Gods, powers and parallel universes: 8 fantasy shows rival Harry Potter

Fantasy Beyond the Wizarding World

Harry Potter’s Wizarding World helped establish a benchmark for modern fantasy, combining spells, creatures, friendships and rivalries in a setting that felt vivid to viewers. Matching that achievement is difficult, but television has offered other compelling stories in worlds unlike Rowling’s.

The Umbrella Academy, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and His Dark Materials each take a distinct approach. Their stories range from family dysfunction to Greek mythology and conflicts spanning multiple universes.

The Umbrella Academy’s Family Chaos

Years after they grow estranged, the siblings reunite following Reginald’s death and face an approaching apocalypse. Time travel, alternate timelines and unusual threats broaden the story, but their upbringing and strained family relationships remain central. Like Harry Potter, the series follows young people reckoning with abilities they did not choose, though its tone is darker and more chaotic.

Percy Jackson Discovers His Roots

Walker Scobell plays Percy, a 12-year-old who learns that Greek gods are real and that he is Poseidon’s son. At Camp Half-Blood, a sanctuary for demigod children, he begins to understand his place in that world. Zeus, played by Lance Reddick, then accuses Percy of stealing his master bolt.

Percy sets out across America with Annabeth, played by Leah Sava Jeffries, and Grover, played by Aryan Simhadri, to prevent a war among the gods. Their journey brings mythological figures including Medusa, Ares and Hades into view. The growing world is balanced by the friendship among the three companions.

His Dark Materials Expands Its World

His Dark Materials follows Lyra Belacqua, played by Dafne Keen, who grows up at Jordan College in a world where each person’s soul appears as an animal companion called a daemon. When children begin disappearing, Lyra discovers the powerful Magisterium is tied to a troubling mystery.

Her search takes her beyond her own world, where she meets Will Parry, played by Amir Wilson. Their story involves Dust, angels, witches, armored bears and the fate of multiple universes. The scale is immense, but Lyra’s curiosity guides viewers through questions about the universe, the Magisterium’s fear of Dust and her own role.