Since Netflix’s Bridgerton Season 3 entered the chat, it’s been hard to think of anything other than how one might acquire another period drama that has been as binge-worthy as this iteration. Following a second season that focused on the slow-burn romance between Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), the third season jumps ahead to Penelope, aka Lady Whistledown (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton) love story.
If you live for the fashion, the accents, the longing glances and are pacing through your tastefully decorated gardens waiting for the next part of the show (June 13 can’t come soon enough!), here are some great suggestions for what you can watch when you’re done analysing the first part of the smash-hit series.
Downton Abbey (2010 – 2016)
One of the most popular period franchises, Downton Abbey follows the lives of the Crawleys, the aristocratic family who lives in the fictional Downton Abbey, Yorkshire, as they struggle to keep their estate from falling into a stranger’s hands while also securing a future for their family line. Their story began in 1912 and has continued to the ’20s.
Watch here.
Harlots (2017 – 2019)
Set in the debauched world of 18th-century London, Harlots was inspired by Harris’s List Of Covent Garden Ladies, a directory that listed women of the night in the 18th century. It follows brothel owner Madam Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) and her daughter Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay), who both get embroiled in a turf war with their rival.
Watch here.
Vanity Fair (2018)
Vanity Fair is a classic tale set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars in England. Based on the 1848 novel by William Thackeray, the series follows a strong-willed anti-hero Becky Sharp (Olivia Cooke) as she attempts to claw her way out of poverty and integrate into English high society.
Watch here.
The Great (2020 – 2023)
A satirical period drama, The Great tells the story of a young Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) as she enters a disastrous marriage to Emperor Peter III of Russia (Nicholas Hoult) and eventually succeeds in overthrowing him in a coup. The series is set in 18th-century Russia and reflects the true story behind Catherine’s real-life reign.
Watch here.
The Empress (2022)
Set in the heart of 19th-century Europe, the German royal drama, The Empress, follows the life and challenges of Elisabeth of Austria (Devrim Lingnau) who ruled from her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (Philip Froissant) in 1854 until her assassination in 1898. It juxtaposes the glittering façade of royalty with the personal struggles of those within the palace walls, offering a nuanced view of a world often idealised.
Watch here.
The Gilded Age (2022)
The Gilded Age follows the clash of old and new money in 1880s New York high society from the perspectives of two fictional, dueling families: the van Rhijns and the Russells. The show highlights money-oriented power plays and intense social climbing amongst the influential clans.
Watch here.