Summary
Live-action dark fantasy is a rapidly expanding genre with many phenomenal TV shows that offer excitement and thrills. The story of good versus evil has a perennial quality that appeals to optimism and justice. However, in a world that’s increasingly chaotic and filled with hate, these stories have begun to feel disingenuous. This has led many people to seek out stories that provide a degree of escapism while also reflecting reality. Dark fantasy is the perfect solution.
Dark fantasy is an age-old countercultural movement thatchallenges the traditional hero’s journey, black-and-white morality, and fairytale idealism.These stories incorporate elements like violence, horror, gothic style, existential themes, and deeply flawed protagonists. While the genre has always existed,dark fantasy animesand live-action TV shows have gained popularity in the past decade. There are now many great series for viewers looking for the more twisted side of imagination.
The TV showGame of Thronesand its spinoff,House of the Dragon, are two of the best-known fantasies on TV, and they set high expectations for the genre. Based on the books by George R.R. Martin, the two series are both typically considered high fantasy. They exist within a world of their own, incorporating a unique magic system, history, and rules. However, due to their dark themes and storylines, they both verge on dark fantasy.TheGame of Thronesshows also include morally ambiguous characters who commit acts of violence.
Because these two verge on dark fantasy and are so iconic, they needed to be included among the best live-action dark fantasy shows. However,Game of ThronesandHouse of the Dragondon’t contain enough dark fantasy tropes or characteristics to rank higher than an honorable mention.
Netflix’sWednesdayis a superb dark fantasy that caters to teens and young adults. The show follows the sarcastic Wednesday Addams, who tries to solve a killing spree and harness her psychic abilities as a supernatural school. Because of the audience, the show doesn’t boast quite as many dark themes. However, the TV show incorporates gothic and macabre styles that are visually striking and exciting.
Wednesdaymakes references to dark fantasy/horror authors like Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley, helping establish the tone and mood. On top of all these things that make the show great,Netflix’sWednesdayseason 2 will include a much darker toneand themes than the first one.
However,the show is still a more child-appropriate, tamed version of a genrethat pushes back against the morality boundaries found in traditional fantasy. As such,Wednesdayis slightly less impactful than other dark fantasy live-action TV shows that lean into darker characters and stories.
TheRiverdalespinoff,Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, is an excellent and campy example of dark horror for young adults done well. The TV show follows a half-human, half-witch named Sabrina Spellman, who tries to balance the two worlds and come to terms with her family’s legacy in the Church of the Night. The series incorporates elements of horror in its visuals and characters. There’s no absence of blood and violence.
When developing the world and storylines,the show includes aspects of witchcraft, the occult, demons, and dark forces. The maincharacters ofChilling Adventures of Sabrinaalso include dark humor that pushes the limits of what’s appropriate in a teen drama, much like its predecessor. Somehow, the show manages to blend school, drama, teenage romances, horror, and fantasy without any of the genres ruining the other.
Showtime’sPenny Dreadfulonly lasted for three seasons, but it created a legacy as one of the best dark fantasy TV shows. The story centers on a medium named Vanessa Ives, who interacts with Gothic horror literature characters like Dorian Gray, Victor Frankenstein, and Count Dracula while trying to stop the evils lurking in the shadows of 1891 London. The series blurs the line between horror and dark fantasy by including supernatural elements. It also features profound and morally complex characters.
Impressively,Penny Dreadfulgarnered a whopping 13 Primetime Emmy Nominations over three years, pointing to the show’s strengths. The second season has an impressive 100%Rotten Tomatoesscore. Additionally, the showrunner chose to end the series because it was a natural end to the story instead of getting canceled.Penny Dreadfulonly falls lower on the list of bests because the others are that excellent, rather than the show’s failings.
The Originalsis a spinoff of The Vampire Diaries that leans further into dark fantasy, gritty visuals, and violence than its predecessor. The story follows a cruel vampire-werewolf hybrid named Niklaus (Klaus) Mikaelson and his vampire siblings, who try to take control of their old home in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where there’s a turf war between vampires, witches, and werewolves.
The Originals: 20 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About The Mikaelson Siblings
The complex story of the first vampires spans a millennium, so fans may have missed a thing or two about the Originals and the Mikaelson family.
Unlike the predecessor series,the point-of-view characters are morally gray and Machiavellian, upping the dark motivations and horrifying actions.The storylines include human sacrifices, evil rituals, and spirits possessing people – all of which verge on horror. This show is often regarded as the best in theVampire Diaries Universedue to its darker and more mature tone. Additionally,The Originalsseasons 2 through 4 all hold an impressive 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Unfortunately, the show didn’t see as much critical acclaim as other dark fantasy shows.
The AMC seriesInterview with the Vampireis by far one of the best dark fantasies on TV. Based Anne Rice’s books, the story follows a vampire named Louis de Pointe du Lac who gives an interview to journalist Daniel Molloy about his past – most notably his romance with a man named Lestat de Lioncourt in the 1910s New Orleans.Interview with the Vampirehas all the hallmarks of a dark fantasy, incorporating gothic horror elements into the raunchy LGBTQ+ fantasy.
The series gained overwhelmingcritical praise due to its incredible writing, soundtrack, and production design. Both seasons hold an almost perfectRotten Tomatoesscore of 98%, andInterview with the Vampireseason 3is on the way. Additionally,Interview with the Vampirewas included inIndieWire’s list of the 25 most essential LGBTQ+ TV shows of the 21st century.
Based on theShadow and BoneandSix of Crowsseries by Leigh Bardugo, this show follows Alina Starkov, an orphan cartographer who discovers her heritage and magical gifts that could save the universe.Shadow and Boneeasily places among the best dark fantasy live-action TV shows due to the quality of the show and the audience response.
The show itself is incredibly well done from a technical standpoint. It has a clear voice and aesthetic that’s familiar and distinct from other fantasy stories. The acting and writing are also noteworthy because they combine to create well-rounded characters.
The audiences also lovedShadow and Bone, ranking 24th for the most-watched streaming original show across all platforms in 2023 (viaThe Wrap).The show was also voted Fan Favorite Series of 2023 onRotten Tomatoes, garnering 54% of the vote. Sadly, the show was canceled due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, so it feels incomplete, unlike the shows that rank higher.
Supernaturalis a TV show with a passionate and dedicated fanbase. The show follows Dean and Sam Winchester, two brothers who hunt all the things that go bump in the night. This series is considered the longest-running horror TV show (viaMovieWeb), but it falls more into the dark fantasy genre. The gore is moderate, the tone is gritty but not typically scary, and the show leans into cinematography styles common in fantasy.
Should Supernatural return for season 16?
After ending with season 15, Supernatural season 16 could happen in the coming years. Series stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles have both said that they would love to come back, though they would be game to return for a Supernatural limited series, not another multi-season run. That would be perfect for the show. After 15 seasons, Supernatural did plenty of exciting things with its two leads, but the series finale was extremely controversial due to the way it handled Dean Winchester’s death. A short, TV-MA Supernatural revival could fix Dean’s ending and give fans one epic final adventure.
Supernaturalranks high among the best dark fantasy series because of its long-running legacy.Though some shows run for a long time, it’s not often that shows can maintain such a passionate fanbase and a decent story over a long period. Many of the fans connected withSupernaturalbecause of the chemistry and relationship between Dean and Sam. The brothers bounce off each other perfectly, which provides a counterbalance to the darker storylines in the show. The show garnered an impressive nine nominations for the Saturn Awards – six of which were for Best Network Television Series.
The Magiciansis both criminally underrated and one of the best live-action dark fantasy TV shows ever. The series follows a group of graduate students from a magical university called Brakebills who travel to the twisted fantasy world of Fillory. Though it has its whimsical and goofy moments,The Magiciansis known for being gritty, macabre, and gory.
The showisn’t afraid to maim or kill its main characters, which many fantasy series are too scared to do. The characters regularly behave in morally ambiguous ways, that make them both lovable and hateable. The storylines also integrate real-life and fantastical horrors. Some of thedarkest moments inThe Magiciansinvolve mental illness, sexual assault, and homophobia.
Overall,The Magiciansis a masterpiece that deserves much more attention and praise. The characters and plot are incredibly well-developed, and the visuals are impressive. The series includes excellent representation of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. Impressively,The Magicianswas nominated five times for Best Fantasy Television Series at the Saturn Awards. Every season except the first also has aRotten Tomatoesscore over 90%, with two holding 100%. Still, it’s usually written off when it comes to fantasy shows because of its heavy themes and storylines. That’s what makes it the perfect dark fantasy, though.
The Witcherfollows a monster-hunting mercenary named Geralt of Rivia who tries to exist in a corrupt and twisted world. The characters in this show mostly fall into the category of morally gray, doing whatever benefits them the most. Additionally, this dark fantasy trait is a nice deviation from the black-and-white characters found in many high fantasy shows.
The Witcheris one series where critics and audiences disagree about its merits. Critics have given mixed reviews, but audiences adore the series. After its debut,The WitcherdethronedThe MandalorianandStranger Thingsto become the most in-demand streaming show(viaBusiness Insider). Netflix revealed that the show was the second most popular show of 2019, with only Stranger Things beating it (viaVariety). Ultimately, between the acting, soundtrack, visual effects, makeup, hair, and cinematography,The Witcherhas many fantastic elements that land it among the best dark fantasy TV shows.
