Fantasyis a versatile genre since the creation of new worlds and magic systems allows writers and creators to establish new rules and logic that suit the storyline. However,this doesn’t mean that fantasy TV shows are immune from adding plot points that make no senseand don’t help further the overall narrative. Many of these choices have to do with the character’s choices being inconsistent or the series breaking its own rules about how the fantastical elements work. Since speculative fiction fans are willing to suspend their disbelief, these shows sometimes push the boundaries of logic too far.
There are plenty offantasy movie scenes that make no sense, and TV series are just as susceptible to these mistakes. Often,these confusing moments happen because there are so many contradicting storylinesor there’s an external element that’s out of the writers' control. To compensate for actors suddenly leaving or the audience’s dislike of certain characters, divisive choices must be made. Not all of them will align with the story and characters established by the show. Few of these issues are enough to make viewers quit a series, but they do stand out in the long run.
Game Of Thrones
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Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Fans and critics have been asking themselves whatwent wrong withGame of Thronesseason 8since the final season premiered. While there were many missteps in the confusing conclusion to the hit fantasy series, the series finale is particularly divisive.The decision to make Bran king at the end ofGame of Thronesis a seemingly random momentthat makes no sense, especially considering how many lives were lost and destroyed to win control of that very throne.
Earlier in the series, Bran doesn’t want to be the Lord of Winterfell because of his duty as the Three-Eyed Raven, so it’s an intense contradiction to see him become king not long after that.
Earlier in the series, Bran doesn’t want to be the Lord of Winterfell because of his duty as the Three-Eyed Raven, so it’s an intense contradiction to see him become king not long after that. Additionally,for most ofGame of Thrones, it felt as though the series was leading up to either Dany or Jon becoming the rulerof the Seven Kingdoms. Instead, neither of them is on the throne, and a character who is shunted to the side for most of the show takes center stage.
Game of Thrones (2011–2011)
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10 Great Fantasy TV Shows That Deserved More Seasons
It’s common for a TV show to end before its time, but when it comes to fantasy series, some desperately need more seasons to complete their arcs.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
The Rings of Powerhas made some controversial choices and changes to the lore ofThe Lord of the Rings,and while this is part of the fun of the series, some of its decisions are pretty far-fetched. For two seasons, the show was dropping hints about the identity of different characters, culminating in several dramatic reveals. ThoughThe Rings of Powerset up the fact that the Stranger was Gandalf early on, this calls into question many of the established timelines and characterizations of the world.
Making the Stranger Gandalf created many extreme plot holes and differences betweenThe Rings of PowerandThe Lord of the Rings.This reveal cements the fact thatThe Rings of Poweris a separate story from the rest of the canon,but Gandalf being part of the story sets many confusing plot points in motion. In the next seasons,The Rings of Powerwill have to grapple with what role the wizards will play and how Gandalf is going to become the man audiences know him as in the films.
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Once Upon A Time
Once Upon a Time is an adventure fantasy-drama series created for ABC that features fairy tale characters and their Disney incarnations in a modern setting. When Emma Swan and her son Henry accidentally drive into the town of Storybrooke, they soon discover the inhabitants are those from fairy tales, and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry. Robbed of their pasts and given new identities by the Evil Queen known as Regina, the hope of the town’s residents lie solely in the hands of Emma, who has stronger connections to the town than she knows.
Regina is one of the best characters inOnce Upon a Time, and when she and Robin finally get together, it seems as though she is getting the happily ever after she always wanted.Though Regina starts as a selfish villain, she works hard to redeem herselfand change in order to be a good mother to Henry and find someone who could be her soulmate. However, her joy with Robin is short-lived because he dies in season 5.
It’s an unfair twist of fate, as Regina had already lost one love early in her life, and dramatically, it was overkill to make her go through this again.
It’s an unfair twist of fate, as Regina had already lost one love early in her life, and dramatically, it was overkill to make her go through this again. While it’s true that having a character settle down does limit opportunities for tension,Once Upon a Timemade this work with Emma and Hook as well as Mary Margaret and David. Regina was a complex character and had grappled with loss many times before. Writingthe death of her beloved was a random way to add drama to the show.
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Supernatural
Supernatural is a television series that follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, who were raised by their father to hunt and combat supernatural entities after losing their mother to a demonic force. Traversing the American landscape in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, they face numerous paranormal threats.
Though Adam later came back, and his arc was resolved as satisfyingly as possible at that point, for many seasons, Sam and Dean act like their half-brother doesn’t exist.Adam’s introduction came as a shock to the brothers,who weren’t certain how another member of their family would play into their dynamic. However, the fact that they let Adam stay in Hell after Sam is reduced is a shocking choice, especially for two men who pride themselves on working hard to save human lives.
Supernatural’s first five seasons were vastly different from the remainder of the show, and Adam’s treatment is an example of how certain plot points slipped through the cracks early on. ThoughAdam’s character never quite fit into Sam and Dean’s relationship,that doesn’t meanSupernaturalneeded to leave him in Hell and have the brothers act like he never existed. It doesn’t align with the strict morals that the family-oriented Winchesters usually adhere to.
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The Magicians
The Magicians follows a group of young adults who enroll at Brakebills University, a secretive institution devoted to teaching magic. As they engage in an unconventional education in spellcasting, they realize that a childhood fantasy world is indeed real and presents a significant threat to humanity.
Julia has her ups and downs inThe Magicians, butby the end of the series, she has become a fan-favorite character, rising above the wrongs done to her and taking back her agency.However, inThe Magicians’ polarizing final season, Julia unexpectedly gets pregnant, and her pregnancy is sped up in Fillory. It’s true that the writers added this in because the actress, Stella Maeve, was pregnant in real life, but it didn’t fit into the plans that Julia’s character had been setting up for herself.
By this point in the show, Julia had fought tooth and nail to establish control over her body and her magic.
By this point in the show, Julia had fought tooth and nail to establish control over her body and her magic. While starting a family might have been something she wanted down the line, it would have been more fitting and satisfying to see her actively make this choice instead of accepting a fate that was thrust upon her once again.Julia’s scenes inThe Magiciansare often intense and difficult, and though she becomes excited about the child,it doesn’t fit into the narrative the series had crafted for her.
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The Sandman
The Sandman is a 2022 adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s iconic comic series. The narrative follows Morpheus, the King of Dreams, who, after years of imprisonment, embarks on a quest across various realms to recover his stolen artifacts and regain his lost power.
All the events ofThe Sandmanare kicked off by Morpheus' imprisonment for over 100 years at the hands of a human who wanted to conquer Death. While Morpheus never calls out to his siblings for help, likely out of pride, and they claim to not have known about his imprisonment, it’s confusing that Death never discovered his predicament. The people who held Morpheus hostage aged and died in front of him, meaning Death had been there but simply didn’t notice Morpheus.
The episode Morpheus spends with Death, played by a phenomenal Kirby, “The Sound of Her Wings,” is one of the best episodes ofThe Sandman. It demonstrates how Death uses her powers and is honored to aid humans in crossing into their next phase of existence. However,by the logic of this episode, Death would have been able to see and aid Morpheusduring his long years of isolation. This raises questions about their relationship and how much Death can interfere with the affairs of the living.
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The Vampire Diaries
Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.
InThe Vampire Diaries, Elena’s character has so much plot armor that when she finally does succumb to a curse at the end of season 6, it is because the actress, Nina Dobrev, is leaving the show.In season 7 and most of 8, Bonnie can’t break this curse without dying herself,allowing Elena to be alive but off-screen indefinitely. At the last moment, just in time for the series finale and a happy reunion with Damon, Bonnie figures out how to break the curse.
While it’s gratifying to see Damon and Elena get their happy-ever-after, it’s an extreme example of the lack of internal logic that plaguesThe Vampire Diariesin every season.
While it’s gratifying to see Damon and Elena get their happy-ever-after, it’s an extreme example of the lack of internal logic that plaguesThe Vampire Diariesin every season.It’s a little too convenient that the solution to their problems suddenly becomes clearat the last second and that Damon is also given the cure just in time for Elena to wake up. However, when it comes toThe Vampire Diaries, it’s sometimes easier to overlook these flaws and focus on the drama.
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Lost
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
AsLostprogressed, the ensemble cast continued to grow, and not all the characters who were introduced were fan favorites. In season 3,Nikki and Paulo became two of the most hated characters in the history of the show,but this still doesn’t justify their abrupt and unfortunate ending. After it became clear that fans had had enough of the couple, they were accidentally buried alive on the island and never heard from again. This dramatic and gruesome turn was a shocking moment inLost.
The entire Nikki and Paulo arc was aLostmoment that made viewers quit the show, and the best course of action would’ve been to omit them altogether. However, since they had already made their mark on the series, the writers could’ve given them a more suitable or slightly less intense death scene. The fact that the other survivors didn’t check their vitals or make any other investigations into their supposed deaths doesn’t align with how the characters normally treated each other.
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
It’s always frustrating when a TV show introduces a new plotline and set of characters and then ends up forgetting about them. While Eleven’s history and the fact that other children were experimented on don’t completely disappear, her brief journey to meet her siblings in season 2 doesn’t change her character arc or impact the lives of the other people in Hawkins. Thoughit’s an exciting moment when Eleven gets to exercise her new independence and agency,it doesn’t hold much weight in the story.
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There’s little new information presented in this sequence,and this makes it feel as though it was just an additional obstacle for Eleven to overcome before fully committing to life in Hawkins. While there’s nothing wrong with a filler episode, Eleven already has decent control over her powers, making her time with the siblings redundant. ThoughStranger Thingsseason 2 was a strong follow-up to the hit first season, this episode is a low point.
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The Legend of Korra
The Legend of Korra is an animated series set in the Avatar universe, following Avatar Korra’s journey as she strives to master the elements and fulfill her role as a fully realized Avatar. Released in 2012, the series explores her challenges against traditional norms and her internal quest for balance.
The follow-up TV show to the beloved animated children’s seriesAvatar: The Last Airbender,The Legend of Korra, has stirred up controversy and differing opinions since it was released. Unlike the tight storyline thatAvatarfollowed,Korra’s seasons were connected more haphazardly, and changes to the essential lore of the world were made with every season. The most confusing moments of the show were inThe Legend of Korraseason 2. This was when the origin of the Avatar was revealed, andKorra almost lost the Avatar abilities forever.
The whole plot that revolves around Raava doesn’t make sense. The fact thatKorra could regain the Avatar powers when she joined with Raava again, but not the knowledge,is confusing. It’s likely that the writers chose to do this so Korra would officially have to stand on her own and pave her own way as the Avatar outside of Aang’s shadow. However, for thefantasyshow, this disrupted the existing world-building and cemented season 2 as one of the weaker installments of the series.
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