Shows Like Lucifer That Urban Fantasy Fans Need To See
The ending of "Lucifer" has left a devil-shaped hole in our hearts, as the sixth and final season of the series came to a close in September 2021. Part police procedural and part fantasy, the series tells the story of Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), the legendary fallen angel who abandons the throne of Hell to make a life for himself on Earth. This choice leads to a series of dire consequences, however, as Lucifer battles the minions of Heaven and Hell to protect his way of life and the ones he loves. In between dealing with family issues and learning what it means to be human, Lucifer helps solve crimes alongside Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German), using his abilities as the devil to get criminals to confess their darkest desires.
Fans can count themselves lucky that Lucifer and the love of his life, Chloe, do get their own version of "happily ever after," thanks to Netflix. If it weren't for the streaming service, "Lucifer" would have been left in limbo after Fox canceled the show following its second season, per Deadline. Yet now that "Lucifer" has ended, fans may be wondering where they can get their next fix for supernatural storytelling. Well, look no further, because we have a long list of great urban fantasy shows to help fill that "Lucifer" void.
Supernatural
"Supernatural" is likely the most obvious addition to the list, but there's a good reason for that. On the long-running fantasy drama, brothers Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam (Jared Padalecki) Winchester battle everything from blood-thirsty vampires to vengeful ghosts, all while driving in style to a kick-ass soundtrack of classic rock tunes. Their mission begins by hunting down the demon that killed their mother, soon finding even more dangers as the years go by — including stopping the apocalypse, surviving the earthly battle between Heaven and Hell, and even going up against God himself. The final episode of "Supernatural" aired in November 2020, giving die-hard fans of the series a bittersweet farewell that they won't soon forget (or forgive, depending on your opinion of how the finale went down).
Those who appreciate the paranormal drama of "Lucifer" will likely get sucked in by similar elements in "Supernatural." Both series contain plotlines that feature the idea of unrest amongst angels and demons while questioning the status quo of Heaven's grand design. It's hard to imagine that there could be any fan of urban fantasy who hasn't seen "Supernatural," but just in case, now is the perfect time to check it out.
Constantine
For fans of "Lucifer" who are particularly drawn to stories of angels and demons, the 2014 TV series "Constantine" (based on the DC comic books) should be right up their alley. Like "Lucifer," "Constantine" features a snarky leading man with a British accent who has a penchant for finding trouble wherever he goes. Yet while Lucifer is a denizen of Hell, John Constantine is an exorcist and magical practitioner dedicated to finding and destroying all of the nasty things that slither out of the underworld. "Constantine" aired for just one season on NBC before being canceled, although actor Matt Ryan was able to continue his role as a recurring character in The CW's Arrowverse.
Lucifer and Constantine may be at the opposite ends of the spiritual spectrum, but both are hoping to find redemption for their past sins, and both are willing to face whatever evils threaten the ones they love. "Constantine" features plenty of dark themes and scary moments, giving it more of a horror vibe than "Lucifer," yet it is still sure to be a real treat for urban fantasy fans.
Grimm
Every kid knows that fairy tales always end in "happily ever after," but the real world is far less optimistic and often a lot darker. In "Grimm," fairy tales and reality intersect, as police detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) learns the hard way. As it turns out, creatures like big bad wolves and wicked witches are very real, and Nick is the only one who can stop them. Nick also discovers that he is descended from ancient guardians tasked with protecting humanity from mythical monsters called Wesen. Thankfully, he gets some help from a reformed Wesen named Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and from his partner, Hank Griffin (Russell Hornsby).
Nick has more than just regular, everyday Wesen to contend with, however. He also has to face off against dangerous villains like Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz) — a creature called a Zauberbiest who plots to end the Grimm line. Renard is helped by a Hexenbiest named Adalind Schade (Claire Coffee), who has a very complex relationship with Nick, as the two go from enemies to lovers over the course of the show.
"Lucifer" fans will undoubtedly love the paranormal aspects of "Grimm," the show's similar themes involving complicated family issues, and the presence of characters fighting against their darker nature. The show uses a police procedural formula to frame many of the episodes, just as "Lucifer" does, giving watchers a mystery to solve in each installment while they enjoy exciting supernatural plotlines.
Preacher
Based on a series of graphic novels from Vertigo, the AMC drama "Preacher" tells the story of Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), a small-town Texas reverend. Jesse isn't your typical man of the cloth, as he is hiding a dark past filled with violence and bloodshed for which he feels he must atone. At the start of the series, Jesse drinks heavily and chain-smokes between delivering half-hearted sermons to a glassy-eyed congregation. However, the preacher's life is forever changed when he is suddenly granted godlike powers by a mysterious celestial entity — the offspring of a union between an angel and a demon called Genesis.
As if being the host for an abominable love child wasn't enough, Jesse is joined by a drug-addicted vampire named Cassidy (Joe Gilgun), his vengeful ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga), and a pair of low-ranking angels who are trying to recapture Genesis before it destroys the world. The show touches on themes of faith and free will, as Jesse struggles with using his newfound power responsibly — and he makes some dire mistakes along the way. "Preacher" is both a thoughtful drama and an action-packed thriller that "Lucifer" fans should enjoy across the show's four excellent seasons.
The Dresden Files
In "Lucifer," Lucifer Morningstar (Ellis) is a consultant for the Los Angeles Police Department who works closely with Detective Chloe Decker (German) on some pretty far-out cases. The 2008 series "The Dresden Files" follows a similar formula, except that instead of a consultant, Harry Dresden (Paul Blackthorne) is a private eye, and instead of being the literal devil, Harry is a wizard investigating the paranormal.
"The Dresden Files" is a unique urban fantasy that combines neo-noir and the police procedural genre, with the main protagonist Harry providing voiceover narration in each episode. Based on the popular novels by Jim Butcher, the show features heavy occult elements — vampires, demons, werewolves, and even ancient Egyptian deities are just a few of the dangers that the PI wizard finds himself facing. For some of his cases, Harry works with Lieutenant Connie Murphy (Valerie Cruz) of the Chicago P.D., who is unaware of the supernatural elements at play. Still, the two make a pretty good team, even though Harry often has to keep her in the dark about the more unusual aspects of his job. Also along for the ride is Bob (Terrence Mann), a sophisticated yet pretentious ghost with knowledge of the metaphysical world who hangs around with Harry — whether Harry wants him to or not.
"The Dresden Files" only aired for one season on SyFy, and the series had a lot of potential that sadly went unrealized. Still, the show's depiction of a hard-boiled detective battling the secret world of the weird and unexplained is a fun romp that "Lucifer" lovers will likely appreciate.
iZombie
Ever since George Romero's 1968 horror classic "Night of the Living Dead" helped reshape modern horror tropes, audiences have had a very clear concept of zombies as mindless brain-eating machines without true intelligence or self-awareness. Nowadays, many films and TV shows offer a different take on that cliched portrayal of the living dead, and The CW series "iZombie" sits at the forefront of that trend.
"iZombie" stars Rose McIver as Liv Moore (clever, right?), a former medical resident whose life is seemingly right on track — until a massacre at a boat party turns her into a zombie. Luckily, Liv takes a job as a medical examiner's assistant, which gives her access to all the brains she can eat. Liv starts consuming the brains of the bodies she autopsies, and she soon realizes that a steady diet is the only thing keeping her from giving in to her primal zombie instincts. In addition, after consuming the brains of her autopsies, Liv begins to see flashes of the person's murder, and it's up to her to see that they have justice. As an interesting added side effect, Liv also temporarily takes on the personality of the dead person she ingests.
Part police procedural and part urban fantasy, "iZombie" is an exceptional series with plenty of quirky humor and thoughtful storytelling that should satisfy urban fantasy fans' cravings for a unique story about the undead.
Good Omens
The looming apocalypse at the hands of an 11-year-old Antichrist brings together an unlikely duo in "Good Omens," the Amazon series based on the novel of the same name by co-authors Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Starring David Tennant as the demon Crowley and Michael Sheen as angel Aziraphale, the fantasy comedy has delighted audiences internationally. "Good Omens" fans got even better news when they learned Amazon and showrunner Gaiman have a sequel series in the works.
The story of "Good Omens" begins at the beginning — as in, at the beginning of everything. The angel Aziraphale and a demon who calls himself Crawley (later changing his name to Crowley) meet in the Garden of Eden at the time of Adam and Eve's exile, and the two strike up an unusual friendship which lasts for millennia. In the modern era, agents of both Heaven and Hell announce that the Great War is nigh, and the birth of the prophesied Antichrist is the catalyst that will begin the battle and humanity's extinction. Both Crowley and Aziraphale have come to have a fondness for Earth over the years, so they decide to work together to halt the planet's impending doom — although they each must keep their actions secret from their respective bosses.
"Good Omens" is rife with clever humor and engaging writing, and viewers who enjoyed the theological elements of "Lucifer" won't want to miss out on this unique series.
Being Human
For lovers of ghosts, vampires, and werewolves who can't choose their favorite out of the three, "Being Human" is the perfect show for you. This BBC series is an urban fantasy that brings together three supernatural beings who share a house in Bristol, England — Mitchell (Aidan Turner), a vampire, George (Russell Tovey), a werewolf, and Annie (Lenora Crichlow), a ghost. It might sound like the premise for an unusual sitcom, but "Being Human" is actually a compelling drama with plenty of paranormal action and romance — though it has its fair share of comedic moments, too.
Each of the housemates has to cope with their own unique problems. George struggles with keeping his werewolf transformations under control, while Mitchell has decided to abstain from drinking blood — an addiction that continually haunts him. Meanwhile, Annie must discover the truth behind her death and what is holding her to this world. In later seasons, the trio encounters a series of escalating challenges, including ever-complicated relationships, rival vampires and werewolves, and a mysterious organization that performs deadly experiments on supernatural entities.
"Being Human" was such a hit in the U.K. that showrunners decided to bring it to North America. A Canadian remake of the paranormal series aired for four seasons on SyFy in the States, yet it didn't land with North American viewers like the original did with British audiences. Still, for those who are lovers of the urban fantasy genre, either version of "Being Human" could be worth a look.