The Best Period Dramas to Feast Your Eyes On Now
The sweeping romance, the epic declarations of love, the glamorous costumes — period dramas really are irresistible! Luckily, we here at MASTERPIECE have plenty of fan-favorites to offer that will have you dreaming of ballrooms and heroes on horseback. Check out our list of lavish, dramatic, and addictive period dramas to watch with PBS Passport, an added member benefit.
- 1.
Victoria
If You Like This, Watch Victoria: The Crown, The Spanish Princess, Reign, Versailles, Wolf Hall
What It’s About: This series is inspired by the life of the United Kingdom’s second longest reigning monarch in history, Queen Victoria. Follow Victoria’s ascension to the throne, the rocky early years of her reign, and her whirlwind courtship and marriage with Albert.
Why You Should Watch: You’re definitely in store for diplomatic intrigue, scandals, and an irresistible mix of real-life history and fiction. But the shimmering heart of Victoria is the queen’s evolving relationship with Albert, and the tender challenges of growing a family in the spotlight. Victoria illuminates the powerful evolution of Queen Victoria as formidable leader, mother and wife, and offers a glimpse into her life and enduring legacy.
Starring: Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who); Tom Hughes (A Discovery of Witches); Diana Rigg (The Avengers, Game of Thrones, Bleak House, All Creatures Great and Small)
How Many Seasons: Three
Watch Victoria with PBS Passport. [Available to stream in the United States and Canada.]
- 2.
Sanditon
If You Like This, Watch Sanditon: Bridgerton, Dickinson, Call the Midwife
What It’s About: Follow the story of independent, outspoken Charlotte Heywood as she journeys to the up-and-coming seaside resort town of Sanditon. The town is full of eclectic characters, from visionary Tom Parker, his affable brother Arthur, fierce heiress Georgiana Lambe to larger-than-life Lady Denham and a few classic Austen-inspired heroes.
Why You Should Watch: Based on Jane Austen’s final, unfinished novel, Sanditon sparkles with romance, humor, heartbreak, beautiful costumes, breathtaking balls and more. Ready to be drawn into a seaside adventure? Watch Sanditon to find out why this series has such a devoted and loyal following.
Starring: Rose Williams (Reign); Crystal Clarke (Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi); Ben Lloyd-Hughes (Divergent, Me Before You); Kris Marshall (Love Actually, Death at a Funeral); and many more!
How Many Seasons: Two (Season 3 will premiere in 2023.)
Watch Sanditon with PBS Passport. [Available to stream in the United States and Canada.]
- 3.
Poldark
If You Like This, Watch Poldark: Outlander, Turn
What It’s About: Fresh sea air, gorgeous landscapes…we’re swept away just thinking about it! Based on Winston Graham’s beloved novels, Poldark is a romantic, adventure-filled saga about former soldier Ross Poldark, who returns home to Cornwall in 1783 after the war to find his world very different from how he left it. His first love is engaged to his cousin, his father has passed, and his family’s estate is in complete disarray. But when he finds and hires the young, fiery Demelza to help around the estate, his world is once again flipped upside down when he finds himself falling for the last woman he’d expect.
Why You Should Watch: If you want a love story with more ups and downs than the coast of Cornwall, then Poldark is the show for you. Buckle up and get ready for passionate romances that endure all manner of trials, a heart throb hero driven by the need for justice and fairness, and a robust cast of unforgettable supporting characters.
Starring: Aidan Turner (The Hobbit, The Mortal Instruments); Eleanor Tomlinson (The Illusionist, The White Queen); Jack Farthing (Spencer, Love Wedding Repeat); Heida Reid (Silent Witness); and more!
How Many Seasons: Five
Watch Poldark with PBS Passport. [Available to stream in the United States and Canada.]
- 4.
Mr. Selfridge
If You Like This, Watch Mr. Selfridge: Vanity Fair, A Very English Scandal, Boardwalk Empire
What It’s About: American retail tycoon Harry Gordon Selfridge has arrived in London with the dream of opening one of the finest department stores the world has ever seen. Is he a genius or a mad man consumed by an impossible dream?
Why You Should Watch: You won’t soon forget Harry Selfridge, the flamboyant showman and flawed hero determined to provide London’s shoppers with the ultimate thrill. You’ll get a healthy dose of retail therapy as you see this shopping empire develop, and meet the endearing and dedicated staff who made it possible.
Starring: Jeremy Piven (Entourage); Amanda Abbington (Sherlock); Katherine Kelly (The Night Manager); Ron Cook (Chocolat); Samuel West (All Creatures Great and Small); and more!
How Many Seasons: Four
Watch Mr. Selfridge with PBS Passport. [Available to stream in the United States only.]
- 5.
Atlantic Crossing
If You Like This, Watch Atlantic Crossing: Foyle’s War, Bomb Girls, Band of Brothers
What It’s About: Atlantic Crossing tells the little-known story of a princess and a president and their surprising friendship. Inspired by a true story, the miniseries tells the story of Norwegian Crown Princess Martha and her relationship with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during World War II. When Martha flees the Nazis, her three young children in tow, she finds refuge in the United States with Roosevelt and his wife, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Why You Should Watch: This inspiring story of a deep friendship in a time of war and endurance in hardship will stay with you, as will Princess Martha’s incredible courage and grace even in the most harrowing circumstances.
Starring: Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Sex and the City); Sofia Helin (The Bridge); Tobias Santelmann (The Last Kingdom); Sansom Harris (Addams Family Values, Desperate Housewives)
How Many Seasons: One
Watch Atlantic Crossing with PBS Passport. [Available to stream in the United States and Canada.]
