Looking For Your Next Binge? 6 Must-Watch Period Dramas, According to Reddit
These series will plunge you in their historical context, and you'll love it.
The period drama is one of the most compelling TV genres. Although not always historically accurate, these stories appeal to viewers because they show that people have always faced similar problems, no matter what time period they live in.
Fans on Reddit recently shared their favorite historical TV series, and we've compiled this Top 6 list for you to binge next. And no, you won't need a history textbook to enjoy them — just your passion for drama and beautiful costumes would be enough!
6. The English (2022, 1 season)
IMDb rating: 7.6/10
This revisionist Western subverts the romanticization of the Old West, portraying the harsh realities of the late 19th century, which include racism, lack of medical care, and everyday brutality. The English follows Emily Blunt's character, an Englishwoman, who comes to the Midwest to avenge the death of her son. Along the way, she meets a former scout from the Pawnee Nation who is haunted by a similar past.
5. Medici (2016, 3 seasons)
IMDb rating: 7.9/10
The show tells the story of the famous banking family of Medici, who managed to become the de facto rulers of the Republic of Florence and sparked the Italian Renaissance. Combining elements of historical drama and political thriller, Medici centers on the murder of Giovanni de' Medici, trying to answer the question of who killed the Medici Bank founder and under what circumstances.
4. Sense and Sensibility (2008, 1 season)
IMDb rating: 8.0/10
Based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name, Sense and Sensibility follows the story of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as they search for love, happiness, and a carefree future while being torn between three suitors. The series is more explicit than the 1995 film and does not shy away from showing the characters' passion and sex.
3. Gentleman Jack (2019, 2 seasons)
IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Gentleman Jack tells the remarkable story of industrialist Anne Lister, Britain's first open lesbian who married landholder Ann Walker. The plot is based on Lister's cryptic diaries.
2. Poldark (2015, 5 seasons)
IMDb rating: 8.3/10
Based on the book series of the same name, the show follows Captain Ross Vennor Poldark who returns to his estate in Cornwall after the American Revolution. But the time is not quiet: amid his family dramas and love struggles, Poldark and the entire Europe await the dreaded Napoleonic Wars.
1. North & South (2004, 1 season)
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Starring Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe, North & South tells the story of a young woman who moves with her father to the gentrified and industrialized Northern England. The series explores the issue of class stratification, with its focus on the female character who sympathizes with underprivileged workers while falling in love with an arrogant landowner.
Source: Reddit.