Fantasy Shows to Binge This Summer

Welcome, Fantasy Nerds! It’s summertime, when most of our TV shows take a hiatus, so what are we to watch? We’ve come up with some binge-worthy fantasy shows for you to check out while you wait for the Fall line-up to resume. 

Wheel of Time

If you are intimidated by the 15-book series, watching the TV show on Prime is a great way to see if you would enjoy the books. Clever watched the first season for this very reason and got completely hooked. She is now 5 books into the series and has watched all 3 seasons of the TV show. It’s one we highly recommend if you are into immersive high-fantasy and incredible world-building. The actors in the show portray the characters and their emotions very well, allowing you to get sucked into the story. Not to mention the intense action and well-done magical effects. One warning before you get hooked on the show, Amazon has just announced there will not be a season 4, so you will have to pick up the books if you want to find out the ending.

Shadow and Bone

Clever was really looking forward to the release of this show by Netflix because she loved the books. It kept things interesting how they combined two series by the author into one show, connecting the characters in new ways and expanding the world of the story. Even if you read both series, the show still offered something new. The characters were well portrayed, and Netflix didn’t skimp on the action or special effects. However, this one also needs a warning that the show was cancelled after 2 seasons, so you are left with a bit of a cliff-hanger. Overall, we still think it’s worth watching, whether you’ve read the books or not.

Game of Thrones/ House of the Dragon

We are lumping these two shows together because they are by the same author and set in the same fictional universe. If you are a fantasy nerd, both of these shows are a must-watch on HBO. They are full of political intrigue, suspenseful battles, and, of course, dragons! One aspect that makes these shows so engaging is that you never really know what to expect. George R.R. Martin is famous for not being afraid to kill off your favorite characters, and this keeps you on the edge of your seat time and time again. 

A Discovery of Witches

If you are a fan of witches, vampires, historical fiction, and time travel, have we got a show for you! This show will take you on a journey like no other, and unlike some of the others on this list, it has 3 full seasons that ended in a satisfying conclusion. There is a bit of a Romeo and Juliet trope to this tale, as vampires and witches aren’t allowed to intermingle. The complex world-building and deep history of both the witch and vampire lines make this show an engaging watch. 

My Lady Jane

This is another fantasy show for the history-lover, but with a completely different tone and setting. My Lady Jane is an alternate history set in the Tudor era, examining what would have happened if Lady Jane Grey was not just a pawn that was forced onto the throne for 9 days only to be beheaded. It is a surprisingly humorous take on a dark time in history, and I found myself laughing often during this show. What makes it a great show for Fantasy Nerds is the addition of a magical race called the Ethians, who can transform into animals. We highly recommend this show if you enjoy comedic takes on history with a sprinkle of magic. 

Fate: The Winx Saga

Clever happened upon this show in her Netflix recommendations, and she’s glad she gave it a chance. While it is clearly a YA fantasy with the magic school trope, it was still a binge-worthy watch. There were some surprising twists that will keep you hitting the button for the next episode. Not to mention, there is a bit of nostalgia if you watched the animated show Winx Club as a kid.

Devil’s Plan – Season 2

Devil’s Plan is a Korean game show available on Netflix. It starts with a bunch of contestants who compete in challenges to earn pieces, these pieces not only determine your survival in the games, but whether or not you go to prison. Betrayal, alliances, and various games will test each person extensively, and ultimately one winner is crowned.

This year, with the recent release of season two, we have all new players and a new aesthetic of the various game areas. The main game hall has a fantasy feel, with large stone walls, torch-type lighting and large gothic cathedral style windows. The games mostly pertain to battles of wits, some similar to tabletop games. Without revealing too much, some of the hidden games, like the one in prison, are absolutely crazy to watch. If you haven’t seen season one, check out both seasons this summer!

To Be Hero X

To Be Hero X is a new animated show available on Crunchyroll. This show follows different “heroes” and how they came to be heroes. The main storyline is that public opinion, known as trust value, directly impacts heroes and their abilities. No trust value, equals no powers. Balancing public opinion with their own struggles makes for a very interesting show. It is currently airing with one episode a week, and we highly recommend checking it out this summer!

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Have you seen any of the shows on this list? What shows will you be tuning into this summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Thank you so much for reading!

–Clever&WTF