7 Great Period Dramas to Watch If You Liked Harlots

Based on the novel The Covent Garden Ladies by historian Hallie Rubenhold, Harlots told the story of the plight of strong and determined women in 1760s London.

Through a feminist lens, it portrayed the experiences of working-class women, recounting their struggles while paying attention to racial inequality. Here are seven equally engaging and thoughtful period dramas.

7. Land Girls (2009, 3 seasons)

Women contributed as much as men to the Allies' victory in World War II, often in the face of hardship and bigotry. Land Girls tells the story of how, while men went to war, women helped the cause on the home front, working in agriculture as part of the Women's Land Army.

6. Bomb Girls (2012, 2 seasons)

It is the story of Canadian women who worked in the munitions factory during WWII. For some, the work was a sincere attempt to help defeat the Third Reich; for others, it was the only way to escape an abusive family. The series does an excellent job of portraying the experiences of women from different classes, as well as the struggles of LGBTQ+ people.

5. The Mill (2013, 2 seasons)

Although this period drama does not focus solely on women's experiences, it is a great story about the plight of the working class during the Industrial Revolution. Set in a textile mill in the 1830s, the series explores issues of hard work and workers' rights, the exploitation of child labor, and attempts to improve working conditions.

4. The Serpent Queen (2022, 1 season)

Catherine de' Medici was a Florentine noblewoman, who, at the age of 14, was married to a member of the French royal Valois dynasty, the future king Henri II. Despite the prejudices of the French nobility and the royal family itself, she was able to achieve everything and served as Queen of France for 30 years.

3. The Long Song (2018, 3 seasons)

This series reflects on Jamaica's colonial history, including racism, slavery, and violent exploitation. The series focuses on an enslaved woman who experiences the final years of slavery in this British colony.

2. Gentleman Jack (2019, 2 seasons)

Based on the memoirs of industrialist Anne Lister, the series follows the love story between her and Ann Walker, who became the first lesbians in British history to marry in public.

1. Call the Midwife (2012, 12 seasons)

Set in London in the 1950s and 1960s, the story is told from the perspective of nurse-midwives. Based on Jennifer Worth's memoir, the series explores the issues faced by poor women, including sex work, domestic violence, LGBTQ rights, and many infections and diseases.