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This is precisely why shows that delve into hard fantasy become such alluring prospects for fans of the genre. This particular genre stresses the importance of making fantasy worlds with enough logic and believability that it feels like a lived-in landscape with its set of rules, both defined and otherwise. The following TV shows have these lived-in worlds that are so fleshed out that viewers themselves can imagine a reality where they’re a part of this landscape!
7 Game Of Thrones
Game of Thrones is one of the most popular fantasy shows of all time, become a worldwide phenomenon over the course of its eight seasons. It’s a shame that the series ended in such a disappointing manner, but most people remember the epic nature of the journey instead of the torrid conclusion that turned many fans off from ever talking about Game of Thrones in any capacity.
The stories of Daenerys, Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Jaime Lannister, and a bunch of other memorable characters have been etched in the annals of television history for years to come. The battle for the Iron Throne was a riveting watch, with the series slowly expanding in scope and setting up amazing conflicts before delving into the many wars that would ravage the landscape over the course of the last two seasons.
6 Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most popular Nickelodeon original animated shows, the story of Aang and his friends as they try to stop the Fire Nation being a pretty riveting tale of adventure and friendship. It helps that the characters in the show are all pretty likable in their own right, with Azula and Fire Lord Ozai perhaps being the only two characters who are absolutely hateable without any major caveats.
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Watching Aang slowly come to grips with the idea that all other airbenders have died at the hands of the Fire Nation is quite harrowing, with his subsequent struggles to fit into the role of an Avatar making him a fun protagonist to root for. The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is a truly brilliant one that will attract more than its fair share of hard fantasy series toward one of the greatest animated shows of all time.
5 The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power
The Lord of the Rings is the first thing that comes to the minds of most people when the topic of hard fantasy is brought up. The movies are all legendary in their own right, with the Hobbit trilogy also being fairly decent despite stretching its source material to the very max for the sole purpose of justifying another trilogy of movies.
Prime Video released a new TV show with this IP, called The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Set thousands of years before Tolkien’s interpretation of this world, this show takes a look at the Second Age of Middle-earth. Suffice it to say, the show has started on a strong note and promises to be one of the best shows around in the hard fantasy genre.
4 The Witcher
The recent news surrounding The Witcher and Henry Cavill’s departure from the series might compel many people to give this show a pass if they haven’t seen it already. However, despite its many caveats, fans of The Witcher will find a lot of things to love about the Netflix show and its own take on the series formula.
It helps that Henry Cavill is pretty much the perfect iteration of Geralt, which is precisely why his departure from the show feels like a huge problem for the series. Hopefully, Liam Hemsworth does a great job of taking over the reins of playing Geralt and does a pretty great job with one of the most beloved fictional characters in the fantasy genre.
3 Xena: Warrior Princess
It’s hard to find great shows that feature strong female protagonists, which is why Xena: Warrior Princess should get the credit it rightfully deserves. This show was conceived in the mid-90s and portrays Xena as a strong female lead who uses her inherent strength to get things done.
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The show is set in a version of ancient Greece with many fantasy elements. It incorporates a ton of fantasy elements flawlessly and is easily one of the best hard fantasy shows that fans of the genre owe it to themselves to check out.
2 The Legend Of Korra
The Legend of Korra serves as a sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, and more than justifies its existence with another strong cast of characters and a somewhat different yet riveting approach to the source material. Korra is a great protagonist who has her own take on being the Avatar, the show being quite entertaining as a result.
Each season tackles a different threat, that might feel like a step down from the focused approach of the original. However, this does allow for the world of Avatar to be fleshed out quite a bit, with The Legend of Korra having a ton of riveting conflicts while also humanizing its characters through a combination of strong writing and world-changing events.
1 House Of The Dragon
The sequel to Game of Thrones wasn’t exactly a series that people were waiting for with bated breath. However, for what it’s worth, House of the Dragon has managed to silence many of its critics with a strong first impression, a great cast, and amazing writing that has set up the future of the series quite deftly.
It helps that the Targaryens make for riveting protagonists, with the classic politics and drama that fueled its parent series fueling the embers of House of the Dragon. Fans can’t wait for the second season and what it brings to the table.
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