Fantasy Prime

[Frederic Laureano]

Ifyou're into sassy immortals, a hint of comedy and a whole lot of banter between Michael Sheen and David Tennant, Good Omens is the show for you. Featuring angels, demons, witches and a literal Antichrist, Good Omens is a stellar adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's 1990 novel which will have you saying, "just one more episode" every time the credits roll.

Based on the Dungeons and Dragons web series, Critical Role, this adult animated series follows a lovable band of unexpected heroes as they find themselves on a quest to save the land of Exandria from dark magical forces. Get ready for adventure, rich storytelling and a lot of laughs.

Carnival Row tells the story of mythological beings that are forced to hide in plain sight, blending fae with humans in a tense, murderous environment. Starring Orlando Bloom as a half-fae inspector, the show uncovers a twisted conspiracy that could change the very face of the city. If nothing else, it's worth it just to hear all the funky fae names.

The Boys is... Well, it's not the type of superhero fare we've come to expect. All the wholesome, earnest superhero schtick goes right out the window with this gritty, dark and gory depiction of what the world would be like if some of the heroes were also just really, really bad people. It's funny, intense and full of twists -- but definitely not one for the faint-hearted.

The Rings of Power is set during Middle-earth's Second Age, thousands of years prior to the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved trilogy. The Lord of the Rings fans will recognize some familiar characters (though played by different actors) in elves Galadriel and Elrond, however. The Rings of Power is set in the time just before the titular Rings of Power were created -- including the One Ring to Rule Them All. It features political intrigue, gorgeous vistas and some excellent action setpieces that will keep any Lord of the Rings fan happy.

Based on the books by Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time is an epic fantasy series starring Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred. The powerful sorceress (called an Aes Sedai) is tasked with finding the Dragon -- a Chosen One destined to defeat the embodiment of evil and save their world from complete annihilation. With 14 books in the series, we anticipate a lot of Wheel of Time content coming your way.

This animated TV series centers around Mark Grayson, a seemingly average teenager whose father happens to be the most powerful superhero on the planet. However, when Mark turns 17, his whole life begins to change. This Amazon Prime Video original will take you on a roller coaster ride.

Based on the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, American Gods has a cast to die for, featuring Ian McShane, Crispin Glover and Gillian Anderson among others. Sadly, it was canceled after three glorious seasons and before the full story could be told.

Starring Sissy Spacek and J.K Simmons as an older couple with a strange portal in their basement, Night Sky is one of the weirdest shows released on a major streaming service in a while. It's far from perfect but, in Spacek and Simmons the show has two incredibly charismatic leads. It's nice to watching older people have agency in a show for once.

Loosely based on Arthurian legend, Merlin is a show that was canceled before its time. Over the course of five seasons, the show went from strength to strength, improving each season as we watch Merlin, Arthur, Gwen and Morgana develop into the characters we know and love.

There's something that's always exciting about a character finding out they're a descendant of something wildly powerful or impressive. In Grimm, detective Nick Burkhardt discovers he's a descendant of the famous Grimm family, destined to protect humanity not only from criminals, but from evil creatures hellbent on causing destruction. A fun monster-hunting romp.

Not to be confused with the 1985 film starring Michael J. Fox, this series follows Tyler Posey as Scott McCall, a teenager who gets bitten by a werewolf and has to defend his town from all manner of supernatural beings. Throw in a healthy dose of teen angst, relationship drama and the day-to-day tribulations of high school for good measure.

Why would the muggle prime minister even know about Azkaban let alone magical affairs in general? What's the point in alerting a muggle if they shouldn't even have knowledge of the magical world at all?

Half-Blood Prince (the book) opens by revealing that the Prime Minister is among the Muggles who are permitted to know about the Wizarding world; he's kept abreast of relevant developments, like escaped murderers, by the Minister of Magic (emphasis mine):

[I]t had been like this from his very first meeting with Fudge on his very first evening as Prime Minister. He remembered it as though it were yesterday and knew it would haunt him until his dying day.

He had been standing alone in this very office, savoring the triumph that was his after so many years of dreaming and scheming, when he had heard a cough behind him, just like tonight, and turned to find that ugly little portrait talking to him, announcing that the Minister of Magic was about to arrive and introduce himself.

Naturally, he had thought that the long campaign and the strain of the election had caused him to go mad. He had been utterly terrified to find a portrait talking to him, though this had been nothing to how he felt when a self-proclaimed wizard had bounced out of the fireplace and shaken his hand. He had remained speechless throughout Fudge's kindly explanation that there were witches and wizards still living in secret all over the world and his reassurances that he was not to bother his head about them as the Ministry of Magic took responsibility for the whole Wizarding community and prevented the non-magical population from getting wind of them. It was, said Fudge, a difficult job that encompassed everything from regulations on responsible use of broomsticks to keeping the dragon population under control (the Prime Minister remembered clutching the desk for support at this point). Fudge had then patted the shoulder of the still-dumbstruck Prime Minister in a fatherly sort of way.

"Not to worry," he had said, "it's odds-on you'll never see me again. I'll only bother you if there's something really serious going on our end, something that's likely to affect the muggles - the non-magical population, I should say. Otherwise, it's live and let live.

Although the Prime Minister's ability to react to these threats is pretty limited, being able to at least warn the general population is an important way to help mitigate muggle casualties. This is, presumably, why the muggle press was reporting on Sirius' escape at the beginning of Prisoner of Azkaban.

Apart from its intriguing premise, the series is celebrated for its intricate world-building, detailed fantasy elements and its large cast of characters, all accompanied by a host of other intriguing elements. With the series returning for a second season, anticipation is high for what is yet to unfold. Aside from The Wheel of Time, there are other exciting titles worth checking on Prime Video. From Supernatural to Carnival Row, this list presents all the engaging fantasy series available on the platform.

Set in a modern world where fairy tales and folklore creatures are real but hidden from the major population, this NBC series tells the story of Nick Burkhadt. Nick is a homicide detective who discovers he is a Grimm, which means a guardian with the ability to see and hunt supernatural creatures known as Wesen or mythical creatures.

All seasons of Grimm are available on Prime Video, making it a treat for anyone who loves fantasy series. Grimm is a hybrid version of CSI and Supernatural, and enthusiasts of crime drama interwoven with mystical elements will love it. It may not be the most brilliant show out there, but the exceptional cast members make it difficult not to grow fond of them and become invested in their journeys. Besides, the show maintains a fun and lighthearted tone throughout.

This historical fantasy is set during the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD and combines historical elements with fantastical and mystical elements to create a riveting tale. Britannia follows the clash between the invading Roman forces and the native Celtic tribes of Britannia, all while delving into ancient Druidic rituals and supernatural occurrences. The ensemble cast includes notable figures such as David Morrissey, Eleanor Worthington, Annabel Scholey, Liana Cornell and others.

Carnival Row debuted in 2019 and enchanted audiences with its seamless blend of crime, drama, and fantasy. Yet, despite being loved, the show was renewed for a second season in 2023, which also turned out to be its final one. Starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne in the role of a human detective named Philostrate and a refugee faery named Vignette, respectively, this series follows their dangerous affair against the backdrop of a Victorian-inspired fantasy world on the brink of collapse.

While being rooted in a fantasy world, Carnival Row does not fail to show real and dark themes often ignored in other fantasy series, making it stand out from the rest. With how intricate and impressive the world in Carnival Row looks, it is pretty obvious that a lot of money was spent in creating it.

Based on the novel of the same by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, this series presents a humorous and fantastical take on the concept of apocalypse. At its core is an unlikely duo, an angel named Aziraphale and a demon Crowley, who must do everything in the power to stop the anti-Christ from bringing about the end of the world.

While Preacher was truly hilarious, it does not shy away from heartfelt moments that showed the range of its actors. Nevertheless, as the series progresses, it becomes hard not to grow affections for the weird characters from witches to vampires and even antagonists. However, due to its edgy content, some may be put off by this show.

3a8082e126