10 High Fantasy TV Shows With Great Magic Systems

Is there anything more immersive than a quality fantasy TV series? We could all use some good old-fashioned escapism, and few things compare to stepping into a world bursting at the seams with magic. As a genre, high fantasy often boasts intricately detailed narratives, elaborate costumes, gorgeous settings, and a distinctive mythos. Some of these shows also have unique magic systems – strict metrics and rules for how characters perform magic. There could even be a hierarchy dictating what kinds of magic characters can cast. Not to mention, some characters could be born with magic, while others must master it.

A good example of an IP with a magic system would be Harry Potter or a Brandon Sanderson novel. Conversely, J.R.R. Tolkien’s works don’t have a stringent magic system. His approach is significantly more mysterious. Here, we’ll focus on the former, so, without further ado, here are 10 high fantasy TV shows with great magic systems (so great that you’ll wish you had magic yourself).

‘The Wheel of Time’ – Prime Video (3 Seasons, 2021-2025)

Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time adaptation is polarizing, to say the least, but it really found its groove in its third season before its untimely cancellation. Author Robert Jordan created a layered and fascinating magic system that’s fun to watch on screen. Having channelers tap into the One Power, which emanates from the True Source, makes the magic seem grander by design – like the nature of the universe, it expands beyond the one who wields it.

Jordan’s novels also incorporate feminine and masculine halves into said magic system, Saidar and Saidin, and while the show makes changes to that, it’s still a cool element. There are also five different threads that channelers can weave, as it were, which are essentially the four elements plus “Spirit.” The source material is far more detailed regarding this universe’s magic, but the series sure makes it look like a work of art.

‘The Witcher’ – Netflix (4 Seasons, 2019-Present)

Anya Chalotra as Yennifer in the Netflix Original series The Witcher

Like The Wheel of Time, there’s an aspect of elemental magic in the world of The Witcher. Here, magic entered the world during the Conjunction of the Spheres. Chaos, or the primordial force in this universe, must be harnessed by the magic wielder. In the titular book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, it’s drawn from the four prime elements: earth, water, fire, and air. There’s also a fifth element called ether, known as “the building block of souls and other ethereal beings.” In addition, there’s a real bodily risk to channeling Chaos in the books. In the TV series, mages and sorcerers have an innate aptitude for tapping into Chaos. Meanwhile, Sources are even more powerful, with an ability to use Chaos to its fullest potential.

I love magic systems that force the user to tap into the wellspring of their surroundings. While they might have a natural skill for utilizing magic, it’s not really theirs; it’s this ubiquitous energy in the universe.

‘His Dark Materials’ – HBO (3 Seasons, 2019-2022)

James McAvoy as Lord Asriel in His Dark Materials

HBO’s His Dark Materials, adapted from Philip Pullman’s trilogy of the same name, marries science and fantasy for its wholly original magic system. What makes this universe’s take on magic unique is the existence of daemons. Daemons are physical manifestations of oneself that exist outside the body. They take on the form of animals. The soul connection between people and their daemons is quite strong. Where science comes into play is the technologies utilized to sever human/daemon connections and those related to interdimensional travel.

One might argue that this show’s magic isn’t traditional but more unorthodox, but there’s magic in daemons, to be sure. The aforementioned marriage of science and fantasy makes for a fascinating magic system, though.

‘Shadow and Bone’ – Netflix (2 Seasons, 2021-2023)

Netflix’s woefully short-lived Shadow and Bone adaptation deserved better. Based on Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse series, this show’s magic system focuses on the Grisha, humans who practice the Small Science. Those who use the Small Science can manipulate matter. Grisha fall into three categories: Corporalki, Grisha who focus on the human body; Etherealki, Grisha who can wield natural elements; and Materialki, Grisha whose power lies in materials such as metal, glass, and textiles.

Each category has subcategories. For example, the Etherealki are also known as Summoners, with subcategories including Squallers, Inferni, and Tidemakers. Alina Starkov and the Darkling are considered to be rare among their kind, as Sun Summoner and Shadow Summoner, respectively, with Alina being the most powerful of them all. It’s a deeply rich and innovative magic system, with Bardugo incorporating details aplenty to bring it to life.

‘Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell’ – BBC One (1 Season, 2015)

Here’s another book-to-screen adaptation with a fun magic system: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Adapted from Susanna Clarke’s 2004 novel of the same name, the BBC fantasy miniseries takes place in England during the Napoleonic Wars. In this alternate history, magic is seldom practiced. Enter Jonathan Strange, a gifted magical apprentice who seeks the tutelage of Mr. Norrell, a veteran magician who’s made it his life’s work to study magic. It’s your typical magical allies-to-rivals narrative, with the two magicians at its center placed there to revive magic.

There’s a cleverness to the magic of this world. It’s not blatantly over-the-top. The creativity here is through the roof. Magic flows through Jonathan Strange as a means of composing music, although he’s less disciplined than Mr. Norrell. Mr. Norrell, on the other hand, is more by the book with his magic practice. Strange, in particular, can access dreams, control the elements, and even practice necromancy. It’s not as rule-based as the other magic systems, but it’s fascinating all the same.

‘The Sandman’ – Netflix (2 Seasons, 2022-2025)

While “magic” isn’t explicitly stated in Netflix’s The Sandman, there sure is plenty of it to be found among the Endless. The fantasy series adapts Neil Gaiman’s comic book series of the same name, and here, the Endless wield their magic as anthropomorphic embodiments of dreams, destiny, despair, desire, delirium, destruction, and death. Each of the Endless’s abilities ties in with their embodiment, as it were. They each rule their respective realms related to the above and exert influence over different aspects of humanity. For example, Desire controls human feelings regarding physical and emotional needs. Dream can manipulate human dreams.

There’s something intriguing about immortal, all-powerful beings representing human emotions and states of being. It makes human life feel simultaneously ordinary and downright magical.

‘The Magicians’ – Syfy (5 Seasons, 2015-2020)

The Magicians is a unique beast in the world of high fantasy. The Syfy series brought Lev Grossman’s book trilogy to the small screen with a wholly memorable magic system, to boot. While it’s described as the adult version of Harry Potter (gotta appeal to the Millennials) because our core crew attends a university for humans with aptitudes for magic, that’s really where the comparisons end. A more apt comparison would be The Chronicles of Narnia, with Fillory boasting a Wellspring from which magicians harness magic. To cast spells, though, magicians utilize intricate hand movements as opposed to simply reciting words or using wands.

In this world, magicians usually specialize in disciplines such as physical magic, psychic magic, healing, illusions, and natural magic. Not everyone can practice magic, though – in The Magicians, magic is easier to tap into for those who have experienced tremendous pain. It makes this magic system all the more visceral and deeply moving. It’s an emotional experience.

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ – Nickelodeon (3 Seasons, 2005-2008)

Paramount

Perhaps I’m bending (Get it?) the genre rules here a bit by including Avatar: The Last Airbender. That said, it can be described as a fantasy, and there is a magic system at play. In this world, there is the Bending Arts. Benders display an inherent ability to influence the natural elements. Some people are born as benders and can train their chi to tap into a specific element. Bending abilities can be genetic, too.

Waterbenders can manipulate water, Earthbenders manipulate earth and rock, Firebenders manipulate, you guessed it, fire (and some can generate lightning), and Airbenders can manipulate the flow of air. Then, there’s Aang, the titular Avatar, who can control all four elements. Elemental magic might not be innovative, but it sure is entertaining as all get-out to watch.

‘A Discovery of Witches’ – Sky One/Sky Max (3 Seasons, 2018-2022)

a coa couple in a discovery of witches — Characters experience life in Sky One’s magical series *A Discovery of Witches*

More book adaptations! Sky One’s A Discovery of Witches breathed life into Deborah Harkness’s All Souls trilogy. Here, the magic system is much like the others on this list – it’s tied to the elements. Only witches can manipulate the fundamental laws of the universe and weave the threads of life, as it were. There are also Weavers, a subsect of witches who are extremely rare, and Bright Born, the children of vampires and witches. Weavers can create new spells, which is something that your regular witch can’t do. Ordinary witches rely on spells being passed down through generations. Most witches can only control one or two elements, but some, albeit rarely, can manipulate all four.

I love that this magic system includes vampire-witch hybrids who can also practice magic. That’s such a fun concept, and the series does it well. Like other entries on this list, there’s a danger of physical harm if one overuses one’s power.

‘Merlin’ – BBC One (5 Seasons, 2008-2012)

Merlin draws from Arthurian legend, centering on the young sorcerer Merlin as he becomes a servant to Prince Arthur and meets a dragon in a medieval kingdom where performing magic is punishable by death. Right out of the gate, the narrative stakes are astronomical. Merlin must also conceal his magical abilities from Arthur as their friendship develops. While those in Camelot cannot wield magic by law, other places in the world can, which makes for an intriguing contrast. As for the magic system itself, it involves sorcery, spells, and enchantments.

Like the Force in Star Wars, magic in this universe can be used for good or evil. There are also magical objects, creatures, and places, but the Great Purge, orchestrated by Uther Pendragon, led to their destruction or concealment.

While the magic system is interesting, it’s more so the surrounding story that makes it enthralling. The act of practicing it has fatal consequences, and that makes it dangerous.

Which high fantasy series has your favorite magic system? Did we include yours on this list? Let us know in the comments.