10 Best Fantasy Shows With Just One Season, Ranked

Fantasy is an epic style. Tales about prophecies, Chosen Ones, wizards and magic, and nefarious villains incessantly span sufficient materials to rival the filmmaker or writer’s creativeness. Take The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sport of Thrones‘ eight seasons and George R. R. Martin‘s 5 books so far (adopted by the continuing Home of the Dragon and Max’s upcoming sequence A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), writer Brandon Sanderson’s 30-books-and-counting Cosmere sequence, or the eight installments of Starz’s ongoing Outlander.

To grow to be actually epic, fantasy wants room to develop. Nonetheless, not each formidable sequence survives the dreaded ax of cancellation. Audiences have misplaced some beloved properties after their first season, however that does not make the lone seasons we do have much less magnificent. Listed below are the highest greatest fantasy reveals with only one season, ranked.

10

‘Moon Knight’

Created by Jeremy Slater

Oscar Isaac as Moon Knight holding a moon-shaped blade with the full moon behind him. — Picture through Marvel Studios

Steven Grant’s (Oscar Isaac) routine life not is smart. An ungainly, skittish, and candy worker on the Nationwide Artwork Gallery’s London reward store, there are sudden gaps in his reminiscence: he is waking up in locations he would not keep in mind touring to, panicking his means by means of automotive chases, and evading the unusual man (Ethan Hawke) who desires him lifeless. Steven’s world turns the other way up when he discovers the reality — he has dissociative identification dysfunction, and his different character, Marc Spector, wields the powers of an historic Egyptian god.

It’s been over two years since Moon Knight premiered. Ever since, Marvel has stored quiet concerning the character’s future, except for a latest visitor spot in What If…? Season 3. This determination falls simply wanting being a travesty. Each a globe-trotting archeological journey and a haunting portrayal of psychological well being, trauma, and self-acceptance, carried by Isaac’s tour de pressure efficiency, Moon Knight is one among Marvel’s strongest solo initiatives and a breath of recent air for that daring originality.

Moon Knight

Launch Date: March 30, 2022
Community: Disney Channel
Showrunner: Jeremy Slater
Administrators: Steven Grant

9

‘1899’

Created by Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar

A woman falling in a triangle of ocean water on the poster for 1899 on Netflix. — Picture through Netflix

It is the flip of the century, and on a depressing English afternoon, a steamship units sail for New York Metropolis. The passengers would possibly all be from completely different nations, however they’re united by one elementary reality: everyone seems to be working from their pasts, and everybody has secrets and techniques. Not lengthy after the Kerberos casts off, the ship receives a message containing the coordinates of the Prometheus, one other steamship that vanished 4 months in the past. This ghost vessel has secrets and techniques, and so do its survivors — who, in accordance with the legal guidelines of science, should not be alive.

1899 hails from the creators of Darkish, the critically acclaimed Netflix sci-fi thriller that ran for 3 seasons. 1899 additionally earned constructive critiques, however not like Darkish, Netflix minimize 1899’s life quick after a single season. So as to add insult to harm, the sequence ends on a mind-bending cliffhanger. Eerie, unsettling, and fascinating, this ingenious world remains to be value exploring for eight episodes.

1899

Launch Date: 2022 – 2021
Community: Netflix

8

‘The Imaginative and prescient of Escaflowne’

Created by Shōji Kawamori

Van Fanel holding a sword in The Vision of Escaflowne. — Picture through Dawn

Excessive schooler Hitomi Kanzaki (Maaya Sakamoto) likes tarot playing cards, performs observe and area, and has a crush on a fellow scholar. Her normalcy is interrupted by the inexplicable arrival of Van Fanel (Tomokazu Seki), a younger boy from one other world. Unintentionally transported again to Van’s house realm of Gaea, Hitomi is left stranded when Van’s enemies overthrow his kingdom. If she desires to return house, Hitomi should perceive her mysterious connection to Gaea and assist Zan defeat his enemies — with the assistance of his large battle robotic, the titular Escaflowne.

The Imaginative and prescient of Escaflowne seamlessly bends genres that, taken on their very own, should not make sense collectively: traditional excessive fantasy, mecha, and isekai, a scenario the place the protagonist travels to a different universe. There are dragons, mechas that flip into dragons, medieval castles, romance, and a bittersweet coming-of-age journey journey peppered with immense highs, devastating lows, and a dynamic coronary heart. Initially aired in 1996, The Imaginative and prescient of Escaflowne’s hand-drawn animation stands the take a look at of time, remaining almost peerless and a template for contemporary anime epics. The battle scenes alone are one thing to behold.

7

‘The Intermediary’

Created by Javier Grillo-Marxuach

A poster for The Middleman with Natalie Morales and Matt Keeslar holding goofy-looking sci-fi guns. — Picture through ABC Household Worldwide

Meet Wendy Watson (Natalie Morales): a temp worker attempting to scrounge up sufficient cash to pay lease and perhaps squeeze in sufficient time for her expressionist work. When a laboratory accident at her job goes haywire, Wendy finds herself recruited by the Intermediary (Matt Keeslar), a well-dressed and exceptionally well mannered man who “fixes” varied “unique issues.” Aliens? Ghosts? Puppet vampires? Tentacle monsters? A succubus? A cursed tuba? It’s all only a day ending in Y for the Intermediary and Wendy, his new associate and trainee.

Frankly, the world didn’t deserve The Intermediary. Unabashedly quirky and fearlessly goofy, this 2008 sequence lovingly skewered nearly each popular culture franchise on the planet. No, The Intermediary did not invent that particular sort of humor. However in relation to brightly coloured comedian ebook hijinks and tongue-twisting banter, the sequence was uniquely forward of the curve. Is it too late to ask for a sequel?

6

‘Kaos’

Created by Charlie Covell

The cast of Kaos in a promo for the series, split into three different color schemes. — Picture through Netflix

In a universe dominated over by the Greek god pantheon, Zeus (Jeff Goldblum), the king of the gods, suspects his worst concern is coming true: a prophecy predicting his downfall. As tyrannical, spiteful, and hubristic as at all times, Zeus isn’t unsuitable to concern his demise. Prometheus (Stephen Dillane), the god of fireplace, has been biding his time, ready for the best second to oust his previous good friend from his throne. And when the gods struggle, the repercussions have an effect on mortals on Earth. On this case, it is three specific people — 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 contemporary retellings, be they tv, motion pictures, or books. With so many selections, nevertheless, it turns into tough to discover a actually new interpretation that stands out from the gang. Kaos triumphs in each regard. Colourful and energetic but additionally poignant and darkish, Kaos applies a revisionist contact to a number of acquainted Greek myths whereas authentically retaining their core themes.

Kaos

Launch Date: 2024 – 2023
Administrators: Georgi Banks-Davies, Runyararo Mapfumo
Writers: Charlie Covell, Georgia Christou

5

‘My Woman Jane’

Created by Gemma Burgess

Emily Bader holding Edward Bluemel's chin while he looks at her in 'My Lady Jane's poster. — Picture through Amazon Prime Video

Based mostly on the younger grownup novel sequence The Woman Janies by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows, My Woman Jane reimagines the temporary life and merciless demise of Woman Jane Gray. Colloquially generally known as the “9 Days’ Queen,” the Tudor teenager was topped Queen of England and held her place for simply over every week. Ousted from the throne by her rival, Mary I, Jane was executed as a traitor. My Woman Jane provides its spirited heroine an alternate: evading her destiny, relishing in some swashbuckling adventures, discovering the reality about human shapeshifters referred to as Ethians, and falling in love along with her dashing husband, Lord Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel).

Cheeky, horny, and shiny as a spring morning, My Woman Jane’s winsome nature stole audiences’ hearts — even George R. R. Martin’s, a fantasy scribe who is aware of a factor or two about his chosen style. The sequence’ passionate fan base petitioned for a second season after information of its cancellation broke, and the Season 1 finale virtually begs for a second season. To this point, nevertheless, Jane stays alive contained in the world of her story however not on our screens.

My Woman Jane

Launch Date: 2024 – 2023
Showrunner: Gemma Burgess, Meredith Glynn
Administrators: Jamie Babbit, Stefan Schwartz
Writers: Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand

4

‘First Kill’

Created by Victoria (V. E.) Schwab

A promo image for First Kill with the cast in various poses against a spooky graveyard background. — Picture through Netflix

Two homes, each alike in dignity. Juliette Fairmont (Sarah Catherine Hook) was born from the union of her vampire mother and father. Calliope Burns (Imani Lewis) was born to the Guardian Guild, a household of human vampire hunters. Each younger ladies, now 16 years previous, should embrace their future by committing their first kill. Juliette chooses the attractive Calliope as her sufferer; Calliope units her sights on Juliette after deducing her hidden nature. However homicide turns into sophisticated when each women can’t deny how their fast attraction has advanced into a love that might break their worlds.

In an ideal world, First Kill advanced into its full potential and have become the rightful successor to hit supernatural teen dramas like The Vampire Diaries, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Riverdale. Because it stands, Netflix drove a picket stake by means of its coronary heart, condemning the picket dialogue and awkward logic leaps to perpetually overwhelm its worldbuilding. Nonetheless, Juliette and Calliope’s star-crossed romance is a shining gentle within the LGBTQIA+ media panorama, and so is Calliope — a dynamic Black heroine supported by a loving household.

First Kill

Launch Date: 2022 – 2021
Showrunner: Felicia D. Henderson
Administrators: Jet Wilkinson, Bola Ogun, Maritte Lee Go
Writers: Felicia D. Henderson, V.E. Schwab, Liz Sczudlo

3

‘Wonderfalls’

Created by Todd Holland and Bryan Fuller

A young person talks to another who is resting their head in their hands, looking perplexed in Wonderfalls. — Picture through Fox

Jaye Tyler (Caroline Dhavernas) graduated from an Ivy League college with a philosophy diploma. Smash minimize to years later, and the 24-year-old is working retail on the Wonderfalls Present Emporium in her hometown close to Niagra Falls. Jaye doesn’t love the job, however she takes her disheartening scenario on the chin. Actually, the unmotivated pessimist barely floats by means of life — that’s, till the reward store’s animal collectible figurines begin speaking to her. Solely Jaye can hear their directions to assist these in want, and perhaps, by supporting others, Jaye will help herself.

Between Wonderfalls, Lifeless Like Me, and Pushing Daisies, Bryan Fuller‘s reveals have poor luck surviving past one or two seasons. Wonderfalls is solely passable regardless of its brevity. Inventive and offbeat with a wonderfully dry lead efficiency from Dhavernas, Wonderfalls‘ charming, magic-infused city is effectively well worth the go to — particularly in the event you’re a cynic.

2

‘The Darkish Crystal: Age of Resistance’

Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews

The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance poster featuring the characters walking toward a purple landscape. — Picture through Netflix

A very long time in the past, a species named the Skeksis seized management of the planet Thra and its most valuable useful resource: the Crystal of Fact, the “supply of all life.” Thra’s residents obediently worship the Skeksis as their rulers, unaware that the mendacity tyrants are draining the Crystal’s life pressure. Their want for immortality and insatiable greed have left Thra and its individuals almost defenseless towards an incoming blight. When a trio of Gelflings uncover the reality, Thra’s solely hope for survival lies with Rian (Taron Egerton, Neil Sterenberg), Brea (Anya Taylor-Pleasure, Alice Dinnean), and Deet (Nathalie Emmanuel, Beccy Henderson). Can a military of three little heroes gentle the flames of insurrection?

Set earlier than the occasions of Jim Henson’s 1982 cult traditional movie The Darkish Crystal, The Darkish Crystal: Age of Resistance is a real fantasy epic. A labor of affection overflowing with reverence for Henson’s lasting creations, this sequence bursts on the seams with vibrant character. Favoring sensible results wherever potential, Age of Resistance is a testomony to the eagerness and skills of a whole bunch of designers, artists, and puppeteers.

1

‘Over the Backyard Wall’

Created by Patrick McHale

Wirt, Greg and Beatrice in The Unknown in 'Over the Garden Wall'. — Picture through Cartoon Community

Younger brothers Wirt (Elijah Wooden) and Greg (Collin Dean) get lost the crushed path into a wierd, magical forest referred to as the Unknown. Compelled to evade the Beast (Samuel Ramey) and different eldritch threats whereas trying to find their house, but in addition seeing magnificence at each flip, 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 Backyard Wall appears like roasting marshmallows by the fireplace at the hours of darkness and listening to ghost tales by the campfire gentle. A fairy story acceptable for youngsters however adored by all ages, the sequence received the 2015 Emmy Award for Excellent Animated Program. From the scripts to the rating to the artwork design, Over the Backyard Wall is a masterpiece designed for one season and solely needing one.