10 TV Shows Like House of the Dragon That You Should Watch Next.
Bloody politics are a hallmark of the Game of Thrones world: while the original series depicted a bloody succession crisis after the fall of a dynasty, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms explores Westerosi politics from the perspective of the average citizen, House of the Dragon explores the power struggle within the ruling Targaryen family. If you’re looking for a series like House of the Dragon to while away the time between episodes, here are 10 shows, some fantasy, some historical, all exploring the complex interfamilial power struggles depicted in House of the Dragon (dragons and magic optional).
Merlin (2008–2012)
Want dragons? We’ve got one. The special effects may not be anywhere near what you’d see on an HBO budget, but this series exceeds expectations, giving us a creature voiced by the immortal John Hurt. On a lighter side, at least compared to everything going on in Westeros, Merlin follows a pair of unlikely friends, one with a more pressing destiny, as they journey through a medieval landscape. Colin Morgan plays the title character, a sorcerer who arrives in Camelot to find magic forbidden—which doesn’t stop the dragon Kilgharrah from explaining to him that he must protect the king’s only son (Bradley James), a boy who will grow up to unite the country. (The boy’s name is Arthur, in case that wasn’t already obvious.) Watch Merlin on Prime Video and Tubi.
The Tudors (2007–2010)
Just as House Targaryen is at the height of its power in House of the Dragon (and a woman is vying for the throne), this high-class soap opera takes us inside one of England’s most lavish dynasties. The series may take liberties with history, but it reminds us that the Tudors were far more depraved than all those archbishops would like to admit. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is slightly more attractive and far more charming than the real-life sociopathic serial killer Henry, but many women reciprocate (both politically and in bed), especially Natalie Dormer’s Anne Boleyn. Watch The Tudors on Paramount+ and Prime Video .
His Dark Materials (2019–2022)
This dark fantasy adaptation of Philip Pullman’s classic novel series is set in an alternate world where human souls exist outside the body as animal companions called daemons. Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen) is an orphaned girl living at Jordan College, Oxford, who becomes embroiled in a murder plot that brings her into the orbit of the powerful Magisterium, the world’s all-encompassing and oppressive religious authority. She is torn between her mother, Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson), a powerful figure within the Magisterium, and her heretical extremist father, Lord Asriel (James McAvoy), neither of whom are the best guides on the heroic journey Lyra must undertake. From their steampunk world, Lyra and her daemon, Pan, travel across a multiverse that includes our own Earth. The political intrigue here is on a whole new level, but fantastical creatures are everywhere, and the film largely deals with corruption and institutional persecution. Watch His Dark Materials on HBO Max .
Rome (2005–2007)
The series is historically accurate, at least in the sense that it convincingly recreates Rome during the fall of the Republic. At the start of the series, Julius Caesar is just beginning his long conflict with traditionalist factions in the Senate, but the main characters, from whose perspectives the story is told, are the experienced but ordinary soldiers Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), assisted by the delightfully amoral noblewoman Atia, played by Polly Walker. The devil is in the details, and like shows set in Westeros, the series creates believable worlds, making it feel remarkably realistic. Watch Rome on HBO Max .
The Dragon Prince (2018–2024)
We’re mostly here for the dragons, especially given that the tone of this smart yet family-friendly animated series avoids the violent scenes typically found in Westeros. However, there’s also politics on a grand scale, set in a world loosely inspired by medieval Europe. The series follows two human princes, an elf and a toad, as they attempt to broker peace between warring kingdoms while protecting the Storm Dragon hatchling Azimondias. It’s set on the continent of Xadia, a place brimming with magic emanating from the Moon, Sky, Sun, Earth, Ocean, and Stars (many of the original Avatar creators are also working on it). A sequel is in development.Watch The Dragon Prince on Netflix .
Kingdom (2019–2021)
It’s not exactly a history lesson, but Kingdom lifts the veil on Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, an era that lasted until nearly the 20th century and didn’t see a true zombie outbreak, so the series takes some liberties. Early in the series, rumors circulate that the king has died, and his son, Crown Prince Lee Jang, is trying to uncover the truth. It turns out the king has indeed died—from smallpox—but the Queen Consort and her father, a powerful courtier, have a plan: they’ve given the king an obscure plant that will revive him long enough to produce an heir, but with an unfortunate side effect (you can already guess where this is going). Its deft blend of horror and medieval political intrigue makes this series unique in both genres, featuring all the violence and shady dealings you’d expect from House of the Dragon , but with, you know, zombies instead of dragons. So far, two seasons and a full-length special have been released, as well as a spin-off film , Ashin Severa .Watch Kingdom on Netflix .
My Lady Jane (2024)
Returning to the Tudor era with a series that delves a little deeper into one of the central themes of House of the Dragons . Category: Women Down on Their Luck. This is a passionate historical drama about England’s first (albeit only for nine days) queen, Jane Grey, but with the added twist of an oppressed class of people who can transform into animals. Based on the book by Cynthia Hand, Brody Ashton, and Jodie Meadows, the series tells the story of Emily Bader, playing the title character, a contender for the royal title who faces a dying royal cousin, a questionable marriage, and competition from her sisters, Elizabeth and Mary. Magic and transformations make it all quite frantic, which becomes clear as the incantation begins: “She could have been the leader England needed. Instead, history remembers her as the perfect damsel in distress. Screw that!” Watch My Lady Jane on Prime Video .
The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power (2022–)
Another expensive fantasy sequel, The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power expands on events largely hinted at in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. Both Martin’s Westeros and Tolkien’s Middle-earth represent attempts to craft unique fantasy worlds from the raw clay of Western European history and mythology. Set several thousand years before The Lord of the Rings , this story features multiple subplots, but the central character is almost certainly a young (or younger) Galadriel (Morfydd Clark). When the sympathetic but enigmatic Annatar offers to help the elves forge rings of power, Galadriel is the only one who realizes something is wrong. As in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings , it is the less powerful who suffer the most from the machinations of Middle-earth’s elite. Watch The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power on Prime Video .
The Last Kingdom (2018–2022)
Feuding families. Clashing cultures. Internal and external pressures: these themes resonate throughout history and are the basis for great fantasy fiction. The series begins in 866 and tells the story of Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), a Saxon kidnapped by Vikings as a child and subsequently raised by a Danish warlord. When his adoptive father is killed by another Dane, he enters the service of the Saxon King Alfred, hoping an alliance will allow him to avenge his loss. Instead, he is forced to choose between the Saxons of his birth and the Danes with whom he identifies. The drama unfolds against the backdrop of an England torn apart by warring kingdoms and threatened by foreign conquest.Watch The Last Kingdom on Netflix.
The Legend of Vox Machina (2022 – )
Vox Machina , a crowdfunded Kickstarter adaptation of a Dungeons & Dragons -themed web series, was never expected to be one of the best modern animated series on streaming platforms. Yet, here we have a show that enjoys both popularity and critical acclaim. Set in the D&D-inspired world of Exandria, the series follows a ragtag team of mercenaries as they gradually transform from a crew of quest-runners to a family united against increasingly complex crimes. Featuring a cast of experienced voice actors, the quality of their voices is one of the series’ greatest strengths. Watch Vox Machina on Prime Video.