Fantasy TV shows come in all forms and touch upon a variety of visual and narrative styles, but it’s the ones that changed the shape of the genre that are best remembered. Many of these are great fantasy TV shows based on books, as having source material with effective world-building and predetermined lore can be enormously helpful for the layered plotlines of a fantasy show. Some series are high fantasy, full of magic and dragons, while others lean into the horror and supernatural sides of the genre. Regardless, these projects have influenced the trajectory of fantasy forever.