Missing ‘House of the Dragon’? These 4 fantasy shows are next
Missing ‘House of the Dragon’? These 4 fantasy shows are next
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ keeps you in Westeros, while three other epics deliver battles, politics, and huge fantasy worlds.
Tara and I just finished Season 3 of “House of the Dragon,” and I can pretty easily say this was my favorite season of the show. Funny enough, I didn’t even realize Episode 8 was the finale. I was sitting there thinking, wow, this episode is epic, and then found out afterward there were only eight episodes this season. So yeah, I was a little disappointed it was already over. But the finale, and really Season 3 as a whole, finally delivered on what I always thought this show could be. The war feels huge, the family drama is completely out of control, and I’m genuinely pumped for Season 4. Unfortunately, now we have to wait. So if you’re also staring at your TV wondering what fantasy show is supposed to fill the giant dragon-shaped hole in your week, here are four shows to watch next.
House of the Dragon
The Targaryen dynasty is at the absolute apex of its power, with more than 15 dragons under their yoke. Most empires crumble from such heights. In the case of the Targaryens, their slow fall begins when King Viserys breaks with a century of tradition by naming his daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne. But when Viserys later fathers a son, the court is shocked when Rhaenyra retains her status as his heir, and seeds of division sow friction across the realm.
Want to stay in Westeros? Watch: ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” keeps you in Westeros, but don’t go in expecting another version of “House of the Dragon.” Set about a century before “Game of Thrones,” the series follows Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall (Peter Claffey), a wandering knight, and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), the young squire who tags along with him. The Targaryens still sit on the Iron Throne, famous houses are everywhere, and you still get knights, tourneys, swords, politics, and all the little bits of Westeros history that make George R.R. Martin’s world so much fun to dig into.
The big difference is that this show is way lighter. And honestly, that’s why I like it. Dunk and Egg’s relationship is what makes the whole thing run. There’s something really sweet and funny about watching this huge, well-meaning knight wander around with this clever kid who usually seems to understand what’s happening before he does. “House of the Dragon” is about families tearing themselves apart over power. “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is smaller, warmer, and more adventurous. You still get the lore, noble houses, Targaryens, and medieval politics, but without feeling like somebody is about to murder a family member every five minutes. If you want to stay in Westeros while giving yourself a little emotional break, start here.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros: a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits await these improbable and incomparable friends.
Need another giant fantasy world? Try: ‘The Wheel of Time’
Tara and I actually started “The Wheel of Time” as exactly this kind of stopgap between seasons of “House of the Dragon.” Rosamund Pike stars as Moiraine, a member of the powerful Aes Sedai who sets out with a group of young villagers because she believes one of them could be the Dragon Reborn, a prophesied figure who could either save the world or completely destroy it. From there, the story just keeps expanding into different kingdoms, magical factions, wars, prophecies, and a much bigger mythology.
I’ll say upfront that “The Wheel of Time” feels a little younger and much more traditionally fantasy than “House of the Dragon.” There’s way more magic, clearer heroes and villains, and a lot more destiny talk. But it scratches a similar itch. You’ve got a huge ensemble, powerful women, royal politics, massive battles, ancient history, and characters slowly realizing that the world is much bigger than they thought. I also found myself getting more invested the longer we watched. The mythology starts stacking up, the characters grow, and suddenly you care way more about all of this than you expected. If what you miss most about “House of the Dragon” is having a giant fantasy world to disappear into, this is a very easy next watch.
The Wheel of Time
The lives of five young villagers change forever when a strange and powerful woman arrives, claiming one of them is the child of an ancient prophecy with the power to tip the balance between Light and Dark forever. They must choose whether to trust this stranger – and each other – with the fate of the world before the Dark One breaks out of His prison, and the Last Battle begins.
For huge fantasy spectacle, watch: ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is probably the closest match here if the sheer scale of “House of the Dragon” is what keeps you coming back. Set thousands of years before “The Lord of the Rings,” the series drops into Middle-earth’s Second Age as Sauron begins to rise, the Rings of Power come into existence, and some of the great civilizations of this world start moving toward events that fantasy fans already know are coming. Galadriel is one of the major characters, but the story jumps between Elves, Dwarves, Men, Harfoots, kingdoms, armies, and a whole lot of ancient history.
The obvious connection to “House of the Dragon” is that both shows are basically enormous fantasy history lessons disguised as TV dramas. You’re watching famous kingdoms, alliances, betrayals, and legends take shape long before the stories most people already know. “The Rings of Power” is more traditionally heroic, though. Middle-earth has clearer forces of good and evil, much more overt magic, and a little more hope running through the story. Westeros mostly gives you morally questionable people fighting other morally questionable people while dragons burn everything around them. But if you want gorgeous locations, gigantic battles, ancient lore, and the feeling that you’re watching a fantasy world spend an absurd amount of money bringing its history to life, this absolutely belongs on the list.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Beginning in a time of relative peace, we follow an ensemble cast of characters as they confront the re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
If you somehow haven’t watched it, go straight to: ‘Game of Thrones’
I somehow started “Game of Thrones” at the Red Wedding. Seriously. If you’ve seen the show, you already know that might be the single worst episode you could possibly choose as your introduction to this world. I eventually went back, started from the beginning, caught up properly, and it became one of my favorite shows of all time. The story jumps all over Westeros and Essos as the Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, Baratheons, and basically everybody else fight over power while an even bigger threat builds beyond the Wall.
And look, I really like “House of the Dragon,” especially after Season 3, but there’s still nothing quite like “Game of Thrones.” It’s darker, funnier, bloodier, bigger, and somehow manages to give you court politics, giant battles, dragons, betrayals, horror, romance, and characters you become way too emotionally attached to. “House of the Dragon” zooms way in on the Targaryen civil war. “Game of Thrones” blows the doors open and shows you this entire world generations later. So if HOTD is somehow your first trip to Westeros, this is the obvious next move. And if you watched “Game of Thrones” years ago, going back after three seasons of Targaryen history makes a rewatch pretty tempting too.
Game of Thrones
Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the farthest north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night’s Watch, is all that stands between the realms of men and icy horrors beyond.
More to watch after finishing ‘House of the Dragon’:
‘The Witcher’ | Netflix
The Witcher
Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster-hunter for hire, journeys toward his destiny in a turbulent world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.
‘Black Sails’ | STARZ
Black Sails
The pirate adventures of Captain Flint and his men twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.” Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver. Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.
‘The Last Kingdom’ | Netflix
The Last Kingdom
A show of heroic deeds and epic battles with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people combined their strength under one of the most iconic kings of history in order to reclaim their land for themselves and build a place they call home.
‘Shadow and Bone’ | Netflix
Shadow and Bone
In a world cleaved in two by a massive barrier of perpetual darkness, a young soldier uncovers a power that might finally unite her country. But as she struggles to hone her power, dangerous forces plot against her. Thugs, thieves, assassins and saints are at war now, and it will take more than magic to survive.