20 Best Shows Like Merlin
Amelia Brooks Fans looking for the best shows like Merlin should check out these series that contain similar references and stories.
It has been almost a decade since BBC's Merlin aired its final episode and many fans are still wishing there was more of it. Acting as a coming-of-age story for the legendary characters, it offered one of the most unique spins on the Arthurian legend. Lasting five seasons, this fantasy drama was full of laughter, adventure, and heart.
Unfortunately, many felt that the series ended just as it was getting good and while there were talks of a spin-off series, it never came to pass. Many still miss the adventures of the young sorcerer. The best shows like Merlin may help fill that void in a fan's life.
Updated on May 17th, 2022 by George Chrysostomou: With fans containing to discover Merlin and all of its sister shows, those who love the fantasy and period genre may be looking for more alternatives to enjoy. Luckily there's a huge range of British and American shows that have either become cult classics or are beginning to develop into all-time favorites!
Reign (2013-2017)
Available To Stream On Netflix
What seemingly began as a mildly accurate period piece surrounding the English, French and Scottish monarchies quickly evolves into a dramatic tale of magic, murder, betrayal, and the best kind of timeline changing. Reign is consequently a strange show that tries its best to portray real events, but ultimately has more fun writing its own history.
Mary Queen of Scotts takes the lead role here, with the politics of the royal court playing just as large a part in her life as that of Arthur's own in Camelot. There are definitely parallels with Merlin and the series wraps up in quite a shocking fashion. Visually it's striking, playing into the aesthetic of the era with a glamorous twist.
The Tudors (2007-2010)
Available To Stream On SHOWTIME
Where other shows may wish to deviate from what's historically known, Tudors prefers to fill in the gaps. Although it's not totally accurate, it tries its best to reflect the attitudes and arcs of Henry VIII's time on the English throne. Romantic betrayal of course acts as the catalyst for the birth of the show.
Henry is famous for his demeanor and many wives, plenty of which influence the direction of the series. For those who love the costumes and spectacle of Merlin, Tudors very much treads the same path. The cast is stacked full of fantastic British talents, and life inside of the most important court in England is gripping to watch, just like in Camelot.
The Wheel Of Time (2021-)
Available To Stream On Prime Video
Merlin fans might alternatively be looking for straight-up fantasy series. Those that pull from traditional myth and perhaps have a rich piece of source material to become inspired by. The Wheel Of Time from writers Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the latest mega-hit to tick all of those boxes, with great performances and stellar visuals.
The Wheel Of Time very much pays homage to the classic tropes of the fantasy genre, much like Merlin does. But its story twists and turns them, forging something quite unique, as this exciting show ramps up with stakes much larger than the boy wizard ever had to encounter. The very makeup of the universe is brought into the equation.
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Available To Stream On HBO Max
Is there a more iconic fantasy series in the modern era than Game Of Thrones? When looking at Merlin, it became defined by the fables of heroes and villains, the impressive displays of magic, and the intricacies of the royal household. Those kinds of elements are at the heart of Game Of Thrones too.
What first is demonstrated as a battle for the throne evolves into a conflict between life and death itself. Merlin was known for some of its shocking twists, including surprise deaths. Game Of Thrones takes it to the next level; no fan favorite is ever safe from the violent writings of George R.R. Martin, who would have felt just as compelled by British mythology.
Constantine (2014-2015)
Available To Stream On HBO Max
DC Comics is never afraid to dip its toe into the weird and magical. Constantine throws its whole foot into the shadows though, with its lead fighting off against demons and dabbling in the dark arts. It's one season of spectacle and vigilante mayhem, eventually crossing over into the Arrowverse.
For those who love Merlin, Constantine is a modernized attempt to highlight some of those same themes. It's much grittier and its protagonist is far more flawed, but it's hard to ignore than the Liverpudlian would have been drawn to the legend of Merlin himself and his great gifts.
Shadow And Bone (2021-)
Available To Stream On Netflix
Shadow and Bone is a new Netflix Original show that fans of Merlin will likely enjoy because it's another fantastical show with a lot of supernatural and magical moments throughout.
Shadow and Bone follows a young soldier who discovers that she has a unique and magical power that might help the world the show is set in, similar to Merlin discovering his magic abilities. Both series have a lot of action that any fantasy fan would enjoy.
Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016-2018)
Available To Stream On Netflix
Trollhunters is an animated Netflix Original series, but fans of Merlin will most likely enjoy the work of Guillermo del Toro if they're a fan of animated shows.
The show follows a young teen who is chosen to be the protector of the good trolls and help defend them from the evil villainous trolls that threaten their existence. There's a lot of action, adventure, and more serious moments to balance the more comedic moments on the show making it similar to Merlin.
Sleepy Hollow (2013-2017)
Available To Stream On Hulu
Sleepy Hollow was an intriguing series that followed the legendary character Ichabod Crane waking up from death in modern times, and the Headless Horseman is resurrected with him. He teams up with modern detectives to solve a centuries-old mystery.
The show has magic, action, supernatural beings, and comedic camaraderie between its characters to keep any Merlin fan engaged.
Disenchantment (2018-)
Available To Stream On Netflix
Disenchantment is another animated series similar to Merlin and is set in a similar setting to the BBC show as well.
The fantasy series follows Bean, the reluctant princess of the kingdom of Dreamland, and her elf and demon friends. The series has magic, mayhem, comedy, action, and characters who bond throughout the series just like in Merlin.
Penny Dreadful (2014-2016)
Available To Stream On SHOWTIME
Penny Dreadful brings supernatural iconic literary characters to life throughout its series from Dr. Frankenstein to Dorian Gray in a similar way that Merlin brought to life Arthurian characters from the legends.
The series had tense action, intriguing recognizable characters, and enough magic and lore throughout to satisfy any Merlin fan.
Cursed (2020-)
Available To Stream On Netflix
Released earlier this year, Cursed also adds a twist to the Arthurian tale by focusing on an often overlooked character, the Lady of the Lake. Also named Nimue, she is most well-known for providing King Arthur with Excalibur.
Cursed follows her as a young Fey woman on a quest to get the fabled Sword of Power to Merlin after her own people are murdered by religious extremists working for King Uther. On her adventures, she encounters a range of other characters, from Arthur to Lancelot. The series stars Katherine Langford as the young sorceress.
The Shannara Chronicles (2016-2017)
Available To Stream On Tubi
The Shannara Chronicles also combines traditional fantasy with an interesting premise. It is set in a world where magic has replaced science after Earth was ravaged by nuclear war and it follows the quest of three young adventurers as they try to save their world from a demon apocalypse.
Like Merlin, the heart of the story lay in its complicated and admittedly angst-filled young characters as they try their best to fulfill their intertwined destinies. Unlike many fantasy shows, The Shannara Chronicles was notable for its strong female characters and its LGBTQ+ representation.
Camelot (2011)
Available To Purchase On Prime Video
For fans looking for a grittier retelling of the Arthurian Legend, Camelot is a must-see. Set after King Uther's death, it follows Uther's previously unknown heir, Arthur, and Merlin, as they try to rebuild their kingdom while the evil Morgan schemes to remove the young king from power.
While the series only lasted for one season, it still packed a lot of punch and this was, in part, due to its talented cast that included Jamie Campell Bower, Eva Green, and Joseph Fiennes.
Medici (2016-2019)
Available To Stream On Netflix
Merlin was also an intriguing political drama and Medici is a perfect watch for fans who loved this aspect of the show. Following the exploits of the famous banking family, the first season saw Richard Madden in the role of Giovanni de'Medici, as he unexpectedly finds himself at the helm of his family's dynasty.
This underrated historical series provides a fascinating look at one of history's most influential families. Notably, the series is filmed in Florence, which adds another layer of realism to the show. Fans of Merlin will also see a familiar face in Bradley James, who appears in the show's second season as Giuliano de' Medici.
Galavant (2015-2016)
Available To Stream On Hulu
For fans who loved the sillier aspects of Merlin, Galavant is a must-see. This musical fantasy comedy follows the knight Galavant and his quest to redeem his honor and win back his lost love.
While there are currently a lot of grim fantasy shows on TV, Galavant's success lay in its ability to not take itself too seriously as it fantastically parodies both the fantasy and musical genres. This series is also perfect for a weekend binge-watch, with only 18 episodes.
Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)
Available To Stream On Disney+
One of the aspects that made Merlin so good was that it was able to both build on and subvert the legend it was based on. Once Upon A Time also does this spectacularly. It follows Emma Swan as she enters the town of Storybrooke and realizes that the fairy tales of her childhood are so much more than simple bedtime stories.
This fantasy drama has every fairy tale character imaginable, from Snow White to Rumpelstilskin, and in season five, they add their own take on the Arthurian Legend. Fans of Morgana will also love the show's version of the Evil Queen, as she comes to be one of the show's most complex and intriguing characters.
Da Vinci's Demons (2013-2015)
Available To Stream On Starz
As with the legendary wizard Merlin, most portrayals of Leonardo da Vinci are when he is old and grey. Da Vinci's Demons, instead, tells the story of the young genius and his adventures in 15th century Florence, as he becomes embroiled in the power struggles of the Medici family and the Catholic Church.
Unlike many shows about historical figures, this series isn't too concerned with historical accuracy and instead creates an intriguing version of da Vinci that is unlike any seen on TV before.
The Magicians (2015-2020)
Available To Stream On Netflix
The Magicians is perhaps one of the most underrated series of the last few years. Based on a series of books by Lev Grossman, it follows the story of Quentin Coldwater as he enrolls at a magical graduate school and learns that his favorite childhood books may be more real and dangerous than he ever thought.
While Merlin is a more traditional fantasy show, The Magicians consistently subverted expectations to create a series that is truly unlike any other on TV. It also never shied away from addressing complex social issues, like mental illness and addiction.
Robin Hood (2006-2009)
Available To Purchase On Prime Video
The tale of the man who steals from the rich to give to the poor is equally as well known as that of King Arthur. While there are many retellings of this classic tale, BBC's 2006 series is notable for having the same style and tone as that of Merlin.
Robin Hood follows the titular character as he returns home and leads a band of outlaws to stop the tyranny of the villainous Sheriff Nottingham. The series also has a terrific performance from Richard Armitage, as Guy of Gisborne.
The Witcher (2019-)
Available To Stream On Netflix
The Witcher is perhaps the most popular fantasy show since Game of Thrones. Based on a series of books by Andrzej Sapkowski, it follows the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a magically enhanced monster-hunter, and his intertwined destinies with a mage and a crowned princess.
The series has everything fans love about Merlin, from the epic fight scenes to the hilariously odd friendship between Geralt and Jaskier, which is reminiscent of that of Arthur and Merlin. Admittedly, the series does take some time to hit its stride, but when it does, it keeps viewers glued to their seats. There is currently only one season of the show, with the second expected to air later next year.
