10 Stunning Period Dramas on Prime to Transport You Back in Time

1. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017- )

Pristine 1950s New York, Midge Maisel had it all. Till she didn't. Her husband's infidelity unearths her latent talent—stand-up comedy. Strutting in heels and pearls, she crashes the male-dominated comedy scene. Manager Susie is her sidekick, guiding this domestic diva turned comedienne. From the Upper West Side to Greenwich Village dives, watch Mrs. Maisel's highs, lows, and loads of laughs.

2. Victoria (2016-2019)

Did someone ask for a British royal treat? Behold, Queen Victoria's reign! Starting with a young, 18-year-old Victoria ascending the throne, boy, the palace intrigues were real. A budding romance with Prince Albert takes center stage. And the empire? Vast and sun-never-sets wide. With ambitious politicians and scandals galore, Victoria navigates her way through the tightropes of the monarchy.

3. Ripper Street (2012-2016)

Whodunnit fans, gather round. Post-Jack the Ripper Whitechapel, 1889. The streets are drenched in dread. Inspector Edmund Reid, haunted by personal loss, leads the H Division, solving grisly crimes. Dive bars, opium dens, slums—the scenery's top-notch. As Reid, Drake, and Jackson tackle cases, they face the darkness within and around. Crime, corruption, and a chaotic London—what's not to love?

4. The Last Tycoon (2016-2017)

Hollywood, the 1930s. Golden age? More like age of secrets. Enter Monroe Stahr, the young film prodigy navigating Tinseltown's treacherous terrains. Love triangles, union disputes, studio politics—it's all in a day's work. As Stahr battles his mentor and boss, Pat Brady, for control over their studio, illusions shatter. It's a tale where the reel and the real blur boundaries.

5. Vanity Fair (2018)

Ah, the world's a stage. At least for Becky Sharp, it is. The English society of the early 19th century is her playground. From impoverished beginnings, she claws her way to the top echelons. War, affairs, betrayals—it's all part and parcel of this ruthless climb. But Becky's ambition? Unparalleled. Watch her maneuver through love, loss, and a touch of lunacy.

6. The Collection (2016)

Paris, post-World War II. A city healing, a fashion house rising. The Sabine brothers, they're the heart of this tale. Paul's the face, Claude's the talent. Their Maison's a sensation, but at a cost. Secrets weave through delicate fabrics, and loyalties are tested. In a world of couture, the devil truly wears the details.

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

Revolutionary America's calling! But wait, it's not just the battlefield frenzy. Abe Woodhull, a simple cabbage farmer, becomes Washington's most valuable spy. Espionage, coded letters, clandestine meetings—the stakes are monumental. Amidst love, loyalty, and betrayals, the Culper Ring thrives. And as the Redcoats strategize, these spies shape the very fate of a nation.

8. Jamestown (2017-2019)

1620. English settlers arrive at Jamestown. It's not the gentlemen who steal the show, but three fiery women. Contracted to be married to these settlers, they carve their destiny in this New World. Amidst hostile landscapes and power-hungry colonists, loyalties shift. Native tribes, foreign traders, rivalries, and friendships—the colony's teeming with stories. In a land of opportunities and threats, these women shine bright.

9. Indian Summers (2015-2016)

Set sail to 1932 India, during the twilight of British colonial rule. Simla, to be precise, summer retreat of the colonial Brits. Amidst Himalayan vistas, there's a whirlwind of passions. Political tensions rise, secret affairs flourish, and cultural clashes are inevitable. As Ralph Whelan, the private secretary to the Viceroy, navigates power corridors, shadows from his past lurk close. It's a mosaic of love, betrayal, and political intrigue.

10. Poldark (2015-2019)

Cornwall's cliffs have tales to tell. Ross Poldark, a British soldier, returns post-American Revolutionary War to his now dilapidated estate. Love's lost, fortune's gone, but hope? Still burning. Rebuilding his life, battling greedy rivals, and reigniting old flames, Poldark's journey is epic. Tin mines, class struggles, forbidden romances – it's all here, in this sweeping saga.