The Rings of Power season 2 is a certified Prime Video hit – here are 4 more fantastically bloody fantasy shows to stream
Fancy some more high fantasy alongside The Rings of Power season 2? This quartet are must-see TV.
The Rings of Power season 2 is off to a terrific start on Prime Video. The sweeping and epic high fantasy series’ sophomore outing, which returned with a three-episode premiere (read our review of The Rings of Power season 2‘s debut trio while you’re here) on August 29, is dominating the charts on Amazon’s primary streaming service, with the popular show holding down the number one spot in the US and UK.
There are more episodes – five, to be exact, – to come in The Rings of Power’s latest season, so it’s nowhere near done being the one show to rule them all. But, with new episodes only arriving every Thursday until the season 2 finale airs on October 3, we suspect you’ll want some more fantastic fantasy series to stream in the meantime. Here, then, are four similar recommendations, whose critical scores on Rotten Tomatoes are 80% or higher, to check out alongside Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings prequel show.
The Wheel of Time (Prime Video)
The Wheel of Time is another epic, brutal, and magical Prime Video fantasy show (Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)
Seasons: 2
Rotten Tomatoes (RT) score: 83%
Age rating: TV-MA (US), 15 (UK)
Before it launched The Rings of Power in September 2022, Prime Video executives warmed us up nicely with another epic fantasy series in The Wheel Of Time, which joins its fantasy cousin as one of the best Prime Video shows around.
An adaptation of Robert Jordan’s vast series of books, it stars Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred, a powerful magic wielder known as an Aes Sedai who sets out to find the Dragon Reborn, a prophesied reincarnation of a powerful individual who’s fated to save or destroy the world. No pressure, then. Moiraine’s journey takes her to the village known as The Two Rivers, where five young adults, all of whom could be the aforementioned warrior, dwell. Not knowing which of them is the Dragon Reborn, Moiraine must train them all for the difficult battles to come.
A huge world full of magic, wonder, and action, The Wheel of Time shares The Rings of Power‘s sense of scale and high-minded themes. It’s a far bloodier affair than the latter, though, and occasionally struggles under the weight of Jordan’s expansive, multi-narrative story. If you can look past its adult age rating and periodic plot problems, you’ll have a magical time. Read our review of The Wheel of Time season 1 and review of The Wheel of Time’s second season to get a better idea of what’s in store for you.
Watch The Wheel of Time season 1’s trailer on YouTubeWatch The Wheel of Time on Prime Video
The Witcher (Netflix)
Henry Cavill starred in the first three seasons on The Witcher (Image credit: Jay Maidment)
Seasons: 3
RT score: 80%
Age rating: TV-MA (US), 15
The Witcher is a weird beast. It’s one of the jewels in Netflix’s fantasy crown and one of the best Netflix shows around, in our opinion. And yet, because of the creative liberties it’s taken with Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels of the same name, its diminishing returns with each season, and the departure of lead star Henry Cavill after three seasons, it’s not viewed kindly by many Sapkowski devotees.
There are still lots to like about it, mind you. It’s unrelentingly dark and violent, full of monsters, and puts its unashamed high fantasy leanings on full display throughout. With two more seasons to come before the show bids us farewell, we’re hoping it’ll get back on an even footing and deliver a barnstorming end to the adventures of Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer – the Netflix series’ three protagonists whose fates seem more intertwined with each passing installment. Read up on everything we know about The Witcher season 4 so far before moving on.
Watch The Witcher season 1’s trailer on YouTubeWatch The Witcher on Netflix
Game Of Thrones (Max/Sky)
Game of Thrones mostly captivated audiences worldwide during its eight-season run. (Image credit: HBO)
Seasons: 8
RT score: 89%
Age rating: TV-MA (US), 18 (UK)
Is there anyone who enjoyed The Rings of Power who hasn’t already devoured Game Of Thrones (GoT)? We doubt it, but if you’re yet to journey to the Seven Kingdoms, you’ll want to stream one of the best Max shows as soon as possible.
Based on the book series of the same name by acclaimed author George R. R. Martin, GoT is set in the land of Westeros where warring families fight (dubbed Houses in Martin’s literary works) for control over the Iron Throne. Chief among the major players are House Targaryen, whose only heir Daenarys feels it’s her destiny to sit upon the famous royal seat, House Lannister, who rule over the Seven Kingdoms for much of the show’s run, and House Stark, who are essentially the whipping boys of the Max series until its later seasons.
Funny, hyperviolent, gripping, jaw-dropping, and packed with stunning visual effects, Game Of Thrones not only redefined what was possible for a fantasy TV show, but also that millions would tune in every week for a slice of big-budget prestige television. It runs out of steam in its final two seasons (see how we ranked them in our best Game of Thrones seasons piece) once it has no more source material to draw from but, between 2011 and 2016, there wasn’t a more popular series in the world. Its prequel show, House of the Dragon, is also worth watching on Max (US), and Sky and Now TV (UK).
Watch Game of Thrones season 1’s trailer on YouTubeWatch Game of Thrones on Max in the US and stream Game of Thrones on Sky/Now TV in the UK
The Sandman (Netflix)
The Sandman is a powerfully emotive fantasy show that you can watch on Netflix (Image credit: Netflix)
Seasons: 1
RT score: 88%
Age rating: TV-MA (US), 15 (UK)
It took a long time – 35 years, if anyone’s counting – for Neil Gaiman’s iconic comic series of the same name to be realized on the big or small screen. The Sandman finally did so in mid-2022, however, and won a whole new fanbase following its highly-rated debut on Netflix.
Opening in 1916 before later being set in the present, The Sandman follows Dream/Morpheus/the titular Sandman and his quest to rebuild his kingdom – known as The Dreaming – after it falls into disrepair. The reason? Dream is unexpectedly caught by a rogue dark magic wielder in the early 20th century, and spends a century in captivity on Earth before he finally escapes his prison. In his absence, the destruction of The Dreaming isn’t the only problem he’ll have to contend with, either, as dark forces – on Earth and across the cosmos – threaten his authority, as well as his life and those he’s most close to.
A beautifully realized, elegantly acted, and surprisingly faithful to the source material, The Sandman is a near-perfect example of how any legendary book or comic series should be adapted. Read more about what it gets right in our review of The Sandman season 1 and then get the lowdown on what we know about The Sandman season 2.
Watch The Sandman season 1’s trailer on YouTubeWatch The Sandman on Netflix
For more fantasy TV suggestions, see which of this genre’s series made it onto our best Disney Plus shows, best Hulu shows, and best Paramount Plus shows lists.