Period dramas might not appeal to a wide audience, but when Downton Abbey came into the picture with its welcoming atmosphere and the Crawley family charm, many viewers couldn’t help but bond with the show. After 6 seasons on the air and a complimentary feature film, the most recent entry into the series was the film Downton Abbey: A New Era, that followed the Crawley family into the late 1920, bringing in new characters and an exciting new story. But if you still miss the glitz and glamor and drama of Downton, there's still a lot more of that to be found in this list of period TV shows. Here are 9 series about strong-headed women, old-fashioned love affairs, and family interactions worth diving into.
'Bridgerton' (2020-)
If the Crawley family made you feel at home, then you should welcome the Bridgerton family into your household. This Netflix original will focus on each of the Bridgerton siblings as they navigate the marriage market during the Regency era and become the talk of the town when they are featured in Lady Whistledown’s pamphlets, which keeps everyone updated on the ravishing gossip. The first season of the show was centered on Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter of the family from the moment she is ready to attend the balls in search of a suitor, to her progressive relationship with the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page). The second season followed the eldest son of the family, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), as he searches for a wife and inconveniently falls in love with the sister of his betrothed, Lady Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Lovers of this series can rest assured that we'll get several more seasons of the show considering the prolific Bridgerton family, with the upcoming Season 3 focusing on Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).
'Outlander' (2014-)
If you are intrigued by historical fiction with an epic love story at the center of it all, then Outlander is a recommendation that fits the profile. After Claire (Catriona Balfe) returns from working as a nurse during World War 2, she and her husband decide to go on a second honeymoon and choose Scotland as their destination. During their stay there, Claire goes sightseeing at a touristic landmark and touches one of the stones, immediately transporting her to 1743 during the Jacobite Revolution. As she struggles to adapt to the reality of that time, Claire ends up falling for Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), a dashing Scottish warrior. This engulfs her in a conflict between going back to her husband that is looking for her in the late 40s or sticking around and preventing the Scots from their imminent defeat, even if it is against the historical course. Jamie and Claire's story branches out from there and has since spanned seven seasons with a final eighth in the future.
'Cable Girls' (2017-2020)
Raise your hand if Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) was a character you cherished on Downton Abbey? Even though Sybil had a short-lived trajectory in the series, she was very invested in the political spectrum and defying the female norms of the time. Similarly, the leads in Cable Girls fight for their freedom and progress in a society that doesn’t provide many professional opportunities for women. Set in Spain during the 1920s, Lidia Aguilar (Blanca Suárez) must steal money from a national telephone company to complete an undercover mission. She disguises herself as a cable girl and adopts the identity of Alba Romero to make sure that there aren’t suspicions about her. However, Lidia quickly becomes friends with three other cable girls that are just as fierce as herself and notices that she might be caught in a love triangle with a romantic interest from her past and a suitable bachelor that might guarantee her future. This Netflix original has a powerful message about female empowerment and friendship that will keep you invested until its final chapter.
'Girls From Ipanema' (2019-2020)
Similarly, to Cable Girls, Girls from Ipanema features four strong women, each with their own passions and dreams as they unite forces and try to shake away from female expectations during the 60s. With atmospheric cinematography and acoustic guitar chords playing the traditional Brazilian Bossa Nova, this series is heavily centered on Malú (Maria Casadevall) after her husband abandons her for an affair. As she tries to gain her composure and pave a future for herself and her son, Malú decides to open her own jazz bar to entertain audiences with live music and stand-up comedy.
'The Crown' (2016-)
Let’s rewind to the family dynamic in England but fast-forward a couple of years from Downton Abbey’s time frame. The Crown is about the current Royal family on the British throne. Their relationship and lifestyle constantly clashing with their duties to the institution instantly draw you in. Each season of this Netflix original is set throughout a different decade and unpacks some of the historical events that happened during each phase of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. A slight connection between Downton Abbey and this acclaimed series by Peter Morgan is the troubled relationship between the Queen of England (Claire Foy; Olivia Coleman) and Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby; Helena Boham Carter). This might seem like a stretch but seeing them interact may remind you of Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael).
'Victoria' (2016-2019)
Also about the British throne, Victoria is based on Queen Victoria’s (Jenna Coleman) story from the moment she is crowned as the Queen of England at 18. A very dedicated and strong young woman, Victoria must show her abilities to govern. With the help of Prince Albert (Tom Hughes), who eventually becomes her husband, and her advisor Lord Melbourne (Rufus Sewell), Victoria is able to navigate through all the struggles that come her way. If you are looking for the perfect balance between historical events and a genuine story about a marriage based on love and respect, this BBC series is a treat.
'The Great' (2020-)
The last recommendation related to a monarch is The Great. Adopting a rather sarcastic tone, this Hulu series is centered on Russian empress Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning), who was originally raised in the rural outskirts of Russia and accustomed to a polished lifestyle, as she marries the exacerbated and incredibly foolish Peter III (Nicholas Hout). She clearly feels like a fish out of water when she steps into her new role and witnesses the lack of thought-provoking conversations and rational decision-making in the palace. Catherine must use her cleverness to become the respectable monarch that we all know from the history books. The oddness of this series is nothing like the articulate dialogues in Downton Abbey, but it is a period drama worth the watch.
'Grand Hotel' (2011-2013)
Another Spanish series that will win you over! Grand Hotel has that Downton Abbey charm as it features the lives of both the upper class and the working-class located in the kitchen floor underneath all the extravagance. When Julio (Yon González) goes to the Grand Hotel to pay a visit to his sister, he finds out that she has been missing for a while. In order to uncover what happened to her, he decides to work there as a butler; off-hours, Julio conducts an investigation with the help of the hotel owner's daughter, Alicia Alarcón (Amaia Salamanca). Just as we see in Downton Abbey, Grand Hotel dives into social class disputes and features a romance story that is simply heartwarming.
'The Gilded Age' (2022-)
If you hop right across the pond and jump back in time a little, The GIlded Age follows the boom years of the 1880s in New York City. Remember the people on board the Titanic who were all super rich? Those people came from these families! The Gilded Age follows the story of the Russells, a new money family in the elite New York social scene, as they clash with the old money-established families like the van Rhijn-Brooks. Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) must face a society that looks down on her extravagant wealth even as they covet it. Meanwhile, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) must face off against her own prejudices when her niece Marian (Louisa Jacobson) comes to live with her. Full of the same juicy drama as Downton and created by Downton creator Julian Fellowes, if you're itching for an Americanized story, look no further!
'Dickinson' (2019-2021)
Last but not least, we couldn’t exclude this Apple Tv + period drama with a modern-day spin. Dickinson is centered on Emily Dickinson (played by Hailee Steinfeld), a passionate young writer with the mindset of someone well ahead of her time. Throughout this coming-of-age narrative, viewers witness her growth as a poet and see her try to avidly move past the thought of finding a suitor. You might even notice a couple of Emily’s character traits resemble Mary’s.