The long wait for House of the Dragon season 3 is almost over, but fans might still need something to watch while they wait. House of the Dragon served as the first Game of Thrones spinoff series, proving that there were still plenty of stories to be told in the world of Westeros and beyond. It also made fans even hungrier for similar shows.
Like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon mixes grand fantasy elements with grounded tales of betrayal, ambition, and the destructive desire for power. There are plenty of other great shows that can deliver on those elements as well. From other fantasy shows to stories set inside the same world of Westeros to shows that tackle completely different worlds, these are the series fans can watch before House of the Dragon season 3.
1. Game of Thrones
Certainly, the most obvious choice for what to watch before House of the Dragon’s return is Game of Thrones. The massively successful fantasy series helped launch this franchise surrounding George R.R. Martin’s stories of Westeros and beyond. Even though House of the Dragon is set before the events of Game of Thrones, the original series helps inform so much about this world.
From the history of the Iron Throne to the relationships between the great houses to the greater threats lurking beyond, Game of Thrones set the stage for everything else. Though not everyone is fond of the way it ended, there is no doubt that Game of Thrones will be remembered as one of the greatest shows of all time.
2. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Another clear choice for House of the Dragon fans to watch is the latest spinoff in the Game of Thrones universe. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms actually takes place between the events of the other two series, following the adventures of lowly hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his loyal squire, Egg.
Part of the charm of the series is how different it is from the more epic series in the franchise. By comparison, the adventures of Dunk and Egg are small-scale, focusing on a much smaller collection of characters. There is also a lot of humor that makes it even more unique. However, for fans of the franchise, it is yet another wonderful chapter.
3. Succession
It is not just fantasy shows that House of the Dragon fans can seek out as they wait for the new season. Another acclaimed HBO series is a surprisingly perfect accompaniment for those who are drawn to the dysfunctional family conflicts of the House Targaryen. Succession may not feature dragons and sword fights, but it makes board meetings and hostile takeovers just as thrilling.
Succession takes place in the corporate world and follows the Roy family as the various siblings, vultures, and hangers-on fight for power with the imminent retirement of the company’s CEO and the family’s patriarch. It is a funny, brutal, and intense series that proves the Targaryens aren’t the only ruthless family on HBO.
4. Arcane
One of the most heartbreaking aspects of House of the Dragon is how this civil war between the Targaryens rips families and friendships apart. Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower begin the series as childhood friends, only to gradually grow into bitter enemies through the influence of others and the misunderstandings that snowball into conflicts.
Arcane is another series that perfectly deals with such a relationship. Set in a city where the population is divided by the rich utopia and the struggling underground, two sisters find themselves on opposite sides of the fight. It is a visually stunning show that also nails the world-building of this complex new world nearly as effectively as the Game of Thrones franchise.
5. Peaky Blinders
Power is a big theme in House of the Dragon, with some truly ambitious people looking to take the Iron Throne. From Rhaenyra to Aemond to Daemon, there are some truly ruthless power players who will seemingly stop at nothing to ensure they reach the wild heights they strive for. Of course, their need for power is often as destructive as it is thrilling.
Peaky Blinders taps into similar themes with its saga of 1900s gangster Tommy Shelby. While he begins the series as a rather overlooked member of the criminal world, Tommy is on a relentless mission to make a name for himself, leaving devastation in his wake. Cillian Murphy’s lead performance only makes that mission all the more engrossing.
6. Shōgun
Following the success of Game of Thrones, there have been a lot of shows that have tried to capitalize on similar stories of warring rulers, rich world-building, and complex characters. Shōgun is certainly one of the best shows of that kind to come out following Game of Thrones.
In the story of feudal Japan and the different factions vying for control, the show mirrors House of the Dragon even more than it does Game of Thrones. There are fascinating characters to guide the story, from flawed outsiders exploring this new world to noble leaders who play intricate games of strategy to stay on top. Along with the storytelling, it is a breathtaking television achievement in terms of its cinematic style.
7. The Wheel of Time
Even with all the political intrigue and civil wars, the big-budget fantasy aspects of House of the Dragon often steal the show. With so many dragons in this prequel show, it does lean into that genre element even more than Game of Thrones did. Luckily, there are other great fantasy shows for fans to seek out.
The Wheel of Time is also based on a beloved book series, bringing Robert Jordan’s stories to life. The Amazon Prime show follows a group of young characters who are sent on a dangerous journey, with one of them prophesied to be the reincarnation of a powerful figure who could either save the world or destroy it.
8. The Witcher
House of the Dragon fits nicely into the fantasy genre, but it is also a far more graphic fantasy show than we typically see in the genre. With bloody battles and plenty of other R-rated material, it is perfectly suited for fantasy fans who like a little grit in their stories of swords, magic, and otherworldly creatures.
The Witcher is another series that leans into this harder-edge fantasy. The show follows Geralt, a monster hunter who wanders the dangerous lands, getting mixed up in the even more dangerous world of humans struggling for power. Though fans were unhappy with the recasting of Liam Hemsworth after Henry Cavill vacated the role of Geralt, the show still delivers the big fantasy mayhem.
9. The Last Kingdom
House of the Dragon is one of the biggest-budget shows on television, with an epic scale that rivals any Hollywood movie. However, there are also shows that can capture the same thrill of battles and war, even on a smaller scale. The Last Kingdom is a smaller show in comparison, but one perfect for House of the Dragon fans.
The series is also based on a novel series, following Bernard Cornwell’s series about Vikings. Like House of the Dragon, it is a saga of a constant struggle for power between families, elevated by shifting alliances and brutal battles that make it feel like a bigger show than it is.
10. Rome
Even though it is a high fantasy adventure, House of the Dragon, like Game of Thrones, draws a lot of inspiration from real history in its storytelling. The ambitious rulers, bloody civil wars, and endless struggles for power are reflected in ancient history from all over the world. The HBO series Rome helped prove these historical stories are just as exciting as the fictional ones.
The show follows the reign of Julius Caesar and the aftermath of his death as the Roman Republic went through its most defining times. The show was extremely ambitious, with a scale that likely led to its early cancellation. However, it is also likely that HBO never would have made Game of Thrones were it not for Rome.
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