well. Based on Diana Gabaldon’s book series,Outlanderhas a premise that hinges almost entirely on the premise of time travel. And while this stirs up sci-fi associations,Outlanderdoesn’t use advanced technology to accomplish its time travel. Instead, it uses stones and magic, leaning on fantasy elements to make its narrative possible.
Of course,Outlander’s fantasy components don’t go far beyond time travel. The story overwhelmingly focuses on romance and drama over things like magic, and that works well for it.Outlander’s central romance is one of the most beloved of the genre, and its lighter fantasy elements make it possible. They’re perfectly utilized, even if they aren’t in your face at all times.
What We Do in the Shadows
What We Do in the Shadows, released in 2019, is a mockumentary series exploring the nightly lives of a group of centuries-old vampires residing in Staten Island. The comedic show delves into their interactions with each other and the modern world, providing a humorous take on the vampire genre.
What We Do in the Shadowsis about vampires, placing it firmly in the supernatural fantasy category — but its satire and mockumentary format also land it in the comedy genre. Fantasy comedies aren’t nearly as common as fantasy-horror blends, but that makes them more exciting when they do happen. Andthere’s a reasonWhat We Do in the Shadowswent on for six seasons: it masterfully combines both, delivering an end result that’s sure to delight fantasy lovers in its absurdity.
Of course,What We Do in the Shadowshad a blueprint to follow, as the TV show followed the 2005 short and 2014 film. But the TV medium allows it to truly shine, and it gives it plenty of time to capitalize on both its fantasy elements and its signature humor. It’s one of the bestfantasyTV blends of the past decade, and it’s one of the most fun additions to the genre.
