Fans of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms need to check out these seven underrated historical fantasy series with similar styles and themes to the HBO spinoff. The Game of Thrones franchise has continued to grow over time with two prequels out and more spinoffs on the way.
The most recent addition, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is the most unique of the three shows out now. Based on the Dunk and Egg novellas by George R.R. Martin, the story focuses on the lowest members of society, rather than the royals. The world might be high-fantasy, but the prequel is low-fantasy, at least as of season 1.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been renewed for season 2, and HBO is expected to pick up season 3. We probably won’t get more episodes until 2027, though. While waiting, these seven historical fantasy TV shows are the perfect next watch.
7
Merlin
The British fantasy TV show Merlin ran from 2008 to 2012, and it’s a perfect choice for fans of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The story reimagines Arthurian lore, following the magician Merlin and the future King Arthur long before they become the figures of legend.
Merlin becomes the squire of Arthur after his mother sends him away to Camelot, and they set off on an adventure. Along the way, they meet most of the figures that eventually become crucial to Arthurian lore. It’s a series that starts with its weakest season and only gets better and better.
Merlin and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follow the same basic narrative format. An unlikely wannabe hero teams up with a young squire on a journey through a medieval world, and they’re both destined for greatness. Like in the GoT spinoff, the servant is the true brains of the pair. Both series are character-driven and grounded fantasies.
6
Da Vinci’s Demons
The STARZ show Da Vinci’s Demons is one of the most underrated historical fantasies, and it’s a must-watch after A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. In a world of religious thought control, the story follows a 25-year-old Leonardo Da Vinci, a man gifted with supernatural genius in Renaissance Florence. He seeks out knowledge and truth at all costs, facing pushback along the way.
In 2013, the TV show received the Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Main Title Design and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music. It was also nominated for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role in 2013 and Outstanding Special and Visual Effects in a Supporting Role in 2014.
Much like the HBO show, Da Vinci’s Demons’ production values are through the roof for a TV show, and the visuals are stunning. There’s very little historical accuracy, but it’s still an entertaining and often ridiculous story in the best way. It unironically embraces its absurdity. The script and acting are also great, just like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
5
Dickinson
Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld) leans on Death (Wiz Kahlifa) in Dickinson season 1
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms perfectly blends together historical drama, fantasy, and comedy. Despite existing in a dark world, the story has a much more comedic tone than the previous Game of Thrones TV shows. One fantasy show that captures the same essence is Dickinson, which is more similar than it seems.
Apple TV’s masterpiece recounts the story of reclusive US poet Emily Dickinson as she pursues higher education and a career. The show incorporates magical realism and surrealism. She experiences wonderfully whimsical, dreamlike scenes as if they were moments of fantasy unfolding in real life.
Both series are character-driven stories focused on an underdog fighting against social expectations. Both Dunk and Emily have to put on a front to succeed. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Dickinson have high production value with beautifully made costumes. Plus, they’re perfectly cast.
4
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
The 2015 historical fantasy miniseries Mr. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, based on the New York Times bestselling book by Susanna Clarke, is a worthy follow-up to the Game of Thrones prequel, despite them being quite different. The book won the prestigious Hugo Award and TIME’s Best Novel of the Year award. Luckily, the miniseries is just as good as the book.
Set in an alternate history version of the 19th century during the Napoleonic Wars, the magically gifted but reclusive Mr. Norrell and a spellcasting novice named Jonathan Strange team up to save England from an evil plan. However, the two magicians quickly become enemies.
Like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Mr. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is quick and easy to binge with well-developed characters that viewers can invest in. What’s more, George R.R. Martin praised the series on his Live Journal (via Internet Archive), saying, “I saw the BBC production of JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR NORRELL before I finally got around to reading Susanna Clarke’s novel. In both cases, I loved the book and [sic] I loved the adaptation.”
3
Vikings
Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok with a sword in Vikings
A great follow-up to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the show Vikings, which uses stories of Scandinavian oral tradition to create something new. Based on pseudo-history, Vikings follows a warrior and farmer named Ragnor Lothbrok who yearns to travel west. However, he first must challenge an unfit leader named Earl Haraldson
Whether the epic TV show is a historical drama or a historical fantasy is a subject of debate. However, the show incorporates mythological figures such as Odin, Hárbard, and Ragnar. Aslaug the Seer has uncanny accuracy that can’t be a coincidence. The story includes omens from the gods, visions, and shared dreams.
Vikings uses magic and the supernatural so subtly that it’s probably the most truthful historical story, representing how fully Norse folks believed in these things. This also makes it extremely similar to the low-fantasy TV show based on George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas.
2
Carnival Row
Anyone who enjoys A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms but wants something a bit more thrilling needs to watch Carnival Row. Critics deeply underappreciated Carnival Row, but audiences saw the story’s value. Set in a Victorian fantasy world, the Prime Video show follows a group of immigrant fairies who traveled to England after their homeland was invaded by humans.
The creatures struggle to live alongside humans, facing discrimination and xenophobia. Humans restrict their movements, relationships, and flight. Things get complicated, though, when people start showing up dead, leading Detective Rycroft Philostrate to investigate. At the same time, Philo rekindles a romance with the fairy refugee Vignette Stonemoss.
Both A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Carnival Row focus on the lower-class members of society and the struggle for upward mobility. They both have memorable scores that enhance the story and characters. The shows also both feature remarkably distinct visuals that embrace the grittiness of lower-class life.
1
Britannia
After finishing A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a great next choice is Britannia, a historical fantasy that ran for three seasons. In the show, the Roman Imperial Army attempts to invade Britain in 43 CSE after Julius Caesar’s failed invasion, but they find a land filled with Celtic warrior women and magical Druids who can channel the underworld.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a comedic story set within a dark world, and Britannia also falls into the same category. They both include strong worldbuilding that sucks viewers in and interesting fantasy elements. The visuals of both historical fantasy series would look identical if Britannia used a little more gray color grading.
On top of that, political conflicts and power struggles are the backbone of Britannia and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The stories are extremely gritty, and they emphasize the brutality of human beings. Ultimately, fans of HBO’s Game of Thrones spinoff will likely enjoy Britannia.
Release Date
January 18, 2026
Network
HBO
Showrunner
Ira Parker
Peter Claffey
Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall
