10 Best TV Shows Like Vikings: Valhalla

The Netflix series Vikings: Valhalla carries on the tradition established by its predecessor, depicting the brutal, violent and grim lives of some of the most famous conquerors in the history of Europe. It’s a series that emphasizes the darker side of the historical past.

Fortunately for those who enjoy this particular aspect of the series, there are a number of other similar historical dramas that have aired in the past several years, many of which show just how difficult it could be to survive in a world where death always lurks around the corner.

Vikings (2013–20)

Available To Stream On Amazon

The original Vikings series is widely regarded as a great historical drama, focusing as it does on a group of conquerors as they fan out from their homes in Scandinavia to the rest of the European world.

Though it has many of the trappings that viewers would expect from a drama of this sort, it also partakes of the current style of showing the medieval period as being very grim, gritty, and dirty. There’s no question, though, that it does allow the viewer to understand this important historical period.

The Last Kingdom (2015–22)

Available To Stream On Netflix

One of the most remarkable moments in history was the one in which the Vikings and the English existed in a fragile state of peace. There’s also no question that Alfred the Great is one of the most famous kings in the history of Britain.

The Last Kingdom, the long-running historical drama, takes place during this important moment in the history of the British Isles, focusing in particular on the character of Uhtred as he tries to survive and thrive in this dangerous and unstable world.

Game Of Thrones (2011–19)

Available To Stream On HBO Max

There are few fantasy series quite as renowned as Game of Thrones, which set the bar high in terms of what the genre could attain. However, despite the fact that it takes place in an alternate fantasy world, it is very much grounded in the material reality of the Middle Ages.

This is a world that is full of people trying to attain as much power as they can, and life often turns bloody and violent, with the common folk bearing the brunt. It captures a similar violent spirit as that in Vikings: Valhalla.

Britannia (2018–present)

Available To Stream On DirecV

The history of the British Isles is one of almost constant conquest. Long before the Vikings invaded, however, the island faced another conqueror: the Romans. The series Britannia is set during this pivotal moment, and it focuses in particular on several groups of native Britons as they struggle to resist the might of the great empire.

Though it has elements of history, it also has a lot of fantasy to it, creating a strange but compelling historical drama.

Camelot (2011)

Available To Buy On Amazon

King Arthur is one of the most famous kings in the history of England, and he has appeared in a number of movies and TV series. One of those was the short-lived Camelot.

Like Valhalla, it showed a number of battles and political conflicts, where it attempted to immerse the viewers in the perilous world (in which Arthur tries to forge a new Britain of peace and prosperity while his sister Morgan schemes against him). It features a strong cast, and it is a shame that it didn’t get more time on the air.

The Pillars Of The Earth (2010)

Available To Stream On Starz

Ken Follett’s novel The Pillars of the Earth is often hailed as a masterwork of historical fiction. Focusing on the construction of a magnificent cathedral and on the lives of those who both try to help and hinder its building, it translates very well into the historical miniseries of the same name.

Like Vikings: Valhalla, it features a very strong cast, and it immerses the viewer in the tumultuous world of medieval England, where it could literally take generations for a building like a cathedral to be built, all while war and chaos reign in the land.

Spartacus (2010–13)

Available To Stream On Starz

There are few historical periods that have been depicted on screen as much as ancient Rome, and one of the most notable is the series Spartacus. Focusing on the title character, a warrior who is forced to become a gladiator, it follows him as he slowly escapes from slavery and leads a revolt against the powerful Romans.

Like Valhalla, it is a gruesome and bloody series, but it nevertheless manages to show just how uncertain life was in the ancient world, and how even a mighty empire like Rome could be brought to its knees.

World Without End (2012)

Available To Stream On DirecTV

This miniseries is a sequel to The Pillars of the Earth. Like its predecessor, it is based on the novel of the same name. Similar to how Valhalla is set years after its predecessor, World Without End follows a similar path (although it once again shows the extent to which great historical events–including the war between England and France and the Black Death–impact the lives and fortunes of the people who live in the city of Kingsbridge).

It’s a powerful story that demonstrates the ability of the human spirit to triumph even in difficult times.

Marco Polo (2014–16)

Available To Stream On Netflix

In the history of travelers, there are few figures quite as famous as Marco Polo, who would become well-known for his time in the court of Kublai Khan. This series, which was released by Netflix, focuses on this extraordinary man as he slowly gets drawn into the dark and dangerous world of the Mongol court.

Though it takes a number of liberties with the historical record, it still managed to pack quite a lot of political maneuvering into its two seasons. Like Valhalla, it also had some unique battle sequences and dynamic characters that kept fans engaged with the events on-screen.

The White Queen (2013)

Available To Stream On Starz

There have been many great period dramas on Starz, and The White Queen is one of those. It focuses on the significant historical figure Elizabeth Woodville, who managed to capture the heart of a king.

Like Valhalla’s Emma of Normandy, Elizabeth would go on to play a major part in the years’ long conflict (known as the Wars of the Roses), and the series does an excellent job of showing how this sort of war often had a disproportionately damaging effect on the women of the nobility.

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