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If you've been swept off your feet by the scandal, silk, and steamy romance of Bridgerton, you're not alone. Netflix’s hit Regency-era drama has redefined the period genre with its colorblind casting, sizzling chemistry, and quotable lines like, “You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.”
With orchestral pop covers, lavish balls, and enough corset-tight intrigue to make even Lady Whistledown blush, Bridgerton has left fans hungry for more. With every new season or marriage season, if you will, bringing more drama, more forbidden love, and more iconic wigs. But what do you do when the last string quartet fades and the final letter from Lady Whistledown has been read?
Don’t despair, dear reader, as a whole ballroom of period dramas is waiting to waltz into your watchlist. From the sharp political cunning of The Crown to the upstairs-downstairs secrets of Downton Abbey, and the gritty feminist fire of Harlots, these shows aren’t just historical; they’re popular dramatizations of different love tropes and filled with succulent morsels of gossip that fans lap up every single time.
Some offer the kind of sweeping romances that make you swoon, while others bring the societal tension and complex social commentary that leave you on the edge of your seat. So pour yourself a cup of tea, fluff your pillows, and prepare to travel across centuries and continents, as we count down 10 period dramas that are going to become your next favourite indulgences.
The Gilded Age
If Bridgerton is Regency London at its most dazzling, The Gilded Age is its corset-clad, chandelier-lit, American cousin with just as much scandal and sparkle.
Created by Julian Fellowes, the mastermind behind Downton Abbey, this HBO drama immerses the audience in the turbulent world of America's elite during a time when society was rapidly evolving, much to the horror of the "old money" class. The granite mansions and brewing cold war between the old money families and new money in 1880s New York will keep you hooked for all three seasons and leave you coming back for more.
At the heart of the drama is Bertha Russell, a new-money matriarch played with scene-stealing brilliance by Carrie Coon, who’s determined to force her way into high society, even if it means going to war with the steely Agnes van Rhijn, played by the legendary Christine Baranski.
It’s all very Bridgerton. Only instead of Lady Whistledown, you have whispered invitations and strategically thrown galas. With its opulent costumes, architectural grandeur, and power games dressed in pearls, The Gilded Age is your next elite obsession.
Anne with an ‘E’
The re-envisioning Anne with an 'E', based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved children's literature, Anne of Green Gables, is as emotionally piercing as it is visually lush.
Anne with an 'E' follows the fierce visionary, Anne Shirley, played with spectacular delight by Amybeth McNulty, a redheaded orphan who spins the sleepy town of Avonlea upside down with her wild ideas, unconventional spirit, and a stubborn but kind heart.
This is the kind of tale that cuts deeper than any dramatic duel or romantic fallout. And what makes this show stand out is how it layers contemporary issues like feminism, racism, LGBTQ+ identity, and PTSD into its 19th-century world without ever feeling forced. It’s like Bridgerton’s sentimental cornerstone, stretched across a coming-of-age canvas. While there are plenty of longing glances and youthful yearning, the heart of the show is Anne’s unbreakable belief in wonder and justice.
The Great
The Great is not your average history lesson. In fact, it's not an accurate historical retelling at all, with Slate describing the show as anti-historical. Australian playwright and screenwriter Tony McNamara wasn't aiming for historical accuracy with this satirical black comedy that went on to receive critical acclaim for its ingenuity and unique narrative style.
The Great, and as its alternative titles (The Great: An Occasionally True Story and in one episode as The Great: An Almost Entirely Untrue Story) suggest, is irreverent, wickedly funny, and is as chaotic as it is clever. Starring Elle Fanning as the ambitious Catherine the Great and Nicholas Hoult as the spectacularly deranged Peter III, this show is period drama meets satirical genius, and takes us on an insane ride through imperial Russia.
Every episode is a hurricane of wild twists, snarky banter, and historically inaccurate brilliance. If Bridgerton thrilled you with its modern music and subversive tone, The Great will have you cackling, gasping, and asking what kind of tea they’re drinking in Russia, and where you can get some.
Fanning brings both depth and razor wit to her role, playing Catherine as equal parts idealistic and calculating, while Hoult’s Peter is so charismatic in his villainy that you almost root for him, well, until he does something utterly mad, again. Think Bridgerton, but if every ball ended in a duel, an orgy, or a bear attack. In one word, glorious.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
If Bridgerton is the main event, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is the hidden heart behind the curtain. This six-episode prequel is not just a side plot. The narrative is a sumptuous, deeply emotional exploration of the formidable monarch we've come to know and adore in Bridgerton. Played as a younger woman by India Amarteifio, Queen Charlotte blossoms from a reluctant teenage bride to a commanding figure of power and vulnerability.
The romance between Charlotte and the young King George III (Corey Mylchreest) is nothing short of devastating. It's gentle, intense, and tragic, and unlike the fairy-tale arcs of the main series, this one isn’t wrapped in tidy bows. It’s raw and complex, exploring tragedies with the themes of mental health, race, and sacrifice with staggering elegance.
If Bridgerton made you believe in romantic fantasy, Queen Charlotte will show you what happens when fantasy meets the hard choices of power, marriage, and legacy. It’s the most vulnerable Bridgerton has ever been, and perhaps the most beautiful.
Peaky Blinders
Where Bridgerton’s balls glisten with chandeliers and love is in the air, Peaky Blinders’ streets are foggy with gun smoke. Set in post-World War I Birmingham, Peaky Blinders is what trades in the teacups for Tommy guns and ballroom dancing for smoke-filled betting dens.
The magnetic, brooding antihero Tommy Shelby, played by the inimitable Cillian Murphy, is at the heart of it all. With cheekbones sharper than the iconic caps he wears, his gang famously sews razors into, Tommy rules the gritty underworld with equal parts ruthlessness and style.
While Bridgerton is all about refined appearances and hidden passions, Peaky Blinders wears its trauma, ambition, and rebellion on its whiskey-soaked sleeve. There’s also a surprising amount of aesthetic beauty in the bleakness, all thanks to the show’s sleek cinematography and killer soundtrack.
If you're looking for something darker, rougher, but no less addictive, and want to see what love, power, and class tension look like when laced with violence, then Peaky Blinders is perfect for your next binge-watch.
Downton Abbey
If Bridgerton is a fabulous dance in candlelit ballrooms, Downton Abbey is an elegant waltz through the shifting tides of British aristocracy. This Emmy-winning series, created, written, and executive produced by Julian Fellowes, paints a portrait of the Crawley family and their loyal staff, living in a grand Yorkshire estate during the early 20th century. It’s not just about inherited titles and dinner menus; it’s about survival in a world where traditions are shifting due to war, class struggle, and modernity.
Michelle Dockery brings the icy yet vulnerable Lady Mary Crawley to life, while Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern portray the Earl and Countess with a mix of stately charm and emotional complexity. Downton delivers all the juicy drama: betrayals, forbidden romances, and scandalous affairs, wrapped in breathtaking costumes and accompanied by a John Lunn score that will haunt your dreams (in the best way).
If you loved the societal dance of Bridgerton, Downton Abbey invites you to a grander, deeper, and slightly more reserved ball, where the drama is whispered but is no less devastating.
Outlander
Picture the following: you work as a nurse in the post-WWII era and are on vacation with your husband in the Scottish Highlands. You experience some magic when you touch a stone and are transported to 1743 Scotland, where you are welcomed by a band of Scots wearing kilts. Clad in warriors and political turmoil.
That is the premise of Outlander, the historical fiction TV show based on Outlander, a book series by Diana Gabaldon. Caitriona Balfe stars in the role of Claire Fraser, the time-traveling heroine who’s both clever and brave and who keeps the story somewhat grounded even as it hops across the world and throughout history. But let’s face it, almost everyone would lose their 20th-century bearings to Sam Heughan’s Jamie Fraser with his passionate Gaelic pet names and perfect jawline.
Outlander was unlike anything else on television when it debuted. Viewers were drawn into a story that combined romance, adventure, and historical fiction in a single episode. The intricacies of the American Revolution and the Jacobite rising are included in lavish detail alongside, more importantly, the people affected by them.
There are numerous notable features of the series, and perhaps it’s hardest to ignore the emotional brutalities in the form of heart-wrenching intimacy, some even claim it’s more intense than Bridgerton. And the chemistry between Balfe and Heughan? Electric. Add Bear McCreary’s haunting musical score and sumptuous set design, and you’ve got a show that’s both epic and achingly personal.
The Queen's Gambit
No balls. No dukes. No bodices. And yet, The Queen’s Gambit is a period drama that enthralls just as much as any regency romance. Set in the 1950s and '60s, this Netflix miniseries follows chess prodigy Beth Harmon, portrayed with magnetic intensity by Anya Taylor-Joy, as she rises from a Kentucky orphanage to international stardom.
However, Beth's story isn’t just a glamorous journey of her becoming a queen in the world of chess; she’s a woman navigating addiction, abandonment, and the crushing expectations of a male-dominated world.
Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance is a masterclass in emotional nuance, with her piercing gaze, poised demeanor, and crackling vulnerability making Beth Harmon one of the most compelling period drama protagonists in recent memory. Marielle Heller, Bill Camp, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster deliver strong supporting performances, but it’s Taylor-Joy who commands the screen like a queen with an extraordinary screen presence.
From the mid-century fashion to the stylish Cold War-era set pieces, The Queen’s Gambit is a feast for the eyes with performances that'll leave you reeling with awe and pride for weeks. It’s proof that period dramas don’t have to be set in the 1800s to seduce audiences with elegance, intensity, and unforgettable storytelling.
The Artful Dodger
What if Oliver Twist's sly pickpocket turned out to be a surgeon? That's the delectably clever idea behind the Australian period drama The Artful Dodger, which takes Charles Dickens' famous character and gives it a fresh perspective.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster (yes, the adorable kid from Love Actually and the calculating Benny in The Queen’s Gambit) plays Jack Dawkins, who is all grown up and trying to leave his criminal past behind in colonial Australia. But old habits die hard, and so do past associates, including David Thewlis’ wonderfully villainous Fagin, who resurfaces like a bad penny.
The combination of comedy and gruesome violence makes this show incredibly interesting. Picture Peaky Blinders but with the elegance of Bridgerton, complemented with some gritty Dickensian wit. Its swagger, snark, and dark secrets surpasses Bridgerton's royal ball gowns and charm.
The Leopard
After Visconti’s 1963 film, The Leopard (Il Gattopardo), released in March 2025, is a must-see for viewers who enjoy period dramas decked with episodic bravado and an aristocratic undertone.
The series is based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel and features Kim Rossi Stuart as Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, a deep, southern Italian noble whose world is falling apart due to the inevitable decline of his noble lineage in the face of societal change.
As revolutionaries under Garibaldi threaten the established order, Don Fabrizio seeks to secure his family's future by arranging a marriage between his charming nephew Tancredi (Saul Nanni) and the ambitious Angelica (Deva Cassel). This decision, however, proves to be heartbreaking for his daughter Concetta (Benedetta Porcaroli), who is already in love with Tancredi.
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The grand ballroom scenes, the gorgeous costumes, the overall lavish production, and the picturesque Sicilian landscapes remind viewers of Bridgerton. While it includes romantic entanglements and societal drama that a Bridgerton fan would feel much familiar with, The Leopard also explores deeper themes like mortality, legacy, and unwillingness to accept change. It perfectly balances authentic historical details with an innovative storytelling approach.
If you’re after something that’s got romance, political intrigue, and a thoughtful take on society, don’t miss The Leopard. This is a crown jewel of period drama.
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