Now that Game of Thrones, one of the best shows of the millennium (yes I am serious), has come to an end, fans are probably trying to find something new to sink their teeth into.
While we wait for the prequel – which has no title yet but according to reports will be set around 5 000 years before the events in Game of Thrones and will allegedly provide a backstory for the Night King – we need something to temporarily fill the holes in our hearts now that we have said goodbye to Westeros, right?
(c) File photo
GoT came to an end after 8 seasons on Sunday. The series had been a phenomenon for fans all over the world. But like all good things even Game of Thrones had to come to an end.
Here are a five shows that you can watch while we wait to be reunited with the winter;
Lord of the Rings
If you haven’t already now is the time to enjoy Lord of the Rings. Whether you start with the books or films is up to you. If you liked the epic battle scenes in GoT, then the battle in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Return of the King are going to delight you. Not only do they hold up (the first movie came out almost twenty years ago!) but the battles are so well lit and choreographed they are a treat to watch after the eye-damaging darkness of Game of Thrones. Plus, if you liked the rather ham-handed reference to “A Song of Ice and Fire” in the GoT finale, you owe it to yourself to see the best version of that possible. If you have watched the films already than just go ahead and watch again, we won’t judge.
Frontier
Do you still miss khaleesi’s husband Khal Drogo? Then you can imagine the series Frontier as his parallel universe where he spends his life as a trapper. Actor Jason Momoa stars as part-Irish, part-Cree outlaw Declan Harp in this compelling TV series about the 18th-century fur trade in Canada. Think of it as The Revenant meets Game of Thrones, with bears replacing dragons.
Momoa’s character campaigns to stop a fur trade monopoly by the corrupt Hudson’s Bay Company, and ends up with a bounty on his head. Throughout the series, there’s quite a bit of bloody violence between traders, con men, outlaws, thieves, and wild animals. To add a dash of sex appeal, Momoa wears a lot of fur pelts and not much else.
(c) Instagram
The Last Kingdom
Based on Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Series novels, The Last Kingdom is set in England during the 10th century, when Viking invasions were commonplace. The series centers around a character named Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), a Saxon noble captured and raised by the Vikings who fights for the English. Like Game of Thrones, The Last Kingdom has plenty of family drama, power struggles, complicated relationships and bloody battles. The violence is extremely graphic — eye-gouging, beheading, stabbing, and crucifixion are just some of the ways people die on this show.
Merlin
If magic and talking dragons is what you thought GoT lacked – and was a bit less horrifyingly violent – Merlin is for you. Set in the Kingdom of Camelot, the story follows young Merlin (Colin Morgan) and a young prince Arthur (Bradley James) as the try to fulfill their fate to become two of the most powerful figures in British folklore. Merlin must keep his friend Arthur safe, but can only use his magic in secret since the reigning King Uther (Anthony Head) has banned all sorcery.
(c) Instagram
Lancelot, Guinevere and Morgana are also included in the mix. And yes, this series has a dragon or two to keep things interesting.
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand has a number of action, violence and sword fights – which is to be expected, as it’s built around gladiators. The show focuses on Spartacus (Andy Whitfield), the famous gladiator who led a rebellion against the Romans in ancient times. The show follows him from humble beginnings as an ally to the Romans though a terrible betrayal and transition to becoming a gladiator and warrior.
Throughout the series, Spartacus battles to reunite with his wife (Erin Cummings), who was also sent into slavery. The series is loved by fans for its bloody battles and brutal scenes that only the most skilled gladiators can survive. It’s a dark and violent look at the life of a gladiator through the eyes of a slave hell bent on vengeance.
