7 Underrated Fantasy Series on HBO Max to Binge Now

HBO Max’s massive catalog of shows includes seven fantasy TV series that are severely underrated and underwatched despite their compelling stories, concepts, and execution. The streaming platform has gained an excellent reputation over the past five years for bringing together a wide range of shows, most of which are top-notch.

Despite this, their fantasy TV show catalog isn’t very robust. The primary reason why fantasy fans would turn to HBO Max is that they have the Game of Thrones franchise and True Blood. They don’t even have revival Doctor Who anymore, which was another big draw.

Despite this, the streaming platform does possess some criminally underrated TV shows in the fantasy genre. Some of them bend genres while others have a unique hook. However, all of them are well worth the watch for fantasy fans who’d like to expand their horizons.

Coyotl: Hero & Beast

One underappreciated but excellent TV show that went under the radar is Coyotl: Hero & Beast, a Mexican supernatural fantasy that integrates Toltec mythology. The show, which debuted this year, follows a rancher named Lupe who has been brought back to life as a Nahual, a supernatural being that can transform into an animal.

In this case, Lupe changes into a half-man, half-coyote, and he wants to use his abilities to protect his home from the organized crime organization that killed him. For those who don’t speak Spanish, the show is available in both dubbed and subbed formats.

Ultimately, Coyotl: Hero & Beast feels like an extremely campy B-movie in the best way possible. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should the audience. The visuals aren’t the best, but that’s part of the charm. Plus, the show features lovable characters and a beautiful setting with a dash of horror elements.

The Prince

Set in the fictional medieval Kingdom of Bongomia, The Prince follows the least loved son, “Prince,” who has to take charge of the kingdom after his father’s death. This involves dealing with treasonous family members, an ongoing threat from the Hungarian Empire, and a wizard who’s a pain in the butt.

The HBO Max original show The Prince is a raunchy and excellent historical fantasy with a comedic tone, integrating LGBTQ+ characters and feminist themes. It’s pretty similar in writing style to My Lady Jane or Dickinson, despite having a lower production value. The story is deeply entertaining, really picking up in the second episode.

What’s more, The Prince satirizes period pieces and historical fantasy while also leaning into beloved tropes. This makes it a perfect choice for fans of those subgenres. Unfortunately, despite being a certified hit with Turkish audiences, it has been overlooked outside of Türkiye. As The Prince season 3 is releasing on HBO Max US, it’s the perfect time to start the show.

Carnivale

The Emmy-winning HBO series Carnivale ran from 2003 to 2005, but it’s virtually disappeared from the pop culture zeitgeist in the years since its release. Set during the 1930s Dust Bowl, the dark fantasy show ties together two interconnected storylines.

A farmer from Oklahoma named Ben Hawkins joins a traveling carnival and tries to get a handle on his healing powers and strange visions. Meanwhile, a Methodist preacher in California named Brother Justin Crowe shares Ben’s visions and possesses latent supernatural abilities. The two have no clue that they’re connected, but they’re quickly being drawn together.

Carnivale combines surrealism with fantasy, rather than leaning into one or the other. Rather than aligning with a single faith system, the world of Ben and Justin encompasses Christianity, Gnosticism, and the occult. There’s an interesting question of good and evil that’s asked throughout Carnivale, but it’s left to the viewers to interpret the story instead of being spoon-fed the answer.

Lovecraft Country

In 2020, HBO released a show called Lovecraft Country, which walks the line between supernatural horror and dark fantasy. The story follows a Black American man named Atticus “Tic” Freeman, who embarks on a road trip through the 1950s segregated United States in search of his father. Along the way, he encounters many monsters and supernatural beings.

The title refers to the New England setting that the author frequently used, rather than his tropes. However, it’s just as crucial because Lovecraft Country subverts H.P. Lovecraft’s horrifying racist ideals in a way that the author would’ve absolutely hated. That’s part of what makes it beautiful.

The 2020 TV show only lasted one season on HBO, with Lovecraft Country getting canceled before season 2 due to high production costs, an uncertain storyline for a second season, and possibly a toxic work environment (if allegations are true). Since then, it has become a cult classic, with most people either loving it or not knowing that it exists.

The Teenage Psychic

The Taiwanese fantasy show The Teenage Psychic follows a teen called Xiao Zhen who was born with the ability to see ghosts. She struggles to balance her life as a high school student and a medium for mourners at a temple in Taipei.

The show was extremely well-received throughout Asia. It garnered Best Miniseries at the 2017 Golden Bell Awards, which is the Chinese equivalent of the Emmys. However, it never garnered a significant following elsewhere.

There’s so much to appreciate about The Teenage Psychic, regardless of ethnicity or age. The show is inextricably Taiwanese and coming-of-age, while also being universal. Xiao Zhen’s struggle between her two lives, in a way, represents the struggle between the old and the new, tradition and change.

Gremlins: Secrets Of The Mogwai

The movie Gremlins is considered one of the best horror-comedy films of all time, and now the titular creatures get an animated prequel that’s surprisingly really good. Set in 1920s Shanghai, the show focuses on how Sam Wing met Gizmo and their journey to return the Gremlin to his home.

While the show does incorporate some scarier horror scenes, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai falls more into the category of fantasy. The story leans into the backstory of the Mogwai and their fantastical abilities, plus the gods and goddesses. Additionally, it incorporates Chinese culture and monsters from folklore, adding to the show’s many layers.

Other major benefits of the show include the impressive voice acting from Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai cast. The characters in the TV show are really developed and well-rounded, making it easy to invest in their stories. The animation is unique and immediately recognizable. There’s a nice blend of sweetness, adventure, and full-blown chaos.

The Leftovers

HBO’s overlooked masterpiece, The Leftovers, has a fantastical premise: a mysterious supernatural event called the “Sudden Departure” causes 2% of the world’s population to disappear in the blink of an eye. However, at its heart, The Leftovers is a character drama that explores the grief and loss of those who remain.

The show is hard to get into because of its slow-burning pace, and it’s emotionally heavy to watch. For this reason, I strongly recommend that viewers only watch a few episodes at a time. However, it’s still well worth watching because of the impeccable acting and writing that really play into the actors’ strengths.

Additionally, it’s a show that just gets better with every season, meaning it’s worth pushing through any difficult moments. The first season of The Leftovers is great, the second season is amazing, and the third is utterly breathtaking.