If you’ve gotten to the point where even the sight of your living room annoys you its time to watch something that takes place in an entirely different world. Preferably one with dragons, magic, and a lot of sword fights.
- Merlin– This BBC retelling of the King Arthur legend features a good bit more humor than traditional telling. A good amount of action to go with its magic, the selling point of this show is the likability of its cast. The writing isn’t going to win any awards but it’s a solid comfort watch.
- The Magicians– This is one of those shows that just kept getting better with each successive season. Many gave up on it early, but you shouldn’t make that same mistake. The acting is superb, and the characters are flawed and broken in all the right ways. There are some really ingenious episodes along the way and it certainly feels like every time the showrunners took a risk it paid off in a big way. A cult show that should become one of your all-time favorites.
- The Shannara Chronicles– Based on the Song of Shannara books and honestly, I enjoyed the series more than I did the books which is rare for me to say. Manu Bennett and James Remar are the selling points here. There’s a good amount of teen angst and it has got a bit of a young adult vibe so watch accordingly. A fun, guilty pleasure.
- The Witcher- The newest entry on this list, the first season is a little uneven, but it does have the fantasy hat trick. Dragons, swordfights, and magic. Honestly, you should watch it just for the music, which is guaranteed to get stuck in your head.
- Legend of the Seeker– Based on the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. This syndicated series flew under most people’s radar and with its limited budget, it’s not going to knock your socks off with its production values. But it’s charming and easy to watch for when you don’t want to commit to something bloody and depressing.
- Harmonquest- A different kind of entry on this list. Basically Dan Harmon, creator of Community and Rick and Morty, plays Dungeons and Dragons with his friends and then their adventures are animated. When you want swords and sorcery, but you also want dick jokes.
- Once Upon a Time: Not the strongest show on the list and I don’t know what the hell that last season was about, but the cast is likable and the first couple of seasons are good enough to get you hooked. It’s more a soap opera than anything else so make your viewing decisions based on that thought.
- Xena: Warrior Princess- It’s campy. It’s over the top. But this Hercules spin-off has great action, a solid narrative arc, and is a whole lot of fun. Great for passing the time with a little girl power. Certainly, superior to the more aimless Hercules. Also, Lucy Lawless is a goddess in real life whereas Kevin Sorbo is an ass.
- The Librarians: A sequel series to the popular made-for-tv Noah Wyle “Librarian” movies. You don’t need to watch the movies to enjoy the series but if you’re stuck at home why not start with them first. This series is just your basic, feel-good popcorn television; but it’s fun with a likable cast and some interesting story concepts. For when you don’t want to think too hard.
- Fantasy Island- The premise is simple, and an island where your wildest fantasy can come true for a price. One of those series that everyone has heard of, but nobodies actually seen. Which is too bad, like most episodic television it can be hit or miss but there are some excellent episodes and you owe it to yourself to spend a little time with Ricardo Montalban.