10 fantasy movies and shows like Netflix’s Shadow and Bone

Shows like Shadow and Bone: Cursed

It seems virtually impossible to dive into fantasy without coming across a work based on or influenced by Arthurian legend. While it’s not true that everyone knows about Arthur, Excalibur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table, the mythic story has been told so many times in pop culture that it’s practically ubiquitous.

Netflix, however, took the legend down a path not often traveled with Cursed, a series based on the graphic novel by show creators Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler. Instead of Arthur being at the front of the tale, there’s Nimue, a young fae girl who will one day become the Lady of the Lake.

Charged by her mother to deliver a powerful sword to Merlin, Nimue travels the countryside desperately trying to avoid the attention of the crusaders. Pious and cruel men, the Red Paladins believe it is their God-given duty to eradicate magic from the world.

They set villages on fire and crucify fae, violently spreading their faith and bringing “order” to a world they see as corrupted by magic and the beings capable of wielding such power.

Along her journey, Nimue meets Arthur, a mercenary with a bit of a cocky streak and an interest in both her and her sword. Their alliance is the first of many Nimue will forge as her quest to find Merlin turns into her becoming a leader and protector in her own right.

Cursed has yet to be renewed. The first season of the series is available to stream now.