It’s going to be a long time before we see the Game of Thrones endgame.
Here are seven options to invest your time in during withdrawal.
There are no men like me.
Its a line that also applies toGame of Thrones, itself.
There are no other shows likeGame of Thrones.
OnlyGame of Thrones.Thronesis a singular miracle of television.
Its author, George R.R.
Martin, famously sought to craft a story so grand that its unfilmable.
Thanks to the folks at HBO, he failed.
Game of Thronesis unique among its television peers.
Its huge… like really huge.
Huge in concept, huge in budget, huge in cast, huge in cultural impact.
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NowGame of Thronesis leaving us one last time before the real Long Night.
Whats a Westeros-obsessive to do with his or her TV right now?
Let it collect dust?
After all there are no shows likeGame of Thrones.
That is to say shows with big, charismatic casts, fast-moving plots, extensive in-show mythology and believability.
Any other list would just Google TV shows with swords but this is not that list.
All very good shows and plenty similar toGame of Thronesin aesthetic terms.
But they dont quite haveGame of Thronessoul.
The Sopranos
How Its Similar:
Game of Thronescreators David Benioff and D.B.
Weiss initial pitch to HBO was simple: imagineThe Sopranosin Middle-earth.
The families ofThe Sopranosare both literal nuclear families and crime families.
He also runs the DiMeo (later on arguably Soprano) crime family.
In that case, the Sopranos are not much different from the Starks or the Lannisters.
Families are bound by love and blood, and they also exist as a quasi-political entity.
The SopranosandGame of Thronesare alike in this somewhat superficial aspect but are even more alike at their murky depths.
Both shows can safely be categorized as being about… well, everything.
it’s possible for you to find the similarities pretty much wherever you want or wherever you look.
One thing in particular thatThronesfans might appreciate from The Sopranosthough is its tone.
Still, you dont need to squint to find some major similarities.
One of the best aspects ofGame of Thronesis its truly immense, sprawling cast of characters.
Pitching obscureGame of Thronesspinoffs has become a kind of cottage industry on the internet.
Who wouldnt want to see a spinoff where Hot Pie changes the culinary landscape of Westeros forever?
Or a spinoff in which Gendry establishes the first Westerosi Olympics with his distance running?
Every character onGame of Thronesfeels simultaneously lived-in, believable, and just downright cool.
The only other show with a cast that deep with interesting characters isLost.
The characters ofLostare somehow simultaneously archetypical and believably human.
If youve heard the phrase R+L=J and have not yet watchedLost, youre absolutely doing yourself a disservice.
Beyond just believable parameters, bothThe WireandGame of Thronesexhibit a similar, important theme: dysfunction.
ButGame of Thronesis still almost every bit as political and angry asThe Wire.
And the world ofAvataris truly expansive.
Tone-wise,Avataris obviously very different fromGame of Thrones.
Its a story about people in a realistic world trying to make that world better.
Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are realistic, flawed individuals but they are also heroes in the classic sense.
Katara (voiced by Mae Whitman) and Arya Stark (Maise Williams) are equally badass.
Battlestar Galacticahelped flush the path for excellent science fiction and fantasy stories on TV.
Still, the similarities outweigh the differences.
Well have to do some explaining.
Yes,Rick and Mortyis an animated comedy, and a tremendously funny one at that.
Its also a blisteringly dark exploration of humanity.
Rick Sanchez is the most misanthropic individual that exists outside of Westeros.
Rick and his grandson Morty embark on all manner of science fiction adventures throughout the universe.
Game of ThronesandRick and Mortyare operating on a similar philosophical level.
Red Weddings will happen because of course they will.
Where to Watch:Seasons 1 and 2 on Hulu.
Current season available on Adultswim.com with cable subscription.
BothGame of ThronesandBlack Mirrorare capable of instilling within their viewers a feeling better than any show on television.
Black Mirrorhas a reputation for being bleak and pessimistic.
Some episodes, like the much celebrated San Junipero, are positively optimistic.
If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever.
Game of ThronesandBlack Mirrorare not just misery feasts.
Both shows are capable of filing through the worst of humanity to find its best qualities.
Most Similar Characters:Jerome Flynn basically plays Bronn in theBlack Mirrorepisode, Shut Up and Dance.
Or maybe Jerome Flynn justisBronn.
