Twenty shows to watch while waiting for Game of Thrones season 8

1) Vikings (History Channel, Series 2013-Current)

Perhaps your first and finest stop on the quest to fill the gaping hole left by the Game of Thrones hiatus, the popular Vikings series has proven an engaging historical drama. Its fifth season, which consists of 20 episodes, is set to premiere on November 29, 2017, and the show has already been renewed for a sixth. Primarily shot in Ireland, its environs may look familiar to Thrones fans. Plus there’s lots of fog and dirty people.

Vikings is set at the beginning of the Viking Age, beginning with the Lindisfarn Raid in 793 A.D. The story follows the adventures of Viking Chieftan Ragnar Lothbrok (a famous Norse folklore hero who was a scourge of England and France), who eventually becomes a Scandinavian King).

The reception to Vikings has been largely positive. The Wall Street Journal‘s Nancy DeWolf Smith liked the “natural and authentic” setting and costumes, and observed that Vikings was “a study of character, stamina, power and … of social, emotional and even intellectual awakening.” On the more negative side, James Poniewozik of TIME was underwhelmed by the story and plot depth, stating that Vikings “doesn’t nearly have the narrative ambition of a Game of Thrones or the political subtleties of a Rome.”

No matter what the big industry critics think, Vikings rocks the house at Rotten Tomatoes, pillaging itself a 91% reviewer score and a 92% audience score. Vikings isn’t Game of Thrones (although Thrones alumnus Ian Beattie (Meryn Trant) makes an appearance) and isn’t supposed to be — it’s a Norse epic of sweeping vistas and wheeling swords and wow does shieldmaiden Lagertha kick some serious butt.