Recently, there has been a rise in the popularity of a particular subgenre known as romantasy. The term may seem pretty self-explanatory—a combination of the romance and fantasy genres. But the truth is, it is a little bit more complicated than that.
Imagine measuring the genres of a book or movie by placing sand into a glass. For a story to be considered a romantasy, the fantasy glass and the romance glass would need to be filled up equally, with one not being more important or ‘fuller’ than the other. The story of Harry Potter would have the fantasy glass filled most of the way, while the romance glass would have significantly less sand. That is because the central idea of Harry Potter is focused on fantasy plots, with a few romantic subplots thrown in. Therefore, Harry Potter couldn’t be considered a romantic fantasy because the fantasy element outweighs the romance.
There was, however, a different book turned movie saga that reached its peak around the same time, which helped fuel the 21st-century romantasy fire, and it is known as Twilight. This franchise is the prime example of the term romantasy because on the romance and fantasy scale, it balances out perfectly. There is a love story that is central to the plot, but it runs right alongside the fantastical plot, which involves a family of ‘vegan’ vampires, a pack of werewolves, and a political vampire hierarchy. One cannot exist without the other.
It is pretty easy to discover this subgenre when you walk into a Barnes and Noble…but what about when you are scrolling through streaming apps searching for a show that is worthy enough to spend a weekend binge-watching? Are there any romantasy shows currently streaming that are worthy of such a binge?
Indeed, there are—some may just not appear as such on your initial pass by it in the ‘shows you may like’ section.
1. Once Upon a Time (Disney+)
While this show isn’t necessarily a recent release, with the first season making its debut in 2011, it is 100% still worthy of a watch, especially for romantasy fans. The story is set in the modern world in a small town called Storybrooke. The town is unknowingly made up entirely of fairy tale characters living under a curse, until Snow White’s long-lost mortal daughter crosses the town line.
The story follows the daughter, Emma Swan, as she comes to terms with the fact that there is an otherworld, several in fact, where characters from fairy tales exist and live their own lives. While also accepting that her mother is Snow White, her father is Prince Charming, and her ex-boyfriend/father of her child is the son of Rumplestiltskin. It sounds complicated, but it is rather easy to follow…up until around season five and six, where things become more complex but still enjoyable—especially if you are in it for the romantic plotline.
The great thing with this series is that there are several amazing love stories to follow. One that is vital to the show, of course, is the story of Snow White and Prince Charming. The show takes their love story and makes it their own in the best way possible, with their love being so strong that, at one point, they end up sharing the same heart (it’s not weird—it’s romantic). The actors who play Snow White and Prince Charming embody their roles perfectly—so much so that they ended up married in real life.
As great as Snow and Charming’s story is, there is one that I believe almost all romantasy fans will agree is better. And that is the slow-burn romance between Snow’s daughter, Emma, and Captain Hook. Yes, you read that correctly. Peter Pan’s hook-for-a-hand arch nemesis, played by Colin O’Donoghue, is the heartthrob that our main character eventually learns to love. Hook is first introduced in Season 2, and of course, Emma isn’t a fan of the handless pirate—or at least, she says she isn’t (the long glances and playful banter do suggest otherwise). As with any slow-burn romance, their love takes time to develop, but trust me, that is what makes it so epic.
2. Shadow and Bone (Netflix)
This Netflix original series is a more recent release, with the first season being released in 2021. I am a strong believer that shows and movies based on books have the upper hand compared to those that aren’t, and this show is a prime example of that, being that it is based on the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. Stories whose origin begins on a page have the ability to dive deeper into a world and develop the characters within it more fully, which is part of what makes the Shadow and Bone series as awesome as it is.
The show follows a mapmaker named Alina who lives in a kingdom known as Ravka. In this fantasy world, there is a group of elite individuals who have elemental powers known as the Grisha, and the original villain of the story isn’t a person but rather a massive rift that splits their kingdom into two. The rift is known as the Shadow Fold, and it isn’t safe to cross due to dark, magical dangers inside of it. Of course, this makes for an interesting plotline to unfold, where our main character may or may not have to enter the fold at some point.
On the romance spectrum, the show begins with a typical but still lovable trope involving the childhood best friend as the primary love interest. Eventually, a dark, mysterious general named the Darkling attracts Alina’s interest, and hence a love triangle ensues. Unfortunately, the love triangle quickly fizzles out after season one, but her love story continues, so that’s alright.
3. The Vampire Diaries (Max/Peacock)
I had to add it. I know, this show is practically ancient at this point, being that it’s been over a decade since its 2009 debut. But, can you blame me? This is one of the classics from the CW, which TheGirlWithNoName explained in a recent article regarding the network, is known for its lovable characters, cliffhanger endings, and bingeable arcs. This show, in particular, is a romantasy series that has yet to be topped—especially when it comes to love triangles. Whether in books, movies, or shows, few love triangles compare to this one. Two brothers competing for the heart of a girl who looks just like the girl they both loved a hundred years prior; it doesn’t get much more unique than that.
If you didn’t guess, the story includes vampires (some normies and a few ‘original’, OG ones), a handful of witches, and a couple of anger-induced werewolves(which eventually merge into a hybrid vampire/wolf). Pretty much everyone in the show falls into one of these categories at one point or another—everyone except, of course, the token human named Matt Donavan. It all might sound like a lot of chaos, but with the series being eight seasons long, the magical character shifts helped keep things interesting. Seasons 7 and 8…took a little decline…but at least the series finale made up for it.
The fantasy elements are enjoyable, and the romantic plotline is in-depth in a way that not many series can replicate—but I think what really makes the show timeless is the chemistry between the characters. Ian Somerhalder embodies the role of the anti-hero/ older brother to the point where I still question if it was an act. In real life, his brotherly counterpart, Paul Wesley, and he still act like their brothers and haven’t aged much, so who knows, maybe they truly are vampire brothers?
Either way, if, for some reason, after all of these years, you haven’t watched this series, you need to. Right now.
4. Outlander (Starz/Netflix)
This is an atypical fantasy series about a nurse who travels from the 1940s to the 1700s. Compared to the usual romantasy trope that involves otherworlds, blatant magic, and strange creatures, this series has fantasy elements that are less in your face, but still intriguing. It also blends in some historical fiction elements fairly well, which adds an interesting twist. And honestly, it is kind of refreshing to watch a show where the characters don’t know what cell phones are and have to use paper maps to travel.
With seven very successful seasons, it is clear that Outlander was a very highly rated show. So highly rated in fact that there is a spin-off(Outlander: Blood of My Blood) currently airing every Friday on Starz. But what is it about the show that made people want to follow along?
From my perspective, the core element of this series is the love story between the time-traveling nurse, Claire, and a 1700s warrior named Jamie. Although their relationship begins with a marriage of convenience, or protection in Claire’s case, it ends with a heart-wrenching, give-your-all romance that will leave you thinking about it for years to come.
There you have it. These are a handful of romantasy shows you can watch while you wait for the official release of the Fourth Wing adaptation that is officially in the works from Amazon MGM Studios, and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society. Unfortunately, an article by Marie Claire explained that they are in the early stages of production and suggested a 2027 release at the earliest. But—if Amazon can produce a show as fast as they make deliveries, maybe it will show up sooner than expected? Until the—there are a total of 23 seasons in the recommendations above—so as long as you don’t binge them too fast, you’ll have a bit of romantasy TV to enjoy while you live in the Fourth Wing limbo.
