Fantasy television is notoriously difficult to get right: some shows outlive their source material and go downhill, à la Game of Thrones; others struggle with enormous world-building, and some opt for a deliberately slow build-up that results in their cancelation. With so many different subgenres to choose from, plenty of fantasy series begin with an intriguing premise only to lose their way throughout their run.

The following six fantasy shows make a strong case for being exceptions. From a schoolgirl battling vampires in Sunnydale to a group of strangers discovering that the afterlife is way more complicated than they thought, each fantasy show on this list understands what keeps viewers coming back for the next installment. Of course, a consistently elite fantasy show doesn't necessarily mean every season is totally perfect, but these series successfully deliver engaging stories in each installment, whether by deepening their characters or expanding their mythology.

Some of the greatest first lines in fantasy fiction don't come from the genre's biggest hits.

Now, Netflix canceled Shadow and Bone before it got to properly conclude its story, but the two seasons it gave fans were elite. Set in the Grishaverse, a world of magical powers and political intrigue, Shadow and Bone follows Alina Starkov, who discovers she possesses a rare ability that could destroy the Shadow Fold, a stretch of darkness and monstrous creatures that divides her country. Jessie Mei Li brings a compelling mixture of vulnerability and determination to Alina, and the show makes its fantasy mythology accessible to viewers without losing sight of the human characters caught up in it.

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