With House of the Dragon earning an impressive 10 million viewership for its premiere, the Game of Thrones prequel series has already showcased a powerful and brutal story about power, dynastic politics, and thwarted ambition. Though it has just begun, it’s already clear seeing how the seeds are being planted for the titanic and destructive conflict known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Though it shares a great deal in common with Game of Thrones, there are also a number of other series that have enough similarities to House of the Dragon to make them enjoyable for fans of this new offering from HBO. This can range from other fantasy series with parallel mysticism to themes like a family dynamic.
The Witcher (2019-Present)
Stream On Netflix
The Witcher has quickly established itself as one of the best series on Netflix. Focusing on Geralt’s adventures, it follows the titular character as his destiny is increasingly intertwined with the young girl Ciri and the sorceress Yennefer. Obviously, the series’ fantasy element will interest House of the Dragon fans.
More importantly, it is one of the rare fantasy series that shows empowered female characters–particularly Ciri–which means that it will appeal to those who enjoy Rhaenyra, one of the best and most fascinating characters in House of the Dragon.
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Stream On HBO Max
Obviously, anyone who finds themselves falling under the spell of House of the Dragon should definitely also check out Game of Thrones. Like its successor series, it is very much about power and the lengths to which people, particularly those in positions of authority, are willing to go to obtain more of it.
It also serves as a strong introduction to Martin’s world, filled with magic, white walkers, dragons, and politics. And it will give new viewers a chance to see how the events depicted in House of the Dragon will echo down through the ages, impacting the lives of numerous people, including the last remaining members of House Targaryen.
Succession (2018-Present)
Stream On HBO Max
Though it is not a fantasy series, Succession is highly recommended to House of the Dragon fans who enjoy the themes of a familial clash. Like its fantasy counterpart, it is very much about the halls of power, but, in this case, it is a media company run by the brutal Logan Roy (played by Brian Cox in one of his best roles), who spends much of the series pitting his children against one another in an attempt to find the perfect heir to his empire.
Tautly woven and masterfully performed, it is the type of HBO series that helps to show why the network is one of the most successful. The story is sharp and clever as each sibling vies to earn their father’s good side, and Logan Roy’s ruthlessness in dealing with the situation always brings chills down viewers’ spines.
The Wheel Of Time (2021-Present)
Stream On Prime Video
This is something of a golden age of fantasy television, and there are now many notable fantasy series currently airing on television. One of these is The Wheel of Time, based on the best-selling series by Robert Jordan. It focuses on a group of young people, one of whom is the prophesied Dragon, as the person who will either save the world or destroy it.
It has exactly the type of high fantasy elements designed to make it attract House of the Dragon fans, and it is a testament to how popular this particular genre has become.
His Dark Materials (2019-Present)
Stream On HBO Max
One of the things that makes House of the Dragon such compelling viewing is its ability to explore fraught philosophical and moral issues. This is something it shares in common with His Dark Materials, which is based on the series of novels by Philip Pullman.
It focuses on two young people, Lyra and Will, who are drawn into an ever greater conflict involving the theocratic organization known as the Magisterium. Cerebral and more than a little thematically dark, the series is a testament to how the fantasy genre can explore issues that are very relevant to the real world.
Vikings: Valhalla (2022-Present)
Stream On Netflix
In addition to this being a golden age of fantasy television, it is also a very strong period for historical dramas. One of the most notable is Vikings: Valhalla, which focuses on the Viking invasion (and colonization) of England.
It has just the right mix of brutal violence and politics that makes it a natural fit for those who enjoy these aspects of House of the Dragon. What’s more, it also features some very strong female characters, including Emma of Normandy, who is very much cut in the same mold as Rhaenyra.
The Tudors (2007-2010)
Stream On Showtime
Like its predecessor, House of the Dragon is very much a series about the way that sex and gender can have an enormous impact on fate, not only of individuals but also of nations. These dynamics also undergird one of the best Showtime series – The Tudors.
As its title suggests, it focuses on Henry VIII’s various marriages, demonstrating how his erotic desires would reshape England (and, in a more limited way, the very cultural landscape of Europe). Filled with melodrama and sexuality, it has a great deal in common with both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
Troy: Fall Of A City (2018)
Stream On Netflix
In many ways, House of the Dragon is a tragedy in the literary sense of the term, as it sees a family tear itself apart because of its own fatal choices. Anyone who has ever heard stories of the Trojan War knows that this also characterizes that titanic conflict, which is what makes Troy: Fall of a City such a good for those who enjoyed House of the Dragon.
Focusing on the actions of individuals like Paris, Helen, and Hector, the series is an inventive and ultimately heartbreaking rendition of one of the most formative tales in literature.
The Borgias (2011-2013)
Stream On Showtime
For a time, Showtime excelled at creating frothy, sexy soap opera period dramas, and one of the most notable examples was The Borgias. As its title suggests, it focused on the various plots, schemes, and machinations of the power-hungry dynasty, which ruled over Rome from its position atop the papacy.
Like House of the Dragon, it is very much about a ruling family that seems determined to destroy itself, even as it sits at the very apex of its power. Though more Renaissance than medieval, it still has much to recommend it to fans of the new HBO series.
Becoming Elizabeth (2022)
Stream On Starz
Rhaenyra is, of course, one of the most important characters in House of the Dragon, and there is still much that viewers have to learn about her. What is already clear, however, is that she is a young woman determined to hold power in her own right, someone who hides cunning behind her seemingly frivolous exterior.
In that regard, Rhaenyra has much in common with the young Princess Elizabeth in the series Becoming Elizabeth, which focuses on the young woman who would go on to become Elizabeth I, one of the most renowned monarchs England has seen. Just as House of the Dragon showcases Rhaenyra’s rise to power, Becoming Elizabeth shows viewers the key events in the princess’ early life that shaped the monarch she would become.
