20 Fantastic Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror TV Shows from 2019
There’s something enjoyable about escaping to different worlds — ones inhabited by superheroes, witches, aliens, and gods or ones where time travel and alternate dimensions are not uncommon.
Thankfully, 2019 gifted us with stellar shows that provided just that kind of escape. All of us here at Tell-Tale TV have selected our favorite sci-fi, fantasy, and horror shows from 2019.
Here they are, in no particular order:
1. Legacies (The CW)
Legacies has been described as the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer and with good reason. Mystic Falls might as well sit on a Hellmouth — or rather a Malivore pit — with the number of supernatural monsters that stroll into town on a regular basis.
Where Sunnydale had Buffy and the Scooby Gang, Mystic Falls has the students and faculty of The Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted. The main difference is Legacies‘ monster-battling squad is made up of witches, vampires, a phoenix, some humans, and a tribrid.
During Season 1, Hope was weighed down a bit by Klaus’ decision to sacrifice himself for her, and who could blame her really. But on Season 2, Hope is a bit lighter, and there are much more interesting storylines to explore with her, like how she handles everyone she cares about, including the boy she loves, forgetting she exists.
Season 2 has delivered amazing character moments and allowed Legacies to explore different aspects of everyone’s relationships in their new reality where Hope Mikaelson was forgotten and has also given us some amazing, emotional scenes.
2. Killjoys (Syfy)
This year, we said goodbye to Team Awesome Force after five amazing seasons. Even though it hurt to say goodbye, the small silver lining is that this wasn’t a surprise, so Killjoys was able to give us a stellar final season.
It’s not often that TV shows are given the time to plan how to end their tale on their own terms, and so while it sucks that we had to say goodbye, at least Killjoys was given a proper sendoff.
The best part about Killjoys was Team Awesome Force — the sarcastic little space family that loved to bicker, throw jabs at one another, and was always there for each other.
The final season featured Team Awesome Force defeating The Lady all while giving us some amazing character moments.
3. Arrow (The CW)
It’s the end of an era — Arrow’s final season is upon us. Thankfully, it’s been a great one so far.
A grown-up Mia and William finding their way to Oliver’s timeline adds an emotional element that the show was lacking without Felicity.
While we would’ve loved to see Felicity in this final season, Mia and William getting a chance to know and fight beside their father has been wonderful, especially since Oliver’s going into “Crisis on Infinite Earths” with the knowledge that he’s going to die.
The fact that Oliver gets to spend time with his grown-up kids adds more depth to Oliver’s final arc. He gets the chance to know them and see who they’ve become.
4. Stranger Things (Netflix)
Every season, Stranger Things manages to switch things up when it comes to the dynamics. It’s something that we look forward to, and while we have characters we hope to see together, there are some amazingly delightful pairings that we never see coming.
During Season 2, we fell in love with Steve and Dustin. On Season 3, we are gifted with The Scoop Troop and Eleven and Max’s friendship, and we are so grateful.
Season 3 also gives us the adorable Alexei and his love of cherry Slurpees, the iconic “I dump your ass,” Steve finally winning a fight, and one extremely emotional speech.
It was an extra-long, and excruciating, wait for Season 3, but it definitely paid off. We’re all just hoping the wait for Season 4 isn’t as long.
5. Dark (Netflix)
Netflix’s first German-language original series is an eerie, addictive, deeply weird puzzle box show about time travel and small-town secrets.
The residents of Winden become unstuck in time, moving through different eras of the town’s history and encountering past and future versions of themselves.
Like many shows about time travel, Dark is about fate and free will — but it’s also more specifically about cycles of trauma, and about the inter-generational impacts of harm done to individuals by their community.
The most impressive thing about the show is how it manages to add new wrinkles and layers of intricacy without ever tripping over itself. It takes a rare level of writing skill to throw around wild ideas like, “three timelines are cool, but how about five?” or “what if that woman’s kid was also her mother?” and pull them off convincingly.
Dark does so at least five times per episode. It’s creepy, compelling, and incredibly fun.
6. The OA (Netflix)
You never know exactly where The OA was going to take you when you queue up the next episode, and that’s one of the reasons why we love it so.
The OA told stories like no other TV show out there. It challenged your perceptions and made you think. And while it was always a crazy ride, it was kind of relaxing to watch and fall into this different world.
Part II took us to a different dimension, filled with the same, yet different, characters and new mysteries. It really opened up the mythology, allowing us to learn more about interdimensional travel and its effects, all while delivering some fantastic character moments.
Unfortunately, we will never know how OA’s story ends since Netflix decided to cancel The OA, but I doubt any of us will ever forget this beautiful show or be able to view octopi the same way.
7. The Man In The High Castle (Amazon Prime)
The final season of The Man in the High Castle examines how one single choice can completely change your life and alter the person you become. John and Helen are examples of this, as they try to determine just exactly how they turned into the people, the monsters, they are.
This focus also causes a shift — John Smith took on what is essentially the position of the series lead. We also were treated to watching Helen Smith becomes so much more complicated and layered than we ever expected.
Since the beginning, The Man in the High Castle has used race to show the cruelty done upon those without power.
During Season 4, The Man in the High Castle smartly took that concept and broadened it out to show from a black perspective the endless injustices. It allowed for a more poignant and important voice to rise up through Frances Turner’s Bell, whose story allowed for a more powerful angle the show needed.
8. Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)
Legends of Tomorrow continues to prove that you don’t have to make a superhero show dark and serious for it to be good. There’s enough doom and gloom in the Arrowverse, which is why we keep tuning into the joyful insanity that the Legends find themselves in week after week.
However, just because the Legends are off doing wacky things, like singing and dancing in a Bollywood number, doesn’t mean that Legends of Tomorrow doesn’t take its characters and relationships seriously.
The show has heart, and that’s why we love it so.
9. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix)
One of the reasons we love Chilling Adventures of Sabrina so much is that it is a very female-centric and feminist show. Yes, it’s also about witches and The Dark Lord, but, for instance, Sabrina is constantly rebuking patriarchal forces, such as those that are at play at The Academy of Unseen Arts.
Part II set the series up for more conflict and discord that will continue to push our beloved characters in different directions, and while the show has a lot to explore (we’re still waiting for them to unpack Theo’s transgender storyline), it has created a rich world to draw from.
We can’t wait to see what our favorite witches, and the Fright Club, get into during Part III.
10. Impulse (YouTube Premium)
Impulse Season 2 opened up the world more. During Season 1, the focus was pretty centered on Henry, and we really didn’t know much of anything about the other jumpers out there (or if others like Henry even existed).
Season 2 follows Henry as she is involved in the world more, and we see her work on getting the hang of teleporting (and turning into the hero Townes keep insisting that she is) and learning the truth of what happened with her father.
Nikolai serves not only as an introduction into the jumpers’ world, but he also becomes a mentor of sorts for Henry. He helps her hone her craft and take back the power that the trauma took from her.
11. Lucifer (Netflix)
Lucifer made the move to Netflix this year, and everyone was curious as to how the show would change now that it was no longer on Fox. Well, I think we can all agree that the change was for the better.
Season 4 feels like the Lucifer we all know and love, just with a couple more butt shots.
While it seems like everyone really steps up their game this season, Maze really stands out. While there’s still progress to be made, Season 4 gifted us with a serious storyline focusing on Maze’s pansexuality. Her relationship with Eve showed us a more vulnerable and soft side of the demon we all know and love.
Thankfully, we’re getting a final season because, without getting too spoilery, if that’s how the series ended, well, we would have some much stronger words.
12. The Flash (The CW)
Even though a good bit of this season has been focusing on the impending “Crisis,” The Flash has really improved this season.
There’s been tons of character development, and everyone actually has something worthwhile to do this season. The fact that Iris is finally focusing on journalism, and even has her own Citizen team working alongside her, is praiseworthy on all its own.
Then, there’s Grant Gustin. Not only are we gifted with a drunk Barry Allen dancing this season, but Gustin has also shown that he’s ready to become the elder statesman for the Arrowverse.
13. iZombie (The CW)
Another show we said goodbye to this year is iZombie.
It’s always nice when you get to watch the characters you love get a happy ending. Not only is mankind saved by a zombie cure, Liv and Major get to live out their lives together and on their own terms.
A happy ending is never a guarantee on TV these days, and a lot of shows opt to go a more realistic or more dramatic route by ending a season with a character death or two, which certainly could’ve happened here. I mean, look at what happened with Veronica Mars.
Leading up to the grand finale, iZombie Season 5 also continued to give us wonderful brains for Liv (and Ravi!) to eat, and we got to watch our favorite crime-solving trio save the world one last time.
14. The Walking Dead (AMC)
The Walking Dead continues to keep us on our toes, which is impressive considering we’re 10 seasons in.
The Whispers are front and center during this season. Our time spent with them has shown us that they hide their humanity behind their masks. Yes, they are human, and despite all the inhumane things they have done, they do still have some humanity left in them.
The Walking Dead is slowly starting to correct its past issues by servicing its characters with a story that speaks through them, rather than at them. It has reached a solid place where its grasp on character is used to inform the story in a way where anything can happen next.
15. Outlander (STARZ)
Outlander continues to push the boundaries of what a show about a time-traveling nurse who falls in love with a Scottish soldier can accomplish when the kilts and highlands are no longer a staple of their story. Fans have rallied behind this aging series for its iconic characters and admirable devotion to both the source material and historical accuracy.
Season 4 is hopeful, romantic, and ruggedly different from what came before. The core couple of this series is easy to root for as they fight for the domestic life they deserve. The new America Claire and Jamie have settled into is no Scotland highlands, but it certainly is something.
Outlander continues to impress with its ability to reinvent the show’s premise of what it means to be an outlander in both time and place.
16. Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)
Star Trek: Discovery got off to a rocky start in its first season as the show struggled to find it’s footing in the greater Star Trek story, with a new take on a pretty established universe. However, during Season 2, the show excelled almost instantly, quickly showing fans that it does indeed deserve its place in Star Trek Canon.
Star Trek: Discovery has found a balance between keeping the story rooted in the found family relationships of the ship’s crew and taking full advantage of being able to tell a new story that builds on the treks that came before.
Star Trek: Discovery continues to expand this universe opening up the arms of Starfleet to allow more people to see themselves among the stars than ever before.
17. American Gods (Starz)
American Gods perverts the omnipotence of the gods, giving them superhuman faults and sorrows. The violence and rage showcased by these characters on this science fiction show rivals that of a true-crime documentary.
A diverse and talented cast brings the deity drama to life.
Ricky Whittley, of The 100 fame, thrusts the character of Shadow Moon on-screen with a gritty glee. It’s also a higher power of sexy. Going into its third season, we are praying for more quality American Gods on our screens.
18. Roswell, New Mexico (The CW)
The reboot of alien teen romance Roswell, Roswell, New Mexico, is a reimagining that actually improves upon a good thing. It explores alienation and grief through stories of immigration, sexuality, foster care, and parental abandonment.
The complex storylines, which include a heavy dose of show-specific mythology, are successful due in large part to the magical chemistry between the performers. Sexual tension is our personal favorite kind of chemistry (Team Malex forever), but the friendships, antagonistic relationships, and sibling relationships are equally powerful.
Season 2 promises to turn up the volume and we can’t wait for more out of this world content from Roswell, New Mexico.
19. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is at its best when it really leans into the sci-fi elements of the series, and Season 6 embraced that element (and also doled out some amazing action sequences for everyone).
With the introduction of the time travel element, as well as the cool ways it keeps managing to resurrect characters, Season 6 kept us entertained and on the edge of our seats all season long.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is gearing up for one hell of a time-traveling final season. While we’re sad to see it go, we can’t wait to see where this final season takes us.
20. Shadowhunters (Freeform)
As far as farewells go, Shadowhunters’ was bittersweet. A two-hour series finale isn’t the same as getting a final season, but it’s better than nothing.
Season 3 was probably the series’ best. It delivered stellar character moments and an all-around fantastic season.
Even though it’s over, at least most everyone gets a happy ending — Izzy and Simon are together now, Maia has her own pack and is opening her own restaurant, and Magnus and Alec are married and get their happy ever after.
The only thing that would’ve made the finale better is if Clary regained her memories…
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What shows make your list? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
*Additional Contributions by Ariel Udel, Samantha Coley, Alicia Gilstorf, and Janelle McCammack.
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Allison Nichols
Allison is in a love affair with television that doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. Slightly damaged fictional characters are her weakness. She loves to spend her free time curled up with a cat and a show to binge-watch. Allison is a Tomatometer-approved critic (Rotten Tomatoes).