HBO’s Greatest Fantasy Series Reminds the World Why the Genre Matters
HBO’s Greatest Fantasy Series Reminds the World Why the Genre Matters
Kendall MyersSat, May 9, 2026 at 9:10 PM UTC
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Image via Helen Sloan/Courtesy of HBO
In recent years, the fantasy genre has been stronger than ever, with multiple big-budget shows from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to The Witcher, but they all have one series to thank for this. Fantasy is more popular than ever, in large part, due to Game of Thrones, which rocked the genre to fame with its widespread appeal and undeniable cultural impact. In fact, the HBO series has inspired others to attempt to replicate the magic. Though too often remembered only for its controversial ending, Game of Thrones was a groundbreaking series that no series will ever compare to.
Now, 15 years after the show's premiere, it's still unlikely to find people completely unaware of Game of Thrones, and that is due to its rare approach to the genre. The HBO series is an incredibly ambitious undertaking filled with epic battles, political intrigue, numerous characters, and jaw-dropping moments that keep the audience guessing. Ultimately, these risks paid off, making Game of Thrones the best of its kind. Since then, every fantasy series has hoped to be like it. Before the 2011 series, politics and morally ambiguous characters were not central to the genre, nor was the graphic violence that is now so common. HBO pushed the boundaries with this masterpiece, and in doing so, rewrote the rules of fantasy, helping to promote the genre to mass popularity.
'Game of Thrones' Set Itself Apart with Complex Characters and Shocking Twists
Jon-Dany-Cersei-Jaime-Tyrion lined up next to each other
Game of Thrones isn't just the go-to example of a fantasy show, but simply good TV. With so many moving and detailed storylines, the series is a testament to storytelling. For eight seasons, Game of Thrones kept up with several stories simultaneously without centering on a single character. Sure, many are more important than others, like Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), Jon Snow (Kit Harington), or Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), but with the story spread across Westeros and beyond, no one is the universal focal point. This format allows Game of Thrones to tell an expansive and complex story, especially as it positions those characters in a way that the audience can simultaneously love two who are working against each other. In doing so, the series adds layers to the story that few shows can achieve, as it delves into the nuances of the fantasy world's politics.
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Yet, Game of Thrones built a reputation for more than that, remaining one of the most unpredictable series. The series thrived on its shocking twists that left the audience speechless, such as Ned's (Sean Bean) death and the Red Wedding. Part of the reason Game of Thrones became so well-known is that no one could stop talking about it. Playing into these surprises was the series' ruthless storytelling, as it killed off fan-favorite characters, differentiating itself and ultimately building a long-lasting legacy as a shocking that constantly subverted expectations.
'Game of Thrones' Pushed All the Boundaries
Image via HBO
While Game of Thrones excelled in storytelling, it backed that up with impressive visuals, making the series undeniable. Though many have tried to replicate it since, the massive scale was novel at the time, bringing cinematic production value to TV. With epic battles and flawless special effects, Game of Thrones delivered jaw-dropping visuals weekly, and that is quite a feat. By essentially making ten hour-long films, with multiple on-site filming locations and impressive special effects,Game of Thrones pushed the boundaries of what the medium was capable of, making fantasy a prestige genre.
The show's groundbreaking nature is especially evident in the battle scenes, which featured new levels of violence and gore, thanks to HBO's freedom from the standards that bound most shows of the day. This violence played into the show's ruthlessness, making it more thrilling, especially as it placed even the most beloved characters in danger. In the streaming era, more shows have followed Game of Thrones' lead. It's not just House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsthat resemble their flagship series, but The Witcher, The Wheel of Time, and many more take inspiration from the show. With such a legacy, it's no wonder that Game of Thrones reinvented the fantasy genre, popularized it, and still has little competition.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
