If you loved the dark fantasy world of 'Carnival Row' with its intricate politics, mythical creatures, and forbidden romance, you're in for a treat. This article explores 10 similar movies and TV shows that capture the same gothic atmosphere, rich storytelling, and supernatural intrigue. Whether you're craving more steampunk aesthetics or complex character dynamics, these recommendations will keep you hooked.
The Shannara Chronicles (2016)
Description: A post-apocalyptic fantasy series with elves, demons, and humans, featuring epic quests and a struggle for survival in a richly imagined world.
Fact: Based on Terry Brooks's novels, the series is set in a future Earth where technology has been replaced by magic after a catastrophic war.
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A Discovery of Witches (2018)
Description: A supernatural drama with a romantic subplot, featuring witches, vampires, and daemons coexisting in a hidden world parallel to our own.
Fact: The series is based on Deborah Harkness's All Souls Trilogy, and the author herself has a PhD in history, which influenced the show's detailed historical elements.
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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2015)
Description: A historical fantasy series set in an alternate 19th-century England where magic is real and practiced by two very different magicians.
Fact: Adapted from Susanna Clarke's novel, the series features intricate world-building and a unique blend of Regency-era drama with magical realism.
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Penny Dreadful (2014)
Description: A dark fantasy series blending gothic horror with supernatural elements, set in a Victorian-era world filled with mythical creatures and complex characters.
Fact: The show's title refers to the cheap, sensational serial literature of the 19th century known as 'penny dreadfuls.' It features literary characters like Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, and Dorian Gray.
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Outlander (2014)
Description: A historical drama with elements of fantasy, following a time-traveling nurse who becomes embroiled in political and romantic intrigue in 18th-century Scotland.
Fact: The series is based on Diana Gabaldon's novels, which blend meticulous historical research with a touch of the supernatural.
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Taboo (2017)
Description: A gritty historical drama with supernatural undertones, following a mysterious man returning to London with a dark past and a quest for revenge.
Fact: The series was co-created by Tom Hardy, who also stars in it, and is inspired by real historical events and figures from the early 19th century.
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The Magicians (2015)
Description: A fantasy series that combines magic with dark, mature themes, following a group of students at a magical university who discover a hidden world.
Fact: The show is known for its subversion of traditional fantasy tropes and its willingness to tackle heavy subjects like trauma and mental health.
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The Alienist (2018)
Description: A psychological thriller set in late 19th-century New York, featuring a dark, atmospheric exploration of crime and society's underbelly.
Fact: The term 'alienist' refers to an early term for a psychiatrist or psychologist, reflecting the show's focus on the emerging field of criminal psychology.
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His Dark Materials (2019)
Description: A fantasy series with rich world-building, political intrigue, and a mix of human and fantastical beings, exploring themes of power, rebellion, and destiny.
Fact: Based on Philip Pullman's trilogy, the series features 'daemons,' physical manifestations of a person's soul in animal form. It was previously adapted into the 2007 film 'The Golden Compass.'
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The Frankenstein Chronicles (2015)
Description: A dark, gothic mystery series reimagining Mary Shelley's classic tale, set in 19th-century London and blending horror with detective fiction.
Fact: The series explores themes of science, morality, and the supernatural, with a storyline that weaves together multiple literary and historical references.
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