The 2000s brought some of the best fantasy shows, and they’re ones that many will now watch over and over again. Of course, some are more memorable than others.
While some fantasy shows of this decade lasted for years, with some even still on the air now, others only lasted for a season or two. That doesn’t stop them from being the best fantasy shows of the 2000s, with many unfairly canceled, often victims of their network’s scheduling decisions.
Need something “new” to watch while you wait for the returns of House of the Dragon, The Rings of Power, or other major fantasy shows? Here are the best six fantasy shows of the 2000s you're missing out on if you haven't seen.
Merlin
British TV is some of the best that you’ll find, with plenty of British legends and stories to work with. Starting in 2008, the BBC brought us a new take on the King Arthur legend, this time with the focus on the wizard Merlin.
The series followed Merlin and Arthur as they dealt with the pressures of their own worlds and expectations. Prince Arthur is set to be heir to the English throne, while Merlin is forced to deal with Arthur’s father’s purge of all magic. Naturally, the two should be enemies, but what happens when they start to become friends and secrets come out?
Merlin brought us a mixture of fantasy, drama, romance, and heartbreak. While we knew how the legend should have turned out, the series managed to keep us on our toes and made the characters compelling to watch.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
There is no way that we could leave Buffy the Vampire Slayer off the list. This is one of those shows that gained a huge following as it showed girls and women that they could be more than society says. While it did originally start in the late 1990s, it continued strongly into the 2000s, and so it counts.
The series followed Buffy Summers, who was The Chosen One, the Slayer destined to protect the world from the vampires. However, while other slayers had done it alone, Buffy chose to have friends and a social life. She made it clear that saving the world was always going to be a team effort.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer captured hearts for a variety of reasons, including the way the Scooby Gang joined together against the forces of darkness. No, it’s not perfect, and that’s what makes it so compelling. At the end of the day, Buffy and her friends are human, and that’s what we need to see on our screens.
Supernatural
Supernatural started out in 2005, although it did end up airing throughout the whole 2010s as well. However, the first five seasons remain the best, and they are the ones that aired in the 2000s.
At the heart of Supernatural, it was a story about two brothers who just happened to be destined to save the world. And they kept doing it, despite knowing that it was always in secret. They needed to protect innocent people from the myths and legends that happened to be real, while trying to find their dad and get justice for their mom.
Supernatural taught us a lot about what it really means to be selfless. It taught us about family, being a hero, and compassion. It’s because of this that I will always watch an Eric Kripke series.
Doctor Who
Now granted, Doctor Who actually started in the 1960s, but it ended in the 1980s and was brought back in the 2000s. This is one of those fantasy shows that is still going strong, with a loyal and vocal fanbase, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the episodes from the 2000s.
The series followed the last Time Lord on his adventures to protect planets, people, and more. Whether it was aliens affecting the past, or events happening in other solar systems, The Doctor didn’t discriminate.
Throughout the seasons of Doctor Who, we’ve learned what it means to be human. There are various storylines that focus on compassion and what it means to be a hero, and at the same time, it’s managed to bring up important topics and historical facts in ways that remain entertaining.
The Dresden Files
One of the most frustrating cancellations on TV has to be the cancellation of The Dresden Files. It ran for just one season, but it remains one of the strongest shows to date, and it certainly deserved more time.
The series follows Harry Dresden, a wizard who tends to help with the most “unusual” cases, but that doesn’t mean he really wants to. You see, he has a long history with magic, including black magic, killing his father when his uncle, Justin, wanted to take Harry away to train him in his wizard abilities. However, despite not really wanting to play hero, he will step in when people need it.
We got a mixture of humor and supernatural events with The Dresden Files, but the one thing that makes this sit at the top of the list is the way Paul Blackthorne portrays the character. He is the character we expected from the books, even if the storylines themselves were never completely the same.
Pushing Daisies
Finally, how can we not have Pushing Daisies on the list? This series continues to have a cult following, with many asking for it to be picked back up to series. It was certainly canceled way too soon.
Pushing Daisies followed Ned, a man with the extraordinary ability to bring the dead back to life with just one touch. A second touch leads to them dying permanently, as Ned learned when he accidentally brought his mom back to life only to “kill” her that same evening when she kissed him goodnight. There is a catch to his ability, though. When one person is brought back, someone else has to die.
The series brought some excellent storylines and character development, while also teaching us about the natural order of things. Should the dead come back to life? Is it worth the loss of another? And what does it mean when you have the ability to change everything?