Show
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones HBOFor much of its eight-season run, Game of Thrones was the biggest show in the world — and one of the best, though not necessarily at the same time. The HBO sensation changed what was possible to do on television. No fantasy series ever had such high production values or such well-written dialogue. It served as the transition between the deep character drama of the Sopranos era of TV into the big-budget I.P.-driven era we're currently in. It's still the only show that's as comparable to Deadwood as it is to The Lord of the Rings. And now it's back in the form of House of the Dragon, a prequel spin-off that's so similar to Game of Thrones it even uses the same theme music. If you're looking for something Thronesy to watch between episodes of House of the Dragon, you've come to the right place. Or if you're not sure if you want to watch House of the Dragon and need a little convincing, we can help you out with that, too. Read on for our picks.
The Serpent Queen
Samantha Morton, The Serpent Queen Game of Thrones is influenced by real European history, and historical drama The Serpent Queen is a show that will make you say, "Wow, the world really used to be be like Game of Thrones." Samantha Morton stars as Catherine de Medici, who ruled France as its queen in the mid-1500s, mostly through her sons. Catherine de Medici's biography and ruthless attitude made her one of the inspirations for Game of Thrones' Cersei Lannister, so if watching Lena Headey spit venom was one of your favorite parts of Game of Thrones — and it probably was, because Cersei was the definition of a character you love to hate — you should check this one out. -Liam Mathews House of the Dragon
Paddy Considine, Eve Best, and Steve Toussaint, House of the Dragon Ollie Upton / HBOIf you're looking for something just like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon is it. It even has the same theme music. The prequel series is set almost 200 years before Game of Thrones, but since it features characters from familiar families fighting over who gets to sit on the Iron Throne, GoT fans will feel right at home. Daenerys Targaryen's (Emilia Clarke) dragon-riding ancestors find themselves engaged in an intra-familial civil war over who will succeed King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine). Viserys has named his daughter Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock as a teenager, Emma D'Arcy as an adult) as his heir, but no one expects that Rhaenyra, a woman, will be allowed to rule unchallenged after Viserys dies. So there's a lot of political maneuvering as people try to secure the best possible position for themselves and their families before all hell breaks loose. Like Game of Thrones, it's a high-stakes political-historical drama with dragons and bloodshed, and so far it's the best the franchise has been since at least the middle of Season 7. -Liam Mathews The Wheel of Time
Daniel Henney and Rosamund Pike, The Wheel of Time Dan Thijs, AmazonAmazon's epic fantasy series is openly trying to be the next Game of Thrones; showrunner Rafe Judkins even told the New York Post that he visited the set of Game of Thrones for advice and inspiration. The Wheel of Time is an adaptation of a mammoth series of novels by author Robert Jordan that influenced George R.R. Martin as he was writing the Song of Ice and Fire series. It's about a group of four young people who set out on a quest around the world alongside a magical woman named Moraine (Rosamund Pike) and her protector al'Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney). Moraine believes that one of the four is the reincarnation of the Dragon, a powerful magician who is prophesied to either save the world or destroy it. That relatively simple premise makes it accessible to viewers who may not be high fantasy devotees, which was the key to Game of Thrones' initial success. From that premise, it builds a fantastical world of hideous monsters, grand battles, and magical intrigue. And it has one familiar face from Game of Thrones in the cast: Michael McElhatton, who played Roose Bolton, the Stark bannerman whose betrayal led to the Red Wedding. -Liam Mathews Foundation
Lou Llobell, Foundation What if Game of Thrones... but in space? That's kind of what Apple TV+'s Foundation is going for, with its bottomless budget and the incredibly rich universes it inhabits. The sci-fi series follows an autocratic regime that decides a mathematician's warning that the empire is about to fall and send mankind into a period of dark ages is scientific nonsense, so it's ignored by banishing the mathematician and his believers to the outer reaches of the universe. With a variety of biomes, intricate politics, and fantastic fashion, Foundation will remind you a lot of your favorite fantasy show. Outlander
Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, Outlander Jason Bell/StarzDepending on who you ask, Outlander is either the sexiest show on TV, or it's a historical drama with a touch of sci-fi. Or maybe it's both! Based on the book series by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander revolves around Claire (Caitriona Balfe), a married World War II nurse who, after mysteriously time traveling back to 1743, falls in love with Jamie (Sam Heughan), a young Scottish warrior. You should know upfront that it definitely lacks the near-constant thrill that Game of Thrones brought (there are way less expensive battle scenes, is what I'm saying), but if you're looking for something that will give you an occasionally accurate history lesson and get you invested in a sweeping romance that spans centuries, Outlander is the show for you. Black Sails
Black Sails StarzBlack Sails is about pirates, but not the fun, rum-drinking Pirates of the Caribbean kind: These are gritty pirates. A prequel to Treasure Island, Black Sails is set in the early 1700s and revolves around Captain Flint's (Toby Stephens) debaucherous life as the leader of a band of swashbucklers. He brings on Long John Silver (Luke Arnold) as a member of his crew, and together, they engage in a sprawling battle for New Providence Island. Black Sails has often been compared to Game of Thrones, and even though it's not a fantasy, there are plenty of elements about this show that fans will recognize and enjoy: its period setting, its excellent characters, its engaging storytelling and world-building, and some beautifully shot battle scenes. (And some gratuitous nudity.) Also, if it helps, the ending wasn't anywhere near as divisive. Spartacus
Andy Whitfield, Spartacus: Blood and Sand If what you're really looking for in your post-Game of Thrones watching life is just people battling each other, look no further than Spartacus. This show, set in the 72 B.C. era Roman Empire, is about gladiators, which means it has blood and violence to spare. It has everything you're probably looking for: brutal fighting, betrayal, sex and nudity (seriously, when the characters on this show aren't trying to maim each other, there's a good chance it's because they're too busy having sex), and gore that's as exciting to look at as it is absolutely disgusting. The Borgias
Gina McKee and François Arnaud, The Borgias ShowtimeFor anyone whose favorite part of Game of Thrones was the twisted family dynamics, meet The Borgias. The show, set in Renaissance-era Italy, follows the ruthless and scandalous Borgia family who are willing to do just about anything to maintain their power. When the show begins, Rodrigo (Jeremy Irons) has just become Pope Alexander VI by using nefarious tactics, which is probably the least insane thing that happens throughout its three seasons. This show has a healthy amount of blood and violence, but the things that makes this show most compelling are the characters and the ways they interact with each other. The Borgias is not at all afraid to shy away from incest, so Game of Thrones fans should feel right at home.
|