What to watch after Bridgerton: 10 historical English TV dramas
Season 3, Part 2 of the English TV show Bridgerton will be released on Netflix on 13 Jun. Fans can look forward to Penelope’s answer to Colin’s marriage proposal and their families’ reaction. Some fans might also be wondering: What to watch after Bridgerton?
Here are 12 other English series from the Regency romance-cum-historical drama genre.
P.S. If you are not a fan of the series, Bridgerton (2020 – present) takes place against the backdrop of the Regency period (1795-1837). 8 siblings of the aristocratic Bridgerton family navigate London’s high society in search of romance, flanked by allies and enemies.
1. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023)
There is no better TV series to start this list with than Bridgerton’s prequel spin-off.
A historical fiction series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story charts the ascent of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz to the throne.
The series has 2 plotlines: the first, starts in 1814 with the death of the royal heiress Princess Charlotte. This causes the Queen to pressure her children to wed and give birth to another heir. The second begins in 1761 with Charlotte meeting and marrying King George.
In its first 3 days, it clocked 148.28 million hours on the Netflix Top 10 chart, making it the site’s most-viewed title during the weekly window. Not too bad for a 6-episode-long series.
2. Belgravia (2020)
Like Bridgerton, Belgravia, a British Regency and Victorian-era historical drama television series, promises a whirlwind romance and a ton of secrets. Set in the nineteenth century, Belgravia is based on the 2016 novel of the same name — Belgravia, a rich London district.
Belgravia starts at the Duchess of Richmond’s ball. The Trenchards’ young daughter Sophia has caught the fancy of Edmund Bellasis, the heir of one of the richest families in England.
Little did they know that this would set in motion events with ramifications for decades to come as secrets unravel behind the porticoed doors of London’s grandest neighbourhood.
3. The Buccaneers (2023 – present)
Created by Katherine Jakeways, The Buccaneers is a historical drama TV series based on the unfinished novel of the same name. Set in the 1870s, The Buccaneers tells the story of 5 rich and ambitious American women. It also depicts their experiences in London’s high society as they cope with cultural differences pertaining to tradition, friendship, and love.
Its ensemble cast has been a major selling point. Actresses Kristine Froseth, Alisha Boe, Aubri Ibrag, Josie Totah, and Imogen Waterhouse star as the 5 gusty American heroines.
The series scored a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, an online aggregator of TV and movie shows. The critical consensus on the streaming site reads, “Anachronistic to the max and loving it, The Buccaneers is a feminist and frothy treat for fans of period piece pageantry.”
4. The Empress (2022 – present)
Like historical dramas but not the British aristocracy system? Check out The Empress. The German historical drama TV series revolves around the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, starring Devrim Lingnau in the titular role, and Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph.
While the series also features a love story like Bridgerton, The Empress is more heavy on family politicking. Empress Elisabeth of Austria finds herself navigating the complexity of court politics and her husband’s scheming family. Meanwhile, Maximilian, Franz Joseph’s younger brother, strives to outperform Franz and prove that he is more worthy to rule.
Released in September 2022, The Empress was Netflix’s second-most-watched TV series globally for 2 weeks. It was the seventh most popular non-English series of 2022, with over 150 million hours streamed. It was so popular that Netflix renewed it for a second season.
5. Downton Abbey (2010 – 2015)
If you like long-running shows and are wondering what to watch after Bridgerton, catch Downton Abbey. The show is a British historical drama series set in the early twentieth century. It ran for a whopping 6 series and 52 episodes, including 5 Christmas specials.
Set in the imaginary Yorkshire estate of Downton Abbey, the show depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. It also illustrates the effects the great events of the time, such as the sinking of the Titanic and the First World War, have on their lives.
Downton Abbey has received a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. It was cited by Guinness World Records as the most acclaimed English-language series of 2011.
6. The Tudors (2007 – 2010)
Written by Michael Hirst, The Tudors is a historical fiction TV series set in 16th-century England. The drama is produced for the American premium cable TV channel Showtime.
While named after the Tudor dynasty as a whole, the 4-season series revolves around King Henry VIII. Season 1 depicts the period of Henry VIII’s reign in which his effectiveness as the King is tested by international disputes, political instability and a newfound romance.
If you don’t mind historical inaccuracies, many events in The Tudors differ from reality. The hit TV series made up various characters, relationships, historical garments, physical appearances and the timing of events. To be fair, all these shows are guilty of that.
7. Harlots (2017 – 2019)
Harlots is a British period drama TV series by Alison Newman and Moira Buffini. It got its inspiration from The Covent Garden Ladies, a list of prostitutes then working in London.
The series centres around Margaret Wells, a brothel owner in 18th-century London. Wells grapples to secure a brighter future for her daughters in a tumultuous era. Then, women’s opportunities for economic progression were largely restricted to either marriage or prostitution.
Wells relocates to Greek Street in Soho to serve a richer customer base in Georgian society. Unfortunately, Wells’ move puts her into direct conflict with a rival madame, Lydia Quigley.
Rotten Tomatoes’ critical consensus goes, “Harlots uses its titillating subject matter to draw the viewer into a deeper drama about the intersection of survival, business, and family.”
8. Sanditon (2019 – 2023)
A fan of the relocating trope? Catch Sanditon. Adapted by screenwriter Andrew Davies from an uncompleted manuscript by author Jane Austen, Sanditon is a British historical drama series starring Rose Williams, Crystal Clarke, Theo James, and Ben Lloyd-Hughes.
Set during the Regency era, the series follows a young and naive protagonist, Charlotte, as she explores the new seaside town of Sanditon. Charlotte falls in love with the beguiling, unbridled Sidney. But can their love prevail amidst rival suitors and unforeseen challenges?
But you have been warned: the first episode contains several sex and nude scenes. You might want to give this one a miss if you are prim and proper like an Elizabethan lady.
9. The Crown (2016 – 2023)
The Crown is a historical drama TV series focusing on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Written by Peter Morgan for Netflix, the TV series comprises 6 seasons spanning almost 6 decades. It begins shortly before the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten in 1947 and concludes with the 2005 wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.
If you are a fan of scandals, catch the second season. It chronicles the retirement of the third Prime Minister Harold Macmillan after he was caught having an extramarital affair.
The critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads, “The Crown continues its reign with a self-assured sophomore season that indulges in high drama and sumptuous costumes.”
10. The Gilded Age (2022 – present)
Looking for a drama that takes a good, hard look at class segregation? Catch The Gilded Age, a historical series written by Julian Fellowes for the American TV cable network HBO.
The show takes place during the Gilded Age, the golden years of the 1880s, in New York City. The series follows Marian Brook and the disputes between her 2 neighbours, the Russell family with self-made wealth and the van Rhijn-Brook family living on inheritance.
After the show aired, the lead actors Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski received praise for their performances, as well as their costumes.
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