Shogun and 4 Other Best Historical Dramas Released in 2024 to Watch Right Now

Costume dramas about events from the past have always been popular. But it seems that 2024 has ushered in a new wave of large-scale historical series. Of course, one of the main events is the new adaptation of Shogun, which became a hit on FX and Hulu and took home a record number of Emmy awards.

But in 2024, there is also a detective from the creator of Oldboy and a show about a president.

1. Shogun, 2024-...

In 1600, a Dutch ship washes up on the shores of Japan. The crew has long since starved to death, and the captain has committed suicide. The survivors are captured by the natives. But English navigator John Blackthorne reveals an unexpected fact to Lord Yoshii Toranaga.

It turns out that the Portuguese, who regularly visited Japan, consider the country their colony and hide its existence from their neighbors. At this time, Toronaga is also in a difficult situation: while the heir to the throne is still too young, the local clans have begun a struggle for power.

Originally conceived as a one-season project, the series proved so popular that FX picked it up for a second season. And the triumph at the Emmy Awards, where Shogun won a record 18 awards, only confirmed that the decision was right.

2. Franklin, 2024

In 1776, Benjamin Franklin is fighting a war, but is losing due to a lack of resources. So Franklin goes to Europe to negotiate with the ruler of France for support: after the Seven Years' War, this country will be happy to take revenge on the British.

His grandson Temple also accompanies the future Founding Father. In France, Franklin has to adjust to the not very accurate ideas about him, the war, and the culture, and try to convince everyone that victory is near. Meanwhile, Temple gets to know the world and falls in love.

3. Masters of the Air, 2024

In 1942, friends Gale and John are sent from the US to Great Britain. These young men are pilots and will now serve in the 100th Bomb Group on B-17 bombers. Unlike the British, who fly at night, the American military attacks targets during the day, resulting in numerous losses among the pilots.

For this reason their group is called the Bloody Hundredth. However, those who are lucky enough not to be shot down do not forget the joys of life: they have fun in bars, communicate, think about love and a peaceful life.

4. Mary & George, 2024

Mary Villiers is not rich and cannot boast of noble origins. However, she is ambitious and devises a plan that will allow her family to get closer to King James I. To this end, the mother sends her second son George to study in France and then uses various tricks to get the monarch to pay attention to the young man.

In order for George to become the king's new favorite, the family must get rid of his previous favorite, the Earl of Somerset. The Earl feels threatened and is ready to fight back. But Mary and George will fight their way to their goal.

5. The Sympathizer, 2024

A man known as the Captain is in a North Vietnamese prison camp. He is ordered to write his story. In 1975, he served in the South Vietnamese army in Saigon: the Captain caught spies, met with a CIA agent, and even helped compile a list of those who needed to be evacuated first in case the city fell.

In fact, the man was an undercover agent himself, passing secret information to the North. After that, he was sent to the US, but the spy continued his work there as well.

The famous Park Chan-wook, the creator of the original Oldboy, took on the adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel of the same name. He created it, worked on the script, and even directed three of the seven episodes himself.