Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, both in books and in movies and TV series. Here are some of my favorite fantasy TV shows which I watched in English and can recommend to the fans of this genre who want to improve their English. I hope you’ll enjoy these fantasy TV series to improve English from.
Pure fantasy:
- Carnival Row (2019 – 2023 ) is one of my favorite TV series. It’s atmospheric, has an amazing soundtrack (especially the theme song), and the characters are believable, complex, and interesting. The main characters were perfectly played by Orlando Bloom (no longer Legolas) and Cara Delavigne. Social conflict, a bit of special effects, personal drama… I’m a fan and I’m looking forward to season 2 which was supposed to come out 2 years ago but production stopped due to the coronavirus.
- Witcher (2019) – I didn’t need to be convinced to watch the series because I had been a fan of Geralt of Rivia long before the series was announced. I was a little afraid that the series would be ruined in the process of TV adaptation, but I was not disappointed. I even started to like Henry Cavill because he played Geralt decently. The second season was not far behind in terms of interest and tension from the first, which not all series manage to do.
- Game of Thrones (2011–2019) – another fantastic world, which I got to know for the first time thanks to the book. This one did not disappoint either. I’m not sure about the ending – I had mixed feelings about the last season. I am sure that this series will become a classic of the genre. I started watching the prequel “House of the Dragon”, but it did nothing for me: there is too much cruelty and violence, which may be justified by the plot, but still don’t feel right to me.
- The Lord of the Rings : The Rings of Power (2022)- at the moment, only 3 episodes have been released, but I already like this TV show a lot. The world created by the series is beautiful and well thought out, stunning landscapes, incredible graphics and special effects (which don’t feel like special effects), small details that make the story believable. The characters are ambiguous, and multifaceted, some of them refer to the famous franchise. In short, I look forward to every next episode…
Urban & modern day fantasy:
- Good Omens (2019–2022) – I really liked this fun mini-series (again, based on Gaiman), which I have already watched twice. An angel, a demon, an 11-year-old antichrist and a witch are a recipe for Armageddon. But maybe not? Great performance by my favorite David Tennant and his real-life pal Michael Sheen. This small series can be a good choice for learning English, with modern language and limited number of episodes.
- Grimm (2011–2017) – this was one of the first fantasy series I watched and another one that doesn’t lose the tension as the seasons continue (in my opinion, although not everyone agrees). A police detective learns that he is a descendant of hunters fighting against supernatural forces (a reference to the Brothers Grimm). Have fun on the job, detective.
- Lucifer (2016–2021) – this series was my niece’s favorite, but I didn’t like the actress playing the female lead and it hindered my perception. It is a mixture of fantasy, detective and comedy. Lucifer Morningstar (the Devil) has decided that he has had enough of being a servant in Hell and decides to spend some time on Earth to better understand humanity. He settles in Los Angeles – the city of angels. With dialogues about modern life, it can also be a good choice if you want to learn English.
- The Magicians (2015–2020) – this is a series that did nothing for me, again. I gave up somewhere in the middle of the first season, and I couldn’t finish the book either. Both the books and the TV series have many fans, so you can try it – you might like it.
Historical/Time-travel fantasy:
- Merlin (2008–2012) – this one is old, but I only discovered it 2 years ago, and really liked it (even though its target audience are teens). I like Arthurian legends, and it was an interesting interpretation with Merlin and Arthur as youngsters, not adults. I had fun – what else do you need from a fantasy series?
- Outlander (серіал 2014 – ) – I consider it more of a historical series than a fantasy, but there is an element of time travel, which is why it’s on this list. This is another series based on books that I haven’t read. Lots of romance, sex and violence. I watched several seasons, but I haven’t finished the last one yet.
Movie journal template
to help you learn English while watching movies and TV shows