long TV shows that are worth the commitment, Game of Thrones changed 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.
Many TV shows have tried to repeat Game of Thrones' best episodes because they were such cultural moments that reached audiences everywhere when they premiered. When Game of Thrones was 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 of Game of Thrones, there was room for speculative fiction shows to distinguish themselves and improve upon what GOT did first.
The Expanse Is The Perfect Sci-Fi Show For Fans Of Game Of Thrones
GOT Fans Will Instantly Connect With The Expanse
' true successor when it came to speculative fiction series based on books. Full of intrigue, intricate lore, and exciting characters playing dangerous political games, The Expanse has more in common with Game of Thrones than audiences might initially think. What makes Game of Thrones so fun to watch is the scheming and conniving of its characters, as well as the overlapping stories that blend together so beautifully. The Expanse manages to do the same with its intergalactic setting. Also heralded for its production value, The Expanse is peak TV.
Like Game of Thrones, The Expanse transports 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 Expanse sees the characters realize that the intergalactic government they're serving is even more corrupt than they believed, much like the disillusionment with Westeros that the characters in Game of Thrones experience.
The Expanse Knew How To Handle Its Source Material Better Than Game Of Thrones
The Expanse Had A Clear Grasp On The Original Novels
Written by James S.A. Corey, the pen name of the authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, The Expanse novels are just as sprawling and well-imagined as Martin's A 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 in Game 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.
The Expanse's Darkest Moment Ever is One The TV Series Couldn't Actually Show
The Expanse delivered some unforgettable horror and grim deaths, but the most disturbing moment was actually too twisted for the TV show to adapt.
However, The Expanse never 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 for The Expanse to adapt and evolve as it grappled with network changes and the way that sci-fi was exploding on television in the early 2020s. While Game of Thrones was still exciting until the end, The Expanse had a clearer focus that only became more refined as it entered its later seasons.
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
The Expanse (2015–2022) |
95% |
85% |
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 like Game of Thrones is nearly impossible, and while The Expanse books are popular, A Song of Ice and Fire had better name recognition from the beginning. Additionally, since The Expanse aired on Syfy and later Amazon Prime, it didn't have the budget or resources available for an HBO show like Game of Thrones. The Expanse was 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't Game of Thrones struggled to make its mark.
The series deserves to be recognized today for its contributions to the genre.
There are some replacement TV shows for The Expanse that audiences have turned to since it's unlikely that the series will return for season 7. However, the fact that The Expanse ran 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 of The Expanse is just as immersive as Game of Thrones, and the series deserves to be recognized today for its contributions to the genre.
The Expanse
- Release Date
- 2015 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- SyFy
- Showrunner
- Naren Shankar, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Cast
Dominique Tipper
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
- Franchise(s)
- The Expanse
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