Throughout its massive eight-season tenure on HBO, Game of Thrones was one of the most-watched and talked about television shows. While viewers can look back on it with a level of nostalgia, there's no denying that the show lowered its quality as time went on. Budgets continually rose and the scale of the story grew season to season, but somehow the showrunners couldn't properly wrap up the incredible tale they'd begun to tell almost a decade before.
Despite the issues Game of Thrones had in its final few seasons, it set a higher standard for what people could expect from small screen stories. But as everyone waits for the spinoff show, House of the Dragon, it's important to remember how plenty of other shows not only had similar themes and styles to Game of Thrones but executed them better. Consequently, they're deserving of similar acclaim.
10 The Dark And Complicated Characters Of The Sopranos
Across 86 episodes, David Chase’s The Sopranos cemented itself as one of the best crime dramas ever. Centered on the deeply flawed Tony Soprano, the show was one of the first to perfect the modern-day anti-hero concept. It made the viewer care about a collection of characters that are, by any characterization, immoral (if not downright evil). Nearly every major TV show that came after The Sopranos has taken some inspiration from it, and Game of Thrones is no exception.
9 The Realistic Drama Of Mad Men
Mad Men is a classic mid-century period piece that focuses on Don Draper – an ad-man played with a steely swagger by Jon Hamm. While the setting of Mad Men couldn't be more different to the medieval world of Game of Thrones, it excelled at character drama.
Just as Game of Thrones is packed with characters and constantly switching between them to weave a detailed, ongoing tapestry of their lives, Mad Men spends a great deal of time on its character building, from Don Draper himself to Vincent Kartheiser's Pete Campbell, Elisabeth Moss's Peggy Olson, and Christina Hendricks's Joan Harris. By the show's finale, it's impossible to not feel connected to the characters – even the less popular ones – which is all due to the masterful writing of Matthew Weiner.
8 The Political Violence Of House Of Cards
Politics is a dense and often boring topic, but not when it's displayed in the style of House of Cards. The heart of the show is Kevin Spacey, who portrays the ruthlessly ambitious Francis "Frank" Underwood – a member of the House of Representatives with much loftier goals and no morals to hold him back from achieving them. Characters like Cersei Lannister and Littlefinger, who are always vying for a higher position in Game of Thrones, are nearly identical to Underwood in the way they'll stop at nothing to get what they want. Viewers who loved the scheming of Game of Thrones but shied away from its graphic scenes will prefer House of Cards.
7 The Never-ending Betrayals Of Succession
Succession is a unique show that balances humor and drama without getting bogged down by either. With three seasons in the books and more to come, the show has created a similar world to Game of Thrones, where the motivations of its characters are never fully expressed. Just when viewers feel like they can trust someone, major twists and turns ensue as the members of the Roy family stab each other in the back to lift themselves up. Succession may not have fights with swords and axes like Game of Thrones, but the battles in the boardrooms of Waystar RoyCo are just as brutal and entertaining to witness.
6 The Bloody Battles And Fast Pace Of Spartacus
Spartacus is a show for people who can't get enough of the brutality of Game of Thrones. Where Game of Thrones could have many episodes without big battles, Spartacus was constantly showing graphic fights and sex scenes. On top of these thrilling elements, Spartacus had great plot lines and character development as well.
Sadly, many people never watched Spartacus because it had a lot going against it. Some people wrote it off as overtly graphic, while others stopped watching when its lead actor, Andy Whitfield, passed away suddenly and had to be replaced. But for those who regularly binged a few episodes, Spartacus proved to be better than Game of Thrones for those who wanted a more adrenaline-packed experience.
5 The Swashbuckling Action Of Black Sails
Black Sails is possibly the best show ever released by Starz – a network that's struggled to keep up with competitors like HBO. The show may not have the scale or budget of Game of Thrones, but what it did perfectly was create a pirate world that felt real and alive. No other television show or film has done a better job of depicting a historically accurate pirate environment, from the ships and beaches to the many port towns they visit. It's loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson's seminal Treasure Island as well, adding another fun layer of fantasy into the mix.
4 The Complex World-building Of Westworld
Game of Thrones may feel complex because of its slew of characters and environments across Westeros and beyond, but it can't touch the depth of Westworld. This show is based on the movie of the same name from 1973 that depicts a western-themed amusement park packed with androids that are programmed to act for the guests' amusement. The show delves into the humanity of these androids and the motivations behind the park owners throughout its 3 season run. Critics and fans are unanimous that Westworld became a bit too convoluted with its multiple timelines and peaked with its first season, but people who love to unravel mysteries and always be guessing what comes next will prefer this beautiful but flawed show to Game of Thrones.
3 The Medieval Monsters Of The Witcher
The Witcher is a show with so-many surface-level connections to Game of Thrones, from the environment to the costumes and set design. Starring Henry Cavill as the main character, Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher explores a beautifully rich fantasy world packed with unique beasts and monsters. Game of Thrones certainly has its fair share of medieval creatures, like dragons, but The Witcher is the superior show for people who love to see creative and horrifying beasts and the battles that ensue. From the spider-like Kikimora to the vampiric Bruxa with terrifying rows of razor-sharp teeth and unsettling crawling, The Witcher will keep monster-lovers satisfied.
2 Vikings: The Norse Version Of Game Of Thrones
Norse mythology and environments are making a massive comeback. God of War, the Thor movies, and Assassin's Creed have all added new installments that make their franchises more involved with classic Viking iconography and themes. Video games, movies, and TV shows are all currently cashing in on the movement, but Vikings was doing it before it was a trend.
While the show doesn't have the universal acting talent of Game of Thrones, it depicted 13th century Scandinavia with relative accuracy. Created for the History Channel, Vikings does a good job of balancing entertainment with education as it shows real historical events with its spin and creative license. For people who prefer Vikings to the traditional knights of Game of Thrones, Vikings offers great content throughout its 6-season run.
1 A Historical Story With Similar Themes In Rome
One of HBO's earliest successes with television was Rome, a 22-episode historical drama. Released in 2005, the show predates Game of Thrones while bringing the same balance of political posturing and physical battles. People looking for a fairly accurate historical story will find joy in Rome, from its top-notch set and costume design to its brilliant handling of real-life people like Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Octavian. Through its use of two fictional characters as plot devices, Rome was able to show a similar world to Game of Thrones, but one that actually existed in human history.
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