15 Best Shows To Watch if You Like The White Queen, Ranked

1. Versailles (2015–2018)

Versailles is all about the young Louis XIV deciding to move the court from Paris to Versailles, his father's old hunting lodge. Why? He wants to keep an eye on the nobles who aren't exactly loyal fans. Think spies, secret lovers, and poisonings galore. While the nobles are busy stabbing each other in the back, Louis is obsessed with building the most luxurious palace ever.

2. Reign (2013–2017)

Reign focuses on the teen years of Mary, Queen of Scots. Sent to a convent for safety, Mary returns to court only to find out she's betrothed to Francis, the future king of France. What could go wrong? A lot, actually. Love triangles, assassination plots, and religious strife keep you hooked.

3. The Borgias (2011–2013)

The show kicks off with Rodrigo Borgia scheming his way to becoming Pope Alexander VI in the 15th century. Once in, he's all about amassing power and wealth for his family. His children, Cesare and Lucrezia, aren't exactly choirboys and girls either. Incest, murder, betrayal – it's all in a day's work for this unholy family.

4. Wolf Hall (2015)

Ever heard of Thomas Cromwell? He's the man who made it possible for Henry VIII to marry Anne Boleyn. Yeah, that guy. Wolf Hall takes us on Cromwell's journey from the son of a blacksmith to the king's right-hand man. But climbing up the social ladder in a volatile Tudor England isn't a walk in the park. You've got religious reformations, beheadings, and a king who changes wives like underwear.

5. The Pillars of the Earth (2010)

Based on Ken Follett's novel, this mini-series is a bit of a departure – it's not about royals, but it's packed with medieval drama. It follows the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge during a time of war, starvation, and the quest for power. You've got Prior Philip striving to build this cathedral, but he's up against Regan and William Hamleigh, a ruthless mother-son duo. They want control of Kingsbridge and will stop at nothing to sabotage Philip's holy mission.

6. Gunpowder (2017)

Ever heard of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605? Well, this British drama miniseries spins the tale around Robert Catesby, the brains behind the plan to blow up the House of Lords and kill King James I. It's not just for kicks; Catesby's fueled by religious persecution against Catholics. Guy Fawkes? He's in there too, as the man set to light the fuse.

7. Isabel (2011–2014)

Isabel dramatizes the life of Isabella I of Castile. Born into a fractured Spain, she fights to unify the country and ends up marrying Ferdinand of Aragon. Between battling Portuguese forces and expelling the Moors, this gal has her hands full. But it's not just about the big picture; it gets into the nitty-gritty of her personal life too – like tension with her half-brother King Enrique IV and the infamous Spanish Inquisition.

8. Victoria (2016–2019)

The name kinda gives it away: we're talking Queen Victoria of England. The series starts with her ascension to the throne at just 18 years old. Talk about responsibilities, right? She's got advisors pulling her in every direction, but she's got her eyes set on her cousin Prince Albert. The two tie the knot, but there's no 'happily ever after' in sight. They have to navigate political landmines like the Irish Potato Famine and tensions with the U.S. during the Civil War.

9. World Without End (2012)

This one's a sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, but set 200 years later. Kingsbridge is facing the start of the Hundred Years' War with France and the bubonic plague. Not a great combo. Caris, a strong-willed woman, dreams of becoming a doctor, but guess what? The church isn't on board. In comes Merthin, a visionary architect (and Caris's love interest), who wants to rebuild Kingsbridge into a prosperous city.

10. Indian Summers (2015–2016)

Set in 1932, this series explores the last days of the British Empire in India. It's not just about high tea and cricket, though. We follow the socialite Cynthia Coffin, who runs the British social club, and civil servant Ralph Whelan, who has secrets up his sleeve. Then there's Aafrin Dalal, a young Indian clerk who gets caught up in an assassination attempt.

11. Turn: Washington's Spies (2014–2017)

Ever wondered how George Washington got the lowdown on the British during the American Revolution? Enter Abraham Woodhull, a farmer who becomes a spy for the Colonial Army. This guy transforms from a quiet, reluctant farmer into a full-blown spy mastermind, running espionage ops right under the redcoats' noses.

12. Underground (2016–2017)

Underground brings us to the pre-Civil War American South. Focused on the Underground Railroad, the show zeroes in on a group of slaves planning a daring 600-mile escape to freedom. Noah is the ringleader, but he's got a fiery partner-in-rebellion, Rosalee. These two mastermind risky plots, facing slave hunters, traitors, and the ever-terrifying Macon Plantation owner.

13. War & Peace (2016)

This British miniseries takes on Tolstoy's classic tale. We're thrown into Russia during the Napoleonic Wars. Meet Pierre, Andrei, and Natasha – three young folks caught in a turbulent world. Pierre's the illegitimate son of a count, who gets his dad's fortune but doesn't know how to handle it. Andrei's a military man, bored of society's shallowness. Natasha's the spirited young girl he falls for.

14. Poldark (2015–2019)

Meet Ross Poldark, a British Army officer who returns to his Cornish home after the American Revolutionary War. He expects a joyful reunion with his fiancée, Elizabeth, but – plot twist – she's married his cousin. Instead, he focuses on reviving his family's failing mining company. But reviving mines and romancing maids doesn't come easy; he's gotta struggle with corrupt bankers and family vendettas.

15. Harlots (2017–2019)

18th-century London, where one in five women is a sex worker. This show zooms in on Margaret Wells, a brothel owner, and her daughters. Margaret's climbing the social ladder but not without making enemies. Enter Lydia Quigley, another madam who's all about sabotaging Margaret. Amidst their rivalry, there are love triangles, undercover spies, and even noble clients with strange fetishes.