Game Of Thrones: 5 Epic Shows To Binge-Watch Over Hiatus

Game Of Thrones is a phenomenally popular show: the HBO series has managed to conquer an unlikely cornucopia of niche genres and invest the audience in all of them. That's sort of the problem, because as soon as it ends for another season, the yawning chasm between seasons becomes almost unbearable. And given the penchant for leaving exciting open questions, that's all the more frustrating.

As of the finale of the fifth season, the Stark kids are scattered and/or deceased, Daenerys is surrounded by an unfriendly khalasar with a moody dragon as her only ally, Margaery and Loras Tyrell are imprisoned by the Faith, Cersei is unhinged by her walk of shame through the streets of King’s Landing, Myrcella has died in her uncle/father’s arms, the Boltons hold Winterfell, the Night’s Watch is in a mutinous disarray, and the White Walkers are amassing forces to move south.

It was basically a solid hour of weekly cliffhangers. With only ten episodes per season, there’s a gaping hole left in the hearts of Game Of Thrones fans that cannot be filled by just any old replacement show.

Fortunately, there are some series out there that can help to soothe the sting of the nine months of hiatus. All have similarly epic scale or share genetics with Martin's grand creation, and all should be the perfect tonic to wait for Season 6...

If your favorite part of Game of Thrones is the Night’s Watch dealing with wildlings and ice zombies, Rick Grimes and Co. dealing with real zombies on The Walking Dead may be the fix for you. 

AMC's bumbling, stumbling zombie show follows the exploits of former sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes and his motley crew of survivors as they traverse the wasteland that was the United States in a desperate quest to avoid becoming dinner for the undead. 

Originally set in the outskirts of Atlanta, Rick and Co. have since meandered all around Georgia and up north to Washington D.C. in search of a safe haven not overrun with zombies or populated by people with nefarious motives. Run-ins with groups ranging from reluctant hosts to ravenous cannibals have left the protagonists often more willing to brave life on the run than trust others. 

While the zombies are the main antagonists of the series and can always be counted upon for a few jump scares per episode, the clear message of the series is that the real "walking dead" are the living who have lost themselves in the fight to do anything to survive. It's a desperate world of scavenging and squabbling as the protagonists fight a war on two fronts, and the unofficial revolving door to the afterlife keeps anybody from feeling too safe from an unceremonious gruesome departure.