Whereas scrolling by HBO Max‘s fantasy choices, Home of the Dragon is not the one TV sequence deserving of your consideration. The streaming service options all flavors of fantasy, from the hilarious to the harrowing.
Listed here are our high picks for fantasy exhibits at present obtainable on HBO Max.
Ollie Upton/HBO
Home of the Dragon (2022—)
When you’ve been lacking Recreation of Thrones, dive into Home of the Dragon, a prequel set about 200 years earlier than Thrones. The present focuses on the dragon-riding Targaryen household. King Viserys (Paddy Considine) sits the Iron Throne, and he is declared daughter Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock/Emma D’Arcy) his inheritor. However not everybody likes that concept, together with bloodthirsty Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) and Queen Alicent (Emily Carey/Olivia Cooke), who’s the mom of the son Viserys longed for years to have. And if you understand writer George R.R. Martin, you understand to organize for sword fights and tournaments, weddings as bloody as any battle, and household dysfunction that features, uh, incest. Jaime and Cersei have nothin’ on these {couples}.

Cartoon Community/YouTube/CNET Screenshot
Over the Backyard Wall (2014)
Half-brothers Wirt (Collin Dean) and Greg (Elijah Wooden of Lord of the Rings/Hobbit fame) get misplaced in a supernatural forest referred to as The Unknown whereas looking for their means residence. A pleasant frog, speaking bluebird and mysterious woodsman (voiced by Christopher Lloyd) all accompany them of their quest, whereas a creepy Beast makes an attempt to show them into timber. You may get trendy Hansel and Gretel vibes. The ten episodes are a neat 11 minutes every, so this present would not require an enormous time dedication.

Cartoon Community/YouTube/CNET Screenshot
Dexter’s Laboratory (1996-2003)
Boy genius Dexter, along with his Peter Lorre accent, has clueless mother and father and an older sister who simply do not perceive his scientific prowess. He can invent a cloning machine, a Beardatron that grows on the spot facial hair, or train animals to speak, however he can not seem to eliminate his nemesis, fellow boy genius Mandark. That is the third animated sequence from Genndy Tartakovsky to make this checklist, and just like the others, it is high-quality loopy creativity all the best way.

BBC/HBO
His Darkish Supplies (2019-2022)
Primarily based on the favored e-book sequence, His Darkish Supplies follows scrappy orphan Lyra and her daemon (animal companion) Pan as she learns to learn a mysterious truth-telling instrument referred to as the alethiometer and embarks on a necessary and harmful journey. CNET’s Katie Collins writes that for as a lot as the variation is a fantastical journey, “it’s also a nuanced exploration of faith, philosophy, physics, alchemy, politics and fable.” The primary two seasons are on HBO Max now, and a 3rd season is on its means.

Cartoon Community
The lead character in Samurai Jack was despatched ahead to a dystopian future by a shapeshifting demon named Aku, and should journey again to his personal time to cease evil from triumphing. The animated present blends conventional Japanese samurai warfare with robots, monsters, aliens and extra. Creator Genndy Tartakovsky was impressed by the Seventies David Carradine present Kung Fu, which despatched a Shaolin monk with martial-arts coaching by the American Previous West. HBO Max has all 5 seasons; the primary 4, which ran from 2001 to 2004, and the fifth revival season, which ran in 2017 and is taken into account by many to be a darker , extra grownup tackle the sequence.

HBO
Recreation of Thrones (2011-2019)
nothing, Jon Snow, till you’ve got watched the huge, 73-episode Recreation of Thrones sequence. You won’t love the controversial ending, however the present itself, with its dragons, White Walkers, direwolves and extra, is a fantasy masterwork. Simply do not get too hooked up to any of the characters, as few of them get completely happy endings. Oh, all proper. You’ll be able to cling to Tyrion (Peter Dinklage).

Grownup Swim
Is Rick and Morty fantasy? Sci-fi? One thing else? The acclaimed grownup animation sequence focuses on mad scientist Rick, his grandkids Morty and Summer time Smith, and their mother and father, all happening weird adventures throughout dimensions. In a single episode, Rick learns that he could have impregnated a planet — not a resident of the planet, however the precise planet. You kinda have to look at it to know.

Cartoon Community
The Powerpuff Ladies (1998-2005)
Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup aren’t your common kindergarteners: They’re superhero sisters with a scientist dad, Professor Utonium, they usually assist their metropolis, Townsville, combat off criminals. They’re presumably the cutest and hardest girl-power superheroes ever. The present aired from 1998 to 2005 on Cartoon Community, and all six seasons are actually on HBO Max.

HBO
The Leftovers (2014-2017)
The Leftovers, based mostly on Tom Perotta’s 2011 novel, tells the story of a world the place 2% of the inhabitants merely vanishes in an occasion that involves be often known as the Sudden Departure. It isn’t the story of those that vanished as a lot as of these they left behind, who should attempt to come to grips with the unexplainable loss. All three seasons are on HBO Max.

Grownup Swim/YouTube/CNET Screenshot
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal (2019—)
Genndy Tartakovsky, identified for Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory, amongst different animated classics, took inspiration for Primal from pulp novels and the like. It is concerning the bond between a caveman and a Tyrannosaurus, bonded by tragedy, who wrestle forth as probably the most uncommon pair of buddies. Whereas the sequence is way from silent, there is no dialogue, so get prepped for that. The primary 10-episode season is on HBO Max now.

Cartoon Community/YouTube/CNET Screenshot
Steven Universe (2013-2020)
The magic of Steven Universe would not come by in a easy plot rationalization. On this dazzlingly deep animated present, Steven Universe has adventures whereas surrounded and supported by his pals, the Crystal Gems, magical humanoids who train him about love, loss and household. (Steven himself is half-human, half-Gem.) All 5 seasons, plus the Steven Universe Film, and an epilogue sequence, Steven Universe Future, are on HBO Max.

{Photograph} by Eli Joshua Ade/HBO
There’s horror, there’s supernatural, and sure, there are fantasy parts in Lovecraft Nation, the acclaimed 2020 HBO sequence a few Black man touring by the segregated South within the Nineteen Fifties. Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) is attempting to find his lacking father, and he should battle not solely racism and prejudice, however horrific, nonhuman monsters harking back to an H.P. Lovecraft novel.

Cartoon Community
Journey Time (2010-2018)
Jake the Canine and Finn the Human stay within the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, the place they work together with such colourful creations because the Ice King (voiced by Tom Kenny, voice of SpongeBob SquarePants), Princess Bubblegum, and extra. Do not be fooled by the concept this can be a child’s present: Journey Time can be beloved by adults.