7 Carnival Row
Based in a society reminiscent of the 19th century, Carnival Row presents a world in which creatures different from humans are ostracized or at least avoided. An inspector, Rycroft Philostrate, starts investigating a murder and discovers that it’s far more complicated than it originally seemed.
6 A Discovery Of Witches
Available on HBO, A Discovery of Witches also works with the concept of magic, albeit one different from The Wheel of Time. Teresa Palmer stars as Diana Bishop, a powerful witch who, nevertheless, avoids using her powers. But when she comes across a mysterious book in the library and meets a vampire named Matthew (Matthew Goode), magic and trouble find her anyway.
The series currently has two seasons and is based on a successful book series by Deborah Harkness. What makes it worth watching aren’t only its well-played, intriguing characters but also the combination of the well-known (the series takes place in Oxford) and the otherworldly (use of supernatural creatures, such as witches, vampires, and others).
5 Emerald City
Inspired by the iconic The Wizard of Oz, Emerald City shows what happens when an adult woman gets into the land of Oz that’s very different from how the readers know it. Emerald City is a bit of a hidden gem that was canceled after just one season.
4 Game Of Thrones
The book-inspired Game of Thrones most likely needs very little introduction as it’s one of the most successful TV series of all time. With eight seasons under its belt, it takes the audience into the land of Westeros where multiple noble houses are fighting for the Iron throne……and survival.
George R.R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire, doesn’t spare his heroes, and neither does the show. While not everybody was happy with how the finale turned out, Game of Thrones still offers many hours of a fascinating story that lets everyone forget about the world around them and wish that their favorite heroes survive (spoiler alert - they often don’t). The series is available to stream on HBO and a spin-off series is already in the making.
3 The Nevers
While this show toys with the idea of superpowers, it presents them in a new, refreshing light - often more as a curse than a blessing. Available on HBO, The Nevers creates a world in which women often have special powers and face danger from multiple sides.
2 Shadow And Bone
Unlike The Wheel of Time, the Netflix series Shadow and Bone is a young-adult fantasy. However, it also works with the idea of magic and one special person who can save everyone……or destroy them.
The first season introduces the complex world, the system of magic as well as the heroes who move smoothly between heroes and villains. Nothing is obvious in Shadow and Bone. The Wheel of Time also works with this type of moral ambiguity regarding its characters, keeping the audience interested and often surprising them.
1 The Witcher
Just like The Wheel of Time, the Netflix series The Witcher is based on a popular fantasy book series. Written by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher tells the intricate story of three main characters - the princess Ciri, the witcher Geralt, and the sorceress Yennefer. The first season mostly shows the characters finding their way to each other and building their lives in a world where nothing is certain, least of all survival.
It’s similarly complex as The Wheel of Time and the audience doesn’t know what they can expect next and what awaits the characters. The second season of The Witcher is due to premiere in December and as such, it’s one of the most heavily anticipated shows on Netflix at the moment.
