Last year, I shared with you several amazing period dramas available to stream on Netflix in the US. While the TV Show/Mini-Series list in 2016 hasn’t changed ‘too’ dramatically, I wanted to update it for everyone still seeking that next binge-watch. I mean, who doesn’t need their occasional Mr. Thornton fix?
From international period dramas, BBC dramas, to classic whodunit mysteries, there’s something in here for everyone.
35 Period Dramas to Watch on Netflix US (2016)
(In No Particular Order)
#1: Reign
With Anne Shirley (Megan Follows) herself as the scheming Catherine de Medici, you can’t get more addictive then this underrated series. Sure the costumes aren’t authentic (a purposeful choice), but neither is the actual story based on Mary, Queen of Scots. Romance, intrigue, and Catherine’s conniving plots keep me hooked for sure.
Content Note: This is rated TV-14 and includes some racy scenes. Nothing too graphic.
RELATED | Reign Review
#2: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
Photo: Acorn TV
What’s not to love about this Australian 1920’s murder mystery? With a fantastic leading lady in Miss Fisher, a great leading man in Detective Inspector Robinson, witty dialogue to make you laugh, and out of the world costume design, you will be nothing but entertained from start to finish of each episode. One of my personal favorites.
RELATED | Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries Review
Content Note: Very infrequently, Miss Fisher does have some adult content thrown in (though not explicit). There’s also a lot of strong sensuality. It is rated TV-14.
#3: Robin Hood
If you love Merlin, medieval period dramas, and Richard Armitage (he plays the villainous but slightly redeemable Guy), then you will enjoy this adorable and swashbuckling fun British TV Show. Sure, season 3 takes some missteps (I won’t spoil it for newbies), but overall a great romantic series to binge watch. I adore both the love story between Robin and Marian and Guy and Marian.
Content Note: Rated TV-PG for action adventure.
#4: Death Comes to Pemberley
What happens after Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are married with children? This mini-series (based on a book) aims to discover just that. An enjoyable, though not perfect, few hours of your time.
RELATED | Death Comes to Pemberley Review
Content Note: While unrated, Death Comes to Pemberley would be rated TV-PG.
#5: Empresses in the Palace
Empresses in the Palace is an epic Chinese historical drama set in ancient China. The series follows a 17-year-old girl who is forced to join the royal harem and must find a way to survive.
Content Note: This is rated TV-14.
#6: The Time in Between
Photo: DramaFever
The Time in Between is a Spanish period drama series that deals with spies, romance, and so much more! I’ve read this is a highly addictive one…
Content Note: Rated TV-14.
#7: Turn
A period drama set during the American Revolution. I don’t know much about Turn but one of the stars is Northanger Abbey‘s J.J. Feild…
Content Note: This show is rated TV 14. Turn includes some sexual content and violence.
#8: Murdoch Mysteries (7 Seasons)
An amusing Canadian mystery series set during the late 19th century & the early 1900s. While some of the dialogue can be stilted at times, I really love the main character! It’s definitely fun seeing the various mysteries unfold. To watch the remainder of the seasons, you will want to turn to Acorn TV.
RELATED | Murdoch Mysteries (The TV Series)
Content Note: There is violence in every episode. It would be rated (depending on the episode), anywhere between TV-PG to TV-14.
#9: North and South
If you haven’t seen North & South yet, it should be at the top of your list of period dramas to watch! The Mini-Series follows Margaret Hale as she moves from the comforts of the South of England to an industrial town in the North. There she meets the seemingly cold Mr. Thornton and becomes prejudiced against him in a very Elizabeth Bennet kind of way. North & South is like Dickens meets Austen, with a nice side of Richard Armitage to make this a mini-series worth revisiting time and time again. By far one of the best period dramas of all time!
RELATED | North and South Review
Content Note: While unrated, it would be rated TV-PG.
#10: The Buccaneers
The Buccaneers is worth catching when you want something simply soapy to devour. It’s about four American women who decide to go to England to find a good husband. The Buccaneers stars a young Carla Gugino, Mira Sorvino, and Greg Wise (Sense and Sensibility).
RELATED | The Buccaneers Review
Content Note: The Buccaneers is rated TV-14.
#11: The Paradise
Another favorite of mine, The Paradise tells the story of shop girl Denise as she falls for the shop’s owner, Mr. Moray. Aside from the wonderful old-fashioned romance, the strength of this series goes back to the characterization. Every person will feel layered and real by the end of the show. Few writers have this depth to their skill.
RELATED | The Paradise Review
Content Note: Rated TV-PG.
#12: When Calls the Heart
This wholesome period drama may get a bit cheesy at times, but I love the old-fashioned romance and heartwarming stories the show shares with the audience. Yes, sometimes it can get a little soapy (see season 2), however, the show is totally worth it for Jack. I adore him as the leading man and I think you will too.
RELATED | When Calls the Heart Review
Content Note: Rated TV-G. This is about as sweet and family-friendly as you can get.
#13: Grand Hotel (Edit: Now expired…Please come back!!)
If you love Downton Abbey and don’t mind subtitles, then the Grand Hotel is a must-see TV Series set in Spain. The star-crossed love story between Alicia and Julio is exquisite. The best part is that all three seasons are now available on Netflix. You don’t even have to wait for an ending.
RELATED | Grand Hotel Review
Content Note: There are a few scenes of sexuality sprinkled throughout the show, but they are extremely infrequent and not explicit. It is rated TV-PG.
#14: Houdini
A period drama about the life of Houdini starring Adrien Brody.
Content Note: Rated TV-14. I haven’t seen this one but I believe there is sexual content.
#15: Stories by Rabindranath Tagore
Adaptation of Nobel Prize Winner Rabindranath Tagore’s tales. The stories, focused on female empowerment, are set in early 20th century Bengal.
Content Note: Rated TV-14
Turn to page 2 for more Period Dramas!
This is the second time I’m reading your Netflix article (by the way, this website is amazing! 🙂 but this is only on the Netflix US right? Cause in France it looks like I can’t find them. Except Miss Fisher that I’m currently watching.
Thank you! And yes, this is only Netflix US. I should go back and clarify that. Hopefully, I can add what to watch in countries like France sometime in the future. And Miss Fisher is amazing! I hope you enjoy. 🙂
Yes really fun show. :-)I do love the settings and costumes.
Nice of you but you don’t have to bother. You live in the US so it’s kind of logical to talk only about these shows. I’m only a little jealous… lol
I have watched both The Great Train Robbery and George Gently and didn’t find anything too objectionable in them. The first is a British miniseries based on real events. I love a good heist story (in theory – I’d really disapprove in real life), so I enjoyed it. George Gently is a detective series that was quite fun too. They’re both set in the 1960s. Love your site – just found it!
I also just finished watching Lilies. I enjoyed it – flawed characters, so don’t expect everything to look beautiful or have a rosy glow. What I really appreciated was how close this family is.
One of my favorite shows ever is Turn: Washington’s Spies. It is so easy to fall in love with the characters. AMC’s take on the American Revolution and the Culper Spy Ring is phenomenal. It’s very historically acurate, while taking some leeway for the drama of the show. Turn is an incredible learning experience full of action and mystery. It is so refreshing and intriguing to get into the mindset and everyday decisions of America’s most iconic men and women. The show is incredibly bold and rightly one of the best period dramas ever made.
Indeed Baily Doctrow, “Turn” is a truly fantastic series in every way.
WeI loved it you can’t find shows like that keeps you wanting more
Where’s outlander? It’s not on the list and it’s so good!
I also recommend “The Tudors”
#34…Lillies does have nudity in at least one of the early episodes. I haven’t seen past that one. I stopped watching since I prefer no nudity.
The nudity in the series is very brief, and it’s a very good series and worth watching even if you don’t like nudity.
I really like Magnificent Century about the Ottoman Empire. It’s Turkish with English subtitles. Unfortunately Netflix only has the first 48 episodes. I can’t find the rest anywhere.
Magnificent century is the BEST show EVER!!! Angela- the first 48 are actually the first season. But broken up differently. Anyways. You can find the Turkish episodes on “dailymotion.com” type it as Turkish muhtesem Y. Bolum
Xx . … then after my source for subtitled google drive videos went mia – I found a website that kindly offers a GREAT translation of the episodes you need. – you could print ? Maybe copy paste? Print or just have phone open while watching on iPad or -streaming device. It actually works well!
How this helps
Main link
Go to early posts on blog to find season 2 start.
(Watch last Netflix refresher)
http://muhtesemyuzyilenglish.blogspot.com/2013/04/?m=0
But hmmm she may not go back as far as early seas 2
Anyways there are some Facebook “summary type translations” I had to use if u search.
The follow up series is OK.
Kosum.
Season- 1 is GREAT!!!!!
Season 2- to 2.5 ok. And then 2.5-end…. downhill
Made me wonder what happened. But I’ve never ever watched anything Turkish –
But I’ve been absolutely obsessed with Magnificent century. Sulleyman & Hurrem’s TRUE love story is amazing.
That time period was a HOT time period… Henry viii was up in England w his 6 wives… he should’ve had the Harem not Sulleyman!!! Haha- kidding!!!
The Harem was NOT a “sex” place it was a structured institution of education & rules
– the Sultans mother typically chose the concubine to go to the Sultans bed chamber.
Anyways- this has it all
Humor
Sadness
Family love
Romantic love
Historical accuracy & lots of historical “inaccuracies” due to dramatization .
Court intrigue x 100 !!!
I mean LIFE OR DEATH! Cut throat city!
Some decent military scenes – battle of Mohacs- Hungary – 1526—- WOW!!!! What amazing filming!
I love MC
MC- kosem (1) & have been Lost without them!
Hope this helps -Leslie
Hi there!
I am from India and I would love to know the sources (online streaming/download) of the period dramas mentioned above.
My favourite of all time is Çalikusu/Lovebird. The story is so beautiful and the actors have amazing chemistry. Feride’s monologues always had me end up in tears and the interaction between the main couple was refreshingly sweet, fun and almost dangerous. I rate the chemistry between the actors and the characters developement 10/10. The plot was about 9/10.
I highly recommend it!
I loved watching Lovebird too. The last episode was disappointing.
My favourite of all time is Çalikusu/Lovebird. The story is so beautiful and the actors have amazing chemistry. Feride’s monologues always had me end up in tears and the interaction between the main couple was refreshingly sweet, fun and almost dangerous. I rate the chemistry between the actors and the characters developement 10/10. The plot was about 9/10.
I highly recommend it! ❤️
Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you
SO GLAD I FOUND YOU WAS LOOKING FOR MAGNIFICENT CENTURY YOU INFORMED ME SO MUCH THANK YOU
LOOKIN FORWARD TO MORE
I am ever so glad someone mentioned George Gently, I would add The Doctor Blake Mysteries to the list, great period drama.
Great Article ust got Netflix now i know what to watch thanks
I love this! Thank you so much for all of your reviews!
Another tip about Netflix….. in their search, type in 12123 and quite a few period piece movies come up. Some listed are all the way up to the 1970’s and beyond which aren’t my cup of tea. I’d much rather read your reviews and the commentaries here.
This looks like my cup of tea.
Het bro thanks for this very good info
Omggg you’re such a life saver. I’ve been looking forever for this tv series after I lost my Netflix account and had to get another one (forgot the name of the series) everytime I looked for it I hit a dead end.”Love Bird“ thanks for posting this I’m very much in your debt.