Blendingfantasyand mystery elements into a TV show isn’t always an easy task, but the series that pull it off are some of the most engaging on television. Whilemagic and world-building automatically set the best of the fantasy genre apart,introducing an element of intrigue in the form of an overarching mystery, or even a crime component that the characters must investigate, successfully connects with viewers of all kinds. Whether the mystery is rooted in reality or is the fantasy element itself, it creates automatic tension and stakes for the audience and characters.
Mystery series are oftengreat fantasy TV shows for beginnerssince it can be daunting to take on a speculative fiction story for the first time. However, most audiences are familiar with mystery series, as crime procedurals are some of the most popular projects on television. Whilemost fantasy shows that feature puzzles and detective stories aren’t episodic,they weave the mystery delicately throughout the season, uplifting the overarching story and developing the characters. How and why the strange circumstances occur, and the way this impacts the characters, drives the narrative forward and keeps the audience watching.
Lost
Cast
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
It’s difficult to keep track of the many mysteries and timelines inLost, as the series wasn’t afraid to utilize plenty of misdirects and open-ended plotlines to confuse and thrill the audience. While there are plenty ofthingsLostcould have done differently,the establishment of the mystery at the start of season 1 is a large part of what made viewers stick with the showuntil the end. Though not every question was answered satisfyingly, or at all, this doesn’t change the monumental impact of the series.
Some ofLost’s most iconic moments came from narrative turns that left audiences and characters speechless and set the story on a new course.
WhileLostalways bordered on the supernatural and kept the audience on the edge of their seats,it fully established itself as a fantasy show by the final season.Lost’s twists and unexpected reveals are what the series came to be known for, which led to increasingly convoluted and surprising plot developments over time. However, some ofLost’s most iconic moments came from narrative turns that left audiences and characters speechless and set the story on a new course.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
The liberties thatThe Rings of Powertakes with the source material by J.R.R. Tolkien and its changes to the history of Middle-earth have been a source of controversy, but there’s no question that the prequel series is engaging.Above all,The Rings of Powerenjoys dropping hints and foreshadowingthe character’s futures, as so many of the individuals in the series play huge parts inThe Lord of the Rings. For example, the question of the Stranger’s (Daniel Weyman) identity is a recurring part of the show.
The truth of the characters' names and roles is a significant part ofThe Rings of Power, as it affects the reveal of Gandalf, Sauron, and many more throughout the show’s first two seasons. ThoughThe Rings of Powerisn’t a mystery in the sense that the characters have to catch a killer or solve a crime,it holds plenty of questions and secrets, making the audience wait for answers. The fact thatThe Rings of Poweris establishing itself as separate from the original books means these mysteries can’t be solved so easily.
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Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
Since its premiere in 2016,Stranger Thingshas been one of the most popular TV shows on Netflix,and for good reason. WhileStranger Thingsseason 1 still tells the tightest story of the show, each installment has delved further into the mystery of the Upside Down and the source of Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) powers. One of the most enjoyable parts ofStranger Thingsis that the series has maintained its sense of wonder and intrigue over the years. As the actors grow older and the stakes are raised, it never loses its familiar atmosphere.
Many of the mysteries inStranger Thingsstem from the puzzle of how the magic system works.
Manythings need to happen before theStranger Thingsfinale, as there are still plenty of unanswered questions and hidden developments that the iconic series must provide answers to. Many of the mysteries inStranger Thingsstem from the puzzle of how the magic system works. However, sometimes, it’s more interesting for a series to keep these answers secret, as this preserves the scope and reach of the series.Seeing the characters put together the pieces and save the day never gets old,no matter what the mystery is.
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Locke & Key
Starring Darby Stanchfield and Connor Jessup, Lock & Key is a Horror and Fantasy television series created for Netflix and based on the comic series of the same name. The premise follows three kids who move to a special home and find supernatural and magical keys.
Locke & Keybegins with a tragedy, as the central three siblings are moved across the country in the wake of their father’s murder. However, their problems are just beginning, as their father’s old house holds immense power and danger inside a set of mystical keys. All of this makes for a great setup for the overarching mystery ofLocke & Key, asa compelling emotional element is critical to keep audiences engaged.
The show is based on the comic book series of the same name, and the stylistic influences from the comic can be seen through the visuals and aesthetics. Incorporating elements of gothic horror,Locke & Keydoesn’t shy away from making its mystery frighteningand putting the characters in dangerous situations. This comes to the surface in the form of the demonic forces the children fight, even though they have no idea what the source of these malevolent entities and the keys' power is.
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School Spirits
Based on the graphic novel, School Spirits is a supernatural mystery-drama series set in a high-school setting focusing on the afterlife. When teenage Maddie finds herself in the afterlife, she spends her idle time trying to investigate why she went missing. However, her high-school sleuthing leads her down a path that only yields more questions and uncovers a more sinister plot underneath her own demise.
It’s hard to be stuck in purgatory while trying to solve your own murder, but this is what happens to Maddie (Peyton List) aftershe mysteriously dies and wakes up as a ghost haunting her high school.Luckily, she has company, as the spirits of other kids who were killed on school grounds all haunt the premises and try to help each other get by. However, unlike the other characters, Maddie can’t remember her death and has the ability to communicate with her still-living best friend, Simon (Kristian Ventura).
The identity of Maddie’s killer isn’t the only mystery inSchool Spirits, as the plot only grows more complicated and contradictory as Maddie gets closer to the truth.
Together,Maddie and Simon grieve and attempt to piece together the final moments of Maddie’s life,hoping that this could help her find some peace in death. However, the identity of Maddie’s killer isn’t the only mystery inSchool Spirits, as the plot only grows more complicated and contradictory as Maddie gets closer to the truth. Leaving off on an unbelievable cliffhanger,School Spiritsseason 2 will up the ante on Maddie’s quest to reclaim her life.
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Dead Boy Detectives
Based on the DC series, Dead Boy Detectives is a supernatural comedy-mystery series created for Netflix. Two young men from different find one another in death but decide to skip the afterlife and remain among the living with a new purpose - to solve various supernatural mysteries the way only two deceased detectives can.
Based on characters and stories from the comic book and TV seriesThe Sandman,Dead Boy Detectivesfollows two ghosts, Edwin (George Rexstrew) and Charles (Jayden Revri), who solve otherworldly crimes.Just as the name suggests, despite having passed on, Edwin and Charles take it upon themselves to be the detectives that the dead and the supernatural living turn to for help in sticky situations. Teaming up with the psychic Crystal (Kassius Nelson), the mystical investigators have plenty of mysteries to solve.
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Despite its high critical and audience acclaim,Dead Boy Detectivesseason 1 will be its last outing, but there’s still plenty to enjoy within its singular season (viaVariety). The dynamic between Edwin and Charles and their differing approaches to solving the crimes and problems is consistently compelling.Even though they’re tapped into the supernatural universe, this doesn’t mean they hold all the answers,and the more powerful forces at work behind the scenes are consistently making their ghost lives more difficult.
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Wednesday
Wednesday follows the journey of Wednesday Addams as she attends Nevermore Academy, a boarding school for outcasts. Tasked with mastering her psychic abilities, she confronts a series of town murders and a haunting family mystery from 25 years ago, all while managing new social dynamics.
This iteration of Wednesday Addams, played by the deadpan Jenna Ortega, is much more than an amateur sleuth inWednesday, the gothic teen dramedy series. Though she’s drawn to the darkness and unsettling events,Wednesday finds herself at the center of a much more sinister plot when she enrolls in Nevermore Academyand realizes that the ominous deaths and dangerous circumstances are connected. Using her psychic abilities, Wednesday takes it upon herself to unravel the web of lies at Nevermore and the neighboring town.
ThoughWednesdayis based on the beloved IP ofThe Addams Family, it was still a surprise that the series was as big a hit for Netflix as it was.
SinceWednesdayseason 2 has been confirmed, fans won’t have to wait too much longer until the fate of Wednesday and her classmates at Nevermore is revealed. ThoughWednesdayis based on the beloved IP ofThe Addams Family, it was still a surprise that the series was as big a hit for Netflix as it was. However, sinceit so successfully blends fantasy and horror with spellbinding mystery,it’s no wonder that audiences connected with it.
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Jenna Ortega also stars in the recent Tim Burton project,Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
The Leftovers
The Leftovers is a three-season drama that follows a group of people as they deal with the effects of the sudden disappearance of 2% of the word’s population. It was created by Lost co-producer Damon Lindelof and Election writer Tom Perrotta, with famous actors such as Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Margaret Qualley, and Justin Theroux in the ensemble cast.
Though it tackles some heady topics,The Leftoversis one of the most boundary-pushing series to be released by HBO in the past decade.Starring Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon as two people struggling to adapt to lifeafter 2% of the population suddenly disappears,The Leftoversisn’t always an easy watch. The questions of how and why the characters' loved ones disappeared frustrate the characters as much as it does the audience, and the series isn’t afraid to be bleak.
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The Leftoversseries finale is one of the best in TV history and presents some answers about what happened to the people who disappeared, but the conclusion is ultimately open-ended.It’s up to the audience to decide what they believe and whether or not it mattersif there’s a concrete answer to the mysteries plaguing the characters throughout the show. The point ofThe Leftovers’s story is that the answer to why tragedies occur will never be satisfying and that the world must pick up and keep going.
Heroes
Heroes sees a number of people drawn to each other after a solar eclipse awakens incredible abilities in them. With their destinies seemingly intertwined, these evolved humans use their superpowers to influence the past, present, and future - for better and for worse. When a superpowered killer emerges who is stealing abilities from his victims, they must band together to stop him.
Heroesseason 1 is a nearly perfect season of television, as it successfully utilizes its ensemble format and gives equal time to the many intersecting storylines of the show.For the first few seasons, the central mystery involves how the characters developed their powersand what the larger forces at work behind the scenes are. As each character has their own experience and story, the audience waits with bated breath for the individuals to come together and share their discoveries.
Featuring performances from Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere, and many more iconic actors,Heroesis anchored by the cast, who commit fully to the unusual occurrences within the story
Featuring performances from Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere, and many more iconic actors,Heroesis anchored by the cast, who commit fully to the unusual occurrences within the story. Unfortunately,Heroeswas hit hard by the 2007-2008 WGA strike, and this made seasons 3 and 4 more narratively scattered than the first two. However, this doesn’t change the fact thatHeroesperfectly executed a far-reaching dramatic mystery and managed to juggle so many equally compelling storylines.
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Supernatural
Supernatural is a television series that follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, who were raised by their father to hunt and combat supernatural entities after losing their mother to a demonic force. Traversing the American landscape in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, they face numerous paranormal threats.
Supernaturalwent through many evolutions throughout its fifteen-season run,but the core of the series remained the relationship between Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) until the very end. While a typical episode ofSupernaturalwould resolve the mystery by the end of the hour, the overarching plots were what kept audiences engaged and proved to be the most difficult puzzles to unravel. Discovering what demons were after the brothers and how forces of heaven and hell were messing with them this time was a common element ofSupernatural.
Folktales, myths, and legends all served as the source materialfor the mysteries andfantasyinSupernatural. Additionally, plenty of allusions and interrogations of religion and the existence of gods made for interesting and ephemeral questions thatSupernaturaloften left open to audience interpretation. AfterSupernaturalseason 5, the show went through a soft reboot. After this, it delved even further into season-long arcs and mysteries that proved even more dangerous and compelling than the series’ start.
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