The 10th Kingdom (2000)

The 10th Kingdom (2000) is a sweeping, family-friendly fantasy-adventure miniseries that fuses modern New York City with a sprawling fairytale realm. When Prince Wendell of the Fourth Kingdom is turned into a golden retriever by a vengeful former queen, he escapes through a magic mirror into our world and is discovered by Virginia Lewis (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) and her ex-con father Tony (John Larroquette). Chased by trolls, goblins, and other fairytale foes — and shadowed by a mysterious, shape-shifting Wolf (Scott Cohen) — the unlikely trio tumble back into the Nine Kingdoms and set off on a quest to restore Wendell, find the mirror that will return Tony and Virginia home, and stop an ancient evil that threatens to upend all the realms. Watching The 10th Kingdom feels like stepping into a living storybook: expect a mix of broad humor, heartfelt family drama, romantic sparks, and high-stakes fantasy adventure. The series peppers familiar fairytale figures — Snow White, Cinderella, and Red Riding Hood among them — with fresh twists, and leans into whimsical set pieces, creature encounters (trolls, giants, goblins), and imaginative landscapes. The tone shifts from comic to perilous to emotional as characters grow: Virginia’s coming-of-age, Tony’s unlikely heroism, and the Wolf’s complicated loyalties are all given room to develop. Visually and emotionally it’s expansive — part road-trip quest, part fish-out-of-water comedy, part classic fairy-tale epic. If you watch it, you’ll get long-form storytelling (multi-episode arcs), a slow-burn romance, frequent surprises about character identities and loyalties, and a satisfying blend of light-hearted moments and darker, suspenseful scenes. It’s best enjoyed with time to settle into its episodic pacing and to savor the mix of nostalgia, adventure, and warm family themes.

Actors: Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Scott Cohen, Dianne Wiest

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Family

8.3 /10 8.3 /10