8 best TV shows to watch if you like The Wheel of Time
By Bryce Olin
It’s going to be a while until The Wheel of Time season 3 premieres on Prime Video. Production on the new season wrapped in March 2024, but it'll be airing at the end of 2024 at the very earliest, and quite possibly later than that. Luckily, we have a long list of shows to watch while you wait for The Wheel of Time season 3!
I’ve been a big fan of The Wheel of Time since the show’s premiere on Prime Video in November 2021. The TV series is great, and I enjoyed it so much that I started Robert Jordan’s 14-book series that the show is based on. I know I’m late to the party, but the wheel weaves as the wheel wills, you know?
As I mentioned, it’s going to be a while before new episodes of The Wheel of Time are released, so we might as well find some other good shows to watch in the meantime. I’ve seen all eight shows on this list and I would recommend them to all fans of The Wheel of Time.
Let’s get the list started with the biggest show returning with new episodes in 2024, House of the Dragon:
1. House of the Dragon
Where to watch: HBO and MAX
What it’s about: House of the Dragon is the prequel to Game of Thrones. It’s based on the book Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin. The series picks up about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. It tells the story of the Dance of the Dragons, a period of conflict in Westeros that split the Targaryen family and the Seven Kingdoms in two.
The first season of House of the Dragon premiered in August 2022, so it’s been a while since the last new episode. Good news, though! House of the Dragon season 2 premieres on Sunday, June 16 and runs through the summer of 2024
Why you should watch: First of all, House of the Dragon is one of the best shows coming in 2024. There will not be a more popular series this year than House of the Dragon. I might be biased, but I think this will be the best season of a show this year. So, if you like good shows, you have to check it out.
It’s high fantasy like The Wheel of Time. I don’t like to assume, but I’d bet most fans of House of the Dragon would also be fans of The Wheel of Time. There are similarities between the two shows. House of the Dragon has an incredible cast led by Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, and Emma D’Arcy. That’s a major plus, too!
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
What it’s about: The Rings of Power functions as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings. It explores the origins of the rings, Sauron’s rise to power, and the forging of the One Ring to rule them all. The first season premiered on Prime Video in September 2022. It was developed by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne. The Rings of Power season 2 is done filming. It’s expected to be released sometime later this year, although Amazon has not confirmed the premiere date yet. The series is already renewed for season 3, so there’s going to be a lot more Rings of Power on the way soon.
The series revolves around the elf, Galadriel, played by Morfydd Clarke, who is trying to sound the alarms as evil slowly creeps back into Middle-earth. We also follow characters like the dwarf Durin, the Númenórean Isildur, and the harfoot Elanor Brandyfoot.
Why you should watch: Look, I know Rings of Power has been a bit of a mess. The first season, while beautiful, left something to be desired for most fans of J.R.R. Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings. I’ve read all the criticism about the show, and I agree that some creative choices missed the mark, but it’s still early. We’ve only seen eight episodes of the show, and there were some big reveals in the latter episodes of season 1. I’m very eager to see what’s going to happen in season 2.
If you like The Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time, you’ll probably want to check out Rings of Power. It might be a hard sell for some fans, but hey, we have at least a year until The Wheel of Time season 3 hits Prime Video. We have to watch something!
3. The Last Kingdom
Where to watch: Netflix
What it’s about: The Last Kingdom is based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories books, which tell the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, played by Alexander Dreymon. Raised by the Danes after they took his ancestral castle when he was a child, Uhtred is the heir to Bebbanburg. He walks the lines between the Saxons and Danes while playing an integral role in the formation of England.
The series ran for five seasons on Netflix (and on BBC Two for a few seasons) from 2015 to 2022. The story ends with a movie, Seven Kings Must Die, which premiered on Netflix in April 2023.
Why you should watch: The Last Kingdom is one of my favorite shows of the last few years. You can watch all five seasons and the movie on Netflix right now. It’s well worth your time! There’s a lot of political drama in The Last Kingdom, along with epic action sequences, romance, betrayal, and so much more.
While The Last Kingdom doesn't have the sort of fantasy and magical elements The Wheel of Time fans might expect, it does have some “chosen one” vibes with Uhtred and his storylines. I think fans of Rand al’Thor will find something they like in Uhtred, too.
4. Black Sails
Where to watch: Netflix and Starz
What it’s about: Black Sails is a pirate drama from Starz that ran for four seasons from 2014-2017. Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine created the series, which stars Toby Stephens, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Luke Arnold, Hannah New, and so many more great cast members. The series tells the story of Captain Flint, played by Stephens, and his crew as they try to create a life and name for themselves on New Providence Island in the early 1800s.
Why you should watch: Black Sails is the show to watch if you like pirates! It’s definitely the best pirate series of all time. Although it’s not a fantasy series like The Wheel of Time, it does have characters trying to navigate an ever-changing landscape and fulfill their destiny. Plus, for the first time, the series just landed on Netflix as of April 2024. This is the time to dive in and watch the series.
5. Vikings
Where to watch: Netflix
What it’s about: Created by Michael Hirst, Vikings ran for six seasons on the History Channel beginning in 2013. The series follows famed Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, played by Travis Fimmel, during his travels around Northern Europe. Vikings has an incredible cast with Kathryn Winnick, Gustaf Skarsgård, Donal Logue, Clive Standen, and many more great performers.
Why you should watch: I have a feeling fans of The Wheel of Time will also be a fan of Vikings. There aren’t many similarities between the two. Vikings isn’t a fantasy series, but its historical elements, political intrigue, and action sequences are impressive. The Wheel of Time is a much better show, but this isn’t a bad option to pass the time between seasons.
I also highly recommend the spinoff of Vikings, Vikings: Valhalla, which is available to stream on Netflix. It’s set a few hundred years after Ragnar’s time and follows Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett), Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter), and Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson).
6. The Witcher
Where to watch: Netflix
What it’s about: The Witcher is based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series about Geralt of Rivia, played by Henry Cavill for the first three seasons of the Netflix series. Liam Hemsworth is taking over for Cavill in season 4 and season 5, the final seasons of The Witcher. The series follows Geralt, a witcher, which is basically a professional monster hunter, as he forms a bond with the young Princess Cirilla (Freya Allen), also known as Ciri, after her kingdom is attacked. With the Continent at war, Geralt, along with the sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), are pulled into the conflict.
Why you should watch: The Witcher is not as good as The Wheel of Time, but it’s a solid fantasy series! There are three seasons available to stream on Netflix right now, along with several spinoffs, including The Witcher: Blood Origin. It might not be for everyone, but the battle sequences, epic story, and high production values are all reasons you should check out The Witcher if you like The Wheel of Time!
7. Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Where to watch: Disney+
What it’s about: Percy Jackson and the Olympians is based on Rick Riordan’s book series of the same name about Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), a demigod and son of Poseidon who finds himself in the middle of a brewing war between the Greek gods. Leah Sava Jeffries, who plays Annabeth Chase, and Aryan Simhadri, who plays Grover Underwood, star as Percy’s counterparts on his mission to save Olympus and the world. The series premiered on Disney+ in December 2023 and was a huge hit. Disney quickly picked up the series for season 2.
Why you should watch: Percy Jackson and the Olympians skews way younger than The Wheel of Time. It’s a kids shows, but it’s a great kids show! If you’re a fan of Greek mythology and would love a younger and more modern series to enjoy, this is the show for you.
8. Game of Thrones
Where to watch: HBO and MAX
What it’s about: I mean, if you don’t know what Game of Thrones is by now, what are you even doing? Game of Thrones is based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series. It was developed by Dan Weiss and David Benioff for HBO. It ran for eight seasons through 2022. HBO is actively developing other spinoffs set in the world of Game of Thrones. We already mentioned one, House of the Dragon, which returns for its second season on June 16, 2024. Game of Thrones follows the stories of the kings, queens, lords, ladies, and the like as they try to rise to power in Westeros and beyond.
Why you should watch: This one is easy! Game of Thrones is the best fantasy series of all time. It just doesn’t get better than this, despite a few slips in the later seasons. If you’re a big fan of The Wheel of Time and haven’t given Game of Thrones a try, it’s time to watch and enjoy a great TV series.
That’s the list of the best shows to watch if you like The Wheel of Time. Stay tuned for more news about the third season of the great fantasy series.
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