Love them or hate them, the Lannisters of Westeros are some of the most important and intriguing characters in the entirety of Game of Thrones. Tywin Lannister is arguably the most brilliant man in the series, and Tyrion is no slouch in the intellect department either. But the forbidden love story between the selfish and cruel twins, Cersei and Jaime Lannister, is what fuels the entire story of the series, as well as what fuels the downfall of the Lannister family.
However, for all of their faults, it's difficult to not fall in love with or at least be enthralled by the Lannisters. They're a unique family with a unique story, and it's no surprise that Game of Thrones fans are riveted by them. So for anyone who considers themselves to be an unofficial member of House Lannister, here are 10 shows you're guaranteed to enjoy.
10 The White Queen
Obviously the world that George R.R. Martin, David Benioff, and D.B. Weiss created with Game of Thrones is entirely fictional, but that doesn't mean that the show doesn't borrow from real history pretty liberally.
Some of the historical inspirations are obvious, and the author of the original books has been open about the fact that the conflict between the Lannisters and the Starks is pretty solidly built on a foundation of the real life War of the Roses. And as it happens, The White Queen is a historical drama that is also based on the War of the Roses.
9 The Crown
Game of Thrones and the journey of the Lannister family is an interesting examination of the way power can ebb and flow, and how the fact that someone is entitled to a throne for any reason doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be sitting on that throne for long.
And the Netflix series The Crown is very thematically similar. The Crown is about the recent history of the actual English monarchy, and although it seems like the monarchy is firmly entrenched now it's clear that there were moments where the entire House of Windsor looked like it was about to collapse in on itself.
8 Twin Peaks
No shade meant towards fans of House Lannister, but to be honest, if this is the family that someone wants to roll with out of every other Great House of Westeros then clearly they have taste that is somewhat off the beaten path.
The Lannisters are a diabolical family and an object lesson on why exactly incest is a terrible idea always, and frankly, they are just a pack of really bizarre people. So if bizarre is something that you find entertaining, then the iconic and tragically short-lived David Lynch series Twin Peaks is undoubtedly right up your alley.
7 The White Princess
As the savvy reader may have already surmised, the first entry on this list, The White Queen, and this series, The White Princess, have a whole lot in common. They are essentially very similar shows about very similar topics, but with interesting points of view and storylines in their own right.
The aforementioned white princess/queen is Elizabeth of York, who married Henry VII and essentially ended the War of the Roses between Lancaster and York. Although the Yorks are essentially the Starks, clearly the saga between them the Lancasters/Lannisters is still an essential part of this story.
6 Outlander
Anyone who is into Game of Thrones is clearly into period pieces, and anyone who loves the Lannisters undoubtedly loves a lot of familial drama. And with the Starz series Outlander, you'll get a really good dose of both.
This show is ostensibly a romance tale between Claire and Jamie Fraser, however, the show is also heavy on drama, familial issues, and shady political movement. Also, there are some pretty solid fights for those who are looking for a more action-oriented series. Outlander never pulls any punches when it comes to drama or tragedy.
5 Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones is pretty indisputably a masterpiece (regardless of what anyone thought of how the series ended), so it only makes sense that fans of GoT would be interested in a literal Masterpiece Classic like Downton Abbey.
Downton Abbey did what many people may have thought was impossible by making PBS cool again, but this period drama about 20th century upper-crust England was an astonishing feat of television. The production values are insane, the cast is spectacular, and the storyline is second to none. Downton is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to truly lose themselves in a show again.
4 Rome
It almost seems quaint now in comparison to the insanely expensive television shows that so many networks are investing in, but once upon a time the HBO historical drama Rome was one of the most expensive TV shows ever produced. And the money was well worth the investment.
This series brings ancient Rome to life, and it is a seamless blend of historical inspiration and real, somewhat relatable drama. We say somewhat because, as any Lannister fan is sure to appreciate, the show incorporates some more taboo subjects like incest in addition to the typical family drama.
3 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Lena Headey's most popular (or at least well known, since Cersei's popularity among most people is debatable) role thus far has certainly been that of Cersei Lannister, but she was an incredibly established and accomplished actress before she began Game of Thrones.
There are actually plenty of TV series that feature Lannister actors in other roles, but Headey plays the title role of Sarah Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. And boy, is it awesome to see her kick so much ass. Most people wouldn't call a character like Sarah Connor likable, but in comparison to Cersei, she's straight rainbows and sunshine.
2 The Tudors
Obviously any drama revolving around a throne is a shoo-in for any Game of Thrones fans, but The Tudors had a little bit of that extra family drama oomph that is bound to keep every Lannister fan in the world enthralled.
This is a much edgier and sexier retelling of the generally awful history of Henry VIII. At least with this version of Henry, it's easy to see how he managed to snag so many wives, and honestly, his whole obsession with his divine rights as king and his paranoia about being usurped is very Lannister-esque.
1 The Borgias
You know, most writers would shy away from using familial/romantic love storylines in any work of fiction, for very good reason. It's obviously one of the biggest taboos in the world, and most people cringe with revulsion at the thought of falling in love with a family member.
However, that makes stories like the relationship between Cersei and Jaime Lannister or the relationship between Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia so unique. The Borgias is a very interesting show in its own right, but anyone who considers themselves House Lannister is bound to love it.
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