Brandon Sanderson is an icon in sci-fi and fantasy spaces, as the author has a number of beloved books in both categories under his belt, including those in his best-selling Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive. Both fall under the umbrella of the Cosmere, Sanderson’s massive shared universe, which demonstrates he has a knack for complex storytelling. Given his skill when it comes to his own craft, it’s no surprise that Sanderson shares an appreciation for well-wrought stories by other creatives as well.
And thanks to his online presence — the author regularly offers updates about everything that he’s working on — Sanderson often shares his thoughts on such stories. Whether he’s recommending more fantasy books for his readers to enjoy or talking about TV shows and movies he admires, you can count on him to guide you to a good piece of fiction. I’ve gone through his interviews and YouTube videos, and these are some of the best sci-fi and fantasy shows he’s said good things about.
Why You Should Trust Me: I’ve been writing about fantasy and sci-fi for a decade, and I focused heavily on both genres when I was a Features Editor at ScreenRant. I’ve continued to do so as a Features Editor at MovieWeb, regularly tackling recommendations in both categories, along with pieces about Sanderson’s work itself.
‘Arcane’ (2021 – 2024)
The Fantasy Show That Streaming Did Right
What Sanderson Has Said: Netflix’s Arcane is a masterclass in storytelling, wrapping a tale of sisterhood up in a larger narrative about wealth, privilege, and oppression. The League of Legends show serves up top-tier fantasy world-building, the intriguing tech you’d expect from sci-fi, and a seamless story in just two seasons. And Sanderson agrees. In a 2025 interview with Polygon, during which he touched on the struggles of bringing fantasy to streaming, he highlighted Arcane as an example of getting it right:
“There is one excellent [fantasy] show: Arcane. But Arcane costs so much money, and it’s hard to reproduce that with an IP that doesn’t have League of Legends behind it. Arcane, I guess, is proof that it can happen.”
Why You Should Watch It: Arcane is a series that fires on all cylinders, balancing an immersive backdrop that perfectly captures its themes with complex character writing and a gripping plot. It’s beautifully animated, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the medium — and its soundtrack is nothing to scoff at either. The central plot, which sees sisters Vi and Jinx coming back together, is well done. It delivers powerful emotional blows while examining different means of dealing with injustice.
‘Murderbot’ (2025 – Present)
Sci-Fi With a Fun Concept That’s Captured On-Screen
What Sanderson Has Said: Apple TV’s Murderbot brings the Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells to the small screen, and Sanderson gives the series a solid 9/10 rating. He and his wife, Emily Sanderson, had a whole discussion about the show on the Intentionally Blank podcast (via YouTube). While Emily gave it an 8/10 rating, Sanderson felt more optimistic about it — and even admitted that the point he took off could be due to adaptation challenges:
“I think I would give it a nine, but I also am comparing it to the books. It’s possible that this is a 10 because, is there anything I can imagine they should have done better?”
Why You Should Watch It: Murderbot benefits from a fun premise, following a security cyborg who is owned by a terrible corporation — but has hacked his own governor module, granting him preferences and free will. As Sanderson notes, the jump to the screen comes with challenges, namely the fact that the books rely so heavily on the title character’s inner thoughts and voice. Taking that into consideration, the Apple TV series is an impressive feat. Alexander Skarsgård’s performance is great, and the show captures the dark humor it needs to. It’s a refreshing addition to the sci-fi genre, and Sanderson is right to spotlight it.
‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ (1993 – 1999)
Sanderson’s Favorite Series Changed the Franchise
What Sanderson Has Said: During a “Five Favorites with Will Friedle and Brandon Sanderson” YouTube video discussing television, Sanderson named Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as one of his picks. “That was my Star Trek,” he said. While he appreciates The Original Series and likes The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine is the show he views the most fondly, citing the continuity as one of its strengths:
“When I was hitting my kind of formative years as a teen, when I was getting into fantasy and science fiction novels and things, the show that was on was Next Generation. And I had never gotten into The Original Series. My dad liked it. I watched some episodes. I later came to appreciate it. But I really liked Next Generation. But it was when Deep Space Nine started doing continuity.”
Why You Should Watch It: Sanderson is right that Deep Space Nine is one of the Star Trek franchise’s strongest TV offerings, and the larger overarching plots lend themselves to that. The show is one that made numerous changes to the franchise, and that’s one of them. Sticking to one primary setting and leaning into nuance also made the show a standout. The Next Generation is the better starting point, but this is a series that anyone interested in Star Trek needs on their radar.
‘Rick and Morty’ (2013 – Present)
The Animated Comedy Takes Aim at Sci-Fi in the Best Way
What Sanderson Has Said: While talking about the issues with certain shows during his “Five Favorites with Will Friedle and Brandon Sanderson” video, Sanderson revealed that he likes watching Rick and Morty — even if it’s one of those shows that gets repetitive. “I actually really enjoy the show Rick and Morty,” the author said, “but it’s like, Rick has been through the same arc seven times in the show.” He’s not necessarily wrong, but for some reason, we still can’t put the animated series down.
Why You Should Watch It: Going on adventures through space alongside Rick Sanchez and his grandson, Morty, is a rollicking good time, especially for anyone well acquainted with the sci-fi genre. The show features many of the category’s common conventions, but it intentionally unpacks them and pokes fun at them over its nine seasons. The humor is absurd but always elicits a laugh, and there are some well-written surprises worked into the show. It’s truly a worthy animated comedy.
Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ (2023 – Present)
Sanderson Enjoys the Netflix Adaptation for What It Is
What Sanderson Has Said: If any of Netflix’s ongoing fantasy series has promise, it’s the streamer’s live-action One Piece — and that’s a pleasant surprise after so many failed anime adaptations led them to have poor reputations in the past. Sanderson isn’t well acquainted with the anime, but he’s watched the live-action show. He and Dan Wells discussed it on the Intentionally Blank podcast (via YouTube). While Wells isn’t a huge fan, Sanderson admitted to having fun with it, even if he has a few complaints:
“I kind of loved it. Well, I kind of loved it for what it was, if that makes sense. I enjoyed every episode I watched, it quickly signaled to me what kind of show it was, and the hypercritical parts of me just turned off.”
Why You Should Watch It: One Piece is a genuinely fun adventure, and that’s what it’s supposed to be. Sanderson is right about that. When a live-action show tries to capture the magic of an anime like One Piece, it’s inevitable that there will be a few awkward bits in the transition. If you’re looking for something that’s entertaining and doesn’t take itself too seriously, though, this makes for a great viewing experience. The production and performances are true highlights.
‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998 – 1999)
An Anime That Sanderson Thinks Is Great
What Sanderson Has Said: Sanderson admits to not being much of an anime person, as his One Piece admission makes clear. Still, he named Cowboy Bebop among his five favorite shows, highlighting what a standout the classic sci-fi anime is. He highlighted two major things he loves about the series. The first is the music. The second is the fact that it has a proper beginning, middle, and end, refusing to overstay its welcome. According to him, the whole thing is “just phenomenal.”
Why You Should Watch It: Cowboy Bebop is a classic for a reason, and Sanderson’s right that its soundtrack is an absolute banger. On top of that, the series follows a complicated crew of characters you can’t help but love — and through them, it explores some weighty existential themes that nearly any viewer can relate to. With 26 half-hour episodes, Cowboy Bebop is easy enough to get through, too. And Sanderson is proof that the anime will appeal to anyone, even those who don’t tend to gravitate towards the medium.
‘Stranger Things’ Season 1 (2016)
Brandon Sanderson Treats the Show as a Miniseries
What Sanderson Has Said: Like most of us who were around when Stranger Things first blew up on Netflix, Sanderson decided to see what the excitement was all about. And as it turns out, he thoroughly enjoyed the first chapter of the show. He admitted as much on the Intentionally Blank podcast (via YouTube), but he also noted that he won’t continue on with the series. He prefers to treat it as a “self-contained, really interesting thing,” citing fears that later chapters would sour him on everything that made Season 1 great:
“I watched Season 1, and I thought Season 1 was excellent. When I heard that Season 2 was doing the same thing again, I thought, I’m just not gonna watch it because I think I just want to leave Season 1 as such a strong thing, and I think if they do it too much, it’s going to go off the rails.”
Why You Should Watch It: Stranger Things masterfully blends sci-fi, fantasy, and even horror, so it’s an absolute feast for anyone who enjoys genre television. The first season really is a masterpiece in its own right, capturing the charm and nostalgia of the ’80s while unraveling a high-stakes, eerie small-town mystery. There’s a lot to love, and I’d go further and suggest watching the entire series… even if its last couple of seasons tend to be divisive.
‘Lost’ Season 1 (2004)
This Is Another Series Sanderson Thinks Has a Perfect Opening
What Sanderson Has Said: The final favorite series Sanderson listed during “Five Favorites with Will Friedle and Brandon Sanderson” is Lost — and specifically, the first season. This is another one that Sanderson believes has a great opening chapter, and he cited it as a favorite by “pretending that it’s one show.” It speaks volumes that it still made it into his top five, and he’s right about its greatest strength: the “flashback structure.” It hooks you throughout the early episodes of Lost, even if the series gets a bit convoluted later on.
Why You Should Watch It: Lost is another show that changed television, and for good reason. Lost benefits from a mystery-box premise that’s immediately grabbing, along with great characters, smart casting, and structural strengths that keep things engaging. Sanderson’s right that Season 1 is the best of the bunch. Yet you can’t watch Lost without finishing it, and I’m someone who will defend the ABC show’s ending all these years later.
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011 – 2019)
The Cosmere Author Has Criticism & Praise for HBO’s Fantasy Hit
What Sanderson Has Said: Sanderson is a fantasy lover like the rest of us obsessed with his books, so it’s no surprise he’s impressed by the genre’s biggest show from the last couple of decades. The author has discussed Game of Thrones in terms of weaknesses — in a discussion with Joe Abercrombie, shared on his YouTube, he noted geographical issues with later seasons — and strengths. Ultimately, he seems to realize that Game of Thrones is excellent at its peak. In his 2025 discussion with Polygon, he said, “All I know is, right now we haven’t seen really great epic fantasy film [or] television since the early, mid-seasons of Game of Thrones.“
Why You Should Watch It: If you’re into high fantasy and aren’t caught up on Game of Thrones, it’s worth watching just to have the knowledge of what everyone’s been talking about since 2011. Its best seasons really are impressive feats, however, delivering some of the finest fantasy that television has to offer. The drama and political tensions are intense, the cast is iconic, and the production is massive (and only gets better over time). The fight for the Iron Throne meshes the very human struggle for power with the extraordinary well, too, allowing the latter to seep into the story slowly. It’s a satisfying experience, even if you have issues with the ending. Trust me, I would know.
