After so much hype, it's hard to believe House of the Dragon's first season has already ended. The series was the first of several planned Game of Thrones spin-offs, with co-showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik basing the first 10 episodes on the events of George R.R. Martin's 2018 tome Fire and Blood. Given that, fans knew there was a lot in store.

Viewers expected massive time jumps, complex storylines involving similarly named characters, and actors sharing roles as the characters aged. But even those who read the story of the Targaryens and their internal struggles to reach and keep the Iron Throne were surprised at some of the writers' interpretations.

In true Westeros fashion, there were characters viewers barely knew who perished within a single scene and beloved figures who were gone too soon. Then there were all of those CGI dragons, not to mention the fan-favorite romance between Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and his niece, Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock and Emma D'Arcy). Add in an aging king, houses taking sides, illegitimate heirs, horrific birthing scenes, and a friendship torn to pieces at the hands of the patriarchy, and there was a lot to get into.

As the show trended online weekly, fans and haters dissected it all, getting into the complex world, conniving characters, on-theme costumes, and fantastical elements. And isn't that part of the fun, discussing and theorizing with others, wondering where it will all go next? 

You could relive that fun by rewatching the first season of House of The Dragon as you wait for the second season to premiere. But if you're looking for something else to fuel that dragon fire in the meantime, Metacritic highlights 10 other shows with similar themes to check out, ranked by Metascore.

Succession

Metascore: 83
Best for: Viewers who think their family drama is bad
Where to watch: 

House of the Dragon's first season is about a family fighting to become the next leader, which is precisely what Succession is — only this HBO series takes place in the present day, with no dragons or wonky wigs. Creator Jesse Armstrong's Emmy-winning series opens with patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox) preparing to step down from his multi-national media company. As a result, seasons-long tension between his entitled kids erupts. Part of the fun is seeing who you hate more and which character you ultimately want to succeed. 

"The joy of seeing them all plot against one another and lay traps and sometimes fall into them themselves often rivals the best machinations of Lannisters, Targaryens, or a Littlefinger." — Allison Keene, Collider

Game of Thrones

Metascore: 80
Best for: Completists or those who are late to the game
Where to watch:

It might go without saying, but catching the HBO event that inspired House of the Dragon is worth a watch if you somehow skipped it when it first aired. The complex world included several families vying for power and that coveted Iron Throne, a struggle that — as witnessed in House of the Dragon — goes back at least 200 years. This show also changed the game regarding killing off favorite characters, showing other creatives that sometimes a happy ending isn't necessarily the most interesting one. 

"The kingdoms are gorgeous to look at, down to the last loving detail — you could be entertained just by watching for the inventive suits of armor. The violence is spectacular; the sex is twisted. The producers even had a language invented for the Dothraki, which should please the Dungeons and Dragons crowd." — Paige Wiser, Chicago Sun-Times

Peaky Blinders

Metascore: 77
Best for: Fans of graphic scenes, violent battles
Where to watch: Netflix
Seasons: 6

Head back to 1900s England, where this BBC gang drama takes place. The period piece revolves around an ambitious boss named Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his family as they establish themselves following the events of the First World War. The show is known for its dramatic twists, conniving characters, and graphic content, making it a natural follow-up to something like House of the Dragon. 

"Steeped in blood, sopped in whiskey, and lit in brooding pools of yellow and gray, Peaky Blinders is mood TV escapism with a satisfying historical bent." — Johnny Loftus, Decider 

Outlander

Metascore: 76
Best for: Romantic hopefuls
Where to watch:

This show, based on the series of novels by Diana Gabaldon, is a time-traveling story of lovers Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Although it's generally happier than the world of Westeros, the sweeping locations, period costumes, and darker characters are comparable. Tragic moments, backstabbing, and war push the story forward as the show explores power-hungry characters and criminals with twisted motivations.

"Some episodes chug along faster than others, but the stellar production values render even the slower-paced installments worthwhile viewing." — Lori Rackl, Chicago Sun-Times

Vikings

Metascore: 74
Best for: Viewers who get a kick out of big battle scenes
Where to watch:

This saga of famed Viking Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his sons begins as an in-depth exploration of conquering, religion, and a lost culture. Over the seasons, it unfolds into much more, with powerful female characters and epic battles that require hundreds of extras to pull off. While the budget for those battles was never as high as House of the Dragons or Game of Thrones, they're certainly still epic.

"All involved are dedicated to the cause of making Vikings one of television's most striking series. It's also emerged as one of the best, evolving from a guilty pleasure at first to a first-rate tale of substance and even subtlety mixed with the cold steel of primal warfare." — Ed Bark, Uncle Barky

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Metascore: 71
Best for: J.R.R. Tolkien fans
Where to watch:

This prequel to Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings traces the events that led to Sauron forging the rings of power and those who were "awarded" them. The sweeping story is one of the most expensive series ever made, with estimates putting it over the billion-dollar mark after one season. The larger-than-life sets and the slow-burning world of Middle-earth have resonated with fans who love complex, high-stakes stories in which the heroes don't always die. Since The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon debuted around the same time, many have compared the two, making both shows worth a watch so you can say once and for all which you prefer and why.

"This isn't Westeros. Nobody's going to get their helmet lobbed off here. Instead, it's a spectacle-filled return to a lovingly rendered Middle-earth that promises to deliver an awfully big adventure." — Kevin E G Perry, The Independent

Rome

Metascore: 71
Best for: Historical political junkies
Where to watch:

This highly stylized series is all about detailing the lives of the rich and famous back when Rome was at the height of its power. But, at the core of this story are two fictionalized, ordinary Roman soldiers: Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson). The series traced their battles over the last days of the Roman Republic, with thirsty quests for power fueling all of the backstabbing and betrayal.  

"It demands your attention to keep the many plot threads from tangling, and at times requires a strong stomach, but you never know what to expect next" — Catherine Dawson March, The Globe and Mail

His Dark Materials

Metascore: 69
Best for: Complex fantasy seekers
Where to watch: 

The highly serialized fantasy is based on the trio of books by Philip Pullman and unravels a rich world with multiple dimensions, characters, and creatures. It begins when a young woman searches for her lost friend, only to uncover a sinister plot and a dangerous cosmic substance. There are plenty of storylines and characters to follow along the way, making this a good choice for fans of stories with deep roots.

"His Dark Materials benefits from a mesmerizing Lorne Balfe-composed theme song and early on introduces an intriguing element of travel between dimensions but then bogs down as it moves forward to bring all the requisite characters from the book together." — Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Tudors

Metascore: 66
Best for: Royal watchers 
Where to watch:

The dramatized story of the life of King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) takes a deep dive into the earlier political relationships between the famed royal and his women and wives. Another series about power struggles and moral corruption, this show also presents a rich tapestry of costumes and cinematography to enhance that world further. Game of Thrones fans, meanwhile, may recognize Natalie Dormer as the famous Anne Boleyn. 

"The Tudors takes all of the intrigue and power struggles and tomfoolery of the House of Tudor and gives it six-pack abs and a rock-star swagger." — Heather Havrilesky, Salon 

The Witcher

Metascore: 62
Best for: Fans of supernatural fantasy series 
Where to watch: Netflix
Seasons: 2 (so far)

This fantasy show, based on the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski, follows a monster-hunter named Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) who protects humanity while trying to find his place within it. Like House of the Dragon, it features a complex world with flawed characters and supernatural occurrences, not to mention groups of people who just can't get along. 

"The Witcher also boasts richly expensive visuals and an expansive-seeming world, at least in its first five hours. ... What it lacks, though, is tonal consistency" — Daniel D'Addario, Variety