10 Shows That House Of The Dragon Fans Should Check Out Next
Although "Game of Thrones" fans may have been disappointed by the way that the series concluded, excitement about the future of Westeros is still at its peak. HBO's prequel series "House of the Dragon" debuted to positive reviews and record-breaking viewership numbers, with HBO having already ordered a second season. Set approximately two centuries before the events of "Game of Thrones," "House of the Dragon" explores the interior battle that threatened to split House Targaryen apart. King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) has to deal with an unthinkable tragedy: his wife, Queen Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke), dies in childbirth.
Tradition dictates for Viserys to name his brother, Daemon (Matt Smith), as his heir. However, Daemon's erratic behavior draws concern about his role as a leader. In a maverick move, Viserys decides to name his daughter, Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), as his successor. She would be the first woman to ever sit on the Iron Throne. However, there are others within the King's inner circle that seek to influence the seat of power. The King's most trusted advisor, Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), positions his daughter, Alicent (Emily Carey), as a potential new bride for Viserys.
Thus far, "House of the Dragon" has done a great job at showing a different side of Westeros. The focus on political scheming, interpersonal relationships, societal roles, female empowerment, and wartime strategy embrace the best aspects of "Game of Thrones." If you're loving "House of the Dragon," you should check out these shows next.
The Crown
"Game of Thrones" was unique among high fantasy shows for the focus that it put on the female characters. Daenerys Targaryen (Emila Clarke) has to deal with the oppressive masculinity that has plagued Westeros for all of history. Thus far, "House of the Dragon" has put an even greater spotlight on its female stars. The relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent is the heart of the show. Rhaenyra would be the first woman to sit on the Iron Throne; would the Seven Kingdoms be able to break from tradition and support a female monarch?
Although "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon" are purely works of imagination, George R.R. Martin's source material pays tribute to the real ways that political maneuvering works. "House of the Dragon" fans that enjoy the low-key small council meetings as much as they do the exciting dragon fights will want to check out Netflix's historical series "The Crown." Boasting a level of production detail that rivals "House of the Dragon," "The Crown" focuses on a similar female protagonist who is unexpectedly thrust into a leadership position.
"The Crown" takes on the ambitious task of telling the entire history of Queen Elizabeth II, who remains at the center of British politics. The first two seasons star Claire Foy as young Elizabeth, who becomes Queen following the death of her father, King George VI (Jared Harris). Elizabeth must survive the antiquated practices of the era, but she also fights to change them.
House of Cards
"Game of Thrones" was able to attract television fans that weren't normally interested in fantasy because of its realistic depiction of bureaucratic, political, and economic issues. Yes, the show featured Whitewalkers, dragons, and lots of magic, but it also showed pragmatism in its depiction of how Westeros actually functioned. "House of the Dragon" honors that legacy. While the show has briefly gone to locations outside of the Targaryen's jurisdiction, the action has mostly stayed in King's Landing and Dragonstone. It is here where we see Viserys and his council debate the decisions that must be made to save the realm. As it was in "Game of Thrones," everyone is trying to find a way to influence the King's decisions.
If the political wheeling and dealing are what attracted you to "House of the Dragon," you can't go wrong with Netflix's "House of Cards." "House of Cards" depicts the modern American political system with the same intensity that makes "House of the Dragon" so electrifying. Inspired by both the 1989 novel and 1990 miniseries of the same name, "House of Cards" follows the ambitious politician Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) as he rises within the ranks of the democratic hierarchy.
Underwood is a loyal advocate for the recently elected President of the United States, Garrett Walker (Michel Gill). After Walker passes him over for the position of Secretary of State, Underwood begins orchestrating his downfall. His wife, Claire (Robin Wright), is equally as ambitious as he is.
Succession
Following the conclusion of "Game of Thrones," HBO subscribers may have asked themselves what their new "must watch" Sunday obsession would be. HBO certainly offered a few options: In the midst of "Game of Thrones," the network tried to capitalize on the popularity of genre shows with the dystopian mind-bender "Westworld," the historical science fiction series "Lovecraft Country," and the fantasy drama "His Dark Materials." Surprisingly, the show that really caught on wasn't one that took place in a fictional world. In fact, "Succession" feels so close to reality that it's more than a little bit eerie.
"Succession" tells the story of the aging media giant Logan Roy (Brian Cox). Logan is considering retiring from his position as the CEO of Waystar RoyCo, a powerful media company that deals with entertainment, news, amusement parks, and technology. However, stepping down from the company he created would force Logan to choose a successor. His children all vie for the position, but each has their flaws. Kendall (Jeremy Strong) is recovering from addiction issues, Shiv (Sarah Snook) already has her hands in political campaigning, Roman (Kieran Culkin) is a notorious troublemaker, and Connor (Alan Ruck) is completely ignorant of his privilege.
The question of "who will become CEO?" is just as exciting as the debate over "who will sit on the Iron Throne?" Similar to "House of the Dragon," "Succession" shows how even a family that is in a position of power and influence has to deal with their personal issues.
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The Musketeers
As much as we love the epic field battles in "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon," both shows have done a great job depicting exciting sword combat. Who could forget the iconic duel between Ned Stark (Sean Bean) and Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), or the battle between "The Mountain" (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) and "The Viper" (Pedro Pascal)? Although "House of the Dragon" has already shown an exciting standoff between Daemon and the pirate leader known as the "Crabfeeder" (Daniel Scott-Smith) in the episode "Second of His Name."
If you're looking for a great adventure story about the art of combat, you can never go wrong with "The Three Musketeers." Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel has inspired countless adaptations throughout the history of cinema. While there are many film versions that tried to cram the entire story into an overpacked narrative, the BBC series "The Musketeers" took the time to flesh out each of the characters.
Similar to "House of the Dragon," "The Musketeers" follows a young hero who is determined to make his family proud. After the death of his father, D'Artagnan (Luke Pasqualino) joins the ranks of the Musketeers, alongside Athos (Tom Purke), Porthos (Howard Charles), and Aramis (Santiago Cabrera). Unlike other adaptations, "The Musketeers" also spends time developing its female characters. Queen Anne (Alexandra Dowling) grows irritated by the ignorance of her husband, King Louis XIII (Ryan Gage), and develops into an independent leader.
Lovecraft Country
Although "Lovecraft Country" was poised to be HBO's next blockbuster series following "Game of Thrones," the network shockingly canceled the series after just one season. It was a very disappointing announcement. "Lovecraft Country" showed a lot of potential in its first installment; the cliffhanger ending indicated that it clearly had even more ambitious plans for its future.
Like "House of the Dragon," "Lovecraft Country" uses its dense mythology to analyze current social issues involving representation. "House of the Dragon" examines the struggles that women face as they ascend to positions of influence; Rhaenyra must silence those that claim a woman is not fit to rule the Seven Kingdoms. "Lovecraft Country" recontextualizes classic science fiction and fantasy stories through the perspective of Black heroes. Both shows also deal with the importance of family legacy.
In "Lovecraft Country," the Korean War veteran Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) returns to his hometown and reunites with his childhood crush, Letitia Lewis (Jurnee Smollett). Atticus leads Letitia and his uncle, George (Courtney B. Vance), on a cross-country adventure across the Jim Crow South. They are on a mission to find Atticus' father, Montrose (Michael K. Williams). Some sequences in "House of the Dragon" are so intense that they could be classified as horror. There are certainly horror elements within "Lovecraft Country." In the episode "A History of Violence," the heroes accidentally awaken the spirit of an Arawak Two-Spirit named Yahima. Their exhilarating escape feels like it's lifted out of a classic monster movie.
Our Flag Means Death
"House of the Dragon" may be mostly focused on what's going on in King's Landing and Dragonstone, but we've already seen glimpses of the larger world of Westeros. In the third episode, "Second of His Name," there's some exciting maritime combat in the Stepstones. The pirate lord known as the "Crabfeeder" threatens to take over the islands known as The Triarchy. In order to protect Westeros, Daemon and Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) join forces to destroy the pirates.
It sounds like there is even more naval action coming in the future. Corlys Velaryon will be the main character in an upcoming spin-off series titled "The Sea Snake." If you're looking for another exciting series about piracy, "Our Flag Means Death" is one of the year's best breakout shows. Based on a true story, the comedic series follows the gentleman Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) as he shockingly decides to commit himself to a life of piracy. Bonnet captains his own crew, and falls into the company of the legendary outlaw Captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). Although it's sillier in nature, "Our Flag Means Death" does not shy away from the brutality of piracy.
"House of the Dragon" has revealed things about the Targaryen lineage that force the viewer to think about "Game of Thrones" in a different way. Similarly, "Our Flag Means Death" inspires the audience to reconsider the myth of Blackbeard, who struggles to accept his sexuality as he falls in love with Bonnet.
Angel
The best spin-off shows highlight a particular aspect of the universe and explore it in more depth. There are many "Game of Thrones" spinoffs in development, but "House of the Dragon" specifically looks at the nature of succession within the early history of House Targaryen. Instead of highlighting the fantasy elements that were so present in "Game of Thrones," "House of the Dragons" is a political thriller set within Westeros. It allows the two shows to be distinct.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is one of the most beloved young adult fantasy shows of all time. The spin-off series, "Angel," did not seek to replicate the same formula that had made the original so successful. The series follows the vampire Angel (David Boreanaz) as he searches for redemption in Los Angeles. Angel is cursed with a soul and regrets all the pain that he has inflicted upon people in the past. In order to do some good in the world, Angel starts a detective agency alongside his Sunnydale friend Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) and the watcher Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Alexis Denisof).
Like "House of the Dragon," "Angel" takes a darker approach to this mythology. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is ultimately a story of hope; Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) learns to inspire her friends, and accept the burdens of becoming an adult. Angel will never feel that satisfaction. In the powerful Season 2 episode "Revival," Angel realizes that evil can never be destroyed. He is ultimately fighting an unwinnable war.
Good Omens
Prophecy plays a large role in "House of the Dragon." In the "The Heirs of the Dragon" episode, Viserys tells his daughter about "A Song of Ice and Fire." The prophecy states that in order to survive a blistering winter, a Targaryen must sit on the Iron Throne. This "winter" that is coming is a reference to the Whitewalkers that emerge in "Game of Thrones." However, we know from that series that most prophecies can be subverted.
Similar to George R.R. Martin, Neil Gaiman is a beloved fantasy author who often deconstructs the nature of prophecy, destiny, and religion. Amazon Prime Video adapted one of Gaiman's best novels, "Good Omens," into an excellent miniseries of the same name. "Good Omens" centers on an unlikely alliance between the demon Crowley (David Tennant) and the angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen), who are forced to join forces in order to prevent the Antichrist from bringing forth the apocalypse. Surprising friendships that form in a time of crisis are frequently featured in "House of the Dragon," but "Good Omens" takes a slightly more comedic approach.
"Good Omens" does a great job of recontextualizing Christian figures into an exciting adventure series; it makes the series enjoyable for any viewer, regardless of their personal religious affiliation. Additionally, any "House of the Dragon" fan knows the importance of a great soundtrack. The battles wouldn't feel nearly as epic if it wasn't for Ramin Djawadi's score. "Good Omens" appreciates music as well, featuring many action sequences set to the music of Queen.
The Leftovers
"House of the Dragon" does not unfold at a traditional pace. There are long time jumps between episodes, and the first season has even cast multiple performers in some of the lead roles. Milly Alcock and Emily Carey portray Princess Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower, respectively, in the first few episodes, while Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke will inherit the same roles once the characters grow older. While this could potentially be disruptive, "House of the Dragon" has managed to make the transitions fluid.
HBO's fantasy series "The Leftovers" takes similar narrative risks. Like "House of the Dragon," the inciting incident of the series has already occurred before the pilot begins. "The Leftovers" takes place three years after a global catastrophe known as the Sudden Departure, where 2% of the world's population disappeared without a trace.
Similar to "House of the Dragon," "The Leftovers" does a great job at not overloading the audience with a lot of exposition all at once. The characters begin to share elements of their past with each other as they open up to one another. The police chief Kevin Garvey Jr. (Justin Theroux) is left to inherit the position that his father (Scott Glenn) once held. He forms a romantic relationship with Nora Durst (Carrie Coon), who lost her entire family in the departure. Like "House of the Dragon," "The Leftovers" features a terrific score. The haunting soundtrack from Max Richter has an ethereal quality to it that makes the series even more emotional.
Peaky Blinders
Nothing is more important than family in "House of the Dragon." House Targaryen is the most powerful dynasty in Westeros and must protect itself from those that would seek to undermine it. Viserys knows that whoever he names as his successor will be tasked with both protecting the realm and ensuring their family's legacy. He feels that Rhaenyra is a stronger choice to lead the Seven Kingdoms because Daemon is too unpredictable. Even though he stages a coup, Daemon still has respect for his brother; he chastises Corlys Velaryon when he insults the King.
Familial loyalty and backstabbing are major themes in the excellent historical series "Peaky Blinders." The series takes place in Europe during the aftermath of World War I. Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) leads a street gang known as the Peaky Blinders. They face off against other criminal groups, the British crown, and religious institutions. Thomas places trust in his aunt Polly (Helen McCrory), and his siblings, Arthur (Paul Anderson), John (Joe Cole), and Ada (Sophie Rundle).
Like "House of the Dragon," "Peaky Blinders" features outstanding production design. The world of 20th century England truly comes to life as the Peaky Blinders go on their adventures. Neither show is for the faint of heart, though. The Peaky Blinders get into many bloody shootouts as they battle their rivals. If you think Daemon is bad, just check out the rogue's gallery of "Peaky Blinders." Chief Inspector Campbell (Sam Neill), for example, is one of television's most unlikeable villains.