Outlander and 4 Other Quality Period Dramas to Binge on Netflix
If you loved history in school, these projects are for you.
The history of mankind is an inexhaustible source of stories for filmmakers. Medieval China or Victorian England? The Roaring 20s or the Viking Age?
With our list, every history buff will find a series to their liking to watch on Netflix.
1. The Empress, 2022-...
The second daughter of Duke Joseph of Bavaria was not destined to become empress. Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria's mother chose Helene, Elisabeth's older sister, to be the emperor's wife.
But as the families prepare for the engagement, Franz discovers he is in love with someone else – the freedom-loving and headstrong Sisi. Despite his mother's opposition, the young emperor stands firm and marries Elisabeth.
Sisi's humanity is at the heart of The Empress, revealing her as a character and a real person forced to live in a world she barely understands.
The Empress is a series that immerses viewers in the drama and grandeur of a turbulent period in world history, a time of progress and revolution. Those familiar with the Habsburgs and those looking for their next favorite historical drama will enjoy the journey to 19th century Austria.
2. Outlander, 2014-...
The show, based on the book series by Diana Gabaldon, tells the story of a military nurse named Claire Randall who is transported back two centuries using magical stones.
Finding herself in a time where women have no rights, she tries to find her way back, but as events unfold, she falls in love with fearless Jamie Fraser, marries him and even starts a family. When Claire is given the opportunity to return to her timeline, she realizes that she cannot bear to be separated from her beloved.
3. The Law According to Lidia Poët, 2023-...
A mix of crime, drama and romance, this historical series is based on the true story of Italy's first female lawyer, Lidia Poët.
After being disbarred by a misogynistic court ruling that prevented women from practicing law, Lidia is determined to change the system.
Over the course of the series, she investigates murders and fights for her right to practice law with the help of her older brother Enrico, who is also a lawyer, and Jacopo, a charming journalist who helps bring attention to Lidia and her fight for gender equality.
4. Versailles, 2015-2018
Louis XIV ascended the throne at the age of four. For many years, France was ruled by a council of ministers headed by his mother. Now she is dead, and the nobility is gaining more power every day. To survive, Louis must build a new government from scratch, far away from Paris. In a place called Versailles.
Versailles is a gripping story that immerses viewers in the chic French balls, intrigues in the dark corridors, and brings them closer to the King himself – the sun around which all life at Versailles revolves.
5. Vikings: Valhalla, 2022-2024
In this Vikings spin-off, set about a century after the finale of the original series, the era of Scandinavian conquest is slowly coming to an end as the King of England attempts to destroy the Danes and the Normans lay claim to the British throne.
Meanwhile, Leif Erikson embarks on a daring journey from Iceland to the western lands that would become America, while his countrymen struggle to resist the encroachment of Christianity on their native beliefs.
Valhalla paints a rich historical portrait of a warlike civilization in its final centuries: not always accurate, but very colorful.