7 Best 2000s Fantasy Shows Better Than Anything Made Today

Fantasy TV shows from the 2000s were special, and many still stand up to today’s series. Each decade has brought its own style to the genre – the 80s were known for their fun, low-budget shows, and the 90s popularized the ‘monster of the week’ format. The 2000s built on these trends, but advancements in technology really transformed what fantasy TV could be.

The last couple of decades have given us some amazing fantasy TV, like Game of Thrones and its prequel, House of the Dragon, which were visually stunning and featured great acting. However, as TV has become more polished, we’ve lost a certain unique quality that older shows had. It’s unlikely we’ll see anything quite like them in the future.

Heroes

Though not flawless, Heroes really captures the vibe of early 2000s television – something many newer shows struggle to do. The series, which began in 2006, follows a diverse group of people who unexpectedly develop superpowers. The first season was particularly engaging, weaving together the stories of these characters as they grappled with their newfound abilities.

Superhero shows are much more common on television now than they were in the 2000s. While the production quality and storytelling have gotten better, we’ve lost some of the fun, over-the-top charm that older shows had. A great example of this trade-off is the show Heroes – we’ve gained impressive special effects and tighter plots, but at the cost of that lighthearted, campy feel.

Supernatural

Supernatural premiered in the early 2000s and didn’t conclude until 2020, which is a testament to its quality compared to current shows. While fantasy series can often run for many seasons, they usually become campy and struggle to maintain good reviews. Supernatural, however, stands out as an exception to this trend – it’s a bit of a mystery how it managed to stay consistently strong for so long.

This fantasy series was incredibly popular, lasting for 15 seasons. Almost every season received high praise, with only one scoring below 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. In fact, several seasons earned perfect 100% ratings, which is exceptionally rare for modern fantasy TV shows. Even a hit like Game of Thrones had a few poorly received episodes.

Legend Of The Seeker

The TV show Legend of the Seeker sharply divided audiences and critics. While professional reviewers gave it a low 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, regular viewers enjoyed it much more, giving it an 84% score. It’s not a flawless show, but it delivers a classic fantasy experience.

These days, most TV shows are either based on something old or try to be completely original. What’s great about Legend of the Seeker is that it’s a classic fantasy series – not groundbreaking, but exactly what fans of the genre will enjoy. Plus, filmed in the beautiful landscapes of New Zealand, the show truly feels magical.

The Vampire Diaries

One thing the 2000s did really well was create compelling love triangles, particularly in fantasy stories. A prime example is The Vampire Diaries, which premiered in 2009. The show embraced all the classic tropes and character types, making it incredibly enjoyable for eight seasons.

The beginning of The Vampire Diaries was a little uneven. The first season did okay, but the second was a huge success. Season three saw a drop in reviews, but after that, the show consistently delivered entertaining thrills and passionate romance. It’s too bad we haven’t seen many shows like it lately.

The 10th Kingdom

The decade of the 2000s began with a unique fantasy miniseries called The 10th Kingdom, which isn’t widely remembered but is truly special. It cleverly mixes familiar fantasy tropes with original concepts, weaving together classic fairy tales – like Snow White, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood – into a dark and imaginative alternate world.

As a huge fan of fantasy, I remember being completely blown away by how The 10th Kingdom originally aired. It wasn’t just a movie, but a five-part event – each episode was almost two hours long! They aired it over five nights in a row, which meant you could binge the whole thing in a single week, something you don’t see much of even with all the streaming services today. Honestly, the special effects haven’t aged perfectly, but the acting was superb and the world they created was just so immersive, I didn’t even mind the slightly dated visuals.

Merlin

The story of King Arthur has been retold many times, but the 2008 TV series Merlin really stood out. It focused on the wizard Merlin himself, and throughout its five seasons, introduced other well-known characters from the legend. What’s unusual about Merlin is that both critics and viewers generally agreed it was a good show – something that doesn’t happen often with fantasy series.

The TV show Merlin has received positive reviews, with a critic score of 85% and an audience score of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Like many shows, it started slowly, but really hit its stride in season 3. It’s unusual for a show to improve like that, as many are canceled after a disappointing second season. Fortunately, Merlin kept getting better, even reaching a perfect 100% score by its fourth season.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

As a long-time watcher of animated shows, I can honestly say Avatar: The Last Airbender is something truly special. It’s not just a standout in the animation world, it’s easily one of the best fantasy shows, period. And I’m not just saying that – critics overwhelmingly agree, giving it a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences aren’t far behind, with a fantastic 98% rating! If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on a masterpiece.

Given how popular Avatar: The Last Airbender was, despite only running for three seasons, it’s no surprise many shows have tried to recreate its success since it ended in 2008. While Netflix’s live-action remake benefits from today’s advanced TV production, it hasn’t quite lived up to the original. This highlights that fantasy shows from the 2000s had a unique charm that’s hard to capture now.

2025-12-11 02:39