SerpApi.Org
Book-to-screen adaptations have always been popular, particularly for the fantasy genre, with movies like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter dominating globally. But television has caught up with this book-to-screen trend, with hit fantasy shows like Game of Thrones, adapted from A Song of Ice and Fire. So great was its popularity that two additional shows have been released so far.
Clearly, fantasy has proven to be a hit genre in television. However, the genre can sometimes run into budgeting issues or, especially in the case of book-to-screen adaptations, complications with adapting the source material. Finding ones that do this transition well is hard, because sometimes change is needed to adapt. Some fantasy shows do achieve this balance, and yet, remain woefully underrated.
The Wheel of Time Didn't Find Its Fanbase in Time
Following a book series of the same name by Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time was released in 2021 and concluded in 2025 with only three seasons, even though the franchise has 14 books. The story follows a group of people who leave their small village after a magic channeler (an Aes Sedai) realizes that one of them is the chosen one from a long-standing prophecy. As they go on journeys together and separately, they each learn their own strength, what their role is in the universe, and who the Dragon Reborn is.
The Wheel of Time's lack of seasons and subsequent quick unpopular changes to the storyline are due to the fact that although Amazon Prime Video put a great deal of money into the show, as the books are one of the greatest-selling fantasy franchises of all time, not many people watched it.
Nothing seemed to change this fact, even with an entirely unique magic system in fantasy, great action scenes, CGI, and costumes, decent marketing, and a solid cast helmed by Rosamund Pike.
Shadow and Bone Changes the Storyline Slightly, But It Works
Shadow and Bone faced a quick turnaround adaptation, with the first book released in 2012 and the first season of the show released on Netflix in 2021. This is likely because the popular books are unique in the fantasy folklore influences they use. The author, Leigh Bardugo, drew on influences from Imperial Russia and Slavic folklore to flesh out her world, where a young woman discovers she is a magic user (called a Grisha), and a rare one at that. As she moves through the story, she finds adventure, betrayal, and romance.
As a newer YA fantasy book franchise that young fans absolutely loved, the anticipation for this Netflix series was sky-high. And, mostly, it delivered. Fans were delighted with how wonderfully fleshed out the world was, how well Ben Barnes fit the brooding character of the Darkling, and how the fan-favorite Crow characters were expertly woven into the original storyline, where they weren't in the books.
But being a YA series can have limitations, and viewership never went beyond a young fanbase, leading to its cancellation after two seasons.
His Dark Materials Might Be Too Faithful to the Source Material
Published by Philip Pullman, the books follow Will and Lyra as they use cosmic tools to walk between worlds and learn about the true evil that threatens to harm every world. But this is the franchise that many are surprised to hear even exists, as many only think of the 2007 The Golden Compass movie with Nicole Kidman that flopped so horribly. Luckily, His Dark Materials, lasting from 2019 to 2022 with three seasons, has turned out to be one of the most faithful book-to-television fantasy adaptations existing.
Unfortunately, although the beautiful graphics, great acting by a surprisingly stacked cast including James McAvoy, and faithfulness to the source material proved it to be popular with fans of the book series, it wasn't as helpful in turning new fans onto the show. The YA nature of the books might contribute to this, with children being the main focus of the show. But it also had to do with fierce competition from fantasy shows like The Witcher and a lack of marketing from HBO and BBC One.
With Two Beloved Leads, Good Omens Enchants Viewers
Good Omens was adapted from a 1990 novel and ran three seasons from 2019 to 2026. The show follows Crowley, a demon, and Aziraphale, an angel, who, over the years of watching humanity develop, have decided to team up and go against the universe's plans for the apocalypse, as they enjoy their lives as they are. In the book, the two have an unlikely friendship. In the show, they go from enemies/strangers to friends to lovers.
Of the options on this list, Good Omens is probably the best received and most watched, with a cult classic status. But cult classic still means underrated in the grand scheme of things. Its popularity mainly comes from the instant crowd that the two main leads, David Tennant and Michael Sheen, bring.
This makes sense, as they are perfectly cast as the odd couple, but the show is also wonderfully smart, funny, and whimsical, bringing the audience along on a meaningful but never hectic journey.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Is a Criminally Underrated Fantasy Show
For a 2004 book that most people haven't heard of, and a show that people certainly haven't heard of either, BBC's 2015 miniseries Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a confusingly good fantasy series. Author Susanna Clarke takes her audience on a journey to a parallel world where 19th-century England has had magic throughout its history, but it's been stagnant in recent years. The two most prominent magicians are Mr Norell, who is cautious, and Jonathan Strange, who is young and carefree.
Both the book and the show take audiences through how the magic system works, how magic affects politics and the economy, and the different ways in which both magicians approach magic, although both wish to help their country. This juxtaposition between the two leads to dramatic, and often tragic, results, but the majority of the show and book does focus on them and feels almost like a character study.
However, although magic exists, there are no charismatic creatures that fly overhead nor consistent battle scenes or dramatic romances for the ages. What does exist is a meticulously thought-out and richly produced adaptation that condenses the original material perfectly into a miniseries, but does stay true to the slow, character-study nature of the original piece.
For some who wish to watch something that doesn't carry all the typical fantasy tropes, it's a perfect show. For others, it's a bit slow.
