5 historical dramas to watch while you wait for Outlander Season 8

As the wait for Outlander Season 8 continues, fans of the sweeping historical romance are searching for something that can match its blend of time-spanning storytelling and richly textured period settings. Outlander isn’t just a show, it’s a world built on passion and the unbreakable bond between Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan). And while the final season promises epic closure, the months leading up to it can feel unbearably long.

While it's certainly difficult to recreate the magic of Jamie and Claire's epic love story, the world of historical dramas on television is vast and some shows might just help you get through this droughtlander.

So, if you're longing for gripping narratives and characters that you can lose yourself in, this curated list of five compelling historical dramas will keep your binge-watching energy alive while you wait for the Outlander Season 8 (final season) premiere on Starz.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the author's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.

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Waiting for Outlander Season 8? Fill the gap with these gripping historical dramas

Midnight at the Pera Palace

While you wait for Outlander Season 8 and bask in its familiar landscape of Scotland, take a trip to 1919 Istanbul with Netflix's Turkish drama series Midnight at the Pera Palace. The story follows Esra, a young journalist in present-day Istanbul, who accidentally time-travels to 1919 while writing an article about the historic Pera Palace Hotel. Back in time, Esra is mistaken for her apparent doppelgänger, Peride, who saved Mustafa Kemal from an assassination plot.

Just like Outlander, this 2022 Turkish drama series follows the adventures of its heroine as she falls through a different time and gets involved in the real-time politics and men of Istanbul.

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My Lady Jane

While this popular historical fantasy series was canceled after just one season, it is the perfect binge while you wait for Outlander Season 8. Based on the novel by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton and Cynthia Hand, My Lady Jane reimagines the life of Lady Jane Grey with a fantastical twist. The series is set in an alternative 16th-century England, where the society is divided into two parts: Ethians (humans who can take animal form) and Verity (ordinary humans).

While My Lady Jane features a different fantastical element than Outlander, Jane and her forceful marriage to Lord Guildford Dudley will surely remind you of Jamie and Claire. As Jane realizes that her husband is a secretive Ethian, the couple connects and forms a meaningful relationship.

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The Spanish Princess

Fans eagerly waiting for Outlander Season 8 on Starz can instead check out this fellow Starz title in the meantime. The Spanish Princess, based on the books by Philippa Gregory, follows Catherine of Aragon's arrival in England. The series follows Catherine's adventures as she struggles to fit within the English society and secure a husband.

If Claire's strong personality and rebellious attitude charmed you and you want to explore more strong-headed female protagonists in historical shows, this Starz title is the perfect fit. Charlotte Hope's brilliant performance as the lead is on par with that of Balfe in Outlander.

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Vikings

We understand if you miss the extensive and well-choreographed war sequences of the Starz series and Prime Video's popular series, Vikings, is the perfect historical show to scratch that Outlander itch. While Vikings is much more brutal and violent in comparison, it will keep you occupied till Outlander Season 8 arrives on Starz.

Led by Travis Fimmel, Vikings follows the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok (Fimmel) as depicted in the tales of the Norsemen of early medieval Scandinavia. The series impressively captures the brutality of the Viking Age and follows Ragnar's family and crew as they pass down from generation to generation.

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Poldark

This BBC One historical drama series is probably the closest alternative to Outlander, yet features no fantastical elements. Based on the eponymous series of novels by Winston Graham, Poldark stars Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson in the lead roles and is set in the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War.

Fans waiting for Outlander Season 8 can instead watch the return of Captain Ross Poldark to his home in Cornwall after spending three years in the army. After Poldark realizes his childhood sweetheart is married off to his cousin, he marries Demelza, a woman he initially hired as his maid. Ross and Demelza’s journey echoes the same beloved elements of love, mutual respect and timeless beauty that fans admire in Jamie and Claire’s relationship.

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Outlander Season 8 will premiere on Starz on March 6.

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