Sometimes you just want to remove yourself from the present and immerse yourself in the past, taking a break from all of your everyday stresses and problems, and historical drama television series are a perfect way to do this. Who doesn’t want to live in a castle with lavish dresses and attractive suitors? Or fight in a war that will decide the future of a whole country? No matter the reason why, people simply love period dramas. For fans of this TV genre, streaming platforms are often the best place to find these series, and Netflix in particular has a lot to offer. Here are the best period dramas on Netflix.
For more historical content, check out our list ofBest Historical Dramas That Are True to LifeorBest Award-Winning Historical Movies, or browse our recommendations for thebest showsandmovies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
‘Bridgerton’ (2020 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% IMDb: 7.4/10
Bridgerton
Shondaland’sBridgertonis triumphantly one of Netflix’s best-loved shows, telling tales of raunchy romance in the high society of London in the early 19th century. In its most recent third season,Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Featherington andLuke Newton’s Colin Bridgerton become embroiled in a cat-and-mouse game of love, but will they find happiness? Set against the backdrop of the gorgeous British countryside,Bridgertonis both a stunning cinematic experience and an intricate period tale. Bolstered by a superb ensemble cast, including the likes of Season 2’s central coupleJonathan BaileyandSimone Ashley,Bridgertonchampions the best of young British actors. Indulgent but certainly NSFW, this is a series everyone must watch once. -Jake Hodges
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‘Vikings: Valhalla’ (2022 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.3/10
Vikings: Valhalla
WhenVikingsfirst premiered on the History channel it was a violent and exciting look into the ancient Scandinavians following the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok,Vikings: Valhallais the sequel series that follows America’s favorite viking, Leif Erikson. Set over 100 years after the events of the first series, the Scandinavian culture has now mixed with the English andValhallabrings with it cultural clashes between vikings as well as religious tension. After Ragnar landed in England, the vikings who followed began to convert to Christianity andValhallainvestigates the two warring religions. Depicting historical events, the show sets up what will likely be an exciting journey for a new generation of raiders. —Therese Lacson
‘All the Light We Cannot See’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 27% | IMDb: 7.5/10
All The Light We Cannot See
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by acclaimed authorAnthony Doerr,All the Light We Cannot Seeis set against the backdrop of World War II as blind French teen Maurie-Laure (Aria Mia Loberti) and German soldier Werner (Louis Hofmann) develop an unlikely bond amongst the devastation of a wartorn world. Finding a sense of faith in humanity despite its perils,All the Light We Cannot Seeis both uplifting and inspiring as the interwoven narratives of these two very different people become aligned through sheer kindness. In spite of the horrific setting,Steven KnightandShawn Levy, using Doerr’s powerful tale, manage to conjure a visceral sense of aspiration and expectation that, no matter what, things may just get better. -Jake Hodges
‘Freud’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% | IMDb: 6.5/10
Freudis a German-language mystery thriller that feels like an interesting combination of BBC’sSherlockandThe Alienist. The eight-episode series creates a sleek young Sigmund Freud (Robert Finster) that uses his psychological expertise to hunt down a murderer in 1886 Vienna. Cleverly combining Freud’s actual theories with fringe supernatural psychological theories, the show creates an unsteady platform that never reveals its twists and turns to the audience until just the right moment. The series also embraces the 1800s Victorian-era aesthetic with spectacular costuming and sets that immerse the viewer in the setting while also dazzling with interesting shot composition and color schemes to highlight the mysterious nature of the investigation.
‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.5/10
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Betrothed against her will to King George, young Charlotte arrives in London on her wedding day and faces scrutiny from the monarch’s cunning mother.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Storyis a double dose of period drama that jumps between the late 18th century and the early 19th century following the life of Queen Charlotte from the originalBridgertonseries. This spectacular spin-off lays the foundation for the racially integrated world of the main series while delivering a charming love story between Queen Charlotte and King George that slowly erupts into madness. The breakout star of the series isIndia Amarteifio(The Midwich Cuckoos) as young Queen Charlotte, who embodies the authority and defiance that we’ve come to love from the older version with a rambunctious edge.This prequel series is a worthy addition to theBridgertonmythos and a welcome change of pace. –Tauri Miller
‘The Cook of Castamar’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 7.4/10
The Cook of Castamar
Based onFernando J. Múñez’s novel,The Cook of Castamaris a steamy romantic series set in early 18th-century Madrid. Created for television byTatiana Rodríguez,The Cook of Castamaris a Spanish drama that reveals the budding romance between the widowed Duke of Castamar (Roberto Enríquez) seeking to rejoin aristocratic society and a young agoraphobic woman named Clara Belmonte (Michelle Jenner).The Cook of Castamarmay only have lasted a single season, but it wove a gorgeous tale of second chances, self-reflection, and rediscovery for both Clara and the Duke.– Yael Tygiel
‘The Law According to Lidia Poët’ (2023 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.4/10
The Law According to Lidia Poët
The Law According to Lidia Poëtis based on the true story of the first female lawyer in 19th century Italy who fought for women’s right to practice law in a male-exclusive field. Lidia Poët, played byMatilda De Angelis, is tenacious, ambitious, and refuses to let anyone stop her from investigating murders — even when her license is taken away. The series takes on the sexism of the time while feeling immensely modern and reminds us that the world won’t change unless people are willing to fight for it. This Italian legal drama is hard to object to with such stunning sets, wardrobe, and lots of provocative sequences in and out of the courtroom. –Tauri Miller
‘1899’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% | IMDb: 7.3/10
1899is a short-lived mystery series fromDarkco-creatorsBaran bo OdarandJantje Friese. StarringEmily Beecham,Aneurin Barnard,Andreas Pietschmann, andMiguel Bernardeau,1899tantalizes with a fascinating puzzle set against the backdrop of the open sea. Over eight thrilling episodes,1899unfolds the story of a multinational immigrant steamship heading towards New York that inexplicably encounters another ship on the open sea. Each episode of1899deliberately reveals secrets while introducing a pile of new questions and mysteries, seamlessly blending genres as the clever writers lean on the time period to mesmerize.– Yael Tygiel
‘The Empress’ (2022 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7.8/10
The Empress
Philip FroissantandDevrim Lingnaustar inThe Empress, a German romance about Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary (Froissant) and his betrothal to the sister of Elisabeth von Wittelsbach, Princess of Bavaria. CreatorsKatharina EyssenandLena Stahlemphasize the young women in the story ofThe Empress, leaning into these women’s quests for love and power through family motivations and strategic actions. Exploring an overlooked time in history,The Empressreveals a progressive journey which, although entrenched in likely fictional and exaggerated drama, navigates the trajectory of European politics.– Yael Tygiel
‘Rebellion’ (2016 - 2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 40% | IMDb: 7.1/10
A dramatization of the events surrounding the 1916 Easter Rising,Rebellionshowcases the birth of modern Ireland. The series focuses on a group of friends from Dublin, Belfast, and London and follows how they each play crucial – and sometimes conflicting – roles in Ireland’s quest for independence. Featuring excellent performances,Rebellionshines a light on a piece of history that has often been overlooked. –Taylor Gates
