10 Best Fantasy Shows With Just One Season, Ranked

Fantasy is an epic genre. Stories about prophecies, Chosen Ones, wizards and magic, and nefarious villains frequently span enough material to rival the filmmaker or author’s imagination. Take The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Game of Thrones‘ eight seasons and George R. R. Martin‘s five books to date (followed by the ongoing House of the Dragon and Max’s upcoming series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), author Brandon Sanderson’s 30-books-and-counting Cosmere series, or the eight installments of Starz’s ongoing Outlander.

To become truly epic, fantasy needs room to grow. However, not every ambitious series survives the dreaded ax of cancellation. Audiences have lost some beloved properties after their first season, but that doesn’t make the lone seasons we do have less magnificent. Here are the top best fantasy shows with just one season, ranked.

10

‘Moon Knight’

Created by Jeremy Slater

Steven Grant’s (Oscar Isaac) routine life no longer makes sense. An awkward, skittish, and sweet employee at the National Art Gallery’s London gift shop, there are sudden gaps in his memory: he’s waking up in places he doesn’t remember traveling to, panicking his way through car chases, and evading the strange man (Ethan Hawke) who wants him dead. Steven’s world turns upside down when he discovers the truth — he has dissociative identity disorder, and his other personality, Marc Spector, wields the powers of an ancient Egyptian god.

It’s been over two years since Moon Knight premiered. Ever since, Marvel has kept quiet about the character’s future, aside from a recent guest spot in What If…? Season 3. This decision falls just short of being a travesty. Both a globe-trotting archeological adventure and a haunting portrayal of mental health, trauma, and self-acceptance, carried by Isaac’s tour de force performance, Moon Knight is one of Marvel’s strongest solo projects and a breath of fresh air for that daring originality.

9

‘1899’

Created by Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar

It’s the turn of the century, and on a gloomy English afternoon, a steamship sets sail for New York City. The passengers might all be from different countries, but they’re united by one fundamental fact: everyone is running from their pasts, and everyone has secrets. Not long after the Kerberos casts off, the ship receives a message containing the coordinates of the Prometheus, another steamship that vanished four months ago. This ghost vessel has secrets, and so do its survivors — who, according to the laws of science, shouldn’t be alive.

1899 hails from the creators of Dark, the critically acclaimed Netflix sci-fi thriller that ran for three seasons. 1899 also earned positive reviews, but unlike Dark, Netflix cut 1899’s life short after a single season. To add insult to injury, the series ends on a mind-bending cliffhanger. Eerie, unsettling, and captivating, this inventive world is still worth exploring for eight episodes.

8

‘The Vision of Escaflowne’

Created by Shōji Kawamori

High schooler Hitomi Kanzaki (Maaya Sakamoto) likes tarot cards, plays track and field, and has a crush on a fellow student. Her normalcy is interrupted by the inexplicable arrival of Van Fanel (Tomokazu Seki), a young boy from another world. Accidentally transported back to Van’s home realm of Gaea, Hitomi is left stranded when Van’s enemies overthrow his kingdom. If she wants to return home, Hitomi must understand her mysterious connection to Gaea and help Zan defeat his enemies — with the help of his giant battle robot, the titular Escaflowne.

The Vision of Escaflowne seamlessly bends genres that, taken on their own, shouldn’t make sense together: classic high fantasy, mecha, and isekai, a situation where the protagonist travels to another universe. There are dragons, mechas that turn into dragons, medieval castles, romance, and a bittersweet coming-of-age adventure journey peppered with immense highs, devastating lows, and a dynamic heart. Originally aired in 1996, The Vision of Escaflowne’s hand-drawn animation stands the test of time, remaining nearly peerless and a template for modern anime epics. The battle scenes alone are something to behold.

7

‘The Middleman’

Created by Javier Grillo-Marxuach

Meet Wendy Watson (Natalie Morales): a temp employee trying to scrounge up enough money to pay rent and maybe squeeze in enough time for her expressionist paintings. When a laboratory accident at her job goes haywire, Wendy finds herself recruited by the Middleman (Matt Keeslar), a well-dressed and exceptionally polite guy who “fixes” various “exotic problems.” Aliens? Ghosts? Puppet vampires? Tentacle monsters? A succubus? A cursed tuba? It’s all just a day ending in Y for the Middleman and Wendy, his new partner and trainee.

Frankly, the world didn’t deserve The Middleman. Unabashedly quirky and fearlessly goofy, this 2008 series lovingly skewered almost every pop culture franchise on the planet. No, The Middleman didn’t invent that specific type of humor. But when it comes to brightly colored comic book hijinks and tongue-twisting banter, the series was uniquely ahead of the curve. Is it too late to ask for a sequel?

6

‘Kaos’

Created by Charlie Covell

In a universe ruled over by the Greek god pantheon, Zeus (Jeff Goldblum), the king of the gods, suspects his worst fear is coming true: a prophecy predicting his downfall. As tyrannical, spiteful, and hubristic as always, Zeus isn’t wrong to fear his demise. Prometheus (Stephen Dillane), the god of fire, has been biding his time, waiting for the right moment to oust his old friend from his throne. And when the gods fight, the repercussions affect mortals on Earth. In this case, it’s three particular humans — Eurydice, aka Riddy (Aurora Perrineau), Ariadne, aka Ari (Leila Farzad), and Caeneus (Misia Butler) — whose fates are entwined with the gods.

Mythological tales are a goldmine for modern retellings, be they television, movies, or books. With so many choices, however, it becomes difficult to find a truly new interpretation that stands out from the crowd. Kaos triumphs in every regard. Colorful and energetic yet also poignant and dark, Kaos applies a revisionist touch to several familiar Greek myths while authentically retaining their core themes.

5

‘My Lady Jane’

Created by Gemma Burgess

Based on the young adult novel series The Lady Janies by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows, My Lady Jane reimagines the brief life and cruel death of Lady Jane Grey. Colloquially known as the “Nine Days’ Queen,” the Tudor teenager was crowned Queen of England and held her position for just over a week. Ousted from the throne by her rival, Mary I, Jane was executed as a traitor. My Lady Jane offers its spirited heroine an alternative: evading her fate, relishing in some swashbuckling adventures, discovering the truth about human shapeshifters called Ethians, and falling in love with her dashing husband, Lord Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel).

Cheeky, sexy, and bright as a spring morning, My Lady Jane’s winsome nature stole audiences’ hearts — even George R. R. Martin’s, a fantasy scribe who knows a thing or two about his chosen genre. The series’ passionate fan base petitioned for a second season after news of its cancellation broke, and the Season 1 finale practically begs for a second season. So far, however, Jane remains alive inside the world of her story but not on our screens.

4

‘First Kill’

Created by Victoria (V. E.) Schwab

Two houses, both alike in dignity. Juliette Fairmont (Sarah Catherine Hook) was born from the union of her vampire parents. Calliope Burns (Imani Lewis) was born to the Guardian Guild, a family of human vampire hunters. Both young women, now 16 years old, must embrace their future by committing their first kill. Juliette chooses the beautiful Calliope as her victim; Calliope sets her sights on Juliette after deducing her hidden nature. But murder becomes complicated when both girls can’t deny how their immediate attraction has evolved into a love that could break their worlds.

In a perfect world, First Kill evolved into its full potential and became the rightful successor to hit supernatural teen dramas like The Vampire Diaries, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Riverdale. As it stands, Netflix drove a wooden stake through its heart, condemning the wooden dialogue and awkward logic leaps to forever weigh down its worldbuilding. However, Juliette and Calliope’s star-crossed romance is a shining light in the LGBTQIA+ media landscape, and so is Calliope — a dynamic Black heroine supported by a loving family.

3

‘Wonderfalls’

Created by Todd Holland and Bryan Fuller

Jaye Tyler (Caroline Dhavernas) graduated from an Ivy League university with a philosophy degree. Smash cut to years later, and the 24-year-old is working retail at the Wonderfalls Gift Emporium in her hometown near Niagra Falls. Jaye doesn’t love the job, but she takes her disheartening situation on the chin. In fact, the unmotivated pessimist barely floats through life — that is, until the gift shop’s animal figurines start talking to her. Only Jaye can hear their instructions to help those in need, and maybe, by supporting others, Jaye can help herself.

Between Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me, and Pushing Daisies, Bryan Fuller‘s shows have poor luck surviving beyond one or two seasons. Wonderfalls is entirely satisfactory despite its brevity. Creative and offbeat with a superbly dry lead performance from Dhavernas, Wonderfalls‘ charming, magic-infused town is well worth the visit — especially if you’re a cynic.

2

‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’

Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews

A long time ago, a species named the Skeksis seized control of the planet Thra and its most precious resource: the Crystal of Truth, the “source of all life.” Thra’s citizens obediently worship the Skeksis as their rulers, unaware that the lying tyrants are draining the Crystal’s life force. Their desire for immortality and insatiable greed have left Thra and its people nearly defenseless against an incoming blight. When a trio of Gelflings discover the truth, Thra’s only hope for survival lies with Rian (Taron Egerton, Neil Sterenberg), Brea (Anya Taylor-Joy, Alice Dinnean), and Deet (Nathalie Emmanuel, Beccy Henderson). Can an army of three little heroes light the flames of rebellion?

Set before the events of Jim Henson’s 1982 cult classic film The Dark Crystal, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a genuine fantasy epic. A labor of love overflowing with reverence for Henson’s lasting creations, this series bursts at the seams with vibrant personality. Favoring practical effects wherever possible, Age of Resistance is a testament to the passion and talents of hundreds of designers, artists, and puppeteers.

1

‘Over the Garden Wall’

Created by Patrick McHale

Young brothers Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Greg (Collin Dean) wander off the beaten path into a strange, magical forest called the Unknown. Forced to evade the Beast (Samuel Ramey) and other eldritch threats while searching for their home, but also seeing beauty at every turn, the brothers are joined by a frog (Jack Jones) and a bluebird named Beatrice (Melanie Lynskey), and helped by the Woodsman (Christopher Lloyd).

Watching Over the Garden Wall feels like roasting marshmallows by the fire in the dark and listening to ghost stories by the campfire light. A fairy tale appropriate for children but adored by all ages, the series won the 2015 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. From the scripts to the score to the art design, Over the Garden Wall is a masterpiece designed for one season and only needing one.

Keep Reading: The 10 Best Fantasy TV Shows of All Time, Ranked