The cancellation of The Wheel of Time after three seasons deeply hurt fantasy series fans, but that pain is still fresh a year later. The series merely scratched the surface of Robert Jordan's expansive saga, leaving viewers deprived of one of the rare large-scale television adaptations in the genre with its abrupt ending. If you're still looking to fill that vast fantasy void, there's an underrated series that might surprise you. With a bloody, psychedelic, and daringly unique structure, this show boasts a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

This series is Britannia. First aired in 2018 on Sky Atlantic and later added to Prime Video, Britannia stands apart from other fantasy dramas on television. This sweeping epic blends raw history with mythology and mysticism, grounded by an emotionally complex community; all searching for something – power, survival, faith, or redemption. The result is a series that feels both expansive in scope and deeply personal; it creates a fantastical world that is as bizarre as it is compelling, mixing wild battles with hallucinogenic visions.

On the surface, Britannia begins as a historical series. Set in the year AD 43, it follows the Roman Empire's invasion of the British Isles, but what could be a simple war story quickly turns into something stranger. The Celtic tribes, led by Princess Kerra (Kelly Reilly), are torn by family and survival, while Queen Antedia (Zoë Wanamaker), a ruthless rival with her own ambitions, must decide whether to unite against the Romans. Throughout the battlefield, we see General Aulus Plautius (David Morrissey), a calculating commander, driven by an obsession with invasion that feels beyond the empire's reach.

Britannia transcends a mere historical framework, weaving its unique fantasy universe by interlacing brutal battles with hallucinogenic visions and mythological elements. The story, set around the invasion of ancient England, offers viewers a hunger-inducing yet comforting experience through the power struggles between tribes, internal conflicts, and the fates altered by Rome's arrival. While deeply exploring the inner worlds and personal triumphs of its characters, the series also narrates the flow of large-scale historical events.

Over its three seasons, Britannia shows viewers how history, legend, and mystical elements intertwine. The series presents an impressive structure in every aspect, from the battlefield to character development. The performances of Kelly Reilly, Zoë Wanamaker, and David Morrissey make the characters believable and emotional, leaving a lasting impression. Available on Prime Video, Britannia offers a satisfying option for fans of The Wheel of Time and continues to carve out an important place among works in the fantasy genre with its unique storytelling.