From The Witcher to Lucifer: The 10 best fantasy series on Netflix right now

For an entire generation that has grown up watching the likes of The Lord of The Rings and all the Harry Potter movies, it shouldn’t really come across as a surprise to find out that we’ve got a bit of a sweet-spot for fantasy films. The adventure and magic brought in by the unknown worlds of fantasy never for once failed to sway us.

With the pandemic-induced lockdown still in play outside, we wouldn’t mind consuming ourselves to the imaginary and mystical world of make-believe; places where delight and horror lurk in every corner, where everything is paranormal and nothing is as it seems. To satisfy our cravings for all-things-fantasy, Netflix not only contains a large number of fantasy films but also has an astounding collection of fantasy television series.

From sorcerers and magic stones to flying dragons and dungeons; here are our ten best fantasy series on Netflix right now.

Ten best fantasy series on Netflix:

10. Cursed

Based on the illustrated novel of the same name by Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler, Cursed is a coming-of-age story whose themes are familiar to our own time: the obliteration of the natural world, religious terror, senseless war, and finding the courage to lead in the face of the impossible.

It is a re-imagining of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue, a young heroine with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful (and tragic) Lady of the Lake. After her mother’s death, she finds an unexpected partner in Arthur, a young mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin and deliver an ancient sword. Over the course of her journey, Nimue will become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther.

9. Warrior Nun

Warrior Nun is narrated and led by Portuguese actress Alba Baptista in the role of Ava Silva, a quadriplegic orphan who discovers she now has supernatural powers which force her to join an ancient order of warrior nuns. Based on the comic book character Warrior Nun Areala by Ben Dunn, it was originally developed as a feature film adaptation, the idea was re-imagined as a television series for Netflix when the service had given the production a series order for a first season.

The story revolves around the story of a 19-year-old woman who wakes up in a morgue with a new lease on life and a divine artefact embedded in her back. She discovers she is now part of the ancient Order of the Cruciform Sword that has been tasked with fighting demons on Earth, and powerful forces representing both heaven and hell want to find and control her.

8. The Shannara Chronicles

Season one of The Shannara Chronicles roughly follows the storylines in The Elfstones of Shannara, set in the fictional Four Lands. As the series opens, demons start to return after being banished from this world to a place known as the Forbidding—locked by an ancient tree called the Ellcrys.

The series chronicles the journey of Wil, Amberle and Eretria who, with the guidance of the last druid Allanon, must go on a quest to protect the Ellcrys from dying and releasing all the banished demons back into the Four Lands.

7. The Worst Witch

The Worst Witch is a British-German fantasy children’s television series about a group of young witches at a school for magic. It stars Bella Ramsey seasons 1-3 and Lydia Page in season four and is based on The Worst Witch books by Jill Murphy.

New characters every season keep it fresh and the casting is exceptional. That said, anyone who loves magic will find this to be a wonderfully fun way to look at school life and it is not just for the younger set. A light-hearted look at loyalty, friendship and what can happen if you always do your best, even the misguided can be taught that life is more fun when you think of others first.

6. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

This popular supernatural-drama series starring Kiernan Shipka as the titular half-witch and half-human Sabrina who leads a dual life of a high school student and a sorcery student in the magical world which was developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa for Netflix, based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.

It was inspired by slow-burn horror films such as The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, and other “great satanic horror movies from the 1960s and 1970s”. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is set in the fictional town of Greendale. It is a dark coming-of-age story that includes horror and witchcraft. Sabrina Spellman must reconcile her dual nature as a half-Witch, half-mortal while fighting the evil forces that threaten her, her family and the daylight world humans inhabit.

5. Merlin

An action-packed fantasy-drama, it revisits the saga of King Arthur and his wizard, Merlin, by focusing on the two characters when they were ambitious young men struggling to understand their destinies.

In this telling, Prince Arthur is known to be the heir to the throne (no sword from the stone here). And he is acquainted with all those who will one day form the legend of Camelot, including Lancelot, Guinevere, and Morgana. Merlin is also forced to deal with King Uther’s Great Purge, which bans all use of magic.

4. Blood of Zeus

Blood of Zeus is an American animated television series that chronicles the illegitimate son of Zeus, a young man tasked with saving heaven and earth despite the interference of a vengeful goddess and her monstrous forces.

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes credits this stylish mythological anime for “reforging Greek mythology as an epic battle royal with slick imagery and sterling voice acting, Blood of Zeus earns a spot on the Mount Olympus of action animation.”

3. The Umbrella Academy

This gripping superhero-fantasy series has an interesting premise: On one day in 1989, 43 infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven are adopted by billionaire industrialist Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who creates the Umbrella Academy and prepares his “children” to save the world. In their teenage years, though, the family fractures and the team disbands.

Based on a collection of comics and graphic novels created and written by My Chemical Romance lead singer Gerard Way, the series has itself forward to the present time, when the six surviving members of the clan reunite upon the news of Hargreeves’ passing. They work together to solve a mystery surrounding their father’s death, but divergent personalities and abilities again pull the estranged family apart, and a global apocalypse is another imminent threat.

2. Lucifer

The show revolves around the story of Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), the Devil, who abandons Hell for Los Angeles where he runs his own nightclub named ‘LUX’ and becomes a consultant to the LAPD.

Based on the DC Comics character created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg taken from the comic book series The Sandman, who later became the protagonist of a spin-off comic book series, both published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint, Lucifer is well-crafted binge-worthy series that blends in multiple genres well.

1. The Witcher

Starring Henry Cavill, Freya Allan and Anya Chalotra, The Witcher explores the legend of Geralt of Rivia and princess Ciri, who are linked to each other by destiny. It is set on a fictional, medieval-inspired landmass known as “the Continent”.

It was hugely popular in its first run, during which it became the most-in-demand TV series in the world, across all platforms. Author Andrzej Sapkowski, on whose book the series is based on, commented favourably on the show, and stated, “I was more than happy with Henry Cavill’s appearance as The Witcher. He’s a real professional. Just as Viggo Mortensen gave his face to Aragorn (in The Lord of the Rings), so Henry gave his to Geralt — and it shall be forever so.”

Sapkowski added, “I shall be happy if the viewers — and readers — take anything away, anything that shall enrich them in some way. Also, I sincerely hope to leave the viewers — and readers — hot. In every sense. Not tepid, not lukewarm.”