12 Most Underrated Fantasy TV Series Ever
Not all heroes get the love they deserve...
Fantasy will always be one of the most captivating and commercially successful genres in all of entertainment. No matter what the screen or medium, the sight of valiant protagonists swinging their mystical blades or wily magicians weaving their spells will never fail at attracting viewers. It is a tried and tested formula and TV shows have been no stranger to making full use of it.
However as popular as these types of shows can be, the fantasy arena is not an easy one to crack. Be it the need for top notch special effects or else risk appearing ridiculous, or the unrelenting pressure from fans if the show is based on some source material, there are a lot of hurdles to cross. As a result, a lot of shows simply fail at striking the right chords with audiences.
But, not every show that underwhelms on the ratings is necessarily bad. One of the aspects of this genre is the fact that you will still get the odd gem or two that just gets ignored by viewers despite being really, really good.
So, let’s open up the old vault and shine some much deserved light on these neglected classics. These are the 12 most underrated fantasy TV shows, ever.
12. Pushing Daisies
Kicking off this list is a show that incorporates some of the most classic elements of the genre to create, ahem, magic. Bad puns aside, Pushing Daisies follows the story of the world’s nicest necromancer Ned. Pie maker by the day and bringing back the dead also by day, Ned was born with these unique powers that were both bane and boon.
He could revive deceased individuals but there was a catch. His version of life-giving was a lot like a software free trial license. The people he brought back could only live for a minute (the free part), unless another life in the near vicinity dropped dead in exchange for the resurrected individual to stay alive (the paid license part).
His path eventually leads him to Private Investigator Emerson Cod who discovers Ned’s abilities and proposes a scheme. The two start reviving murder victims so they could reveal who their killers were. Emerson solved the cases and then split the reward money with Ned.
However things take an unexpected turn when one of the cases turns out to be that of Ned’s childhood love. Unable to simply let her die twice, Ned allows her new life to become permanent. She goes on to join the two as the focus then shifts to finding Emerson’s missing daughter.
The show is a magical joyride infused with the just right amounts of comedy to make it an incredibly enjoyable watch. Shame not many did.