The Wheel of Time got cancelled after two seasons, and if you’re devastated, you’re not alone. Prime Video’s ambitious fantasy series built something genuinely unique in the post-Game of Thrones landscape. But here’s the silver lining: there are genuinely excellent fantasy shows out there ready to fill that void. Let me walk you through eight epic fantasies worth investing your time into.
Game of Thrones: The Foundation
Start here if you haven’t already. Game of Thrones essentially created the template that The Wheel of Time attempted to follow. Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey—these actors became household names through HBO’s ruthless political intrigue mixed with supernatural horror. The first four seasons especially are masterclass television. The Wheel of Time traded Game of Thrones’ gratuitous sex and violence for thorny explorations of destiny and choice. But if you’re craving that sprawling world of backstabbing politics and impossible decisions, Game of Thrones remains essential. Plus, you already know how it ends (whether you liked it or not), so there’s no risk of cancellation heartbreak.
Shadow and Bone: Young Adult Complexity
Netflix’s Shadow and Bone also got cancelled (Netflix’s track record with fantasy is rough), but it delivered two complete seasons that adapted brilliantly from Leigh Bardugo’s beloved novels. Jessie Mei Li plays Alina Starkov, a girl discovering she’s the legendary Sun Summoner in a war-torn fantasy world. Ben Barnes steals every scene as the morally grey General Kirigan. The show nails the brooding romantic tension while maintaining genuine action sequences. It’s got the teen angst and group dynamics that made The Wheel of Time appealing, plus superior cinematography and pacing.
The Power: Gender-Flipped Power Fantasy
The Power takes an intriguing premise: what if women suddenly developed superpowers? The show explores how quickly new power structures become just as oppressive as the ones they replaced. It’s darker than traditional fantasy, more grounded in modern sociology. If you appreciated The Wheel of Time’s exploration of how magic systems create social hierarchies, The Power offers fascinating philosophical complexity wrapped in revenge fantasy wrapping.
Merlin: Nostalgic Magic
BBC’s Merlin feels like a time capsule from the late 2000s, but that’s partly its charm. Colin Morgan plays Merlin as a young wizard learning to hide his powers in a world where magic is outlawed. Bradley James plays the arrogant prince Arthur who’ll eventually become the king of legend. Watching Merlin secretly guide Arthur toward his destiny mirrors The Wheel of Time’s themes of hidden destiny. It’s sillier than modern fantasy shows, sure, but that earnest tone has aged better than you’d expect.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Prime Video apparently chose to keep this over The Wheel of Time (which stings for fans). The Rings of Power is a sprawling prequel set thousands of years before Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Morfydd Clark plays a younger Galadriel fighting against Sauron’s rise. It’s visually stunning, narratively complex, and features some genuinely strong performances. If you appreciate intricate world-building and watching seemingly unrelated events converge into apocalyptic consequence, this delivers.
Dune: Prophecy: Political Intrigue
HBO’s Dune: Prophecy focuses on the Bene Gesserit—the shadowy organization manipulating galactic politics for ten thousand years. Emily Watson and Olivia Williams carry the show through complex political machinations. It’s basically “The White Tower from The Wheel of Time becomes an entire series.” If you loved the Aes Sedai dynamics, Prophecy will absolutely grip you.
Foundation: Sci-Fi Complexity
The Wheel of Time hints at post-apocalyptic sci-fi elements (the world recovered from an ancient technological collapse). Foundation dives completely into that territory. Apple TV+’s adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s masterpiece follows mathematician Hari Seldon predicting civilizational collapse. It spans centuries, multiple timelines, and galaxies. If you want something with The Wheel of Time’s scope but stranger and more intellectually demanding, Foundation is perfect.
His Dark Materials: Younger Audiences
His Dark Materials skews younger than these other options, but it’s genuinely exceptional television. Dafne Keen plays Lyra Belacqua in a world where humans and animals (daemons) exist as inseparable pairs. The story spans multiple worlds and dimensions. It’s visually beautiful, emotionally mature despite younger protagonists, and narratively ambitious. If The Wheel of Time’s adventures appealed to you more than political intrigue, His Dark Materials delivers.
Finding The Wheel of Time’s replacement is tricky because it occupied a specific niche: adult fantasy with young protagonists learning to navigate destiny. These eight shows each bring something different to that conversation. Some offer grittier politics. Some offer more romance. Some offer higher stakes or better writing. Pick based on what aspects of The Wheel of Time meant most to you, and you’ll find something worth binge-watching immediately.
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