HBO’s Game Of Thrones Season 6 is just heating up as Fox’s Empire Season 2 is coming to a close. The two shows couldn’t be more different, but fans of both may easily see many similarities. Game Of Thrones is a fantasy tale set in the medieval time period of a fictional world. Empire is follows a family who runs a fictional recording company in modern day New York. But the overlapping themes of family, power and betrayal could attract similar audiences. Here are 15 ways Empire is like a modern day Game Of Thrones.
Many People Die
Empire doesn’t have nearly as many deaths as Game of Thrones , but the hip hop drama has steadily built up a body count during its two seasons on air. We’ve seen Bunkie Williams, Teddy McNally, Vernon Turner and Frank Gathers killed, while the fate of fan favorite Jamal Lyon is currently unknown. Surely there will be many more deaths as Empire continues. Deaths on Game of Thrones is a big fat duh.
Lots Of Sex
Empire is also not nearly as raunchy as Game of Thrones with nudity and sex scenes, but characters are definitely… expressive. We see a lot of hook ups, new and rekindled love and sexual dominance and revenge plots in both shows. It’s a wonder the characters in either show get anything else done.
Inappropriate Relationships
Both shows have had pairings that make fans cringe. In Game of Thrones, twin siblings Jaime and Cersei Lannister have had a sexual relationship that has produced three children, while Cersei was married to another man. In Empire, Hakeem Lyon had a sexual relationship with his father’s former fiancée, Anika. She is now pregnant with Hakeem’s child.
Power Struggles
Pretty much every character in both series is trying to one-up another character. This goes even beyond the most obvious fights for power: whether trying to prove themselves to an adversary, exacting revenge or simply taking the easiest and most deadly route to the top (we’re looking at you Ramsay Bolton). There’s almost always some sort of betrayal going on.
Many People On The Throne
Empire has easily seen as many people leading Empire Entertainment as Game of Thrones has seen leaders on the Iron Throne. We’ve even seen Hakeem remaster the Empire Records Lucious Lyon logo into his own image while acting as CEO. When Lucious originally passed Empire over to Jamal, he did so by giving his son a scepter with a lion’s head on top, similar to what is held by a king. As the shows continue, surely be new people coming to power. We know that Andre and Rhonda are still vying to run Empire eventually.
Family Drama
While Empire follows one family and Game of Thrones chronicles in the issues seen in several houses, there are many similarities to be found in the family dynamics of the two shows. Between husband and wife, parents and children or among siblings: the families just can’t stop fighting.
Scheming Characters
Empire’s Thurston “ Thirsty” Rawlings and Game of Thrones’ Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish have a lot in common outside of their humorous nicknames. Both are interesting yet sketchy, leaving viewers guessing whether they are helpful to others or completely selfish. Thirsty appears to be loyal to Lucious Lyon to a fault, while Petyr appears to want to help others, but only if there is a benefit in the deal for him.
Tongue-In-Cheek Characters
Cookie Lyon is to Empire what Tyrion Lannister is to Game of Thrones. The two are both outspoken and off the cuff, and loved by fans. Tyrion being born a dwarf made him lose favor with his father and experience fear and ridicule from others throughout his life. Cookie going to jail for 17 years caused her to lose her husband and miss her three sons growing up. Lucious was also not pleased to have Cookie around when she first got out of jail. Other characters like Anika and Hakeem also originally weren’t happy about Cookie’s home coming.
Powerful Women
In both Empire and Game of Thrones, the men may think they are in charge but the ladies can also hold their own. Cookie is an A&R powerhouse and now co-CEO of Empire Entertainment, while Daenerys Targaryen is the fiery queen who continues to surprise Dothraki Khals. Sansa Stark is ready to take back her home of Winterfell, while Tiana is the pop princess of Empire Entertainment. Both shows demonstrate female characters capable of just as much, and even more power and treachery than the men.
Horrible Fathers
It’s difficult to say who takes the cake for worst father: Tywin Lannister or Lucious Lyon. Tywin blamed his son for the death of his wife on his son, Tyrion, and attempted to marry his daughter off to a gay man. Lucious shunned one son for being mentally ill and another for being gay and belittled his third son for being born into wealth. We suppose the deciding factor would be that when given the chance Tyrion kills his father, while Hakeem does not.
Fans Will Riot If Jamal/Tyrion Dies
It seems like Tyrion is safe on Game of Thrones for now, but fans would not be pleased if the cheeky character’s tenure came to an end. Currently, it is uncertain whether Jamal will live or die and many fans have expressed on the social media accounts of actor, Jussie Smollett that they will stop watching Empire if he leaves the show .
Pomp And Circumstance
Between elaborate weddings and flashy award shows, both shows feature a lot of pageantry and prosperous people showing off their wealth. We’ve seen several weddings on Game of Thrones as well as jousting matches and other events. Empire has featured an award show comparable to the American Music Awards and other lavish, star-studded events hosted by the Lyon family.
Religious Ties
Both Empire and Game of Thrones have arcs dealing with religion. In Empire, Andre Lyon found religion after having a psychotic break due to his bipolar disorder. This caused tension between him and his father, who doesn’t believe in God due to his tumultuous childhood. In Game of Thrones , Melisandre acts as a proxy to the Lord of Light. Her misinterpreted prophecy caused the death of many people. However, she brought Jon Snow back from death and believes him to be the true “prince that was promised.” There is also the Sparrows religious movement, which is lead by the High Sparrow. Followers expose sinners and force them to atone for their sins. Under the High Sparrow’s order, Cersei had to walk naked through King’s Landing as penance for having a sexual relationship with her brother.
Crazy Sisters
Many characters on Empire and Game of Thrones have eccentricities; however, Cookie’s sister Carol and Catelyn Stark’s sister Lysa Arryn take the cake. Early in Empire, Carol appeared to be stable, but we soon find out she is addicted to crack and alcohol. We also know that Carol is extremely jealous of Cookie and that she dated Lucious at one point. Some fans consider that one or both of Carol’s children could have been fathered by Lucious. In Lysa Arryn’s first appearance on Game of Thrones, she is seen nursing her pre-teen son while being called upon to decide the fate of Tyrion Lannister, who was then charged with killing Joffrey Baratheon. Ultimately, we learn that she was in love with Petyr Baelish, who was in love with her sister, Catelyn Stark. When Lysa saw Baelish kissing Catelyn’s daughter, Sansa Stark, she attempted to kill the girl. However, Baelish instead pushed her through the moon door of her own castle.
Death By Smothering
When Daenerys realized her husband, Khal Drogo, could not be saved, she smothered him with a pillow to end his suffering. When Cookie found out Lucious killed her cousin, Bunkie, she attempted to smother him with a pillow while he was high on an experimental ALS medication. However, Lucious was lucid enough to grab her hand and stop her from harming him.
What other similarities can you think of between Empire and Game of Thrones ? Let us know in the comments.
