The Greatest Sci Fi/Fantasy TV Shows: Considering the case for the sci fi and fantasy television shows that should be counted among the greatest of all time.
What Is It?
Based on George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series, this show takes place primarily in the land of Westeros as a struggle emerges to claim the Iron Throne while at the same time an ancient enemy appears that threatens the lands.
Aired 2011-19, HBO, 8 Seasons Totaling 73 Episodes
Starring: Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jerome Flynn, Lena Headey
Developed By: David Benioff, D. B. Weiss
Argument to Count It as One of the Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows:
To start off, it would be hard to argue that Game of Thrones is not among the greatest fantasy series of all time, so when you look at both genres together it has to be added into the mix. GoT took fantasy and gave it an adult spin, eschewing the elves and goblins and dwarves common to the genre and delivering a very realistic and well-developed setting that made it more like a historical drama. It did have some magic and dragons and supernatural beings, but that was not the focus of the show as it delved into the political and interpersonal struggles of the land of Westeros, and focused heavily on delivering dramatic tales. But like any good fantasy, it also had an epic scope, and it truly presented a saga rife with moral quandaries, complex characters, and dramatic intrigue.
Most important to the show, though, was the cast. This production assembles a group of players who took over the roles from the books and who have since become iconic in genre television. Sean Bean as the morally upright Ned Stark, Peter Dinklage as the cunning and conflicted Tyrion Lannister, Emilia Clarke as the defiant and driven Daenerys Targaryen, Kit Harington as the strong-willed Jon Snow, Maisie Williams as the fierce and deadly Arya Stark, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as the loyal yet corrupt Jaime Lannister, and this is only a small sampling of the expansive cast that brought the show to life. Each of their story arcs delivered interesting character studies and could have carried into their own shows (some perhaps will with all the spin-offs in the works).
Game of Thrones does take a lot of criticism for its final season which many believe did not do a good job of wrapping up the series, and an argument could be made for that. However, the journey alone is worth it whether or not you like the resolution, and this show has certainly earned itself a place among the greatest sci fi and fantasy TV shows of all time.
Argument Against:
While Game of Thrones accomplished a lot during its run, it derailed about midway through and ultimately delivered an unsatisfying adaptation of its source material. The first four seasons or so definitely count as great fantasy television, but when it started to stray from the books, it lost its way. While part of this issue could be blamed on Martin for not completing the books as planned, showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff basically shut him out from the fifth season forward. He was previously closely involved with the scripts, writing some and consulting on others, but as the source material dried up, Weiss and Benioff involved him less and followed their own direction. And then that final season was far too rushed with multiple developments that did not sit well creatively and with those who had followed the show from the beginning. The first four to five seasons of Game of Thrones may count as among the greatest fantasy shows of all time, but as a whole, the series proved far too disappointing.
Johnny Jay’s Take:
I agree that the final season of Game of Thrones was weak and ultimately delivered an unsatisfying ending. Even the sixth and seventh seasons had their moments that stretched suspension of disbelief and suggested that the showrunners were trying to rush things along to an ending. But that is not enough to completely tarnish what the series accomplished over its eight-year run. GoT delivered a grown-up version of fantasy on television that also offered plenty of engaging drama along with a complex cast of characters. You will find few other shows on television as intricately plotted and as well executed as this one and it certainly earns its place among the many respected prestige series that have been released over the past two decades and more. It did falter with its ending (which could still be corrected with an extended eighth season), but Game of Thrones as a whole stands as a notable accomplishment and should certainly be ranked among the greatest sci fi and fantasy shows of all-time.
Where Can You Watch It?
The entire series has been released on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD. It is also currently available for streaming on Max.
Do you consider Game of Thrones to be one of the greatest sci fi/fantasy TV shows of all time, or does its ending boot it from the list? Chime in with your thoughts below.
Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV
Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.
