26 shows similar to Game of Thrones to watch next

20. The Tudors

When it comes to medieval court dramas, there are few quite so prolific as The Tudors. While HBO was trying its hand at Rome, competing network Starz was dramatizing the erratic reign of Henry VIII of England.

On the surface, it’s very easy to see how this would make for great television. Henry VIII went through six wives during his time as king — some were beheaded, some were divorced, some died of natural causes. The man had a reputation for being a womanizer, as well as a penchant for executing people for treason. He also made major overhauls to the ties between the crown and the Roman Catholic Church (inspired by his desire for a divorce, of course), and a slew of other changes that would resonate throughout history.

To bring the story to life, Starz tapped a great well of talent, including Game of Thrones veteran Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), future witcher Henry Cavill, Sarah Bolger, Sam Neill, Tamzin Merchant, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Johnathan Rhys Meyers as Henry.

All four seasons of The Tudors are available via Starz.