I love sci-fi and fantasy shows! They are definitely my favorite genre. I think they are the best shows to provide an escape since you are drawn into a whole other world. Here are the 10 best sci-fi and fantasy shows on Netflix.
The Magicians
The Magicians follows a group of friends in the graduate program at Brakebills College (a magic school). Beasts, relationships, quests, and the seasonal musical number ensue (so literally everything you could want in a show)!
I almost gave up on The Magicians after the first season (which, in my opinion, is by far the show’s weakest season), but I am so glad that I kept watching! It is now one of my all-time favorite shows!
It is so much more than grown-up Harry Potter. I adore the characters (Margo is my fav!), the show does a great job making this a true ensemble. I also love all the magical storylines and personal relationships.
This show is dramatic with a flare for pop culture references. I have watched each season’s (starting in season 2) musical numbers/episodes on repeat. If you are a fan of magic shows and sassy attitudes, then this is a must-watch!
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a sci-fi and horror series that is set in the 1980s. It focuses on supernatural events occurring in a small town, such as those surrounding Will’s disappearance and the appearance of a girl with supernatural abilities.
The writing, acting, and world-building are all fantastic! The character growth is great to watch. This show is both creepy and engrossing. Watch it for yourself to see what all the hype is about!
The 100
Almost 100 years after a nuclear apocalypse, the life-support systems on the space station are failing. To determine whether the Earth is habitable, the people living on the space station send 100 teenage detainees (there are no adults since they are executed) back down to Earth. What they find surprises everyone…
I love The 100! It is one of my favorite shows! There is a lot of sci-fi fun and many great plot lines, but what The 100 excels at is the characters! I love Clarke, Octavia, Lexa, Lincoln, pretty much everyone! This is a great ensemble show with wonderful and complicated relationships (friendships, romances, and families).
You will be hooked after 1 episode.
The Vampire Diaries
TVD follows Elena Gilbert and her friends in Mystic Falls, Virginia, as they deal with supernatural threats and relationships.
There is love, family, friendships, and supernatural forces galore! This show also has one of the best love triangles on TV.
Be prepared to fall in love with literally all of the characters! TVD has an incredible ability to make you end up loving the “villains”. You should also be prepared to feel all the emotions!
This show is the definition of binge-worthy!
The Originals
The Originals is a spinoff of The Vampire Diaries. It follows the “originals”, aka the first vampire family from which all other vampires are sired. They come to New Orleans because Klaus learns that Hayley (a werewolf) is pregnant with his child. The city is full of a power struggle between the vampires, werewolves, and witches.
The Mikaelson family does crazy family dynamics better than anyone—love, loyalty, and betrayal. The characters are wonderful, the supernatural politics are fun, and there is a lot of magic.
I liked this spinoff just as much, if not more, than The Vampire Diaries.
Legacies
Legacies is another spinoff of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. I am going to tell you very little about it because I don’t want to give spoilers for the other shows. All I will say is it follows teens at a magic school led by Alaric Saltzman.
I don’t think this show is as good as the other two, but I still think it is worth watching. My favorite thing about Legacies is that the types of supernatural creatures in the TVD universe are greatly expanded.
If you liked the other shows, then give it a try.
iZombie
Liv’s life is derailed when she becomes a zombie, so she takes a job in a morgue to get access to brains. She finds out that she sees some of that person’s memories and takes on some of their personality traits. Using this knowledge, she decides to pose as a psychic to help solve their murders.
This is not your typical zombie show. Most of the zombies are normal everyday people (as long as they eat brains).
Zombies may be associated with horror, but iZombie also has comedy, drama, romance, and detective work. It has it all!
For a dark topic, iZombie is one of the most fun shows I have watched!
Locke & Key
After their dad is killed, a family moves into his ancestral home that is filled with magical keys.
Technically, this is a “teen” Tv show, but people of all ages will like it! This show is a mystery with a lot of suspense. I also love the idea of the keys and each having a different “power”.
Away
Away chronicles an international crew’s mission to Mars and their families at home.
Hilary Swank (one of my all-time favorite actresses) plays Emma Green, the crew’s captain, joined by a brilliant cast.
The series is only 1 season (which is such a shame!), but it somehow still manages to cover and develop each character in depth. You really feel like you get to know the crew. You will love them all!
It does an exceptional job mixing the sci-fi and suspenseful elements of space travel with touching and complex relationships.
Lucifer
Lucifer is about Lucifer (the devil, aka the fallen angel) when he takes a vacation from hell and moves to L.A.. He meets a cop who is immune to his powers and discovers he likes solving crimes. From there, the fun begins…
This show is the definition of binge-worthy. You won’t be able to stop watching. I love Lucifer, Amenadiel, Chloe, Mazikeen, Linda….basically all of the characters!
This show is funny, has great romance, and amazing plot lines. The whole package! It is definitely one of the best sci-fi and fantasy shows on Netflix!
The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy is based on the premise that 43 babies are spontaneously born (the mothers weren’t pregnant before the day), and an eccentric billionaire adopts 7 of them. He then trains the kids to use their superpowers to save the world. Years later, the family comes back together after their father’s death to stop the apocalypse.
At its core, The Umbrella Academy is about a dysfunctional family. It covers those mundane nuances in a dramatic fashion!
The characters are all highly flawed and entertaining. I especially love Klaus and Five.
If you want a fresh take on a superhero show, then give it a try.
If you want a list of more shows to watch, check out the 10 Best Netflix Original Series (& 5 Movies).
Leave a comment and tell me what you think the best sci-fi and fantasy shows on Netflix are!