Period Drama 101 Guide.

As viewers around the world search for the most gorgeous Regency-inspired outfits and listen to the instrumental covers of Pitbull and Ariana Grande, Bridgerton continues to top all Netflix charts as the most-watched series.

It’s easy to see the appeal of a show like this during tough times, but Bridgerton definitely wasn’t the first period drama to offer viewers a sweet escape. Here are 8 shows that came before Bridgerton, but got viewers just as excited about traveling a few centuries back in time.

Downton Abbey ( 2010-2015)

There is no other period drama more popular than Downton Abbey, and for good reason. With seemingly little at stake, the show has managed to keep viewers captivated and intrigued by the affairs of the Crawley family.

Thanks to a brilliant cast and clever writing that balanced the actions of the aristocrats with those of their working-class servants, the show did not become repetitive and boring but brought a whole new wave of interest to the genre.

Lark Rise to Candleford (2008-2011)

Another show with low stakes but lots of great characters to explore is Lark Rise to Candleford, which follows the journey of a young girl, Laura Timmins, who breaks out of Lark Rise to start a new life with her mother’s cousin, Dorcas Lane.

Viewers will follow these two characters through their ups and downs and learn about the importance of friendship and constant support.

The Tudors (2007-2010)

One of the things that attracts viewers to Bridgerton is the number of juicy scenes and the show’s approach to romance. The Tudors was one of the first period dramas to be bold enough to bring sex to television and put it front and center.

Sure, some critics were unhappy with the way Tudors turned the delicate and intricate political intrigue into an erotic show, but sometimes that is exactly what viewers want to see.

 

Poldark (2015-2019)

When Captain Ross Vennor Poldark returns from the American Revolution to his home in Nampara, Cornwall, he finds himself a stranger. Everything has changed in three years, and everyone’s loyalties seem to lie elsewhere.

Now it is his duty to keep the estate going, while trying to figure out what place he has in it, and what place he wishes he had.

Cranford (2007)

Short and entertaining, Cranford is a great show to revisit when you need a respite from the daily drama.

If you love the meddling of Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton, you will enjoy the entire show, which focuses primarily on the town’s single and widowed middle-class women. Especially when they get a perfect victim in the form of Dr. Frank Harrison, who is new in town but quickly gets all the ladies’ attention.

 

North and South (2004)

The story of romance mixed with commentary on an ever-changing historical background, North and South is as much about people as it is about romance. People with all kinds of wants and needs. People with aspirations who push for change and those who cling to the past they know and love instead of accepting it.

It is a miniseries with only 4 episodes to watch, but the impression it leaves is much longer lasting.

Upstairs Downstairs (1971-1975; 2010-2012)

One of the ’70s hits that holds up surprisingly well today is Upstairs Downstairs, the show that followed the lives of the inhabitants of a large townhouse in central London between 1903 and 1930, with the working class and servants occupying the lower floors and the master’s family living upstairs.

The show was so good at depicting the slow decline of the British aristocracy that it was picked up in 2010. Although the reboot didn’t last long, it’s a nice addition to the story.

 

Outlander ( 2014-…)

Even though the show is still ongoing, it has been running for a decade now and has introduced many viewers to the genre long before Bridgerton was adapted. The story benefits from the sci-fi element, multiple timelines, and constant changes of characters and locations.

To this day, Outlander remains one of the most popular titles in the genre, and with a spin-off on the horizon, it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon.