So here we are at the end of Game of Thrones darkest, bloodiest season yet. Forced to wait another ten months to see if Sansa and Reek lived, whether Breean has actually fulfilled her oath (she’s not had the best track record with her oaths), and of course we were left with the last scene that made us all want to do this:
So until season 6 returns next year here are the shows to watch this summer 2015 to fill that Game of Thrones hole.
1. Hannibal
NBC just cancelled Bryan Fuller’s blood soaked re-telling of Hannibal’s story; you’ve got to wonder what Hannibal thinks of that.
So it looks like we have to settle for just three seasons of this dark masterpiece that boasts some of the best visuals and performances on television, particularly those of Mads Mikkelson and Hugh Dancy. The shows reputation grows with every episode and even has its very own version of the Red Wedding which fannabals have christened the Red Dinner.
2. Vikings
Vikings plays like the trouble-making little brother of Game of Thrones. It has everything that makes GOT so compelling: power through violence and politics, spectacular battle sequences and memorable characters, led by Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok.
Seriously, don’t mess with these dudes.
Yet it also does certain things better than GOT. The world of the show is on the small side in comparison which means that characters and stories move a lot quicker rather than maybe getting five minutes of screen time each week. Also GOT doesn’t have any female characters on par with Katheryn Winnick’s Lagertha.
3. Banshee
Cinemax’s Banshee is sure to whet the appetite of GOT fans who need their fix of sex and violence. This unashamedly pulp show is like if James Ellroy wrote True Detective on amphetamines. Starring Anthony Starr, an ex con who takes on the identity of the incoming sheriff of the titular town, who battles corruption and escalating carnage. Yes it sounds all too formulaic, but this is Banshee’s version of a man trying to keep the peace:
Yeah, this show is crazy.
4. Parks and Recreation
It doesn’t all have to be blood and gore, how about a few laughs? Parks and Recreation finished its seven season run earlier this year so there’s no better time to acquaint ourselves with the town of Pawnee and its plethora of dazzling characters, such as Lesley Knope (everyone’s perfect role model), Ron Swanson (the guy who’s definitely behind the big desk in heaven), and Ben Wyatt who misses Game of Thrones just as much as we do.
5. Outlander
Finally Outlander: Ronald D Moore’s time travel fantasy that is way too gruff and Scottish to care whether you watch it.
Ok maybe it does. Outlander tells the story of Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) who mysteriously travels back in time, from 1945 to the highlands in 1743. Its first season recently finished and season two will be out next year, the buzz is that Outlander could be as popular as Game of Thrones if it keeps up the quality of its first run.
So hopefully that should keep us all going until that Sunday night in April 2016
