'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Meets 'Rings of Power' in Netflix's 7-Season Fantasy Masterpiece

Published Aug 29, 2026, 5:47 PM EDT

Kendall Myers is a Senior Author with Collider. As part of the TV and Movies Features team, she writes about some of the most popular releases before, during, and after they premiere. In three years, she has written over 900 articles with topics ranging from classic sitcoms to fantasy epics.

With streamers making more fantasy content than ever, it's no surprise that several shows have become wildly popular. However, some additions to the genre never reach that level of notoriety through no fault of their own. One fantasy series that continually flies under the radar is Netflix's The Dragon Prince. With seven seasons, the 2018 animated series is one of Netflix's longest-running fantasy shows, surpassing even The Witcher. While it remains a hidden gem on streaming, The Dragon Prince ultimately ran for seven seasons for good reason.

The Dragon Prince offers expansive worldbuilding reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and achieves the same balance of lighthearted humor and deep character development as Avatar: The Last Airbender. The Dragon Prince introduces a world of magic, with each season centering on a different form. This variety keeps it from getting repetitive, which helps the show's longevity. Meanwhile, the series' willingness to let the characters grow and change creates new emotional stakes. Ultimately, The Dragon Prince is the kind of story all fantasy fans can enjoy, regardless of whether they are looking for detailed lore or a good laugh.

What Is 'The Dragon Prince' About?

The Dragon Prince is a fantasy story that offers an uplifting tale of friendship and acceptance as a group of unlikely heroes finds a way to bring peace back to the world. The humans and the people of the magical realm of Xadia are bitter enemies after years of war, but their conflict isn't as simple as it may seem. Moonshadow elf assassins, who blame the human King Harrow (Luc Roderique) for the death of the Dragon ruler and his only egg, target Harrow and his son, but Prince Ezran (Sasha Rojen) successfully escapes. More importantly, Ezran, his older half-brother, Callum (Jack DeSena), and his would-be killer, Rayla (Paula Burrows), discover the dragon's egg is still alive, presenting an opportunity for peace.

The trio, hoping to unite their two kingdoms, agree to team up to return the egg to its mother. As they navigate the dangers of the magical world, personal loss, and the fragile trust of their alliance, their task is far from easy, but it is the only way forward. In the wake of Harrow's death, his former advisor, the dark mage Viren (Jason Simpson), aims to take over the kingdom, but to do so, he needs to ensure Ezran's death as well — prompting his children, Claudia (Racquel Belmonte) and Soren (Jesse Inocalla), to pursue the prince. This journey is just the beginning of a bigger adventure through the realms, where the unlikely trio encounters six kinds of magic as the stakes grow from returning a dragon egg to stopping a vengeful immortal elf from destroying the world.

'The Dragon Prince' Thrives Thanks to Dynamic Characters

The Dragon Prince's detailed magic system, major twists, and emotional stakes all make the show a standout, but the most important element is the characters themselves. Ezran grows from a curious child into a thoughtful king, Callum becomes a talented mage, and Rayla confronts the ghosts of her past. By far the most impressive character journey is Soren's, because he undergoes a thorough redemption arc despite spending most of his time as comic relief. Evolving from a blindly loyal son to a kind and courageous ally, Soren becomes one of the show's most well-rounded characters, all while constantly lightening the mood.

Another highlight is the way The Dragon Prince balances its epic story with lighthearted humor. Whether it's Callum's sarcasm, Soren's obliviousness, or Ezran's mischief, the series never fails to make the audience laugh, even as the characters face dark threats. With so much working in its favor, The Dragon Prince remains one of Netflix's best fantasies, and even after earning seven seasons to wrap up its journey, it still deserves more recognition than it gets.