From 2011 to 2019, it would have been nearly impossible to meet someone who didn’t know about the hit fantasy TV showGame of Thrones. Airing on HBO and grabbing the audience’s attention with the epic battle scenes and atmospheric tension between characters,Game of Throneshas come to define modern speculative fiction on TV,and it’s easy to see why.
Based on one of the mostinfluential fantasy book series,A Song of Ice and Fireby George R.R. Martin,Game of Throneswas great in large part thanks to its source material.Many of these works were adapted from high fantasy novels,laying the foundation for incredible world-building and complex relational and political systems.
WhileGame of Thronesisn’t afantasy show that’s perfect from start to finish, its impact on the genre and the resurgence in fantasy popularity that it caused can’t be overlooked.Any series that has premiered in the wake ofGOThas learned from the way it blended genresand appealed to audiences of all kinds, not just longtime fantasy fans.
6The Witcher (2019–Present)
The Witcher’s Heroes Would Have No Trouble Fitting Into Game Of Thrones
For the first three seasons of Netflix’s take on Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy seriesThe Witcher, Henry Cavill portrayed Geralt of Rivia, the titular character and terrifying warrior. LikeGame of Thrones,The Witcherboasts more than its fair share of formidable fighters and cunning political minds, asGeralt is swept up in a scheme much larger than his typical mercenary activities when he meets Ciri and Yennefer.
Book readers will find some fault in this adaptation ofThe Witcher,as it changes a lot for the screen in order to fit into the category of fantasy thatGame of Thronescreated. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as Geralt is the kind of brooding hero audiences know well and like to root for, andThe Witcherdoesn’t stop at developing his character alone.
It will be strange watchingThe Witcherwithout Cavill, as Liam Hemsworth will be replacing him beginning in season 4.
It will be strange watchingThe Witcherwithout Cavill, as Liam Hemsworth will be replacing him beginning in season 4, but the groundwork has been laid forThe Witcherto stick the landing as the series draws to a close.The Witcherwill end with season 5, but this is a planned conclusion, so viewers will get the closure they need (viaVariety).
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5The Magicians (2015–2020)
A Magical Academy & Fantastical Worlds Have More In Common With GOT Than It Seems
On paper, it seems as if there are more differences than similarities betweenGOTandThe Magicians, which is set against the backdrop of a magic school in the modern age. However,The Magicianspremiered just a few years afterGOTkick-started the fantasy renaissance,and the influence of the more medieval show can be felt in the bones ofThe Magicians.
The MagiciansandGame of Thronestake different approaches, but they both play with the concept of fantasy tropes and revel in defying audience expectations. The characters inThe Magiciansare young and more naive than inGOT, but they still go through huge amounts of loss and displacement, similarly to the people inGOT, who are constantly forced to adapt to their new realities.
It might not be quite as gory or graphic asGame of Thrones, butThe Magicianscan get serious when it needs to,while also knowing when to pull back and rely on its sense of humor. Following the adventures of the students at the magic school, Brakebills, turns out to be one of the most compelling journeys fantasy fans can go on.
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4His Dark Materials (2019–2022)
An Iconic Fantasy Adaptation That Didn’t Get Cut Short
Philip Pullman’s landmark series finally got the adaptation it deserved in 2019, when HBO tapped it to be its next beautifully realized TV show. After the misstep of the film iteration,The Golden Compass, in 2007, it was only right that Lyra’s story be done justice, asit grapples not just with coming of age, but with issues of religion, identity, and fighting against oppressive regimes.
For audiences who aren’t quite ready forGame of Thronesyet but are looking for a story that’s just as rich and complex, with deeper themes to chew on,His Dark Materialsis ideal.
His Dark Materialsis afantasy show that’s perfect for young adults, which is in high demand considering the many graphic and violent additions to the genre that are out there. For audiences who aren’t quite ready forGame of Thronesyet but are looking for a story that’s just as rich and complex, with deeper themes to chew on,His Dark Materialsis ideal.
Today, it’s all too common for a fantasy show to be canceled before it can complete its story, but this didn’t happen forHis Dark MaterialsorGame of Thrones.Each series gets to expand with its characters and explore the most interesting corners of its world,and this dedication to the narrative’s potential comes through in the quality of the projects.
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3The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (2022–Present)
The Lord Of The Rings Is The Original Influence For Most Modern Fantasy
ThoughThe Rings of Powerdoesn’t have a strict interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, the way some adaptations of the original trilogy do, it still makes for a fun fantasy adventure to dive into.Set in the Second Age and following Sauron’s rise to powerand forging of the titular rings,The Rings of Poweralso focuses on the young Galadriel.
Reactions have been mixed when it comes toThe Rings of Power, as the liberties taken with the timeline and lore of theLOTRuniverse, the series is still a spectacle to behold. In terms of set and character design, and immersion into the fantasy world,The Rings of Powerconsistently delivers. It helps that the series has so much amazing source material to work with.
There’s no question that Martin was inspired by Tolkien’s work when he wroteGame of Thrones, as every work of high fantasy that came after the trilogy was influenced by it. However,there’s a deeper connection betweenThe Rings of PowerandGOTthan simply sharing the same genre,as the new series premiered afterGOT, creating a conversation between them.
2The Wheel Of Time (2021–2025)
This Fantasy Show’s Cancellation Will Always Live In Infamy
Based on the acclaimed book series by Robert Jordan, the epic saga ofThe Wheel of Timefinally found a home on Prime Video for its short-lived, but memorable run. With a complex world and richly crafted characters who carry secret motivations and loyalties,there’s a lot that ties the legacy ofThe Wheel of TimetoGame of Thrones.
The Wheel of Time’s season 4 cancellationwas a blow to the fantasy community, as it’s another in a long list of speculative fiction shows with a lot of potential that are cut short before their time. While the show wasn’t perfect,by season 3, it had found its footingand was more exciting than ever, finally reaching some of the best arcs in the books.
GOTplayed a large part in making fantasy popular again, but it also set a high bar that few shows can live up to.
While it was likelyGame of Thrones’s success that gotThe Wheel of Timemade in the first place, it might have been its failure to live up to the cultural impact ofGOTthat contributed to its cancellation.GOTplayed a large part in making fantasy popular again, but it also set a high bar that few shows can live up to.
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1House Of The Dragon (2022–Present)
The Prequel Series Is The Closest We’ve Come To Another GOT
ThroughoutGame of Thrones,audiences are constantly hearing about the great House Targaryenand how this family was powerful but plagued by infighting, leading to their downfall. It’s in the highly anticipated but controversial prequel series,House of the Dragon, that the Dance of the Dragons, explored in the bookFire & Blood, is brought to life.
For audiences who can’t get enough of the dragons in theGOTuniverse,House of the Dragonmight even be better in some ways, as there’s no waiting for these beasts to appear or grow into fearsome weapons.The series also boasts an outstanding ensemble cast led by Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, and Matt Smith,among many other iconic actors.
House of the Dragonis only the first of many newGame of Thronesspinoffs and prequels to come, as the franchise is too beloved to end with the original show. Since it’s unlikely that readers will see the next books inA Song of Ice and Fireanytime soon,House of the Dragonis the perfect choice to scratch the same itch and spend some time in Westeros.
House of the Dragon (2022–Present)
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