The Wheel of Time has been an epic undertaking for Prime Video. Adapting the long-running fantasy book series begun by the late Robert Jordan and finished by Brandon Sanderson, the show takes place in a world where women are able to wield the mystical One Power. Young Rand al'Thor is the rare man who can channel. He is the Dragon Reborn, a legendary figure who can either save or destroy the world.
The Wheel of Time is one of the latest in the long run of fantasy shows on TV, which means there's plenty more like it to check out. These 15 shows can appeal to The Wheel of Time fans and are worth checking out!
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Let's start with the obvious choice, another show on Prime Video based on an epic fantasy franchise. Obviously, a prequel to The Lord of the Rings is a big deal and Prime Video has excelled at making this show look as spectacular as Peter Jackson's movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien's original trilogy. Set thousands of years before those films, The Rings of Power saga looks at how Sauron rose to power in Middle-earth and created the titular Rings.
The show boasts some impressive battle sequences and incredible visuals. There are plenty of twists to enjoy and lots of characters to get to know, several of whom are well-known, such as Galadriel. The Rings of Power may have its detractors, but it's well worth watching for any fan of this epic franchise.
Streaming on Prime Video.
2. The Legend of Vox Machina
If you have Prime already, check out this highly underrated animated series. Adapted from the live Dungeons & Dragons role-playing sessions of Critcal Role, The Legend of Vox Machina follows a pack of ragtag adventurers going on quests. The series can often be laugh-out-loud funny as it gently mocks the fantasy genre. Expect a lot of cursing and adult situations along with the action.
At the same time, the show can be emotional, with each character getting a spotlight shone on their flaws and issues. There are romances and shocking deaths that rival anything on Game of Thrones. The animation is top-notch, and the show deserves a wider audience.
Streaming on Prime Video.
3. Arcane
Boasting some of the most glorious animation you can imagine, this Netflix series is a beautiful adaptation of the popular video game. In a steampunk world, two sisters try to survive amid growing class warfare that soon turns into a real war. But when a disaster strikes, the sisters find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict, and each makes mistakes that only make things worse.
The animation is the star, bringing this unique world to life in a vibrant way that live-action couldn't touch. Yet Arcane also has better writing and acting than most TV shows out there, and that sisterly bond wins you over. At just two seasons, it's a fast binge and worth it for an amazing fantasy experience like nothing else on TV.
Streaming on Netflix.
4. Shadow and Bone
Here's the first of a few great fantasy shows on this list that Netflix cut short far too soon. It's really sad with Shadow and Bone, an acclaimed adaptation of the novels by Leigh Bardugo. Like Arcane, Shadow and Bone has a steampunk aesthetic with nice visuals and fun characters; Jessie Mei Li as Alina, who gains mysterious powers, is a highlight.
The first season is good and the second is better, amping up the action and thrills. The characters are a blast, especially the Crows, a pack of would-be crooks who get involved in the action. Sadly, like other Netflix shows, Shadow and Bone ended prematurely after two seasons, yet it remains an excellent watch for anyone who enjoys The Wheel of Time.
Streaming on Netflix.
5. Warrior Nun
The Wheel of Time focuses on women who wield power as warriors. Thus, Warrior Nun is a perfect show for fans. This quirky Netflix series starts with Ava (Alba Baptista) waking up in a morgue, unable to feel pain. After spending some time with friends in Europe, she falls in with a batch of warrior women from the Vatican hunting demons.
Once you get past the padding of the European trip, the show turns into a great romp with engaging female characters and a truly shocking first-season ending. The second season gets better with the team fighting a corporation trying to open a portal to Heaven that goes awry and a couple of stunning deaths. We're still waiting on the promised movie wrap-up, yet this was a fun watch.
Streaming on Netflix.
6. The Witcher
A fantasy show on Netflix that hasn't been cancelled early is The Witcher, an adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's book series. It revolves around Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter who prides himself on doing his job without getting involved in the politics of the wartorn Continent. But that proves increasingly hard for him when he becomes a mentor to Ciri, a wayward princess who trains to become a witcher herself.
For the first three seasons of the show, Geralt was played by Henry Cavill, who left. Two seasons of the show remain. Starting this year in sesaon 4, Geralt will be played by Liam Hemsworth.
Streaming on Netflix.
7. The Outpost
This underrated series ran on The CW and fell under the radar. Yet it's worth catching up on as it provides some splendid excitement on a lower budget. A woman named Talon (Jessica Green) survived the massacre of her village of "blackbloods" as a child. Her hunt for the killers responsible takes her to a remote outpost where she becomes the centerpiece of a war between various mystical forces.
Each season of the show is like a separate novel with a different threat, from the Prime Order to ancient gods. There's romance, some humor, and fantastic action, and Green remains compelling from start to finish as this reluctant heroine. The four-season run had a fine finale and deserves a lot more attention from fantasy fans.
Streaming on Tubi, CWTV and Prime Video.
8. Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Disney+'s adaptation of the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan has been such a hit that it's earned a third season renewal before the second season has even aired! That's proof of how well the show has managed to capture the fun of the books, as young Percy (Walker Scobell) discovers he's the son of the Greek god Poseidon and attends a camp with other demigods.
The first year sends Percy and friends Annabeth and Grover on a quest to find Zeus' stolen thunderbolt. This unique road trip has them meeting Medusa, Ares, and a variety of monsters. The show keeps things fairly light, but also engages with the darkness of the original myths. With confirmation that more seasons are coming, it's time to get on the ground floor of this hit show!
Streaming on Disney+.
9. Legend of the Seeker
Based on the books by Terry Goodkind, this 2008-10 series is a throwback to the campy syndicated action shows of the 1990s. Like Rand on The Wheel of Time, Richard (Craig Horner) is destined to be the Seeker, a warrior who can either be a hero or a corrupt tyrant. He's aided by a wizard and Kahlan (Bridget Regan), a Confessor who becomes his love interest, although her powers keep them apart.
The show has a light tone while delivering some fun action. The second season is a bit darker and benefits from improved writing. At just two seasons, it didn't last long, but it could appeal to The Wheel of Time fans.
Available to buy on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
10. Merlin
This BBC series put a unique spin on the King Arthur legends. The focus is on Merlin (Colin Morgan), who in this version is not a wise old wizard but a young man who has to keep his magic a secret thanks to how Camelot punishes magic users. Merlin has to help the young Arthur (Bradley James) face down threats while both work towards their destinies.
The real highlight of the show is Katie McGrath as Morgana, whose fall into becoming a wicked sorceress makes for compelling viewing. The series pulls the Camelot mythos into some fun directions and the finale is an unexpected climax that caps off a different take on a classic story.
Streaming on Tubi and The Roku Channel.
11. Cursed
Another take on the Camelot mythos comes in this one-season Netflix show, based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller. Rather than Arthur or Merlin, the focus is on Nimue (Katherine Langford), the Lady of the Lake. Arthur is a sellsword and Merlin has an interesting connection with Nimue, who gains possession of a certain magical sword of legend.
The series is darker than other shows, and Langford makes for a fascinating heroine. It's pretty underrated and it's a shame it only lasted one season. Still, for those who enjoy both The Wheel of Time and the King Arthur myth, Cursed is a gift.
Streaming on Netflix.
12. The Letter For The King
This 2020 Netflix series adapts a Dutch novel and could be called Game of Thrones for kids. In a kingdom ravaged by war, a group of novice squires is given the task of delivering an important letter to their king. This ragtag group embarks on a journey that tests them in ways they don't expect.
Clocking in at six episodes, the show may seem oddly paced, and the writing isn't as deep as other shows on this list. However, there are some good performances and great location shooting along with decent action. It's a quick binge and worth watching to enjoy this journey where young heroes prove themselves.
Streaming on Netflix.
13. The Shannara Chronicles
MTV isn't the network you'd think of to have a big fantasy epic, but they gave it a shot with a TV show based on Terry Brooks' long-running Shannara Chronicles novels. In a far distant future, Earth has turned into a fantasy world. A trio of unusual heroes are recruited to stop demons from unleashing an evil kept back by a magical tree.
The setting adds a unique flavor to a show that leans into its YA tone. At times, it feels like you're watching a CW show rather than a serious fantasy story, only for a great action scene to pop up and remind you what kind of show this is. The Shannara Chronicles gets better in the second season with higher stakes and better character dynamics. Like other shows on this list, it lasted just one season, but it's yet another good attempt to bring a famed fantasy series to life.
Available to buy on Prime Video.
14. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
This Netflix series may have been just too epic for its own good. The first season was the most expensive production for the streamer at the time, and going over-budget may have ended hopes for a second season. That doesn't mean it's not worth watching, as this prequel to Jim Henson's beloved 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal is the rare origin story that works. Set long before the film, Age of Resistance explores the origins of the evil Skeksis and their targeting of the innocent Gelflings.
Even though all the characters are puppets, they're written and performed so well they feel like flesh-and-blood beings. The show doesn't hold back in often nightmarish sequences, and heroes are layed and flaws and the production values are beautiful. It's another Netflix show that ended before it hit its stride, but it's worth watching anyway.
Streaming on Netflix.
15. The Arthdal Chronicles
This South Korean series had a mixed reception from critics but earned a loyal fanbase that's made it an international sleeper success. It's set in the Bronze Age and shows the rise of various civilizations in a fictional kingdom. It can play more like a classic Korean soap opera with romances while still delivering some intriguing political challenges amid the action.
The two seasons boast great production values with lovely visuals and some of the best world-building of any show on this list. The second season goes for a grander story and the cast makes it work. That makes The Arthdal Chronicles a surprisingly good show for anyone who takes a chance on it.
Streaming on Netflix.
16. Emerald City
This 2017 NBC show will appeal to fans of both The Wheel of Time and Wicked. We have the classic opening of Dorothy Gale whisked from Kansas by a tornado to the land called Oz. The first change is that Dorothy is 20 years old, not a kid. The second is that Oz is a darker, more Game of Thrones-like kingdom ruled by a council of witches, and the Wizard (Vincent D'Onofrio) has a sinister secret.
It's a wild amalgamation of properties that's a bit held back by being on network TV. Still, we get fun twists on the Oz mythos and good performances, especially from Ana Ularu who chews the scenery as the Wicked Witch of the West. Emerald City is an often ignored series that deserves more eyes of it.
Streaming on Peacock
17. Game of Thrones
Speaking of Game of Thrones, we can't leave off HBO's epic fantasy mega-hit. Like The Wheel of Time, Game of Thrones is based on a sprawling book series, this time by George R.R. Martin. Also like The Wheel of Time, it's got a huge cast of characters often spread out by vast distances. The story has tons of twists and turns and expects viewers to keep up. Both shows ask a lot of their audiences, but the rewards are worth it.
Game of Thrones is bit more grounded and realistic than The Wheel of Time, with less overt use of magic, but the story has the same kind of grand sprawl. If Wheel of Time fans somehow haven't watched Game of Thrones yet, they would do well do get on it.
Game of Thrones streaming on HBO and Max
18. House of the Dragon
This Game of Thrones prequel series is also worth a look. House of the Dragon is set over 100 years before Game of Thrones and tells the story of a civil war fought between rival factions of the dragon-riding Targaryen dynasty. It's less sprawling and more self-serious than either Game of Thrones or The Wheel of Time, with less humor to cut the drama. But there is some juicy drama to be found, not to mention some spectacular battle scenes.
House of the Dragon streaming on HBO and Max
New episodes of The Wheel of Time drop Thursdays on Prime Video. If you watch and still have a hankering for more, now you know what to do.
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