With Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon soaring into its third season, faithful followers of George R.R. Martin’s sprawling fantasy universe can finally catch up on all that juicy Targaryen family infighting that unfolded 200 years before poor Ned Stark lost his head.
But you needn’t be a fan of dragons and swords to hop on the increasingly popular prequel bandwagon. Plenty of big- and small-screen stories, characters, and worlds have been fleshed out with IP-expanding precursor series, many of which you can stream right now.
So whether you’re wondering which of the many Star Wars prequel series is worth a weekend binge or you want to get to the bottom of how Norman Bates became a mother-murdering motel-dweller, EW’s list of the 11 best prequel series is well worth the trip back in time.
01 of 11
1883 (2021-2022)
Tim McGraw on ‘1883’
Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+
Of Taylor Sheridan’s many Yellowstone sequels, prequels, and spinoffs, 1923 seems to earn the most praise. And with heavyweights like Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren at the helm, it deserves all the adoration it can stuff into its saddlebags.
Still, its popularity often comes at the cost of stealing the thunder of the Western universe’s first prequel, 1883. Set in the post-Civil War era — and starring Tim McGraw as James Dutton — it spins a layered, emotionally rich, and action-packed tale that follows his family’s harrowing wagon-train journey from Tennessee to Texas.
Supported by top-notch performances from Sam Elliott, McGraw’s real-life wife Faith Hill (who plays his on-screen spouse Margaret), and Isabel May, this prequel-to-a-prequel is arguably Sheridan’s best.
Where to watch 1883: Paramount+
02 of 11
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026–present)
Peter Claffey in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
Credit: Steffan Hill/HBO
House of the Dragon is generally recognized as Game of Thrones‘ proper prestige prequel, packed with flying lizards, epic fantasy action, and plenty of political intrigue — all hallmarks of the original series.
But based on the enormous popularity of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ debut season earlier this year, this new prequel — and its endearing heroes, Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) — could give the feuding Targaryens a run for their money.
Details about the second season remain scarce as of this writing, but the first six episodes proved a breath of fresh air, retaining many of the most appealing and defining qualities of George R.R. Martin’s sprawling fantasy world while packaging them in a more digestible tale that contains more humor, heart, and charm than you can shake a splintered lance at. Not bad for a hedge knight.
Where to watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: HBO Max
03 of 11
Alien: Earth (2025-present)
Syndey Chandler as Wendy on ‘Alien: Earth’
Credit: Patrick Brown/FX
Following decades of mostly mediocre Alien sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, it seems the actual place no one can hear you scream is on the small screen. Specifically in FX’s Alien: Earth, a sci-fi thriller series set two years before Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) blasted that ugly Xenomorph out of her escape pod’s airlock.
Created by Noah Hawley — who successfully adapted Fargo into a five-season anthology series — the show includes all the chest-bursting, face-hugging frights you’d expect from the gore-soaked franchise. It also spins an engaging tale involving the five corporations that govern the planet, including the films’ sinister Weyland-Yutani. Another major player is Prodigy, which has created potentially dangerous Hybrids, synthetic lifeforms that contain the consciousnesses of terminally ill children.
Where to watch Alien: Earth: Hulu
04 of 11
Andor (2022-2025)
Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) on ‘Andor’
Credit: Lucasfilm
The Disney era of Star Wars is a mixed bag, but Andor represents the crown jewel (Kyber crystal?) of Disney+’s many attempts to recapture the magic of the original trilogy. It doesn’t hurt that the series — a two-time nominee for the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy — serves as a prequel to both the original film that launched the franchise and Rogue One, arguably the best Star Wars movie made under Disney’s stewardship.
Created by Tony Gilroy, Andor centers on reluctant rebel Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a grounded protagonist who serves as a refreshing pivot from the franchise’s usual Force-flinging, lightsaber-wielding superheroes. That same philosophy extends to its storytelling, which favors personal conflicts, espionage-tinged thrills, and high-stakes drama over pew-pew action and over-the-top creatures and effects.
Where to watch Andor: Disney+
05 of 11
Bates Motel (2013-2017)
Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore on ‘Bates Motel’
Credit: James Dittiger
The Emmy-nominated Bates Motel delivered five suspenseful seasons of nerve-fraying psychological drama and nail-biting thrills that not only fleshed out Norman Bates’s past as a severely troubled teen but also dug deep into the Psycho killer’s increasingly dysfunctional relationship with his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga).
A compelling blend of classic Hitchcock and contemporary cinematic style, Bates Motel is an engrossing binge worth suffering a few nightmares for.
Where to watch Bates Motel: Amazon Prime Video
06 of 11
Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
Bob Odenkirk on ‘Better Call Saul’
Credit: AMC
The fact that many fans believe this Breaking Bad prequel is superior to the series that spawned it says a lot. Heisenberg might bristle at such an assertion, but you can’t argue with just how well Better Call Saul works without standing on Walter White’s shoulders.
Much credit goes to creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, who somehow spun what could have been a one-note character into a scene-stealing fan favorite capable of carrying his own show. Of course, that beloved character is Slippin’ Jimmy himself, brilliantly (and hilariously) played by Bob Odenkirk. And while the titular ambulance chaser naturally holds court for six seasons (beating Breaking Bad by one), equally excellent turns by Jonathan Banks and Rhea Seehorn ensure this multi-award-winning series works as both the perfect prequel and a bingeable standalone drama.
Where to watch Better Call Saul: Netflix
07 of 11
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
‘The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance’
Credit: Kevin Baker/Netflix
A deep-cut prequel based on a cult-favorite ’80s fantasy flick starring a cast of puppets, it’s not really a surprise that Disney pulled the plug on this ambitious but underappreciated show after a single season. But that doesn’t mean The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance isn’t a worthy weekend binge.
On the contrary, as a canon prequel to the Jim Henson-helmed original, the series’ 10 episodes further explore and expand the whimsical world of Thra, as well as its ensemble of cute (and creepy) inhabitants, voiced by the likes of Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Isaacs, and Simon Pegg.
Where to watch The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: Netflix
08 of 11
IT: Welcome to Derry (2025-present)
Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’
Credit: Brooke Palmer/HBO
Some prequel series stretch themselves thin trying to evoke what made their source material so popular. (Sorry, Gotham, but a Batman show without Batman just feels like a bridge too far.) You won’t encounter that problem with IT: Welcome to Derry, HBO’s prequel to the 2017 and 2019 horror hits based on Stephen King’s most nightmare-conjuring creation.
Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise, Derry’s resident killer clown, shapeshifter, and hallucination-manifesting cosmic monster. And while the show uses its iconic Dancing Clown antagonist sparingly within its 1962 setting, Pennywise’s presence — and the underlying fear it persistently oozes — is felt throughout, whether he’s lurking in the shadows, terrorizing victims from behind his signature red nose, or manipulating minds through one of his monstrous forms.
Where to watch IT: Welcome to Derry: HBO Max
09 of 11
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022-present)
Glûg (Robert Strange) and other orcs in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
Credit: Ross Ferguson/Prime Video
If you prefer your fantasy epics with live actors and loads of powerful gold rings, look no further than The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Amazon Prime Video’s big-budget fantasy answer to Game of Thrones.
Set during the Second Age — a tumultuous era that saw the rise of the malevolent Sauron and the forging of the fabled Rings of Power — the series packs in all the action, adventure, and lore you’d expect, with the help of elves, dwarves, orcs, and Harfoots.
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The ambitious series will debut new episodes later this year, making this the perfect time to prop up your hairy feet and marathon the first two seasons.
Where to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Amazon Prime Video
10 of 11
Muppet Babies (2018-2022)
‘Muppet Babies’
Credit: Everett
The Muppets have been enjoying some extra buzz lately, as Jim Henson‘s legendary puppets recently got their own themed roller coaster at Walt Disney World. But if you miss Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy, Gonzo, and the rest of the gang — and can’t make it to the Most Magical Place on Earth — you can still get your fix on Disney+, where all three seasons of Disney Junior’s Muppet Babies reboot are available to stream.
While the 2018 version doesn’t quite tap into the same strain of nostalgia as the hand-drawn original — which aired for eight seasons throughout the ’80s and early ’90s — the update is still a solid, Emmy-winning piece of edutainment that brims with humor and heart and boasts the most adorable iteration of Animal ever.
Where to watch Disney Jr. Muppet Babies: Disney+
11 of 11
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1996)
Sean Patrick Flanery on ‘The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles’
Credit: Everett
Harrison Ford hung up his fedora for the last time with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), leaving the legendary archaeologist to forge fresh adventures in acclaimed video games and ambitious Disney theme park attractions. Thankfully, Dr. Henry Jones Jr. has a five-film history that fans can revisit as often as they like, as well as a two-season prequel series that deserves a bigger audience.
The latter starred Sean Patrick Flanery and Cory Carrier as younger versions of Indy. (Ford also made a cameo as a middle-aged Indy in one episode.) The Emmy-winning series — which also spawned four made-for-TV movies — retains the same swashbuckling spirit as the films while leaning heavily into real-world history and historical figures, ensuring that some episodes are as educational as they are entertaining.
Where to watch The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Amazon Prime Video (to buy)
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