Over eight chaotic years, HBO handed us a television feast filled with deadly conflicts, political skulduggery, and memorable and somewhat odd characters whose names still ring in our ears. Game of Thrones, the HBO series based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books, received widespread acclaim for its detailed world-building and refusal to spare any character from peril.
The fictitious continents of Westeros and Essos serve as the backdrop for Game of Thrones, which focuses on the struggle for possessing the Iron Throne by various noble families. The show is famous for its well-rounded cast of characters. From the noble Ned Stark to the crafty Cersei Lannister, the courageous Sansa Stark to the fearless Daenerys Targaryen, who blossomed from a fearful young girl to a formidable queen, scorching her way across the land with her three awe-inspiring dragons.
And while the final season was more divisive than an army of White Walkers at a convention full of warm-blooded people, some hailed it as a fitting conclusion to an epic tale of political and personal stakes. Others, however, compared it to a rushed last-minute Christmas present. Still, many viewers were left looking for replacement shows after the series ended. Luckily, many TV shows may quench your hunger for epic stories with larger-than-life protagonists and surprising plot twists. Here are the top 10 substitute shows for Game of Thrones.
10. Once Upon a Time (2011 – 2018)
Once Upon a Time was an ABC fairy tale drama that aired from 2011 to 2018 and was notable for its innovative blend of the realistic and the mythical. The show’s creators, Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, did a masterful job of updating classic fairy tale characters for a modern small town while keeping their ties to the fantastical world intact. Most of the action takes place in the made-up town of Storybrooke, Maine, whose citizens are fairy tale characters who have been cursed, lost their memory, and found themselves in the modern world.
The reinterpretation of fairy tale icons in Once Upon a Time is the show’s greatest strength. Snow White is a capable and confident female protagonist, not a helpless victim. In Storybrooke, Rumpelstiltskin is known as Mr. Gold, but his true identity is far more sinister. Rather than being a one-dimensional villain, Regina Mills, the real-life inspiration for the Evil Queen, is a complex human being who fights against her darker tendencies.
9. Foundation (2021 – present)
Based on Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series of stories, David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman’s Foundation is a science fiction streaming television series produced by Apple TV Plus. The show got picked up for a second season in October 2021, and season two will debut on July 14, 2023. The series follows the great mathematician Hari Seldon in a future where humanity has conquered the Milky Way under the control of the Galactic Empire. To make broad-scale predictions, Seldon creates a new branch of mathematics he calls “psychohistory.” He predicts the Galactic Empire will collapse, ushering in a dark age for the next 30,000 years.
Seldon suggests establishing a ‘Foundation’ of knowledge in the galaxy’s outskirts to mitigate this uncertainty. The exceptional production design of Foundation is one of the series’ most striking features. The designers have built a visually gorgeous setting that does justice to Asimov’s universe in scale and variety. Careful attention to detail gives the planets and spacecraft a realistic, futuristic look and feel. A space elevator and extraterrestrial worlds are only two examples of the visual effects that give the program its cinematic feel.
8. Outlander (2014 – present)
Since its premiere on Starz in 2014, the critically praised television series Outlander, based on Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling novels, has attracted a passionate global fandom. The story combines aspects of historical drama, romance, science fiction, and adventure innovatively. In season one, we meet Claire Randall, a married nurse from World War II who inexplicably finds herself in Scotland in 1743. Here, she meets the dashing Highland warrior Jamie Fraser and becomes engaged in the Jacobite risings, a volatile time in Scottish history.
Claire’s adventure spans two eras and two men and is at the heart of Outlander. The show doesn’t shy away from darker subject matters. It depicts the cruelty of the time without flinching, including graphic violence and sexual assault, but it does it nuancedly, demonstrating the psychological impact on its protagonists. The possibility of traveling through time in Outlander is also exciting. Claire’s ability to travel through time using ancient stone circles adds a sci-fi twist to the historical narrative.
7. The Wheel of Time (2021 – Present)
Produced by Prime Video and created by Rafe Judkins, The Wheel of Time is a high fantasy series based on Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson’s novel series. The show’s second season, which will debut on September 1, 2023, was ordered back in May 2021, well before the show’s initial airing. The show’s third season was confirmed in July 2022, a few months before the second season would air. The story follows five young people from the sleepy town of Two Rivers navigating a vast and complex world where magic exists but can only be used by women.
One of them is the Dragon Reborn, a reincarnated entity that will either save or destroy the planet. To determine which of them is the foretold one, Moiraine Damodred, a member of the all-female Aes Sedai order, leads them on a dangerous quest. Moiraine, portrayed by Rosamund Pike, is a fascinating central character. Her dogged search for the Dragon Reborn, murky grasp of power and duty, and mastery of Aes Sedai politics make her an intriguing protagonist.
6. Black Sails (2014 – 2017)
Starz aired the hugely popular historical drama Black Sails from 2014 to 2017, which serves as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. The series provides a realistic and exciting look into piracy in the early modern era. The story takes place in early 18th-century Nassau, Bahamas, a refuge for pirates. It combines imaginary characters from Stevenson’s story with historical people like Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard.
The plot follows the flamboyant and multifaceted Captain James Flint as he and his crew pursue the notorious Spanish treasure galleon Urca de Lima. The series’ representation of powerful, essential women is equally impressive, a rarity in a genre usually dominated by male characters. Strong, intelligent, and resilient characters like Max, a former prostitute who rises to prominence, and Eleanor Guthrie, the de facto queen of Nassau’s black market, are essential to the story.
5. The Witcher (2019 – present)
A high fantasy series, The Witcher, created by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, debuted on Netflix in 2019. The Netflix series presented Geralt of Rivia and his exploits to a new audience, even though the books had already gained fame thanks to a blockbuster video game adaptation. In a world where good and evil are constantly shifting, mutant humans trained from infancy and given various alchemical procedures to strengthen their physical and magical powers are the witchers, and one of these is the mysterious Geralt.
The performance of Geralt of Rivia by Henry Cavill is outstanding. Cavill brings Geralt to life by emulating his wry sense of humor and complex inner existence. Also captivating is Anya Chalotra’s Yennefer, a hunchbacked girl whose transition into a powerful sorceress is inspiring. In season four, Liam Hemsworth will take over as Geralt of Rivia.
4. The Last Kingdom (2015 – 2022)
Produced in Britain, The Last Kingdom is an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories novels. Conflicts between the invading Vikings and the many kingdoms of modern-day England are the primary focus of The Last Kingdom, which explores the troubled history of the Viking Age. The series centers on Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the son of a Saxon nobleman who is kidnapped as a child and raised by the Vikings.
He feels split between his two cultures, having been raised in the Viking tradition and having Saxon ancestry. A captivating human tale emerges from the more significant historical events as he fights for his family lands, negotiates political and religious difficulties, and eventually decides where his allegiance lies. Other notable characters in the show include King Alfred the Great, a visionary but flawed leader, and Brida, a fiercely independent Viking woman.
3. House of the Dragon (2022 – present)
House of the Dragon is the second television series in George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal’s A Song of Ice and Fire franchise and serves as a prequel to the hit show Game of Thrones. The series is based on chapters from Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood and takes place 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen and 100 years after the unification of the Seven Kingdoms by the Targaryen Conquest.
The series depicts the buildup to the deadly “Dance of the Dragons” conflict of succession that marked the beginning of House Targaryen’s collapse — the first season of the show, consisting of 10 episodes, debuted on August 21, 2022. The second season order came just five days after the first. Despite the pressure of living up to the lofty standards set by Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon has the chance to explore the mythology and history of Westeros in greater depth and provide a fresh take on the Targaryen dynasty.
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022 – present)
Set thousands of years before Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power details the critical events of the Second Age of Middle-earth. The first two episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power aired on September 1, 2022. There were eight episodes in the inaugural season, which aired until October 14.
Critics were mostly enthusiastic, and Amazon claimed the season was the most watched of any Prime Video original series. The series begins in a time of peace and continues through the Second Age of Middle-earth, encompassing such events as the creation of the Rings of Power, the ascension of the Dark Lord Sauron, the destruction of the island kingdom of Nmenor, and the final alliance between the Elves and the Men. Season two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will premiere in 2024.
1. Vikings (2013 – 2020)
In 2013, History Channel debuted the historical drama series Vikings. Inspired by the sagas of the mythical Norse hero Ragnar Lothbrok and his descendants, the show, created by Michael Hirst, gives a semi-fictional portrayal of Viking history. Ragnar Lothbrok, the protagonist of the story, is a farmer and family man with an itch to attack foreign nations. The first several seasons focus on his insatiable curiosity, drive, and ultimate success in becoming a renowned chieftain.
His sons’ escapades and power conflicts become the focus of the story later on. The show explores the Vikings’ outlook on life, honor code, ceremonies, and often violent practices. It provides a more realistic picture of a society that is often misinterpreted by showing the Vikings as more than just brutal raiders but also as explorers, traders, and settlers. Travis Fimmel does an excellent job of capturing Ragnar’s complicated personality in the role.
