Prime Video features manyfantasyTV shows that are over, as well as others that are still airing. This means that viewers can’t watch the entire story unfold. While it’s exciting when a new season of a fantasy show is coming, it can be agony waiting for the next installment to arrive.It’s comforting to start a series and know that every episode is at your fingertips.
Among thebest fantasy shows on Prime Video, some are original series produced by the streaming service, while others are older projects that are currently housed on Prime. These projects might come and go, but while they’re available, audiences should make the most of having access to some of the best works within the genre, especially since all of these projects have finished their runs.
Many fantasy series use their fictional and magical elements as a metaphor for social issues that take center stage in reality, drawing comparisons and sparking conversations that change people’s minds. In Prime Video’s original series,Carnival Row,the series uses the prejudices lodged against supernatural creatures from the human population as its touchpoint for thematic impact.
Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne lead the cast as Rycroft and Vignette, who grapple with their positions in the human and Fae worlds as the series progresses. Their chemistry elevates the story ofCarnival Row, and it’s fun to watch how the show tackles the steampunk elements and the stylization of the world.
Though the series only received two seasons, it’s a fun ride, worth watching from beginning to end. The fact that Prime Video has been open to producing projects likeCarnival Rowbreeds some hope for the fantasy projects of the future, as innovative works like this are what push the genre forward.
Bringing the epic high fantasy novel series by Robert Jordan to life onscreen was never going to be an easy task. Even though Prime Video ultimately canceledThe Wheel of Timebefore it could adapt every book in the series,the show is still a testament to what fantasy television can be, as it was only getting better with each season.
The Wheel of Timeseason 3 was arguably the best installment of the series so far, and it’s a shame that we won’t see it return to our screens for season 4.
The Wheel of Timeseason 3 was arguably the best installment of the series so far, and it’s a shame that we won’t see it return to our screens for season 4. While Prime has no trouble green-lighting high-budget additions to the speculative fiction genre,The Wheel of Timedid require a lot of resources to be as visually and narratively compelling as it was.
Prime’s upcoming fantasy shows afterThe Wheel of Timewill attempt to make up for the series' cancellation, but it won’t be easy. However, as interest in complex high fantasy stories ebbs and flows, audiences can always return toThe Wheel of Timewhen they’re looking fora project that’s instantly gripping and unforgettable.
Lucy Lawless, the actress who brought Xena to life for all six seasons ofXena: Warrior Princess, and appeared onHercules: The Legendary Journeys, will always be associated with the character and franchise. While this can be hard on an actor, there are very few characters as iconic and important to the fantasy genre as Xena.
Though the fantasy genre was packed with speculative fiction shows that uplifted strong female characters in the 1990s,Xenastands out because of its many groundbreaking moments and roots in mythology. The fact thatXenawas a spinoff, but quickly outpaced the series it was based on, demonstrates just how muchXenahas impacted the genre.
It’s true that the visual effects are a little dated, and there are some campy elements inXena, but this is part of the fun of watching an older fantasy show. Prime has made plenty of flashy, modern original series that audiences will recognize. However,there’s a sense of nostalgia in shows likeXena: Warrior Princessthat can only be found in projects like this.
The Vampire Diariesis one of the best vampire TV shows ever made, but its spinoff,The Originals, shines becauseit revolves around the best villains of the entireTVDuniverse. The original family of vampires, helmed by the fearsome Niklaus Mikaelson, is the most compelling antagonist inTVD, and watching them fight and struggle for redemption in New Orleans is just as exciting.
It was sad to see Klaus and his family leaveTVD, butThe Originalshas an advantage, as the series had no scruples about letting its lead characters be as villainous as possible. Introducing new characters from the Mikaelsons' past and bringing along the best returning characters fromTVD,The Originalsscratches the same itch asTVDin an atmospheric new setting.
New Orleans has a long historical connection to magic and the supernatural, andThe Originalsinfuses this into its storylines. ThoughThe Vampire Diariesand the other spinoff,Legacies, are scattered across different streaming services, Prime still has a lock onThe Originals, which can easily be watched as a standalone show as well.
Penny Dreadful
Cast
Penny Dreadful is a gothic horror thriller series that follows characters forced to brave historic British literature creations in Victorian London. Centering on Vanessa Ives across the series, the show has Vanessa and her allies face-to-face with supernatural entities that will challenge their reality while dealing with their own personal demons.
Penny Dreadfulgot its name from the early 19th-century book genre thatencapsulated thrilling and sinister supernatural tales likeFrankensteinorThe Picture of Dorian Gray. Deeply entrenched in the Victorian Gothic aesthetic,Penny Dreadfulmines these iconic works of fiction for their characters and magic, allowing them to exist in the same world.
While it’s always fun when a familiar literary figure appears onscreen,Penny Dreadfulshines thanks to its original lead character, Vanessa Ives, played by Eva Green. A powerful medium with ties to the supernatural underworld, Vanessa is more connected to the dark forces of the universe than she realizes at the beginning of the show.
While we could’ve watchedPenny Dreadfulfor many years, the series came to an end after season 3, after a shocking series finale that audiences must see to believe. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Billie Piper, Timothy Dalton, and Josh Hartnett,Penny Dreadfulmight be otherworldly, but the performances will make you feel as if you’re in the heat of the action.
Part police procedural, part supernatural mystery series, and entirely committed to crafting a world drenched in some of the most interesting lore of our time,Grimmis six seasons of fun. Starring David Giuntoli as Nick, a detective who discovers he’s part of a long line of Grimms,Grimmsees Nick track down supernatural creatures straight out of a fairy tale.
ThoughGrimmdoes immediately spark comparisons to other supernatural mystery series or monster-of-the-week shows, it quickly distinguishes itself. The style and character design of the terrifying creatures Nick has to fight inGrimmhelp immerse the viewer in the story and allow the series to feel emotionally real, and even a little bit scary.
Running for six seasons from 2011 to 2017,Grimmreceived a full order of 22 episodes for every season except the final installment. WhileGrimmisn’t a series on Prime that audiences can binge in a weekend,it’s the ideal show for viewers looking for their next obsession, asGrimmhas no shortage of lore to decipher in each season.
It’s not uncommon for well-written fantasy TV shows to have been adapted from books, and the British miniseries,Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, is no exception. The novel of the same name by Susanna Clarke made waves when it was released in 2004, and the blend between the period and fantasy elements proved to be easily brought to life onscreen.
Just seven episodes long,Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrellis easy to binge and satisfying to finish, as it was always meant to be a miniseries.
Following the adventures of two magicians who couldn’t be more different, Jonathan Strange and Gilbert Norrell,the series is set against the backdrop of early 19th-century England, mining this era for all its stylistic and cultural contexts. Just seven episodes long,Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrellis easy to binge and satisfying to finish, as it was always meant to be a miniseries.
While there are many aspects ofJonathan Strange & Mr. Norrellthat will convince audiences to invest in the story, the world-building and offbeat characters take the narrative to the next level. Since the series might leave Prime eventually, viewers should dive into the project while it’s still available on the streamer.
My Lady Janeis afantasy show that’s a masterpiecefrom the first moments of the pilot. However, this makes the fact that the series was canceled by Prime after just one season even more devastating. The only silver lining toMy Lady Jane's short run is that audiences can watch all eight episodes of the show right now.
My Lady Janehas a 95% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
Audiences who like a little romance with their fantasy are sure to appreciate the chemistry between the leads, Emily Bader and Edward Bluemel, who play Jane and Guildford. However,My Lady Janeisn’t just a love story; it’s also a sweeping adventure that uses its fantastical elements to tap into deeper themes of justice and change.
My Lady Janeis far from the first greatfantasyshow ended before its time by Prime Video, but it’s a good thing that the series got the season it did. As the genre evolves, more series should look toMy Lady Janeto witness how the show toes the line between comedy and drama to keep the audience interested without taking itself too seriously.
