10 Little-Known UK Period Dramas US Viewers Need To Watch

There are loads of fantastic period drama TV shows from the UK that US viewers haven’t seen but should check out. Some of the best TV shows of all time are period dramas, with the genre being so popular because of how many settings and plots come under the label. Period dramas are set in the past, which can vary from ten years ago to centuries. This allows for all manner of characters and stories to unfold.

Period dramas continue to soar in popularity, especially in recent years, as streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are jumping on the trend. TV shows like Bridgerton are notably successful because they send audiences back in time and draw them into a new world. British TV is known for producing stellar period dramas, and some titles are relatively unknown in the United States, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve more attention across the globe.

10 Poldark

A Unique Angle On The American Revolution

Poldark stars Aidan Turner as the titular character, and his performance is one of the best qualities of the show overall.Poldark is an adaptation of a book series by Winston Graham and spans between 1781 and 1801, right at the heart of and after the fallout of the American Revolutionary War. Ross Poldark’s return to his home in Cornwall after being a dedicated member of the British army, only to discover that he is now the heir to his father’s estate, is a compelling premise.

Rather than focusing too much on the war itself, Poldark spends significant time on Ross’ personal connections. His relationship with his former maid and then wife, Eleanor Tomlinson’s Demelza, stands out. Poldark also heavily relies on romance to drive the plot forward. Ross’ struggle over his lost love, Elizabeth, who Heida Reed portrays, is another brilliant part of the show. Its themes of duty and grief are prominent throughout, and it makes Poldark an addictive watch, even despite its abrupt ending.

9 Upstairs, Downstairs

The Dramas Of House Under Class Divide

Upstairs, Downstairs’ five-season run follows two titular groups, the “downstairs” servants and their “upstairs” masters, in a Belgravian townhouse in the early 1900s. The show excellently uses a fictional story to demonstrate real historical events. As Upstairs, Downstairs progresses with every episode, viewers watch the slow destruction of the British aristocracy play out before them. From 1903 to 1930, Upstairs, Downstairs looks at societal breakthroughs such as the suffragette movement and World War I through the eyes of its characters.

What’s so great about Upstairs, Downstairs is that it offers perspectives from both sides. The wealthy Bellamy family and their status give them different opportunities and outcomes in situations that their staff, like butler Angus and parlormaid Sarah, could only dream of. Despite this, there is a charm to Upstairs, Downstairs which produces a feel-good warmth for audiences, rather than the show consistently being morbid.

8 All Creatures Great And Small

A Brilliant Take On The Life Of A 1950 Vet

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 is proving that the show’s concept is still appealing in recent years. That said, the 1978 original is still significantly better than its contemporary counterpart. The show is based on Alf Wright’s books, under the pen name James Herriot, and the true stories about his time as a veterinarian in 1930s Yorkshire. While All Creatures Great and Small is a wholesome idea, each main character has storylines that prove that the sweet and pleasant village life can be dramatic at times. For example, Doctor Who alum Peter Davison’s character, Tristan, is a womanizer.

All Creatures Great and Small never goes too far, though. It ensures that its characters are just regular people, which is something audiences find easy to relate to. All Creatures Great and Small doesn’t require a lot of attention to engage in. Each episode of the series is quite easy to follow. Moreover, the project’s soundtrack is beautifully reflective of a simpler time.

7 Cranford

The Different Outlooks Of Women In The Victorian Era

Cranford may only have one installment and a two-part Christmas special, but it’s still a hidden gem in British TV. The show is set in the fictional titular village of the Victorian era, following an ensemble cast with a specific focus on women who are without husbands, whether it’s by choice or not. Cranford has a star-studded cast that includes some of the biggest stars to ever come out of the UK, including Judi Dench as Matty Jenkyns, Celia Imrie as Lady Glenmire, and Dame Imelda Staunton as Octavia Pole.

Cranford fascinatingly looks at how the female residents of the village are treated based on their relationship status. For example, Matty and her sister are spinsters and mostly embrace this lifestyle, whereas Julia Sawalha’s Jessie Brown strangely rejects two proposals from a man she truly loves. In some ways, Cranford is comparable to Little Women because of the varied opinions of each character. While it’s a shame that the show isn’t going to receive any more chapters, Cranford still works amazingly with seven episodes, and it is one of the best TV miniseries ever.

6 Victoria

A Blend Of Fiction And Fact In The British Royal Family

Jenna Coleman portrays the titular monarch in Victoria — one of the best historical TV shows, which follows the events of the Queen’s reign. Coleman’s performance as Victoria is astounding, and she does a fabulous job of translating the character’s struggles to the screen. The events of the show start with Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne in 1837 at just 18 and up until the discovery of Prince Albert’s health issues in 1851. That said, not every factual aspect of the show is about the royals.

Throughout Victoria, certain storylines cover several major historical moments. For example, in season 2, the Anglo-Afghan war and the Irish famine are examined. However, Victoria ’s success in the UK is because of its fictional subplots. Lord Alfred Paget and the Prime Minister’s personal secretary, Edward Drummond, are both real figures from the past, but their shocking kiss in season 3 isn’t fact. Despite this, Victoria still presents a story that would have happened at that time, which gives the show an edge and makes it unique.

5 Casanova

David Tennant Is One Of History’s Biggest Flirts

Casanova is one of David Tennant’s best TV characters, and his performance as the titular personality paves the way for him to play one of the most beloved Doctors in Doctor Who. The suave charisma that Tennant offers as the iconic philanderer Giacomo Casanova is fabulous, which makes the wacky antics he gets up to throughout the show that much better. Casanova is set in the backdrop of 18th-century Italy and is based on the real man’s memoirs, with the character reflecting on the adventures of his younger self through a wiser and elder mindset.

Casanova is remembered for its upbeat pacing and hilarious scenes. This is especially notable in moments between Tennant and Laura Fraser as Henriette, both of whom have stellar chemistry and provide incredible performances throughout. Giacomo Casanova’s life is carefree and relaxed, but Casanova’s biggest praise comes from its ability to convey the adventurer’s past in a light-hearted way while also offering wisdom and life lessons throughout.

4 Parade’s End

Beliefs Can Change In The Face Of War

Parade’s End is one of the best TV shows for those who like Downton Abbey. Set in the early 1900s, Parade’s End looks at the varying political and religious beliefs of three people. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Christopher Tietjens is a dedicated Conservative political supporter, while his wife Sylvia is Catholic and rather open about being so sexual. However, things change for Christopher when he meets the open-minded suffragette Valentine Wannop. Parade’s End follows the events leading up to and during World War I and how the landscape of society greatly changed during this time.

While the shadow of conflict is always lurking in the background of Parade’s End, the characters’ respective storylines are far more interesting. Christopher’s discovery that Sylvia became pregnant before marrying him and her continuous unfaithfulness, for example, is a prominent plot point throughout Parade’s End. The most fascinating and important part of Parade’s End is that it shows just how values and morals can be altered by the collapse of the world, as well as by the impact of other people.

3 Father Brown

A Man Of God Solving Crimes

Father Brown features Harry Potter star Mark Williams as the titular character, a Roman Catholic priest who also investigates various crimes within his parish. The show is set in the early 1950s in the fictional Cotswold village of Kembleford, which is odd but intriguing, especially as, at that time in history, the Church of England took precedence in the UK. Although Father Brown isn’t as critically acclaimed as many of the best mystery TV shows of the 2020s, the fact that the show is still airing new seasons over 11 years later is still impressive.

Father Brown is a great story-of-the-week TV show and is a perfect title to invest in, especially because the lead character is so likable. He is flawed, like anyone, but Brown’s approach to historically accurate situations like the death penalty and the fallout of World War II proves that he is ahead of his time. The best part of the character, though, is that he is a complete pain to the local police force, but this is what makes him so engaging.

2 Bleak House

A Fantastic Dickens Adaptation With Lots Of Famous Faces

The 2005 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel Bleak House is surprisingly gripping. The miniseries consists of 15 episodes and focuses on a tense multi-generational conflict over a family estate, primarily between Lady Dedlock and John Jarndyce. However, there are also subplots interwoven through Bleak House that aren’t just about how unfair the 19th-century legal system is. Bleak House uses stories of romance, hidden identities, and deadly illnesses to draw viewers in, too.

Despite being such a fleeting project, Bleak House has an astonishing cast list full of huge British names, including Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlock, Carey Mulligan as Ada Clare, and Dame Sheila Hancock as Mrs. Guppy. While recreating such a timeless novel to be engaging and compelling is a difficult feat, the BBC’s interpretation of Bleak House accomplishes this. If the 1920 version is the definitive movie adaptation of the classic Dickens book, then the 2005 miniseries is the stand-out for TV.

1 Doctor Zhivago

A Brutally Realistic Look At The Russian Revolution

Doctor Zhivago is set during the Russian Revolution and Civil War, which started in 1917 and ended in 1923. Doctor Zhivago is one of Keira Knightley’s best period pieces, in which she plays Lara Guishar Antipova, a Moscow local who encapsulates the attention of three local men. As the events of Doctor Zhivago unravel, Lara attempts to balance these relationships despite their actions impacting the surrounding destruction. Doctor Zhivago is incredibly moving, especially as its storylines delve into the dark consequences of war-torn Russia and the extreme behavior that grief causes.

At no point does Doctor Zhivago attempt to glorify these events; if anything, it shines an overly honest light on them. Doctor Zhivago discusses sexual assault, suicide, and the power of jealousy incredibly well, and while many moments are quite uncomfortable, these scenes push viewers to understand the harsh reality of 1900s Russia. Several period drama TV shows rely on love stories and fighting back against societal expectations. While Doctor Zhivago does the same, it also subverts audiences’ expectations of such a project.