Only 4 Fantasy Shows of the Last 5 Years Got a Perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

The last few years have seen an unprecedented number of TV series in the fantasy genre, with streaming services making a special bet on it, offering an astonishing number of both animated and live-action projects. But while the former, be it Arcane, The Legend of Vox Machina, or any anime series, tend to receive not only rave reviews from critics and viewers, but also equally high scores on review aggregators, often up to a perfect 100%, their non-animated counterparts are unfortunately subject to much more scrutiny.

With that in mind, we decided to compile a list of great live-action shows that have also won over the critics. Be prepared, though, because the following series are not conventional fantasy stories — but that doesn't take away from their magic.

4. The Way Home

Premiere Date (US): January 15, 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance

Number of Seasons: 2

Where to Stream: Hallmark Movies Now, Prime Video, Peacock, Apple TV

The Way Home is the time-traveling family story of a grandmother, a mother, and a teenage daughter. While running away from yet another family scene, the daughter stumbles upon a portal to the past that takes the trio on a quest for healing that will allow them to contemplate the past, present, and future. Indeed, if you are familiar with the Outlander television series or novels, The Way Home is similar in some ways, as it also follows the idea that love can transcend space and time.

3. The Lazarus Project

Premiere Date (US): June 4, 2023

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action, Thriller, Drama

Number of Seasons: 2

Where to Stream: TNT, Spectrum

The protagonist, George (Paapa Essiedu), is like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, the only one who finds himself reliving July 1 every few months. As it turns out, it is a unique physical trait of his, and so George is taken in by a top-secret organization that conducts time resets to forestall apocalyptic scenarios. One day, however, George is faced with a dire situation: rescue his girlfriend or save the lives of millions.

2. The Sound of Magic

Premiere Date (US): May 6, 2022

Genre: Fantasy, Musical, Coming of Age

Number of Seasons: 1 (Limited Series)

Where to Stream: Netflix

The Sound of Magic is an adaptation of the Naver webtoon of the same name by Ha Il-kwon. It is a whimsical music fantasy which revolves around Yoon Ah-yi, a struggling high school student who has to provide for herself and her younger sister. She dreams of becoming an adult as quickly as possible in order to earn some good money, but this new 'dream' is different from what she actually desired as a kid: to become a magician.

As things unfold, Yoon Ah-yi ends up in an old theme park, where she encounters a mysterious wizard. His dreams of returning to childhood may seem to conflict with the main character's ambitions, but in fact they are exactly what she has long wished for.

1. Beforeigners

Premiere Date (US): August 21, 2019

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Crime Drama

Number of Seasons: 2

Where to Stream: Spectrum

While there have been numerous attempts to combine time travel stories with procedural dramas, this show has done it best of all. The show is set in Norway, where immigrants come not only from foreign countries, but also from different time periods, such as the Stone Age, the Viking Age, and the 19th century. Everyone tries to adapt to a new society, but some hold on to old practices. The story centers on an Oslo police officer and his new partner, a Viking shield-maiden who takes a job with the police.