Now that House of the Dragon Season 1 has ended and HBO has announced it might take until 2024 before we see any new episodes, some of us will have to find alternatives to this dark and gritty epic over the next year (or potentially longer!). So we have compiled a list of shows that are worth checking out while we all wait with bated breath 🔥🐲 for our big-bang-style return to Westeros.

1. Game of Thrones (HBO)

Now that we know more background to the story of the Targaryens, the Starks, and other noble houses of Westeros, a rewatch of GoT is not such a bad idea. There is likely a lot of stuff we’ve already forgotten, plenty of lore to connect, and of course, more quality time with dragons. We’ll just need to brace ourselves for the bumpy plotting of those later seasons.

2. Vikings (Amazon Prime, Hulu)

While Vikings is not a fantasy genre series, it is a historical drama inspired by the legendary sagas of Ragnar, the famous Viking leader and hero. We think it will quench your thirst for more bearded Northmen swinging their swords amid lots of treason and treachery. There is even a sequel on Netflix called Vikings: Valhalla, which premiered earlier this year, so the franchise now has a fairly expansive world to explore.

3. The Last Kingdom (Netflix)

This show is based on the famous book series The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, so if you loved the fact that HotD and GoT are based on books, this might be another one for you. While the story world is not as big as George R.R. Martin’s, it still has its share of interesting characters to follow. Like Vikings, The Last Kingdom is not a fantasy series but a historical drama with plenty of swords and sandals.

4. Succession (HBO)

Okay, we realize this doesn’t look particularly dragon heavy, but trust us, it is. If you especially loved the politics and family table drama in HotD and have not checked out this highly-rated HBO dark dramedy, drop everything and start binging it now before the new season drops this spring. The story follows a filthy-rich media mogul and his depraved and power-hungry children. It’s packed with just as many cliffhangers, backstabbers, and plot twists as you’ll find west of the Narrow Sea. And triple the swearing, easily.

5. Rome (HBO)

It’s a shame that this HBO series from 2005 only ran for two seasons. It had everything we love about HotD: a captivating story around rather questionable characters, unexpected turns, and oodles of drama. It was likely the prototype for HBO’s subsequent ventures into period and fantasy. Rome was canceled due to its high production costs. It had a larger budget than Game of Thrones when it premiered years later. Still, it’s hard to imagine that would be an issue in today’s world of Netflix and Amazon spending.

6. The Witcher (Netflix)

You might have just heard the news that Henry Cavill is dropping the blond wig after next season (S03) and is making room for Liam Hemsworth. While we aren’t sure how we feel about that, everything we’ve seen so far from Netflix’s The Witcher has been a rollercoaster of a fantasy ride. There’s some cheesy stuff in there, so be prepared. But we think it’s the good kind. The romance between the two leads, Geralt and Yennefer, reminds us of some of the best love stories in Westeros.

Are we missing any great fantasy shows? Come share them with others on Remarkist! There are lots of fans there leading watch parties and discussions over your favorite fantasy books, films, and TV.

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