Barbaric Replacements
Have you finished streaming Barbarians? Wondering what to watch next?
Well, fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle of having to try and find something similar with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing.
To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have.
Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Barbarians.
Vikings
Similarities – Violence & Expansive Story
Following the journey of Ragnar Lothbrok, Vikings is a fascinating and often violent look into the lives of the first Norsemen in history.
Full of dramatic tension and leaning (mostly) toward historical accuracy, Vikings does a great job blending fact and fiction. In doing so, it produces a methodically paced, interesting journey through the lives of the infamous warriors of the North.
While the later seasons do take some liberties with that realism and the plot runs out of steam before its final season, there’s enough here to enjoy nonetheless.
You can read our thoughts on Vikings in our full season reviews here!
The Last Kingdom
Similarities – Violence & Politics
Set during the time of the Viking Invasions of Britain, The Last Kingdom is a well written, brutally realistic series relying on the charisma of its many characters to drive the story of Uhtred Ragnarson forward.
The time period is perfectly captured in both atmosphere and set design too. If that wasn’t enough, the story draws from the rich history of Britain across 4 epic seasons of entertainment.
With a fifth season already green-lit, this is one of the better choices to check out when you’re done with Barbarians
You can read our thoughts on The Last Kingdom in our full season review here!
Arthdal Chronicles
Similarities – Characters & Politics
Dubbed as the Korean Game Of Thrones, Arthdal Chronicles leans much heavier into its high fantasy concepts which may be an acquired taste for some.
The story is admittedly pretty convoluted and will punish you if you’re not paying attention during every minute of its 70+ minute episodes.
Set in the fictional land of Arthdal during Ancient times, the story sees a military force led by Tagon rise up and seize control of the land. Prophesied to bring balance back to the world, Eunseom and Tanya front the Wahan Tribe, a peaceful colony that find themselves on the brink of extinction.
As the episodes progress, the series does become more political and with a second season already green-lit, this isn’t the last we’ll see of this Korean drama.
You can read our thoughts on Arthdal Chronicles in our full season review here!
Rome
Similarities – Story & Cinematography
There’s a reason Rome is regarded as one of the best historical TV shows HBO has ever produced. Alongside Band Of Brothers, Rome is an incredible feat on the small screen. The series was actually originally intended to be a mini-series too, but was later expanded and turned into a visual and storytelling treat to behold.
Set during the 1st century B.C., the story follows the lives of two men serving in the Roman army, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pollo. There’s no shying away from the brutal harsh realities of their profession and Rome captures this in all its bloody glory.
And this glory is backed up by stunning visuals and some of the best production work one could ask for from a historical epic like this. Rome is essential viewing and despite its disappointing ending after a second season, remains a quintessential choice for any historical drama fan.
Medici
Similarities – Politics
Set in the heart of Florence during the early 15th Century, Medici: Masters Of Florence is a beautifully shot, engrossing historical drama. Split across three seasons, this dramatic recreation of the Medici family begins with a growing conflict between Rinaldo Albizzi and Cosimo.
This conflict drives much of the narrative forward, eventually coming to a head late on during the show’s climactic finale. From here, the next couple of seasons expand the story and history of the Medici family, delivering a compelling series worth checking out.
You can read our thoughts on Medici in our full season reviews here!
Spartacus
Similarities – Violence & Romans
Spartacus is a bloody, brutal series revolving around Roman gladiators. Specifically, the series zones in on Spartacus who happens to be a warrior orchestrating a rebellion against the Romans.
Early on you’d be forgiven for writing this one off, especially with the gratuitous nudity and blood-soaked violence. However, this series soon evolves into a more compelling story over time, boasting an exciting, action-packed series split across 3 seasons.
Oh and on a side note, the season finale is suitably epic too, rewarding your time with a satisfying conclusion.
Three Kingdoms
Similarities – Drama & Complex Story
Clocking in at a whopping 95 episodes, Three Kingdoms is nothing short of epic. This ambitious project adapts Luo Guanzhong’s classical Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and includes all the rivalries, intrigues and wars of the late Eastern Han Dynasty.
If you’re in the mood for something that’ll take up a good chunk of your time, this one is definitely worth considering. The show is beautifully written and features a great balance of action, character-driven sub-plots and plenty of twists and turns along the way.
The Borgias
Similarities – Politics & Characters
Set in the 15th Century, The Borgias places viewers right in the midst of Pope Alexander VI wrestling for control of Italy with his sons.
Intriguing, intelligent and gorgeously dressed (seriously, the costume design is amazing), this historical drama blends murder, war and tense alliances to dramatic effect.
The storyline is engrossing and from the pilot episode onward, this series perfectly captures the essence of what makes period dramas so good.
The Tudors
Similarities – Politics & Characters
The Tudors is essentially a dramatic story revolving around the reign and marriages of King Henry VIII. Serving up a glorious dose of period drama, The Tudors is not always historically accurate but is consistently entertaining. That’s before even mentioning the costume and production design which are both fantastic.
Split across four seasons, there’s a lot of The Tudors to get through and if you’re taken by the tone of the first couple of episodes, this is one show worth sticking around for the long haul.
I, Claudius
Similarities – Romans
Highly regarded as one of the best historical dramas depicting the Romans, I, Claudius is nothing short of magnificent. Don’t let the 1970’s tag fool you, this is just as good as any modern day drama.
Depicting the Julio-Claudian dynasty, this masterfully written series blends a gorgeous screenplay with some powerhouse acting across its 12+ hour run-time.
Amazingly, this series actually does a great job with its historical accuracy too and establishes itself as a high bar few have managed to hit since. If there’s one Roman drama you watch – this should be first on your list.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show picks to check out when you’re done watching Barbarians.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!