10 Obscure Historical Dramas Every Outlander Fan Should Watch

Love period dramas with intense plots? Here's the list for you.

1. The Devil's Whore (2008)

This four-parter dives headfirst into the English Civil War, a time when loyalties were fickle and life was cheaper than a pint of ale. We follow Angelica Fanshawe, a young noblewoman who finds herself embroiled in the messy conflict between Royalists and Parliamentarians. Torn between her childhood sweetheart, Harry, a Royalist, and the enigmatic revolutionary, Edward Sexby, Angelica navigates battlefields both literal and of the heart. There's backstabbing, duels, and enough political intrigue to keep you entertained during Droughtlander.

2. Jericho (2016)

Set in the 1870s in Yorkshire, Jericho focuses on the shantytown that springs up around the construction of a massive viaduct. Charles Blackwood is the ambitious engineer who's staked his career on the project. Into the mix comes Annie, a young widow, with her two kids, seeking a fresh start. While Charles grapples with the challenges of the viaduct and keeps his snobbish family at bay, Annie struggles to find her place in a town of misfits and outcasts.

3. Borgia (2011-2014)

No, not The Borgias, which was the mainstream version. Borgia, the lesser-known show, is a gritty, no-holds-barred look at one of history's most infamous families. It starts with the death of Pope Innocent VIII and the power vacuum that ensues. Rodrigo Borgia sees his shot and takes it, becoming Pope Alexander VI. Now, you'd think being Pope is a cushy job, but nope. Rodrigo has to fend off political rivals, manage his scandalously passionate family, and fend off assassination attempts—sometimes all before breakfast!

4. Banished (2015)

Australia: beautiful beaches, unique wildlife, and the perfect place to send your convicts, right? At least, that's what the British thought in the late 18th century. Banished covers the establishment of the penal colony in New South Wales from the perspective of the convicts and their overseers. Elizabeth Quinn, a young woman convicted of theft, is stuck in a love triangle between her fellow convict lover, Tommy, and the soldier Major Ross.

5. Pillars of the Earth (2010)

Based on Ken Follett's sprawling novel, this series kicks off with the sinking of the White Ship, an event that plunges England into a succession crisis. Tom Builder is an architect dreaming of building a cathedral in the town of Kingsbridge. His vision attracts the attention of Prior Philip, a pious man with political savvy. Meanwhile, the Hamleigh family seeks to profit from the chaos, and the noble Aliena fights for her family's legacy.

6. Anno 1790 (2011)

Johan Gustav Dåådh is an ex-soldier turned modern-thinking police commissioner. Armed with a passion for enlightenment ideals and what could be considered the rudimentary beginnings of forensic science, he tackles the gnarly crimes of Stockholm. Amidst the backdrop of social upheaval and revolution in Europe, Dåådh also finds himself in a risky liaison with Magdalena Wahlstedt, his boss's wife.

7. The Book of Negroes (2015)

Aminata Diallo, a young African girl, is abducted from her village and sold into slavery in America. Throughout her life, she learns to read and write, skills that lead her to documenting the names of Black Loyalists who are promised freedom and land in Nova Scotia. Aminata's journey takes her from the plantations of South Carolina to the rugged terrain of Canada and eventually across the ocean to Sierra Leone.

8. Turn: Washington's Spies (2014-2017)

Based on the real-life Culper Spy Ring, the series follows Abraham Woodhull, a cabbage farmer (yes, you read that right) in British-occupied Long Island. Initially reluctant, Abe eventually gets roped into spying for the Continental Army. He's not some dashing James Bond figure; he's an everyday guy grappling with double lives, codes, and the risk of hanging. Plus, there's tension for days with his old friend, now a British officer, Edmund Hewlett.

9. Jamestown (2017-2019)

This one's set in Jamestown, Virginia, during the early days of the American colonies. The series begins in 1619, with the arrival of a group of English women who are to be married off to the male settlers. Among them are Alice, Verity, and Jocelyn, each with their own secrets and ambitions. It's no picnic: they're walking into a world of power struggles, land disputes, and Native American politics.

10. Versailles (2015-2018)

Think Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but make it 17th-century French royalty. King Louis XIV decides to move his court from Paris to Versailles, ostensibly to keep an eye on the nobles but also to live it up in the lap of luxury. While he's juggling foreign policies and elaborate mistresses, his brother Philippe is a battlefield hero with a much more complicated love life.