EveryfantasyTV show has an expiration date, like series of all genres, butit’s even more obvious when a show is past its peakwhen it falls into the fantasy realm. Since fantasy requires the audience to suspend their disbelief and be forgiving of plot holes and narrative missteps, there’s no question of whether a show is losing its spark. However, this isn’t unusual, as maintaining the same quality and intrigue as the best season of a show is nearly impossible. These are still great shows, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to making mistakes.
It’s amazing when afantasy show isn’t canceled and gets a real ending, as it’s way too often that a series of the genre is cut short before it can fully begin. However, this is what makes it so unexpected when a fantasy show has the opportunity to go on for too long. None of these series became terrible or unwatchable as their seasons progressed, but it slowly became clear that their best days were behind them.This doesn’t mean audiences shouldn’t delve into the world of these series,but there are some disappointing episodes in the later seasons.
6Supernatural (2005–2020)
This Iconic Fantasy Series Is Worth The Commitment, But The Later Seasons Aren’t Perfect
Supernaturalis one ofThe CW’s best fantasy TV shows, and the series was a definitive part of the genre throughout the entire fifteen seasons it aired. However, fifteen seasons is a long run, andsustaining the tension, intrigue, and character development for over a decade would be difficultfor any show, regardless of genre. For a show that was only planned to run for five seasons,Supernaturalfar exceeded the expectations of the writers and creators and is considered a vital addition to the genre. It was the fact that Sam and Dean stayed until the end that helped.
The bond between the central brothers is what propelledSupernatural, even when it wasn’t at its best. The show had many ups and downs throughout its run, coming back better than ever after a season that dipped in quality at various points over the years. This allowedSupernaturalto grow and change as the series came into itself. Unfortunately, the last few seasons became increasingly unbelievable, andthe unpopular series finale demonstrated many of the flawsthatSupernaturalsuffered from in the later years.
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5The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)
Despite Its Heartfelt Finale, The Vampire Diaries Was Missing Something At The End
Any lover of the vampire genre is more than familiar withThe Vampire Diaries. Incorporating supernatural teen drama, romance, and plenty of action,The Vampire Diarieshas everything a fantasy-lover could want. Though it’s a fast-paced show that burns through plot lines and villains quickly, one of the best parts ofThe Vampire Diariesis the fact that it treats its villains with interest and empathy, making them just as compelling as the heroes, if not more so. When some of the best villains on the show,the Original vampires, left for their spinoff,it was a blow forTVD.
However, this wasn’t the true beginning of the end forThe Vampire Diaries. This came when the star, Nina Dobrev, left at the end of season 6, meaning Elena had to be gracefully written off. For all her flaws, Elena was a key piece ofThe Vampire Diaries, as she propelled the tension of the love triangle between her, Stefan, and Damon. In some ways, her exit gave the supporting characters a chance to shine, butthe lack of strong villains, coupled with her exit, was tough for the series as a whole.
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4Game Of Thrones (2011–2019)
Game Of Thrones Started To Lose The Plot In Season 8
Game of Thronesis one of the most important fantasy TV showsof the 21st century, and though the final season was a disappointment for many fans and critics, this will never change. WithoutGame of Thrones, fantasy television might never have had a resurgence, as this series was the catalyst for a wide array of audiences investing in fantasy. Though things started to get a little difficult forGame of Thronesin season 6, as the source material had run out, the show held its own in seasons 6 and 7.
Characters like Jaime and Daenerys didn’t get the endings fans wanted.
It’s almost universally agreed upon thatGame of Thronesseason 8 took everything in a bizarre and unexpected direction that didn’t align with the rest of the story. A large part of this was because the deliberate and well-developed character arcs that the series had spent years crafting were suddenly subverted in the last few episodes. Characters like Jaime and Daenerys didn’t get the endings fans wanted. WhileGame of Thronesending with season 7 wouldn’t have been perfect, season 8 took too many missteps to be remembered as a strong finish for the iconic project.
Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
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3Riverdale (2017–2023)
When Riverdale Embraced The Fantasy Plotlines, It Started Going Off The Rails
Riverdaleis one of the most notorious fantasy TV shows to come out in recent years, as it sparked a lot of debate and stirred up controversy over how self-aware the writers were about the series' sillier elements. However, the writers and actors were clearly having fun with every season ofRiverdale. This is clear even when the time jumps, multiple realities, and terrifying supernatural monsters start appearing.At one point,Riverdalewas closer in tone to a classic teen mystery serieswith a little bit of melodrama, but the show was completely different by the end.
Riverdale’s tone changed after season 2for many reasons, and the more supernatural elements took center stage around this time. Additionally,Riverdaleleaned into the more tongue-in-cheek humor, becoming melodramatic and using homages to other genres to pique the audience’s interest. WhilediehardRiverdalefans stuck with the show through all of its evolutions,the sudden shift away from the campy sensibilities in season 7 and the dedication to becoming a period teen drama was a strange note for the show to end on. It would have been more exciting to seeRiverdalereturn to its roots.
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2Once Upon A Time (2011–2018)
The Fairy Tale Realm Gets A Modern Twist In Once Upon A Time
It’s arguable thatOnce Upon a Timepeaked during its debut season,as this was when the story and structure of the series were the most cohesive. However, the fairy tale series did find a way to continue for seven seasons, with seasons 2 and 3 exploring new characters and realms that kept things fresh. However, the writing was on the wall for the show when Anna and Elsa ofFrozenjoined the cast in season 4. Though the show would keep going long after this, in some ways, it was the beginning of the end.
However,seasons four through six still had a lot to offer,as they focused on the character relationships and dynamics, giving the audience great couples, friendships, and redemption arcs to root for. IfOnce Upon a Timehad ended with season 6, it would have ended on a high note, cementing it as a fantastic fantasy series. Unfortunately, season 7 incorporated a time jump and attempted to recapture the magic of season 1. This didn’t turn out to be effective, and most fans don’t revisit season 7 when rewatchingOnce Upon a Time.
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1Supergirl (2015–2021)
Supergirl Gets Her Own Identity In This Modern Take On The Character
There have been many iterations of theSupermanstory, and the seriesSupergirl did a great job of making the narrative and characters its own.Melissa Benoist leads the cast as Kara, AKA Supergirl,who takes her first steps into the world of being a hero, following in the footsteps of her cousin Superman. The relationship between Kara and her friends is one of the most compelling parts ofSupergirl, as it’s a character-driven show despite its many thrilling villains and fantastical elements. However, it was a high-concept series that sometimes tried to balance too much.
Supergirlfound its voice after moving to The CW for season 2,but it never quite fit into the rest of theArrowverse. By season 6,Supergirlhad started to grow a little repetitive, and to combat this, the series introduced many additional characters and storylines to keep the narrative exciting. In some ways, this was effective, as it kept the show going so Kara could get the goodbye she deserved. However,Supergirlhit its peak in season 2, as it was at its most experimental and boundary-pushing, in part thanks to the network change.
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