Merlin:
This BBC show aired when most of us were still in primary school, and anyone who knew me back then will know how obsessed I was! This series is a retelling of the Arthurian legends which follows the adventures of Merlin as a young warlock in the court of Camelot, serving Prince Arthur. The young men are tied together by a long-foretold prophecy and Merlin spends his days helping his friend to achieve this future. There’s only one problem: the use of magic is outlawed in Camelot on pain of death, and Merlin is one of the most powerful sorcerers in the land. Will he always manage to save Arthur’s life whilst wrestling with this enormous secret?
Game of Thrones:
You might think everyone has seen Game of Thrones by now, but you’d be surprised! Adapted from the books by George R R Martin the HBO series is not for the faint of heart (but I think the world is aware of this). Set in the land of Westeros, nine high-born families fight it out for their place on the Iron Throne, deposing any and all who stand in their ways.
It’s no secret that the last few series were met with mixed reviews, but after being such a long running, well loved show, it was never going to please everyone, so don’t let this put you off! And when you’ve finished, the second series of The House of the Dragon (its prequel counterpart focusing on House Targaryen), will be ready and waiting.
His Dark Materials:
Based on Philip Pullman's trilogy of the same name, this BBC series is more of a fantasy sci-fi and perhaps my favourite on this list. This story focuses on the character of Lyra, a young girl who lives in Jordan College in a world parallel to our own. Here, human souls manifest as animal ‘daemon’ companions who walk alongside us and when her life is thrown off course, Lyra crosses between worlds. In search of the truth about her own world, and herself, this series is both interesting, entertaining, menacing and clever.
Once Upon a Time:
This American series follows all of your favourite fairytale characters reworked into ‘real life’ and living in the seaside town of Storybrooke. Banished here after the Snow White’s Evil Queen curses them with the aid of Rumplestiltskin, all the characters forget who they really are. Their memories can only be returned to them by the long-lost daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, a young woman who has lived a ‘normal’ life, called Emma.
The premise may seem far-fetched but the way all of the fairy tale character’s lives are intertwined is very clever. Though there are some rogue characters, like Season Four's introduction of Frozen’s Anna and Elsa, it’s well worth a watch.
Honourable mention - Shadow and Bone:
A victim of Netflix’s cancellation spree after two of its three expected seasons had been released, Shadow and Bone is another trilogy adaptation. Set in the land of Ravka to the backdrop of war, orphaned Alina Starkov unexpectedly discovers that she has Grisha magical powers and is thrust into a new life away from her best friend Mal, and becomes the new favourite of the head of the Grishan army, The Darkling.
The episodes that we have available are addictive, so if you don’t mind reading the final book in order to conclude the story, then go ahead and give it a watch.