Game of Thronesis a benchmark for fantasy and sci-fi TV shows, but that doesn’t mean that some of the series that came after it didn’t improve upon its formula. Like alllong TV shows that are worth the commitment,Game of Throneschanged a lot throughout its eight-season run and faced a lot of pressure to maintain the success that it achieved from the beginning. Based on the novels by George R.R. Martin,Game of Thrones' early seasons are a masterclass in bringing the written word to life onscreen.
ManyTV shows have tried to repeatGame of Thrones' best episodesbecause they were such cultural moments that reached audiences everywhere when they premiered. WhenGame of Throneswas at its height, it was enormously popular, meaning other series attempted to follow its example, creating many copycats. However,The Expanse, a sci-fi series that was similar in scope and themes,made a name for itself and proved that in the wake ofGame of Thrones, there was room for speculative fiction shows to distinguish themselves and improve upon whatGOTdid first.
The Expanse Is The Perfect Sci-Fi Show For Fans Of Game Of Thrones
GOT Fans Will Instantly Connect With The Expanse
The Expanseshould have beenGame of Thrones' true successorwhen it came to speculative fiction series based on books. Full of intrigue, intricate lore, and exciting characters playing dangerous political games,The Expansehas more in common withGame of Thronesthan audiences might initially think.What makesGame of Thronesso fun to watch is the scheming and conniving of its characters, as well as the overlapping stories that blend together so beautifully.The Expansemanages to do the same with its intergalactic setting. Also heralded for its production value,The Expanseis peak TV.
LikeGame of Thrones,The Expansetransports the viewer to a world they’ve never encountered, but makes the world-building interesting and fun. It’s interesting to learn about the politics of the solar system and discover how all the pieces of the story fit together. Following the crew of the spaceship, the Rocinante,The Expanseseesthe characters realize that the intergalactic government they’re serving is even more corruptthan they believed, much like the disillusionment with Westeros that the characters inGame of Thronesexperience.
The Expanse Knew How To Handle Its Source Material Better Than Game Of Thrones
Written by James S.A. Corey, the pen name of the authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck,The Expansenovels are just as sprawling and well-imagined as Martin’sA Song of Ice and Fire. It’s common for speculative fiction shows to be based on novels, as this means there’s already a fanbase to appeal to and a story to bring to life. However, as seen inGame of Thrones' final seasons, it’s not always easy to know what to include, what to cut, and what to change about the original source material when bringing it to life onscreen.
However,The Expansenever struggled in this way. It seemed as if the writers had a deep understanding of what was vital to the plot and how the characters should be altered to fit the narrative better. All the changes made sense and made it easy forThe Expanseto adapt and evolve as it grappled with network changes and the way that sci-fi was exploding on television in the early 2020s. WhileGame of Throneswas still exciting until the end,The Expansehad a clearer focus that only became more refinedas it entered its later seasons.
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Why The Expanse Was Never As Big As Game Of Thrones
Few Shows Have Made An Impact The Way GOT Did
Competing with a show likeGame of Thronesis nearly impossible,and whileThe Expansebooks are popular,A Song of Ice and Firehad better name recognition from the beginning. Additionally, sinceThe Expanseaired on Syfy and later Amazon Prime, it didn’t have the budget or resources available for an HBO show likeGame of Thrones.The Expansewas ahead of its time in the revival of the space opera genre. Sci-fi shows are having a renaissance today, but in the 2010s, any speculative fiction series that wasn’tGame of Thronesstruggled to make its mark.
The series deserves to be recognized today for its contributions to the genre.
There are somereplacement TV shows forThe Expansethat audiences have turned to since it’s unlikely that the series will return for season 7. However, the fact thatThe Expanseran for six seasons and garnered such positive critical and audience reception speaks to the fact that it’s an underrated addition to its genre. While sci-fi and fantasy have their differences, the world ofThe Expanseis just as immersive asGame of Thrones, and the series deserves to be recognized today for its contributions to the genre.
