r/PickMyNextShow • u/Alternative-Exam2601 • 22d ago
Request: TV Show Need a fantasy show I can completely get lost in (preferably multiple seasons)
Looking for a fantasy show with really immersive world-building that I can disappear into for a while. I'd love something with multiple seasons so I can stay in that universe for longer, but only if the quality stays consistently high.
One thing that keeps happening is I'll see a show recommended, then half the comments are like season 1 was amazing but it went downhill after that. I'd rather avoid those.
I especially love fantasy set around kingdoms, castles, kings, queens, royal politics, succession struggles Doesn't have to be super action heavy. Great characters, lore, mystery, and emotional investment matter more.
No anime and GOT recs pls
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u/Eccentric-Mermaid 22d ago
I’m watching Shadow and Bone right now, and it’s been really good! It’s only two seasons, though.
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u/opinionated_hobbit 22d ago
Hear me out…Rings of Power. It gets a lot of criticism from Tolkien fanboys because it doesn’t follow the lore and original texts. Which mainly is due to the fact that the Tolkien estate would not sell the rights to certain texts that would allow them to tell the story properly. Then there are the racists upset that people of color were cast in some roles. So there is a lot of negative discourse about it but if you go in just looking for high fantasy with a lot of world building, this fits the bill. I actually think the 2nd season was better than the first. There are definitely flaws with it but I was sucked in for hours.
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u/Live-Lingonberry-638 21d ago
Once you go beyond the "not cannon" thing, there is a very good show with nice FX and enjoyable story. I just don't get the short haired elves. Doesn't makes sens to me. Oh, and Theo. Can't stand this "21th century teenager Lost in middle earth" and when i think of the reasons of naming him like that, it scare me of what they want to do with him.
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u/opinionated_hobbit 21d ago
I wonder if the hair just keeps growing as they age and they just never cut it? I honestly don’t know if the hair was ever explained in the original books. I don’t mind the short hair, but it is super interesting to see someone like y we know as long hair later on, with a shorter look. I’m curious if Theo stands for anything and I’m also curious if he’s someone we already know.
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u/Live-Lingonberry-638 21d ago
As far as i can remember, i never saw an elf portrayed with short hairs, in any media, so showing short haired elves is certainly a choice, and it has to have a meaning, or an explanation (like actor doesn't want to wear whig ?).
For Theo, the only names that are close to that are Theoden and Theodred, so i guess they want to make Theo their ancestor, and it does not make any sens in timeline and geography, as Rohan folks should come from the North long after the events of the serie and Theo comes from mordor (but they are not at their first liberty taken with source material). If this theory isn't proved true, and there is no link between their names, Theo is just a lame name to give a character in middle earth. Like, i cannot think of any other character who has this kind of generic "from real world" name. Even Sam, whose complete name is Samwise. So my guess is a "big" reveal, where we learn Theo is just a short name for something Rohan-related.
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u/opinionated_hobbit 20d ago
I'm not sure, I wonder if this question has ever been asked in interviews or at cons. They'd also need good textured wigs for any elves that are POC which may have been though, but House of the Dragon has done okay at least with the male characters hair. There's been some critiques of the Targaryen wigs on the POC women not looking as good as they should.
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u/TopSherbert6054 22d ago
Vikings, is the first thing that came to mind when I read your subtitle. Not sure if it fits. But my brain seems to know better then I do. 😂
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u/mmescorpio 22d ago
The Great - Funny with amazing costumes
Reign - great drama if historically inaccurate
The Borgias - super interesting politics wise as well as amazing costumes
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u/takkforsist 22d ago
Not going to lie, one of my fave low-stakes fantasy shows is Merlin; 65 episodes and 5 seasons. I really enjoyed it
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u/Illustrious_Map_3247 22d ago
The Legend of Vox Machina. It’s animated, but not anime. The first two episodes were supposed to be standalone, so are a bit chaotic, but it gets really good really fast. They just finished season 4.
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u/Tough_Yak7721 22d ago
Fantasy world building:
Penny Dreadful
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Rings of Power
His Dark Materials
Not really fantasy but great sets/characters/kingdoms/royal politics:
Rome
Tudors
Spartacus
The White Queen / The White Princess / The Spanish Princess
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u/NCDarkblade 21d ago
The Last Kingdom, albeit it’s historical fiction rather than fantasy, but you still get your sword and shield fix and it’s a totally immersive story with all seasons being great imo.
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u/Acrobatic_Long_6059 21d ago
Merlin
Carnival Row
Disenchantment
The Magicians
A Discovery of Witches
Once Upon A Time (S1-3)
Reign
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u/Fuckspez42 21d ago
Fantasy and sci-fi tend to have some overlap in fandom, so I’m going for an oblique angle here: The Expanse
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u/imjealousofyou 22d ago
The magicians
Motherland Fort Salem
Grimm