12 Witchy TV Shows That'll Give You Your Fix of Toil and Trouble
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Between "Hocus Pocus" and "Practical Magic," there's a whole world of spooky movies about witches. But what if you want a longer fix of magic and mischief? Luckily, there are plenty of witch shows that you can watch all year-round, from darker, lore-filled horror series to more comedic fare.
Fantasy television has been casting spells on viewers for years with classics like "Bewitched" and "Charmed." Whether you are partial to a lighthearted comedy like "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," something more dramatic like "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina," or even something horrifying like "American Horror Story: Coven," you'll find a show below that's just the perfect amount of toil and trouble. On Jan. 8, a new witch series will join the fold — AMC+'s "Mayfair Witches," which stars Alexandra Daddario as a a neurosurgeon who unexpectedly finds out that she is the heir to an entire family of witches.
A great witch series can add some much-needed magic into your life — and they might even teach you a thing or two about casting whatever kind of spell your heart desires. Scroll ahead to discover the most iconic series about magic and witchcraft so you can begin your next spellbinding binge!
"American Horror Story: Coven"
Not every season of "American Horror Story" features witches, but we'd be remiss not to mention the iconic third installation, which has to be one of the best and wickedest witch shows of them all. As the title suggests, we meet a coven of very stylish witches who are all vying to become the next Supreme as their leader, played by the truly wonderful Jessica Lange, slowly dies. As its universe is loosely connected, AHS also features witches in other seasons, such as "Roanoke" and "Apocalypse."
"Cursed"
The witch TV series "Cursed" is a reimagining of the medieval tales of King Arthur that's primarily focused on Nimue or the "Wolf-Blood Witch." As Nimue (Katherine Langford) tries to track down the magician Merlin, she's also coming to terms with her powers as well as her responsibility to protect her widely persecuted Fey people.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
We can't talk about witch TV shows without mentioning one of the most badass of them all: Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan). As much as this show focuses on Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) pulverizing vampires to dust, it's also about Willow's struggle and mastery with witchcraft to help out her best friend — her dark magic especially becomes a crucial plot point in season six.
"Motherland: Fort Salem"
Three witches enlist in the US Army, training in combat magic and spell casting. "Motherland: Fort Salem" takes place in a women-dominated world 300 years after the United States ended the persecution of witches in the fictional Salem Accord.
"Bewitched"
Truly, "Bewitched" is one of the blueprints for witchy shows. The iconic fantasy sitcom features Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha, a powerful witch who marries an ordinary mortal man. While she promises not to use her powers, things don't always go as planned. (Keep an eye out for the planned "Bewitched" reboot as well!)
Watch "Bewitched" on Amazon Prime (through the free IMDb TV channel).
"Sabrina the Teenage Witch"
Hailing from a family of powerful witches, Sabrina Spellman (Melissa Joan Hart) lives with her two quirky aunts Zelda (Beth Broderick) and Hilda (Caroline Rhea) and their snarky cat, Salem (Nick Bakay), in "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." As she's learning how to use her powers, she's also dealing with typical high school drama, like her crush on Harvey Kinkle (Nate Richert).
"Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"
Portrayed by "Mad Men"'s Kiernan Shipka, Sabrina gets a darker twist on "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina," which is based on the comic series of the same name. Here, the titular protagonist is a half-witch who fights evil while juggling her mortal and witch identities.
"Good Witch"
A Hallmark production, "Good Witch" will give you just that fix of wholesome and soapy witchy goodness. Catherine Bell stars as Cassie Nightingale, the titular sorceress who raises her teenage daughter in the small town of Middleton.
"Charmed"
We can't make a list about witches without including the one and only "Charmed." When Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) moves in with her sisters, she discovers via an ancient text that everyone in her family has extraordinary witch powers. While navigating their ordinary lives, they must also go up against evil forces to protect the world. The show is so beloved that the CW even made a reboot that was renewed for its fourth and final season in May.
"Merlin"
Colin Morgan stars as the the titular character in "Merlin," who's forced to keep his magical powers a secret because magic is banned in Camelot. Along with Merlin, we also meet other practitioners of sorcery such as Morgana and Nimueh, both borrowed from the tales of King Arthur.
"The Magicians"
"The Magicians" follows a group of 20-something misfits who attend Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy — yes, that's witchcraft college for grown adults. While the characters cast spells and engage in fantastical events, the show has also been praised for its emotionally complex portrayals of real-world troubles such as addiction and abuse.
"WandaVision"
Elizabeth Olsen stars as the Scarlet Witch in this unique MCU show, which drew viewers in with its magic and nostalgic '50s charm but hooked them even more with its portrayal of grief and loss. In it, Wanda and her husband Vision have to deal with the difficulties of literally living in a sitcom while hiding their powers from their new neighbors.