WhatNext TV recommendations

Shows Like His Dark Materials

If His Dark Materials worked for you because of its power plays, elite rivalry, and high-stakes ambition, start with Alchemy of Souls, The Witcher, and Merlin. The list leans toward sci-fi & fantasy and drama stories with a similar sense of status-driven drama. It prioritises shared tone and story shape rather than relying on broad genre matching alone.

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24 recommendationsStart with Alchemy of Souls, The Witcher, Merlin

Recommendations tuned for fans of His Dark Materials

Audience fit

Why His Dark Materials fans may like these shows

If you enjoyed His Dark Materials, try Alchemy of Souls, The Witcher, and Merlin. These recommendations focus on sci-fi & fantasy and drama shows that share power, money and strategic conflict and a similar storytelling rhythm.

Ranked recommendations

The closest TV shows to watch after His Dark Materials

Each recommendation includes the reasoning behind the pick, so you can see why it may suit fans of His Dark Materials.

Alchemy of Souls

Alchemy of Souls is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, and Action & Adventure Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, She was named Naksu because wherever she went, a trail of heads followed. She performs the alchemy of souls, magic that can change people's bodies and souls, which is forbidden in Daeho, and ends up being chased. Naksu…

The Witcher

The Witcher is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Action & Adventure Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster-hunter for hire, journeys toward his destiny in a turbulent world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

Merlin

Merlin is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Action & Adventure, Drama, and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, The unlikely friendship between Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, and Prince Arthur, heir to the crown of Camelot.

House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, and Action & Adventure Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, The Targaryen dynasty is at the absolute apex of its power, with more than 15 dragons under their yoke. Most empires crumble from such heights. In the case of the Targaryens, their slow fall begins when King Viserys…

Xena: Warrior Princess

Xena: Warrior Princess is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Drama, Action & Adventure, and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Xena is an infamous warrior on a quest to seek redemption for her past sins against the innocent. Accompanied by her comrade-in-arms Gabrielle, the campy couple use their formidable fighting skills to help those who…

Motherland: Fort Salem

Motherland: Fort Salem is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, and Action & Adventure Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, Set in an alternate America where witches ended their persecution over 300 years ago by cutting a deal with the government to fight for their country, the series follows three young women from basic training in combat…

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, and Action & Adventure Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the farthest north. Amidst the war, a neglected…

The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Drama Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, The lives of five young villagers change forever when a strange and powerful woman arrives, claiming one of them is the child of an ancient prophecy with the power to tip the balance between Light and Dark forever.…

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Drama and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, There is a town in Maine where every story book character you've ever known is trapped between two worlds, victims of a powerful curse. Only one knows the truth and only one can break the spell.

Outlander

Outlander is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Drama and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, The story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to…

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Drama Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, Magic and mischief collide as half-human, half-witch Sabrina navigates between two worlds: mortal teen life and her family's legacy, the Church of Night.

Charmed

Charmed is a strong follow-up to His Dark Materials because it offers power, money and strategic conflict and a comparable sense of status-driven drama. Shared genre fit: Drama and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Three sisters (Prue, Piper and Phoebe) reunite and unlock their powers to become the Charmed Ones, the most powerful good witches of all time, whose prophesied destiny is to protect innocent lives from evil beings such…

What makes a good show like His Dark Materials?

A good replacement for His Dark Materials is not just another show in the same broad genre. The best matches keep the parts viewers remember most: power plays, elite rivalry, and high-stakes ambition, a sharp and intense atmosphere and status-driven drama. That is why the ranking combines several signals before a title reaches the final list.

How these recommendations are chosen

Audience behaviour: Reddit-style co-mentions and pair signals help identify shows viewers naturally compare or recommend together. Recommendation graph: TMDB recommendation data helps identify titles that sit close to the anchor show. Story fit: genre overlap, semantic keywords and concept-specific guardrails reduce lazy matches that share only a surface-level category. Quality control: vote average, vote count, popularity and freshness checks help remove weak or low-confidence titles from public SEO pages.

Editor's verdict

The strongest starting point is Alchemy of Souls, The Witcher, and Merlin because the list balances similarity, quality and viewer behaviour. For best results, choose the recommendation that matches the part of His Dark Materials you liked most: tone, characters, setting, mystery, tension or long-form payoff.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What should I watch after His Dark Materials for more power and money drama?

Start with Alchemy of Souls, The Witcher, and Merlin if you want more ambition, strategic rivalry and high-status drama built around power plays rather than action spectacle.

Are these shows similar to His Dark Materials because of finance alone?

No. The ranking looks beyond a business setting and favours series that share the same mix of pressure, status, ego and long-running conflict.

Why do fans of His Dark Materials often end up watching these next?

They usually respond to power plays, elite rivalry, and high-stakes ambition, so the page prioritises series that recreate that feeling instead of just matching on industry keywords.

How can I get more recommendations like His Dark Materials?

Save a few favourites in WhatNext, add shows to your watchlist and rate what you have already seen so future recommendations line up more closely with your taste.

Keep exploring

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