Top 9 TV Shows That Tried to Be the Next Game of Thrones

1. The Rings of Power

The prequel series to The Lord of the Rings, The Rings of Power, entered the fantasy genre with high expectations, aiming to rival the popularity of Game of Thrones. With an impressive budget from Amazon Prime Video, it seemed poised for success. However, despite a strong debut, the series failed to maintain viewership, leaving more than half of the audience disinterested and unable to finish the first season.

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2. True Detective

True Detective burst onto the scene with a gripping first season that had audiences and critics alike buzzing with excitement. The anthology series promised to deliver a dark, brooding narrative that could potentially rival the success of Game of Thrones. However, subsequent seasons failed to reach the same heights as the initial outing, leaving True Detective unable to live up to its potential.

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3. The Wheel of Time

The high fantasy series, The Wheel of Time, boasted magical worldbuilding and an inbuilt audience from the novel's readership. Despite its ambitious aspirations, the series suffered from pacing issues and failed to capture the same narrative heft as Game of Thrones. It struggled to make a mark on the mainstream in the same way as its predecessor.

Lan, Rand, Egwene, and Moiraine in The Wheel of Time season 2

4. House of the Dragon

As the prequel spin-off to Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon faced immense pressure to fill the shoes of its predecessor. While it delivered a strong first season and received widespread acclaim, it has yet to reach the cultural significance achieved by Game of Thrones. Whether it will ever attain such grand ambitions remains to be seen.

Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen with Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra, staring down the camera with an orange glow in the background, in House of the Dragon's season 1 finale

5. Black Sails

Positioned as a prequel to Treasure Island, Black Sails had the potential to blend the captivating narratives of Game of Thrones with the swashbuckling aesthetics of Pirates of the Caribbean. However, the series failed to establish compelling characters and suffered from slow storylines, preventing it from achieving the same level of success as Game of Thrones.

Someone places a noose around Charles Vane's neck at his execution in Black Sails season 3.

6. Westworld

The mind-bending dystopian Western series, Westworld, initially sparked intrigue with its interconnected timeline twist and compelling characters. However, as the series progressed, the convoluted plot caused a decline in viewership with each subsequent season. It ultimately failed to gain the mainstream acclaim of Game of Thrones.

Westworld, a host riding on a horse toward a bridge

7. Emerald City

Emerald City sought to infuse the whimsical world of The Wizard of Oz with the dark and edgy storytelling reminiscent of Game of Thrones. Despite its unique concept, the series struggled to find its audience, caught between the realms of children's entertainment and mature adult-based fantasy. Ultimately, it failed to resonate with viewers.

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8. The Witcher

Based on the fantasy book series, The Witcher initially showed promise as a dark fantasy alternative to fill the void left by Game of Thrones. With a strong lead performance and an established audience, it seemed poised for success. However, it never managed to break into mainstream pop culture in the same way as Game of Thrones.

Henry Cavill in The Witcher

9. Marco Polo

Exploring the real-life adventures of Marco Polo, this series attempted to incorporate betrayal, greed, rivalry, and sex, similar to the elements that made Game of Thrones a success. Despite critical acclaim for its second season, Marco Polo was unable to sustain its ambitious premise and was canceled after just two seasons due to its high production costs.

Poster for Marco Polo tv show