Based on Leigh Bardugo's book series [1] of the same name, Netflix's Shadow and Bone [2] will definitely give you your fix of epic fantasy shows. The screen adaptation takes us into the magical Grishaverse where a young cartographer named Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) discovers that her power over light could destroy the treacherous Fold [3] that wreaks havoc in her world. The first eight episodes definitely go by fast, so we wouldn't be surprised if you're craving more of it after it wraps up. Luckily, there are plenty of enchanting shows about magical beings, dark creatures, and chosen ones to help fill your personal Fold with small screen goodness. Yearning for your next binge? Ahead, we've rounded up TV shows like Shadow and Bone [4] for your next fantasy marathon!
The Witcher
This Netflix fantasy series [5] stars Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who's also known as "the Witcher" — kind of like Matthias Helvar, the Grisha hunter. But just as in Shadow and Bone [6], not all of those with powers are necessarily bad.
Watch The Witcher on Netflix. [7]
The Irregulars
The Irregulars puts a supernatural spin on the adventure of Sherlock Holmes. Based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the fantasy series follows a group of street urchins who work on increasingly dark and mysterious cases for John Watson while discovering his connection to their past [8].
Watch The Irregulars on Netflix. [9]
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Half-mortal and half-witch, teenage Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) has to choose between the human and dark magical world as she turns 16. If you grew up watching the Melissa Joan Hart and animated versions, Netflix's adaptation has the same characters (including Sabrina's aunts and Harvey), but it's definitely a lot darker!
Watch Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix. [10]
Penny Dreadful
It's basically a horror fanfic of all of your 19th-century Victorian Gothic fiction favourites: Victor Frankenstein, Dracula, and more. All these characters exist in the same world on the streets of 19th-century London in this psychological thriller series [11]. Just like the Darkling, there's an immortal in the mix: Dorian Gray.
Watch Penny Dreadful on Netflix. [12]
The Magicians
Based on Lev Grossman's fantasy novel of the same name, The Magicians follows a group of 20-something friends who discover that the magical world is real. Just like Alina, grad student Quentin Coldwater gets some training by enrolling at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, but his childhood friend Julia learns magic through other means.
Watch The Magicians on Netflix. [13]
Stranger Things
The Demogorgon and Mind Flayer [14] in Stranger Things [15] could probably give the flesh-eating Volcra a run for their money! The setting of '80s Indiana is completely different from the Grishaverse, but the devotion to world-building, adventure, and unsavory monsters is there.
Watch Stranger Things on Netflix. [16]
Locke & Key
Following their father's murder, the Locke children and their mother move to his family home in Matheson and discover secrets about the house's reality-bending keys [17]. Like Shadow and Bone [18], Locke & Key [19] is a page-to-screen fantasy adaptation, the original story written by Joe Hill.
Watch Locke & Key on Netflix. [20]
A Discovery of Witches
In this British fantasy series, Teresa Palmer portrays Diana Bishop, a historian who reluctantly returns to witchcraft after discovering a book about magical creatures. Although witches and vampires have never gotten along, Diana forms an alliance with the enigmatic vampire Matthew Clairmont, who's played by Leap Year's Matthew Goode.
Watch A Discovery of Witches on Sundance Now. [21]
WandaVision
Just like Alina Starkov, Wanda Maximoff is a very powerful being who's only beginning to understand the full extent of her powers. Formatted as sitcom episodes, the first few episodes of WandaVision [22] take us into Westview as the story unravels how Wanda came to the sleepy suburb after the events of Avengers: Endgame [23].
Watch WandaVision on Disney+. [24]
Cursed
13 Reasons Why [25]'s Katherine Langford stars in this Arthurian retelling [26] as a sorceress named Nimue who's trying to find a way to save her fellow magical Fey people as they're being slaughtered by the kingdom's leadership. As she embarks on her journey, she meets with figures such as the mercenary Arthur and the sorcerer Merlin. Just like Alina, Nimue is coming into her powers and accepting her role as a leader.
Watch Cursed on Netflix. [27]
Once Upon a Time
In Once Upon a Time, fairytale characters live in a small town called Storybrooke, ME after being stripped of their memories. House's Jennifer Morrison stars as Emma Swan, the only daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. Transported to the real world as a baby, she has been chosen to break the Evil Queen's curse and restore everybody's memories.
Watch Once Upon a Time on Disney+. [28]
His Dark Materials
This Philip Pullman adaptation follows a brave and ostensibly ordinary young orphan named Lyra searching for her missing friend. As she discovers secrets about serial kidnappings and a mysterious substance called Dust, Lyra finds out that she's part of a witch prophecy which predicts that she will change the world.
Watch His Dark Materials on HBO Max. [29]