There are many excellent great fantasy TV shows have terrible endings or don't even get a chance to wrap up their stories. because they were canceled too son.

That said, there are several excellent fantasy shows with only one season. Some of these shows have the opportunity to tell their entire story, while others contain so much in just one season that it is satisfying without additional narrative. Regardless of the reason, some of the most iconic fantasy TV shows only have one season.

10 Firefly

A Sci-Fi Fantasy Show That Takes Place In A Different Solar System

One of the most iconic one-season fantasy TV shows is Joss Whedon's Firefly. This show is over 20 years old and is still ed as one of the greatest fantasy TV shows. Firefly's cast and crew often talk about the longevity of fandom despite its cancelation after only one season. Firefly perfectly blends sci-fi and fantasy in a futuristic narrative that takes place in 2517, where humanity has expanded and colonized multiple planets in other Solar Systems. Firefly features a group of outsiders living in a "Firefly-class" spaceship, the Serenity.

Firefly may only have one season, but it continues to impact popular culture over two decades later, an astonishing accomplishment.

Firefly may only have one season, but it continues to impact popular culture over two decades later, an astonishing accomplishment. It has inspired countless works of fanfiction, with published works as recently as January 2025. Firefly has turned into a franchise, with a spinoff movie, Serenity, comics published by Dark Horse Comics, multiple books, and various games. Firefly is definitely worth watching, especially given all of its spinoff content, indicating this tremendous universe's excellence.

9 The Secret Circle

A Supernatural Fantasy Show Based On L.J. Smith's Books

Although L.J. Smith's The Vampire Diaries is a highly successful franchise that includes three TV shows, her other series, The Secret Circle, is not as successful. In fact, The CW canceled The Secret Circle after only one season. However, this supernatural teen drama is still a great show with an excellent cast, including Britt Robertson, Phoebe Tonkin, and Shelley Hennig. The Secret Circle revolves around an orphaned girl, Cassie Blake, who moves to Chance Harbor, Washington, where she discovers she is a witch because of five classmates who want her to their coven.

In addition to The Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle, L.J. Smith also wrote the Night World series, the Dark Visions series, and the Wildworld series.

The Secret Circle is often seen as a replacement for The Vampire Diaries, especially given their clearcut similarities. The Secret Circle was pretty popular despite its cancelation to the point where fans launched an online campaign, Save The Secret Circle. Although it was ultimately unsuccessful, it still garnered a lot of attention. The Secret Circle still tells a riveting narrative despite its short run.

8 Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

A Fairy Tale Spinoff Of Once Upon A Time

Once Upon a Time twists several iconic fairy tale backstories, so it is no surprise that its spinoff, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, does the same thing. The one-season show is based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, with a Victorian twist. The show features Alice, who believes her true love, Cyrus, is dead, only to discover 28 years later that Jafar has kidnapped him. Alice returns to Wonderland to defeat Jafar and the Red Queen. In true Once Upon a Time fashion, this spinoff combines various fairy tales with a real-world twist to create a compelling narrative.

Although Once Upon a Time in Wonderland is only one season, it is filled with action, romance, magic, and twists. It is easily one of the best one-season fantasy TV shows, given all the heart that goes into this narrative. While Once Upon a Time's quality declined in later seasons, the beauty of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland is that it remains stellar from start to finish.

7 Emerald City

A Retelling Of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz

Emerald City is another of the many adaptations of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz. It features Dorothy Gale as the protagonist, who ends up in Oz and discovers a prophecy involving The Beast Forever, a creature that killed Mother South and could destroy Oz. There are several bizarre aspects to this adaptation, from the Wizard's Council acting as a group of nuns to the Wicked Witch of the West not being the primary antagonist. However, these twists only serve to strengthen Emerald City.

Unfortunately, Emerald City season 2 will never happen, the show is still worth the watch, given its fascinating and creative interpretation of the timeless classic, The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz.

6 I Am Not Okay With This

A Fantasy Coming-Of-Age Story Based On Charles Forsman's Graphic Novel

I Am Not Okay With This is a refreshing, dark comedy coming-of-age narrative told through a fantastical lens. It revolves around protagonist Sydney Novak, who discovers she has psychokinetic powers and must learn to control them during her turbulent teenage years. Although the show was initially renewed for season 2, unanswered questions I Am Not Okay With This still had.

Despite I Am Not Okay With This' mysterious cliffhanger, the show still produces a finality effect that provides satisfaction with just one season. I Am Not Okay With This also conveys a poignant message about growing up and adolescence by combining dark comedy and fantasy. It is disappointing that I Am Not Okay With This ended before its time, but it does not stop the show from telling a succinct and compelling story.

5 Cursed

A Fantasy Show Based On Arthurian Legend

Arthurian Legend is a popular storytelling theme, with various portrayals of King Arthur across movies and TV shows. One of the most popular adaptations is BBC's Merlin, but other variants of the story are also noteworthy, especially Netflix's Cursed. Starring Katherine Langford, Cursed focuses on Nimue, a Fey woman responsible for the Sword of Power, while discovering her magical history. Cursed is a feminist retelling of Arthurian Legend, but it is just as compelling as the classic tale. Unfortunately, like many of Netflix's projects, the streaming service canceled Cursed after only one season.

Cursed is based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler. Cursed ends on a rocky point for Nimue, leaving her fate hanging in the air. However, the book continues Nimue's Cursed narrative, ending on a more final note with room for future stories. Although Tom Wheeler promised a Cursed sequel, there has been no recent news of this book. Nevertheless, Cursed is still an excellent show, and the graphic novel is also worth reading.

4 The Nevers

A Sci-Fi Fantasy Show Featuring Women With Magical Abilities Because Of Aliens

The Nevers is another one-season wonder created by Joss Whedon. It revolves around a group of women in Victorian London called the Touched, who suddenly find themselves with magical abilities and a responsibility to change the world. However, they must grapple with their newfound powers in a world that does not accept the impossible. The first six episodes premiered on HBO and Max, but HBO canceled The Nevers before the remaining episodes aired. It was two years before The Nevers season 1, part 2 premiered, a considerable amount of time for a mid-show hiatus.

Although The Nevers season 1, part 2 finally made it to air, the show still ends with many unanswered questions, especially revolving around the origins of the Touched and the show's primary antagonist. Nevertheless, The Nevers still portrays an action-packed sci-fi fantasy narrative with shocking plot twists and compelling characters, making it worth watching despite only one season.

​​

3 First Kill

An Urban Fantasy Show Based On V.E. Schwab's Short Story

One of Netflix's most notorious cancellations was its hit fantasy show, First Kill. The show is based on V.E. Schwab's short story. Despite the show's popularity, Netflix canceled First Kill, which prompted a significant backlash. First Kill is a compelling enemies-to-lovers fantasy show about Legacy vampire Juliette Fairmont and vampire hunter Calliope Burns, who fall in love against all odds and their families' extensive antagonistic history. Although First Kill received mixed reviews, audiences adored the show, as illustrated by Rotten Tomatoes' 89% audience score.

First Kill's cancelation was heartbreaking and disappointing, to say the least. The show had so much story left to tell, especially considering the astonishing cliffhanger. Nevertheless, First Kill still tells a beautiful love story between a vampire and a vampire hunter. Although they do not receive their happy ending, First Kill still has so much to offer in just one short season, from comedic moments to ionate scenes to shocking plot twists.

2 Love Between Fairy & A Devil

A High Fantasy Story Based On Jiu Lu Fei Xiang's Novel

Netflix's Chinese fantasy drama, Love Between Fairy & Devil, has an extensive season containing 36 episodes, but it is the show's only season. Love Between Fairy & Devil revolves around the Moon Supreme Demon Lord, Dongfang Qingcang, and his tumultuous and complex relationship with Goddess Xiyun. Xiyun is destined to stop Dongfang Qingcang, but their fates become complicated when Xiao Lanhua casts a "One Heart Curse," linking Dongfang Qingcang and Goddess Xiyun's live experiences together.

Love Between Fairy & Devil depicts a heartbreakingly beautiful and complex love story between two sworn enemies. There are many Asian fantasy shows to watch, from Chinese fantasy dramas to Netflix's supernatural and fantasy K-dramas to Chinese ancient fantastical love stories. However, Love Between Fairy & Devil reigns supreme with its talented actors, riveting plot, and explosive chemistry between the two protagonists.

1 My Lady Jane

A Historical Fantasy Show Based On The Book By Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, & Cynthia Hand

My Lady Jane is a historical fantasy retelling of the notorious Lady Jane Grey, based on the book by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, and Cynthia Hand. Prime Video released a stunning first season filled with comedy, romance, and action. Unfortunately, My Lady Jane season 2 will not happen because the show has been canceled, leaving many unaddressed storylines hanging. However, the show still has a lot of heart and conveys a great story despite being unfinished.

The central conflict of My Lady Jane will never be resolved. However, Jane and Guilford's love overcomes the trials and tribulations they endured together, providing a somewhat satisfying ending for the show. My Lady Jane has a lot of potential that will remain untouched, but the show still provides a funny, entertaining, and surprisingly poignant interpretation of these historical events through fantasy lens.