Within the fantasy genre, TV shows are often cut short, but two of the must-watch additions are long-running series that are worth committing to. Since these are older shows, not only do these series have many seasons, but most of the installments have a full order of episodes, all forty-five minutes long. This might sound daunting, but once you start these shows, you won’t be able to stop.
These are fantasy shows that become masterpieces as they progress, as the writers and actors had plenty of time and space to explore the overarching character development. Anyone who considers themselves a fan of the fantasy genre must engage with these series, as they’re touchpoints for the monster-of-the-week format, and have inspired countless TV shows that followed. Without these works, the genre would look very different.
Every Fantasy Fan Needs To Watch Buffy & Supernatural At Least Once
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural are two of the best and most highly regarded additions to the fantasy genre, frequently referenced and paid homage to today. Buffy boasts seven seasons of some of the most innovative and groundbreaking storytelling in TV history, while Supernatural ran for a lengthy fifteen seasons, but was no less intriguing for each of these installments.
Supernatural’s best episodes prove why the show was popular, as the series was capable of evolving and poking fun at itself, often leaning into the metatextual sides of its storytelling. However, it could be argued that Supernatural wouldn’t exist without Buffy, as the 1997 series paved the way for the snappy, pop-culture-soaked dialogue that’s so prevalent today. Seeing Supernatural in conversation with Buffy’s legacy makes the case for watching both projects.
Buffy & Supernatural Are Long, But They’re Both Influential Classics
It’s no secret that watching Supernatural and Buffy isn’t a viewing project to be taken lightly. Today, we’re inundated with high fantasy in medieval settings, but the genre doesn’t have to be expressed in this way. Setting works of speculative fiction in the present day, working within the boundaries of reality at times, is a great way to get the audience to connect with the narrative.
Though not every great work of fantasy is a monster-of-the-week series, Buffy and Supernatural shaped the way this niche of the genre is expressed. Additionally, both shows played with genre, formula, and story structure, using the “filler” episodes to experiment, subverting audience expectations in unforgettable ways. It helped that the characters in Buffy and Supernatural were eternally likable and worth spending time with from the beginning.
Why Supernatural Is A Modern Classic Worth Every Viewer’s Time
Though Supernatural is a little younger than Buffy within the fantasy genre, it’s come to define the contemporary fantasy series for a reason. The relationship between Sam and Dean Winchester is one of the best brother relationships on television, and this relatable, human connection helps root Supernatural in reality, even when the lore becomes increasingly complex as the seasons progress.
Fifteen seasons with the Winchesters sounds like a slog, but once you’re invested in the world of Supernatural, the episodes fly by. There are a few low points when the series has to re-find its footing, but these are still enjoyable thanks to the characters and the sense of humor inherent to Supernatural. In the years since the show ended, the fans’ passion hasn’t waned.
Why Buffy Is A Must-Watch Fantasy Show, Even Decades Later
Though there are some harsh realities of being a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan today, as there are elements of the story that are of their time, there will never be another show like Buffy. Spearheading the new era of strong female protagonists in fantasy and using monsters and demons as near-perfect metaphors for the pangs of coming of age, Buffy is as exciting as it is emotionally effective.
While most fantasy fans are well-versed in the long and storied history of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its lore, it’s fun to imagine all the first-time viewers getting to experience the show for the first time. After watching the series, audiences will never be able to see works of fantasy in the same way. It becomes the benchmark for all other works that come after it.
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Supernatural
8/10
- Release Date
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2005 – 2020
- Showrunner
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Eric Kripke
- Directors
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Philip Sgriccia, John F. Showalter, Kim Manners, Thomas J. Wright, Charles Beeson, Guy Norman Bee, Richard Speight Jr., Mike Rohl, John Badham, Steve Boyum, Amyn Kaderali, Jensen Ackles, Tim Andrew, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeannot Szwarc, P.J. Pesce, Nina Lopez-Corrado, James L. Conway, amanda tapping, J. Miller Tobin, Stefan Pleszczynski, John MacCarthy, Jerry Wanek, Ben Edlund
- Writers
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Meredith Glynn, Davy Perez, Raelle Tucker, Cathryn Humphris, Brett Matthews, Nancy Won, John Bring, Ben Acker, Daniel Knauf, David Ehrman, James Krieg, Trey Callaway
