11 Historical Series to Watch After Outlander Mid-Season Finale

1. Poldark (2015-2019)

Okay, picture this: windswept Cornish cliffs in the late 18th century. Ross Poldark returns home from the American Revolutionary War, only to find his love Elizabeth engaged to his cousin. Ouch, right? His family's mine is in ruins, but Ross, never one to mope, rebuilds his life, opening a new mine and marrying the fierce Demelza. But life isn't all tin and copper; there's love, revenge, and political intrigue. Despite Ross's efforts, old flames don't easily die out. Can he find peace amidst the turmoil?

2. Borgia (2011-2014)

Whispers in the Vatican. Rodrigo Borgia, scheming his way to the papal crown, becomes Pope Alexander VI. As you'd expect, papal politics ain't all prayers and penance. While his children, Cesare and Lucrezia, ascend the Roman ladder, scandals and betrayals become the family pastime. Manipulation is divine, but every sin has its price. In the hallowed halls, can the Borgias keep their grip on power?

3. The Last Kingdom (2015-2022)

Ready for a trip to Saxon England? Uhtred, born a Saxon but raised by Vikings, is caught between two worlds. Amidst a Viking invasion, Uhtred seeks to reclaim his birthright. Destiny's a fickle mistress, though, and alliances are constantly shifting. Alfred the Great has plans, and Uhtred's fate is entwined with the birth of a united England. Yet, every time our hero seems close, betrayal lurks. Friend or foe, which will shape his destiny?

4. Versailles (2015-2018)

Ah, Versailles! The grandeur, the intrigue, the... financial troubles? Yup! Louis XIV decides to build the grandest palace the world has ever seen, but it's not just about aesthetics. The palace is a gilded cage, a strategy to control the nobility. As the Sun King navigates politics, love, and war, the walls of Versailles whisper secrets. And when you play the game of French thrones, it's win or guillotine!

5. Gran Hotel (2011-2013)

Bienvenido to the Spanish Downton Abbey. 1905. Julio Olmedo visits the luxurious Gran Hotel to find his missing sister. Instead, he falls for the gorgeous Alicia Alarcón, but their love is anything but straightforward. Within the opulent walls, scandals, debts, and even murders are just daily affairs. Every room has its story. Question is, can love survive in a house of lies?

6. Reign (2013-2017)

Oh, to be young, beautiful, and... the Queen of Scots? Mary Stuart, sent to France for an arranged marriage, steps into a world rife with political games. Between her betrothal to Prince Francis and her flirtation with his bastard brother Bash, drama is the dish of the day. Yet, as Mary grapples with her heart, foes plot against her. Crowns, alliances, and religious wars – who said teen years were easy?

7. The Durrells (2016-2019)

Fancy a dose of sunshine? 1935. A widow, Louisa Durrell, moves her quirky family from dreary England to sun-soaked Corfu. Intending to find paradise, they instead find goats in the garden and no electricity. Still, with each eccentric local they meet and every misadventure they embark on, the Durrells discover home is where the heart (and laughter) is. It's a wild ride, but isn't family always?

8. Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

The streets of post-WWI Birmingham aren't just paved with cobblestones, but with ambition. At the helm? The Shelby family, led by the cunning Tommy. Through illegal betting, protection rackets, and even a bit of opium smuggling, the Peaky Blinders gang aims to conquer the criminal underworld. But enemies are everywhere, from rival gangs to law enforcement. When you wear a razor-blade cap, best watch your back, yeah?

9. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012-2015)

Imagine: Melbourne, 1920s. Who emerges from the thick mist of crime? It's Phryne Fisher, a stylish detective, paving the way in a male-dominated world. With a gold gun in her garter, she's no dame to be trifled with. Unraveling mysteries, from espionage to murder, Phryne's pursuits are more than mere hobbies. Alongside Detective Inspector Jack Robinson, sparks fly. But it's the 20s, darling, can love trump duty?

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

Hidden messages and cloaked figures. The American Revolution wasn't just battles; it was espionage. Abraham Woodhull, a farmer turned spy, forms the Culper Ring, feeding information to George Washington. Their covert operations, fraught with danger, tilt the war's balance. But in the world of secrets, trust is the scarcest commodity. In the shadows, will liberty or loyalty prevail?

11. Banished (2015)

To the ends of the earth... or at least Australia. 1788. British convicts, deemed the dregs of society, are exiled to New South Wales. As they clash with the indigenous population and their British overseers, survival becomes the daily struggle. In a harsh, unfamiliar land, alliances are formed, love is found, and hope is kindled. But with freedom always just out of reach, can they forge a new beginning?