Fantasy tv is a reasonably well-liked style, however fantasy tales usually leads to some very long-winded narratives that may take days, weeks, and even months to sort out fully. Take Recreation of Thrones for instance, which has eight seasons and 73 episodes, with every episode being at the least one hour lengthy. There isn’t any approach one can safely binge that in an affordable period of time with out feeling like they’ve wasted their days on one present.
Luckily, some fantasy collection aren’t practically this complicated, and may simply be completed in as little as a day or two. Heck, for those who’ve received a weekend the place you’ve got had a disturbing week and you are feeling the necessity to sit again, loosen up, and watch some high quality tv, you may seemingly be by with these collection earlier than you even know it is taking place. These are the most effective fantasy TV exhibits that may be binged in a single weekend.
10
‘The Darkish Crystal: Age of Resistance’ (2019)
Developed by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews
Again in 1982, Jim Henson got here out with The Darkish Crystal, a household darkish fantasy movie set on this planet of Thra, which was completely teeming with lore. The fundamental story of the movie was {that a} mystical artifact referred to as the Darkish Crystal fractured, which spawned two new races of beings: the Mystics and the Skeksis. The Skeksis started to make use of the Crystal to magically drain the life out of the native species of the planet and switch it to themselves, forming an Empire that may by no means die, and ultimately exterminating the Gelfling species.
The Darkish Crystal: Age of Resistance expanded upon this lore, serving as a prequel to the movies, exploring the Skeksis’ rise to energy. Although not deliberately made right into a miniseries, the present solely received one season after The Darkish Crystal was prematurely canceled (which viewers nonetheless have not forgiven Netflix for) despite glorious critiques. The puppetry is completely beautiful, as is the set design, and with its up to date visuals, it is an actual feast for the eyes. And with just one season, one shouldn’t have any hassle seeing it completed in a single brief weekend.
9
‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ (2023–)
Created by Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg
Based mostly on the YA novels of the identical title by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a second crack at adapting the books following a depressing try at a film franchise within the early 2010s. This collection proved to be a way more devoted adaptation, and one which was infinitely funnier and extra thrilling. It is geared in direction of pre-teens and younger youngsters, however it could simply be loved by anybody with its dry, sarcastic humor and eccentric journey primarily based on Greek mythology.
The collection stars Walker Scobell because the titular Percy, who’s a demigod, with Poseidon as his father and a human mom, who should embark upon a quest after the Greek god Zeus has his lightning bolt stolen and believes Percy is accountable. There are loads of creatures and points from Greek fable that seem, and it makes for a enjoyable collection that is a pleasant mix of coming-of-age realism and magic that anybody can take pleasure in. It is also a reasonably easy story, which means one does not completely want to present 100% of their consideration in the event that they wish to know what is going on on. Plus, the episodes are usually solely 30-40 minutes lengthy, and there are solely eight of them. So even when Percy Jackson Season 2 comes out, it’s going to nonetheless be simple to binge in a single weekend, even if you wish to depart it on within the background whereas cleansing the home or one thing.
8
‘Misplaced Ollie’ (2022)
Created by Shannon Tindle
Misplaced Ollie is a fantasy miniseries that may not solely be binged in a single weekend, however in sooner or later for those who actually wish to. There are solely 4 episodes, so it actually is not an extended journey in any respect. The collection is paying homage to Toy Story, solely in live-action, that includes a stuffed rabbit who wakes up within the lost-and-found and turns into decided to search out his approach again to his beloved proprietor. On his travels, he meets different misplaced toys and visits many wondrous locations… or at the least, wondrous for a stuffed rabbit.
Misplaced Ollie is not only a kid-friendly journey story, it is a love letter to like itself, and of the bond that youngsters create with their stuffed animals, which inevitably withers away as these youngsters develop into adults and tackle new obligations, leaving their childhood’s sense of surprise and love behind for the monotony and burdens of on a regular basis life. It is not simply an train in creativity; it is one thing really particular that anybody will admire. And with solely 4 episodes, it is easy to get rapt in its immersive journey and end it in sooner or later.
7
‘The Bastard Son & the Satan Himself’ (2022)
Created by Joe Barton
The Bastard Son & the Satan Himself is one other present that received fairly good critiques, but was inexplicably canceled by Netflix after only one season. The eight-part collection follows Nathan Byrne (Jay Lycurgo), the illegitimate little one of the world’s deadliest witch, who’s being spied on by a rival coven of witches because the opposing clans are in a form of Chilly Struggle with one another. Tensions ultimately come to a boiling level, and the covens go to conflict, with Nathan changing into the goal of a literal witch hunt.
Embracing his true identification as a witch, he pursues a harmful quest to convey peace to his adolescent life as soon as once more and to guard the legacy of his ancestors. This present is just not exhausting to observe in any respect, and is pretty simple, which means one does not want to speculate an excessive amount of to grasp the plot. On high of that, there are solely eight episodes (although there ought to’ve been extra), so bingeing it in a single weekend should not be an issue.
6
‘Jonathan Unusual & Mr. Norrell’ (2015)
Directed by Toby Haynes
Jonathan Unusual & Mr. Norrell is one other fantasy miniseries primarily based on a novel of the identical title by Susanna Clarke. Set within the nineteenth Century in the course of the world battle referred to as the Napoleonic Wars, the collection is about an alternate model of Earth the place magic not solely exists, however is extensively identified about by most people, albeit it’s not often put into apply. In rural England, the eponymous Mr. Norrell (Eddie Marsan) decides to try to make magic a extra socially acceptable idea by utilizing it to assist his fellow countryfolk.
Quick, easy, and to the purpose, Jonathan Unusual & Mr. Norrell is a breath of recent air, contrasting a world at conflict with a peaceable, simplistic story about the advantages of magic. Whereas extensively praised by critics and viewers alike, it is a bit of an underrated collection, which is truthfully type of a disgrace. In fact, as a result of it is a miniseries, tackling the entire thing directly is completely doable, with solely seven episodes in complete.
5
‘Over the Backyard Wall’ (2014)
Created by Patrick McHale
Cartoon Community is not at all times identified for producing miniseries, so Over the Backyard Wall was a little bit of an odd venture for them. But, it was completely price it, because the present obtained rave critiques and a devoted fan base following its launch. There are solely ten bite-sized episodes, plus one particular episode for its tenth anniversary, so it is not exhausting to binge the entire thing in a single weekend, and even sooner or later.
The animated collection, which comes with a star-studded forged, is about two brothers who get misplaced in a darkish forest referred to as the Unknown. However they don’t seem to be alone, as a monster is stalking them by the woods as they desperately attempt to discover their approach out of the thicket and return house. Its whimsical sufficient at first, however the ultimate chapters drop an absolute bombshell of a reveal that makes issues a lot extra attention-grabbing. It is an actual must-see for fantasy followers, particularly with how distinctive it’s.
Over the Backyard Wall
Launch Date
2014 – 2013
Community
Cartoon Community
Showrunner
Patrick McHale
Administrators
Nate Money, Bert Youn
4
‘Kingdom’ (2019–2021)
Created by Kim Eun-hee
Kingdom is a South Korean fantasy-horror collection set on the flip of the seventeenth Century within the Kingdom of Joseon, which as soon as encompassed the whole lot of the Korean Peninsula. The king, who’s a fictional character on this present, has married into the tyrannical Haewon Cho clan, impregnating his spouse earlier than falling unwell and dying of smallpox. With a view to be sure the King’s surviving grownup son does not get the throne, the Haewon Cho clan devises a plan to convey the King again to life utilizing a legendary resurrection plant. However this plant causes the King to show right into a zombie, unleashing a plague of the undead.
The zombies on this present are tremendous distinctive, in that they’re simply corpses in the course of the daytime, and solely turn out to be energetic at evening, and of their habits. This present, which was primarily based on a webcomic-turned-graphic novel, is in contrast to something you’ve got seen earlier than, but it sadly stays in a state of limbo since Netflix hasn’t formally canceled it, but there’s been no phrase on its future. There are two seasons plus one particular episode, however every season solely consists of six 60-minute episodes. Mix this with a 90-minute particular episode, and it is easy to binge this present in a single weekend, tackling one season a day.
Kingdom
Launch Date
2019 – 2019
Administrators
Kim Seong-hun, Park In-je
3
‘One Piece’ (2023–)
Developed by Steven Maeda and Matt Owens
The unique One Piece anime has been working since 1999, so there’s positively no approach that it may be binged in a single weekend. As for the live-action Netflix collection, although, it is far more possible contemplating there’s just one season up to now. Upon the discharge of the second season, every time that could be, this can be topic to vary, however in the meanwhile, it is easy to get by it multi functional weekend.
The collection is a few younger aspiring pirate named Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), who has eaten the forbidden Satan Fruit, permitting him to stretch his physique like rubber at will. He inhabits a fantastical world chock-full of rival pirate crews and gangs, all of whom are in quest of a lacking piece of a treasure map, which is able to supposedly result in untold riches. The collection is a bit goofy, however that is what makes it so lovable. It is cartoony, however far more palatable for non-anime followers in its live-action format, and it has been an excellent foray into the fantasy style.
2
‘Blood of Zeus’ (2020–2025)
Created by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides
Blood of Zeus is predicated on Greek fable, but crafts a completely authentic story with a couple of new characters for one thing by no means seen earlier than. In contrast to Percy Jackson, there is no such thing as a intersection with trendy life right here—the collection is about solely in Historic Greece, and is available in as an animated epic fantasy made for anybody who loves Greek mythology. With its stunning animation and distinctive story, it is easy to get immersed on this grand journey.
There are three seasons of this present, which appears like loads, however don’t be concerned—it could nonetheless simply be watched in a single weekend. It’s because the episodes are solely about half-hour lengthy, on common, and there is solely 24 of them in complete, which means the collection is not even that lengthy despite its episode depend. Regardless of the brief runtime of the episodes, the present is completely paced, and has garnered some unimaginable critiques with each new improvement.
1
‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ (2023–)
Created by Clive Bradley
Castlevania: Nocturne is a companion piece to the unique Castlevania animated collection, which is predicated on the hit online game collection of the identical title. The unique collection will get a lot better critiques than Nocturne, however the latter continues to be pleasant. Although each exhibits are crafted in a approach that makes them appear to be Japanese anime, they technically do not match the definition of anime since they’re each made in the US moderately than Japan.
A lot of the collection is impressed by European Gothic literature, which means it is rife with vampires and werewolves and looming, darkish castles. Nocturne continues to be ongoing, however in the meanwhile, it’s very possible to binge it in a single weekend. There are two seasons, every consisting of eight 30-minute episodes, so it is not so long as it sounds at first look. In any case, followers of Gothic themes are certain to take pleasure in it, although they will seemingly benefit from the authentic collection much more. That mentioned, the unique is loads longer and is not more likely to be binged in a single weekend.
