Yet another season of HBO’s House of the Dragon has come and gone, leaving viewers abuzz with questions and avid speculation on what the future holds for George R.R. Martin’s hit fantasy series. With the war between the Greens and Blacks continuing to escalate, fans can only wonder about the show’s ongoing storylines, such as Rhaenyra’s increasingly ruthless stance on securing her succession as well as Aemond’s enigmatic fate in the battles to come.
While it might be a few years before we receive a third season to House of the Dragon, viewers can bide their time by checking out other TV series that offer a similarly nuanced look at family loyalties, disastrous wars, and shifting alliances against the backdrop of uncertain political and social situations. From landmark HBO drama series to captivating historical epics, here are six TV shows we recommend watching after House of the Dragon, each of which bear a strong resemblance to George R.R. Martin’s latest television adaptation.
Game of Thrones
An obvious choice perhaps, but unsurprisingly, the ideal show to watch after House of the Dragon is none other than its HBO precursor, Game of Thrones. One of the most popular series of the 2010s, Game of Thrones took the world by storm at the height of its narrative, elevating HBO to glorious new heights in mainstream pop culture. Not only that, but it also illustrates some of the many events hinted at throughout House of the Dragon’s latest season, such as the prophesied Song of Ice and Fire and the impending arrival of the monstrous White Walkers.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Just as House of the Dragon acted as a riveting prequel to Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power provides a stunning prologue to J.R.R. Tolkien’s immortal literary classic, The Lord of the Rings. Preceding Tolkien’s original books by thousands of years, The Rings of Power focuses on the most pivotal moments in Middle-earth’s history, from the creation of the titular Rings to the ascension of the Dark Lord, Sauron. A series every bit as epic as Peter Jackson’s award-winning film series, every diehard fantasy fan will find something to love about this monumental Prime Video series.
Succession
Yes, okay, nobody’s getting beheaded or violently burned alive by dragon fire in Succession, but this critically praised dark comedy series shares plenty of similarities with its fellow HBO sister series. For starters, both shows focus on the ongoing power struggle among family members hoping to secure their familial empire. What follows is a series filled with morally complex characters, shifting alliances, and shocking betrayals, paving the way to one of the best HBO series of the past decade.
Shōgun
As one of the top-rated TV shows of 2024, we’d recommend watching Shōgun regardless of its similarities to HBO’s House of the Dragon. Set in 1600, Shōgun zeroes in one of the most turbulent periods in Japanese history, characterized by sporadic civil wars, political strife, and precarious military alliances that could break apart at any moment. A wondrous adaptation of James Clavell’s best-selling novel, Shōgun is also undoubtedly among the finest FX series in recent memory, achieving the same avid acclaim as The Shield, Fargo, or Justified.
Vikings
A fan-favorite historical drama that may very well be the most popular TV series to air on the History Channel, Vikings offers an action-packed look at the ancient battles between barbarians and Anglo-Saxon warriors in the early Dark Ages. Though it takes plenty of creative liberties in regards to its historical events and main characters’ stories, Vikings nevertheless delivers as unforgettably hard-hitting a drama series as Game of Thrones, The Last Kingdom, or Succession (a favorable comparison in and of itself).
The Witcher
While most people continue to associate Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series with its award-winning video game adaptation, the series’ subsequent expansion into a full-fledged Netflix TV show has been met with overwhelmingly rave reviews. Blending an immersive dark fantasy setting with a nuanced look at its lead characters’ complicated pasts and layered personalities, The Witcher makes for one of the best additions to Netflix’s growing digital library, climbing to the same universally lauded heights as The Witcher games before it.
