8 Epic Fantasy Shows Like The Wheel of Time to Watch Next

In a post-streaming boom world, it can be difficult to invest too much emotion or excitement into a new series. No matter how much potential a show has, or how much a network or streamer seems to have invested, there's always a chance that the other shoe could drop, leaving dutiful fans utterly unmoored in the wake of a cancellation. Prime Video's The Wheel of Time is the latest casualty in a never-ending streaming bloodbath, and one of the least deserving. It's one of the most unique fantasy offerings created in the wake of HBO's Game of Thrones, and though it did struggle to find its ideal audience, it seemed to be right at the cusp of coming into its own.

Fate is not kind to this pricier breed of television nowadays, so it may be time to make peace with the end of The Wheel of Time. That said, it's not the only show of its ilk. The Wheel of Time was certainly singular, but there are other stories that could fill the void it's left in its wake. Here are eight epic fantasy shows to explore next.

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Game of Thrones

It probably goes without saying at this point, as The Wheel of Time is a clear attempt to capitalize on HBO's success in the world of Westeros. But if you're craving more of Prime Video's ruthless fantasy, it couldn't hurt to revisit Game of Thrones — or visit the series for the first time. It's impossible to get away from the show or its impact, and for good reason. Game of Thrones sketched out a sprawling world of harrowing political intrigue, chock full of characters who became instant fan favorites and just enough supernatural devices to elevate this traditional costume drama. The Wheel of Time is comparatively tamer than the HBO classic: It trades Game of Thrones' gratuitous sex and violence for thorny explorations of causality. But if you're looking for a new show to watch in the wake of Wheel of Time's cancellation, it makes the most sense to return to the one that technically started it all.

Shadow and Bone

Another short-lived fantasy based on a beloved book series, Shadow and Bone tells the story of powerful young adults caught in a war-torn, fantastical world. Like The Wheel of Time, the Netflix show follows the adventures of a reluctant savior figure, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li). Born into a world divided between Grisha — who possess unique powers over water, wind, fire, and even the heart — and… well, everyone else, Alina's life changes forever when she discovers her own power. The brooding General Kirigan (Ben Barnes) helps her unlock her destiny as the Sun Summoner, a fabled being who can replicate the light and heat of the sun in the palm of their hand. She's tasked with destroying the Fold, a blanket of shadow that's divided the continent of Ravka. Complications naturally ensue, but Shadow and Bone is more about Alina's journey — and all its romantic, existential ennui — than the destination. It's perfect for anyone missing the teen angst and the easy group dynamics in The Wheel of Time.

The Power

Possibly the coolest thing about The Wheel of Time comes in its delineation of magic, known as the One Power. Thanks to the hubris of a guy named the Dark One, the "male" half of said power was corrupted long ago, meaning that any man who tries to channel magic inevitably goes mad. They're labeled weak, while women become enforcers, leaders: the very top of the food chain. It's not so different in The Power, yet another heady series from Prime Video. This show explores an alternate reality where women around the world suddenly awaken with different superpowers. It doesn't take long for the natural hierarchy to shift, or for our heroines to stoop to the pettiness and violence of their former oppressors. This sardonic "girl power!" revenge fantasy may err on the side of excess — but if you're searching for narrative complements to The Wheel of Time, this modern-day drama should be a compelling follow-up.

Merlin

Streaming has certainly made it easier to find a great-looking, big-budget fantasy show — but sometimes one finds oneself yearning for simpler times. Shows like Merlin, a formative fantasy that aired on the BBC in the late 2000s, are definitely a time capsule for that era. Set in a world where magic is outlawed, Merlin remixes the origins of the eponymous wizard (Colin Morgan) and the upstart prince Arthur (Bradley James), not yet the king who'd unite the realm of Camelot. In a world when magic is banned, Merlin has to hone his powers in secret, all while becoming an increasingly important fixture in Arthur's court. Watching him learn the ins and outs of magic is not unlike Rand's struggle to control the One Power without succumbing to madness. His adventures with Arthur are also just silly enough to feel nostalgic; ditto for the origin stories for characters like Lancelot (an unbearably dreamy Santiago Cabrera) and Morgana (Katie McGrath). 

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

There's a sense that The Wheel of Time was culled so that Prime Video's other epic fantasy series could live on unimpeded. That's The Rings of Power, a sprawling prequel to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It's based on his appendices, and though it's set thousands of years before the trilogy, The Rings of Power does feature a few characters some may recognize. A younger version of Galadriel (the ethereal elf played by Cate Blanchett in the films, played here by Morfydd Clark) is our way into this world. She's working overtime to prevent the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, who prophecy dictates will plunge the realm into the war to end all wars. He's a long way from The Wheel of Time's Rand al'Thor, who has as much potential to save the world as he does to end it. Sauron, by contrast, is pure evil — but watching a colorful cast of fantasy characters get caught up in his influence makes this the kind of show you can't look away from.

Dune: Prophecy

We're living in a world of prestige prequels, and it's not easy keeping track of them all. The sheer number of shows to choose from is both a blessing and a curse, as it allows hidden gems like Dune: Prophecy to slip under the radar. The HBO series is set roughly 10,000 years before the events of Dune. A prequel to Denis Villeneuve's films, it's in direct conversation with the ascent of Paul Atreides (played in the films by Timothée Chalamet). Dune Prophecy follows the rise of the Bene Gesserit, the cabal of witchy women who serve as advisors throughout the Imperium and quietly influence major events in history. Their intergalactic meddling eventually paves the way for a savior figure like Paul to change the universe; Prophecy shows us how generations of false prophecy, genetic tampering, and subtle manipulation created the "Kwisatz Haderach." If the Aes Sedai was your favorite part of The Wheel of Time, you'll love Dune: Prophecy — the latter is basically a show set entirely in the White Tower.

Foundation

The Wheel of Time walks the walk of a traditional fantasy, but it's also hiding a wild sci-fi twist up its sleeve. The bulk of its action takes place hundreds of years after an extinction-level event destroyed a futurist utopia. We only get a few glimpses of this "past" in The Wheel of Time's two seasons, but anyone craving more should turn to Foundation. The Apple TV+ show is one of the streamer's best sci-fi offerings — so long as you can keep up with its heady world-building. Within the show's sprawling galactic empire lives Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), a skilled mathematician who predicts a "dark age" coming to destroy the imperium's progress. Foundation follows that collapse, and its characters' efforts to rebuild, across centuries of space-forward history. It's a lot to keep track of, but like The Wheel of Time, great performances keep us locked in where it counts. 

His Dark Materials

His Dark Materials is yet another adaptation of an immensely beloved fantasy work, though its subjects skew younger than those in The Wheel of Time or any other contender on the list. Dafne Keen stars as Lyra Belacqua, the unlikely heroine in a world where every human is born with an inseparable animal counterpart — a manifestation of their soul known as a daemon. Lyra embarks on a quest to rescue a missing friend, but her adventure will uncover a conspiracy that envelops the entire world. Aside from its complex world-building, His Dark Materials doesn't share much connective tissue with The Wheel of Time. Still, it's a fiercely underrated fantasy series, and the freshness of its material should make it the perfect follow-up to the Prime Video show.