7 Best TV Shows If You Love Dragons

Published Oct 12, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Mary Kassel is a Senior Writer & Critic who joined the Screen Rant team in 2023. After graduating from Emerson College with a degree in Media Arts Production, Kassel started at Screen Rant with a focus on the critical analysis side of movies and television while continuing to work on set in film production. At Screen Rant, Kassel primarily writes for the Classic TV section, mining their encyclopedic knowledge of television history for content. However, they also contribute to the Books team and review both film and television as a critic. There are a lot of ways to make a fantasy TV show feel thrilling and magical. Some series use myths and legends, touching upon witchcraft and sorcery. Others might incorporate gods and demons, or more supernatural elements that transport the viewer to another world. However, one of the most famous standbys of the fantasy genre is the inclusion of dragons, the fire-breathing monsters who can take many forms and be used as heroes or villains in their stories. High fantasy TV shows are most likely to use dragons in their narratives, as there's a cultural association between stories set in medieval times and the appearance of dragons onscreen. This isn't a hard-and-fast rule, and some of the best uses of dragons in modern fantasy see writers shattering expectations and changing audience perception of dragons. These mythic animals can be found across folktales throughout history, making it clear that humanity has always had a fascination with dragons. It's no surprise that many fantasy TV shows based on books have a dragon or two in their stories, as some of the earliest and best additions to the genre in literature feature dragons. One of the most famous, The Hobbit, introduces Smaug, the cunning and dangerous dragon Bilbo must defeat. The influence of works like The Hobbit can be felt throughout TV shows that incorporate dragons, with some characterized as sentient and clever, and others serving as terrifying symbols of war and power. Once Upon A Time (2011–2018) Where there are fairy tales, there are dragons, so it didn't take long for Once Upon a Time to bring a dragon into the fold of its story. A darker, more adult take on the familiar fairy tales that many audiences grew up on, Once Upon a Time gained popularity by retelling these myths through a modern lens. Bouncing between the real world and the Enchanted Forest, Once Upon a Time was able to root its fantastical elements in reality thanks to the grounded emotional weight of its stories. Dragons weren't the main focus of Once Upon a Time, as the series incorporated many different storybook characters and narratives into the series. However, whenever a dragon was onscreen, viewers could be sure that it was going to be an episode to remember. Additionally, Once Upon a Time has a lot in common with the best shows with dragons because it lends a similar weight and scale to the storytelling, taking its fantastical world seriously. The Witcher (2019–) Based on the sprawling fantasy novel saga by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher TV adaptation hasn't quite reached the heights of other speculative fiction epics, but it's still a highly watchable thrill ride. Sapkowski created an intricate world in his books, and the series has benefited from this, seeing its lead character, Geralt of Rivia, battle different monsters and creatures. Like any great high fantasy story, The Witcher has its fair share of dragons, and their cunning is one of their defining features. The Witcher has been one of Netflix's biggest hits within the fantasy genre, and with its fifth and final season coming soon, The Witcher's legacy will be determined by its ending. The Witcher season 5 will see significant changes to the series, as Liam Hemsworth continues to prove himself as a worthy Geralt, and Ciri's story is expanded. Any fan of dragons or fantasy who hasn't yet been entranced by the world of The Witcher has an exciting journey ahead of them. The Legend Of Vox Machina (2022–) One of the best shows on Prime Video, The Legend of Vox Machina holds a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes for all four seasons. This is an impressive feat, and based on the complexity and thrill of every installment, there's no reason to think it won't continue. Originally based on the Dungeons & Dragons web series, Critical Role, The Legend of Vox Machina has expanded far beyond the bounds of a show based on role-playing. While it still pays tribute to the source material, it's found its footing as a fully-fledged fantasy epic. Dragons play a large role in The Legend of Vox Machina​​​​​, like any good series that draws inspiration from an RPG. As The Legend of Vox Machina grows in scale, new characters and corners of the universe are introduced, paving the way for additional magical elements, like dragons, to continue defining the series. The show is a perfect blend of humor and high fantasy, making it impossible to stop watching once you've started. Merlin (2008–2012) Image via MovieStillsDB Throughout most of the series, the main dragon in Merlin, Kilgharrah, is only seen briefly, as he's trapped below the Pendragon castle and is the last of his kind. The BBC's retelling of the legends of King Arthur put a unique twist on the story, seeing Arthur and Merlin come of age together, and using magic as a metaphor for being different and feeling like an outcast. Since magic is outlawed for most of Merlin, the titular character and the dragon he comes to befriend are frequently in danger. This is a compelling use of the dragon archetype, as Kilgharrah has an agenda: he wants Merlin to set him free. However, he can also see the future and wants Merlin to succeed in his quest to help Arthur. Serving as a touchpoint for the series and often the mouthpiece for the writers to communicate the central themes and messages of the series, the Great Dragon is as important a character in Merlin as Arthur or Merlin. House Of The Dragon (2022–) The Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, is frequently criticized for not living up to the legacy of the original series, but House of the Dragon was never meant to be the same as Game of Thrones​​​​​​. Following House Targaryen during one of its greatest tests before the Iron Throne is taken from them, House of the Dragon pits family against family, as the fading house cracks down the middle. Both sides use their dragons and every trick they can think of to hold on to their power. If anything, House of the Dragon is more about the fire-breathing giants than Game of Thrones, as the prequel is set before dragons went extinct. The identities of the characters in House Targaryen are deeply tied to their dragons, defining their place in the story and often serving as a metaphor for how well they're playing the game. House of the Dragon builds on the standard set by Game of Thrones with even better action sequences featuring dragon battles. The Dragon Prince (2018–2024) Courtesy of Netflix Animated TV shows play an important role in the fantasy genre, and The Dragon Prince is a near-flawless series that should get more attention. Premiering on Netflix in 2018, The Dragon Prince has a lot in common with Avatar: The Last Airbender, touching upon elemental magic, coming-of-age adventure, and focusing on the long-term development of its characters. While some series use dragons as a weapon or treat them as animals, The Dragon Prince explores a conflict between the world of humans and dragons. Every season of The Dragon Prince builds out the story's lore and pulls the viewer further into the world of Xadia. Though The Dragon Prince is meant for younger audiences, the series touches upon dark and serious themes, especially in the later seasons. Dragons are a vital part of The Dragon Prince, but they're far from the only mystical creatures in the show. The series thrives because it crafts a fully fleshed-out fantasy universe that audiences can feel extends past the confines of the plot. Game Of Thrones (2011–2019) Not only the best TV show featuring dragons, but one of the best fantasy TV shows of all time, Game of Thrones is the kind of crossover hit that TV writers and creators dream about. Appealing to audiences of all kinds, whether they're watching for the political intrigue, action sequences, or magical world-building, Game of Thrones balances its genre-bending story. Once the dragons are introduced in the show, the power dynamics shift and battles are never the same, culminating in gorgeously crafted uses of VFX throughout the story. Game of Thrones brilliantly builds to the reveal of its dragons, waiting until the season 1 finale to confirm their existence. Though dragons are hinted at and teased, it's believed they're a thing of the past until Daenerys awakes her eggs, bringing the Targaryen line back to its former glory. While a large part of what makes Game of Thrones enduring is the characters and their relationships to powerful tools like the dragons, the fantasy lore and history of the dragons immerse the audience in the world of Game of Thrones​​​​​​.