7 Movies and TV Shows to Watch If You Liked House of the Dragon
Insidious plots, bloody battles and flying on dragons.
The Last Duel
Ridley Scott's medieval drama tackles the issue of victim blaming and presents one of the greatest battles in the history of chivalry.
Jean de Carrouge (Matt Damon) marries his beloved Lady Marguerite (Jodie Comer) but is soon forced to go to war. While he is away, Carrouge's neighbor and former friend Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) intrudes into his castle and assaults Marguerite. The woman publicly accuses her attacker, but no one believes her: medieval society condemns the heroine for lechery, so Jean de Carrouge has to defend his wife's honor in an epic duel against Jacques Le Gris.
Mary Queen of Scots
The historical drama follows the confrontation between two women claiming the English throne. Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan) returns to Scotland after the death of her husband, but Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie) has no intention of letting her cousin take the crown.
Mary Queen of Scots does not strive for historical accuracy: like The Favourite, it is merely the filmmakers' fantasy exploring Elizabeth and Mary's strained relationship full of provocation and intrigue. With its focus on Elizabeth's refusal to marry, the film bears a bold feminist message. Despite their rivalry, the two heroines ultimately pursue the same goal: they set out to play the "marriage versus independence" game and come out victorious.
The Northman
Robert Eggers' epic drama tells the story of Viking Prince Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), whose aim is to avenge his father's murderer and reclaim his crown.
The film was inspired by a 13th-century Norse myth as well as Shakespeare's Hamlet. Working on the film, the director consulted with historians and archaeologists to ensure the costumes and architecture were to appear as authentic as possible. The Northman's narrative is closely intertwined with Scandinavian folklore. Amleth's rite-of-passage ceremony, his meeting with prophetess Seeress (Björk), and visions of Valhalla have a direct bearing on the protagonist's fate. The film creates a mystical, at times horrifying and gruesome atmosphere, which befits the style of ancient legends. The impressive star cast include Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, and Willem Dafoe.
The White Queen
The British television series depicts three women's struggle for power in 15th-century England. Wars of the Roses is in its tenth year. Two powerful families, Lancaster and York, are fighting for the throne.
Elizabeth Woodville, a young widow who has lost her fortune, falls in love with Edward IV, the new King of England. Anne Neville marries the Duke of Gloucester, also a member of the York dynasty, and is prepared to do anything to make him king. Margaret Beaufort of the House of Lancaster is also ready to go any lengths, even commit murder, to make her son Henry Tudor the ruler of England. The White Queen is an impressive tale of intense intrigue and cold-blooded manipulation — and it's a great treat for all lovers of period drama.
Salem
Salem is a supernatural horror series about female power in the city of witches. Loosely based on Salem's 17th-century witch trials, the show depicts a society obsessed with witch-hunting.
A former soldier returns to Salem and discovers that his love interest, Mary, has become a witch who uses her powers to control the Salem community. The show takes the viewers into the world of witchcraft, covens, and diabolical rituals and showcases strong female characters who are powerful enough to change the course of history. Full of sex, ritual murder, conspiracy, and intrigue, Salem will definitely be enjoyed by fans of Melisandre from Game of Thrones.
Eragon
The film presents the legend of a dragon rider destined to defend his homeland. Eragon is a teenage boy who lives in the fictional land of Alagaësia, which is home to elves, dwarves, and other fairytale creatures. One day, Eragon finds a strange stone, which turns out to be a dragon egg. When the dragoness Sapphira is born, Eragon's life changes forever: the boy learns that he is the last dragon rider and that he must overthrow the evil king Galbatorix and save the Kingdom of Alagaësia.
Eragon is one of the first fantasy movies that feature dragons as the main characters. The world of Alagaësia, with its wondrous mountain landscapes and fantastical creatures, captivates the eye from the first minutes of the film, and the dragon flight scenes are breathtaking.
Rome
Rome is a historical drama series about the fall of the Roman Empire. Julius Caesar, Cicero, Octavian, Mark Antony, and other great historical figures fight for absolute power in the Roman state.
It was one of the first TV series to feature political intrigue, explicit bedroom scenes, and violence on screen. The show was commended for its detailed reconstruction of the ancient city, elaborate costumes, and large-scale battle scenes. Though there are no dragons in the series, fans of George Martin's Game of Thrones will certainly appreciate Rome for its sharp conflicts, ambiguous characters, and a sense of history unfolding before one's eyes.