Doctor Who and Game of Thrones fans: Why you need to check out Gallifrey

Wanting to know what to check out once Game of Thrones is over? If you’re also a fan of Doctor Who, then we might have the perfect spin-off series for you…

We’re literally weeks away from the ending of Game of Thrones. The series has been nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, and has been extremely popular due to its complex characters, devious politics and epic battles. For many, there won’t be anything to replace it. However, if you’re already even slightly familiar with the world of Doctor Who, then we might have the perfect substitute: Gallifrey.

Set on the Doctor’s home world, the series begins focusing primarily on Romana, who’s not only a former companion of the Doctor, but also President of Gallifrey. She has a lot of enemies at the start of the series already, both from outside Gallifrey and, far more dangerously, from within.

The series features a huge number of complex characters, and you’re never quite sure who to trust (well, apart from the Doctor’s former companions living on Gallifrey, which include Romana, Leela and two K9s). Braxiatel appears to be a strong ally, but…well, let’s just say that Petyr Baelish could ask him for advice on how to be completely devious.

However, the best character of all has to be Narvin. Initially a slimy and completely untrustworthy character, one who runs the shadiest organization on Gallifrey, Narvin has some of the most significant character development in not just the series, but in the entire Doctor Who universe. Where he begins and where his is now, and the journey in between those two points, truly make him the strongest element of the series.

Complex political drama

If your only experience of the Doctor’s home world has been through the New Series, then it’s important to know that when Gallifrey begins, it’s long before the start of the Time War.

However, the earliest seasons aren’t exactly focused on a happy utopia. In fact, when the series begins, tensions are high between the Time Lords and other Temporal Powers in the universe.

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If that wasn’t bad enough for Romana, there are many, many Time Lords on Gallifrey who disagree with her more liberal leadership. While Romana believes that Gallifrey should open up more to other races, there are many Time Lords who believe that their world should remain cut off from the rest of the universe.

This starts out as a major problem in series one, before it escalates in further series. Honestly, with so much conflict, high stakes and shocking twists throughout, series two and three are filled with absolutely amazing drama, which any Game of Thrones fan is bound to enjoy.

The road to the Time War

If that wasn’t enough to grab your interest, then there’s also where it all leads to. Because while Gallifrey doesn’t feature the Time War initially, for the most recent series, it’s been at the center of the series.

Yes, you get to hear the very beginning of the planet’s greatest conflict ever. You get to hear how dangerous the Time Lords become, and just how desperate our heroes are to end the Time War. It’s fantastic stuff, and leads to some major moments in Doctor Who mythology.

So, if you’re looking for something that has well-developed characters, devious politics, shocking twists and of course, major deaths, then Gallifrey is definitely the right series to check out once Game of Thrones is finished. Honestly, it’s one of the stronger Doctor Who spin-offs out there. You can get the whole series here.

Does this series sound like a perfect fit for you when Game of Thrones is over? Gallifrey fans, do you think the comparison to Game of Thrones is justified? Let us know in the comments below.