Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, a spin-off of the Penny Dreadful series, debuted at the end of April 2020. Set in the late '30s, the show follows LAPD Detective Tiago Vega and his partner, Detective Lewis Michener, as they investigate a murder. All the while, the demoness Magda is working to prove that humans are evil at their core.
The show has been praised for its supernaturally fueled plot. But the show isn't the only dark fantasy show on television. Here is a list of ten other dark fantasy shows to check out if you enjoyed Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.
Salem
Mary Sibley is the most powerful witch in Salem in the 17th century and married to the most powerful man in the town. As she struggles to maintain her power against threats from the magical community and regular townsfolk, her first love, John Alden, returns. All the while, Sibley is being advised by Tituba, the woman who, in real life, was the catalyst for the Salem witch trials.
Salem does an excellent job of capturing the numerous events and mounting hysteria that lead to the Salem witch trials. Like Penny Dreadful, this show balances supernatural horror with character-driven plots, which makes it easy to watch several episodes at a time.
Luna Nera
A recent addition to Netflix, Luna Nera follows the story of a young woman named Ade in 17th century Italy as she and her family are on the run from a group of witch hunters who have accused them of witchcraft. Meanwhile, a young medical student named Pietro believes that all the things blamed on witches are able to be explained by science. Ade and Pietro meet, and everything changes.
This show offers an interesting view of how witchcraft was viewed and how witches were treated in other parts of the world. Add to that the ill-fated love of Ade and Pietro and the fact that the women accused of witchcraft actually fight back in this universe, and it's a compelling show that deserves a watch.
Witches of East End
In Witches of East End, Joanna Beauchamp lives in East Haven with her two daughters, Ingrid and Freya. When Joanna's estranged sister Wendy comes to town, strange events begin to happen. Her arrival serves as the catalyst for Ingrid and Freya learning about their magical abilities and their ancestry.
Though the show was short-lived, it has a devoted fan base who enjoyed the show's plot, character development, and magic. Additionally, Witches of East End is perfect for those who enjoy content with magic but without any gore. Since the show is based on book series by Melissa de la Cruz, fans can also read more about the Beauchamp women.
October Faction
October Faction follows the Allen family. Parents Fred and Deloris are monster hunters who travel the world as part of an organization called Presidio. Their teenage twins, Vic and Geoff, are none the wiser, as they are dealing with their own real-world monsters.
October Faction is as much about monster hunting as it is about the family's relationship. While the show is about the supernatural, it isn't as dark as Penny Dreadful or some of the other shows on this list. It even manages to sneak in moments of levity, a testament to the show's main characters.
Diablero
Diablero follows a priest who teams up with two demon hunters and a woman who can act as a vessel for demons to find a missing girl in Mexico City. The lore of the show is unique to this tale, and it is mixed with moments of the characters dealing with real-world issues like death, rigid gender roles, religion, and more.
Additionally, there are plenty of humorous moments mixed in with the scares and more supernatural scenes. Seasons 1 and 2 are on Netflix, making it a perfect addition to any supernatural fan's binge list.
Raising Dion
After the sudden death of her husband, Nicole struggles to deal with her grief and care for her young son, Dion, a boy with supernatural powers. Throughout the show, she does her best to hide her son's abilities and investigate her husband's death.
Raising Dion is a wonderful addition to the Netflix fantasy stable, as it is well-written and the chemistry between the actors is great. Additionally, seeing how Nicole handles Dion coming into power is an interesting perspective, as most tales in the superhero/magical being canon follow only the struggles of the person with power.
Hemlock Grove
Based on the novel of the same name, Hemlock Grove follows two friends – Peter and Roman – as they deal with their supernatural powers and the strange occurrences in town. Peter is a werewolf and a gypsy, while Roman is a vampire and a part of the richest family in town.
In the first season, the pair investigates a pair of brutal murders, and in seasons two and three the tension escalates both in the town and between the two friends. The show was one of the first roles of Bill Skarsgård, who has since become known for playing Pennywise in the IT reboots.
Marianne
This show follows Emma, a young and famous author who returns to her home town. She's been lured back by a woman named Madame Daugeron, who is possessed by the witch who haunted Emma's childhood dreams and who serves as the main antagonist of her novels.
Marianne isn't too thrilled that Emma has stopped writing, and so she keeps Emma in her home town. The show is like Misery taken to a completely different and more sinister level, something that will satisfy fans of horror, demonic possession, and Stephen King alike.
Preacher
Based on the highly successful graphic novel of the same name, Preacher follows a man named Jesse Custer, a priest who becomes possessed by a supernatural force. He then embarks on a mission to learn more about his power and God, and he is accompanied by his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Tulip, and a vampire named Cassidy.
The show is all at once hysterical, depraved, and wonderful as it follows its main characters along their journey. It is perfect for those who love crass humor and who don't mind a hint of blasphemy with their magical realism.
What We Do In The Shadows
Taking the same formula as the movie and tweaking it for an American audience, What We Do In The Shadows follows a group of vampire roommates as they go about their undead lives. In addition to three standard vampires, there is an energy vampire living in the house as well as a familiar who desperately wants to become a vampire, but who may be more suited for a different role.
The show is a unique take on the mockumentary genre and the chemistry between the characters adds to the show's appeal. Additionally, the special effects and the writing on the show make for a truly enjoyable view.