The 10 Best Historical Dramas to watch on Netflix right now include a variety of genres, from a gripping series about a man raised by Vikings in 9th-century England to following a British royal family over several decades. Is romance and exploring love a genre you are interested in? We have that on our list, too!
More on our list of 10 best historical dramas include exploring the lives of the Vikings and a crime drama set in post-World War I in England. A Queen who is a brilliant chess prodigy as she navigates through a male-dominated world. Let’s check out the list!
10 Best Historical Dramas To Never Miss
1. The Last Kingdom
This is a gripping series about a Saxon nobleman raised by Vikings in 9th-century England. As a child, Uhtred witnessed his father being killed. His Saxon army invaded troops aboard Danish ships. That same day, Uhtred was captured by warlord Earl Ragnar and was raised by him in a Danish camp with a fellow captive, Brida. Years later, Uhtred is a valiant warrior who experiences another tragedy when his home is set on fire, killing his surrogate family. Now alone, only with Brida by his side, he vows to avenge Rangar’s death and reclaim his homeland.
2. The Crown
This elaborate, luxurious series follows the British royal family over several decades. It explores the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. It begins with an inside look at the queen’s early reign, when she rose to the throne at age 25 after her father, King George VI, died. Romances and political rivalries were revealed, which played a significant role in events. These events shaped the later years of the 20th century. Thus, it makes our 10 Best Historical Dramas to Watch on Netflix list.
3. Bridgerton
This series is an American historical regency romance. It follows the close-knit siblings of the noble and influential Bridgerton family as they navigate the highly competitive social season. Young suitable women are ready for marriage. The series is set in the early 19th century, in an alternative Regency era between 1795 and 1837. During this time, George III established racial equality and granted many people of African descent aristocratic titles due to his wife, Queen Charlotte’s African heritage.
4. Vikings
This show chronicles the exploits of Ragnar Lothbrok, a legendary Viking, his family, friends, and descendants during the Viking Age. It is a series of explorations, conquests, and clashes of cultures between the Vikings and other civilizations, such as the English and the French.
5. Peaky Blinders
Rounding out the top five of our lists so far of the 10 best historical dramas to watch on Netflix is Peaky Blinders. This crime drama centers on a family of Irish travelers and Romani origins based in Birmingham, England, starting in 1919, several months after the end of the First World War. It centers on street gangs and cunning crimes in this era.
6. The Queen’s Gambit
Set during the Cold War era, this series follows orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon, who struggles with addiction to become the world’s greatest chess player. She struggles with drug and alcohol dependency during her quest. The Queen’s Gambit won eleven Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology series, becoming the first show on a streaming service to win the category. It definitely deserves to be a part of the 10 Best Historical Dramas to watch on Netflix.
7. Anne with an E
Anne is a 13-year-old girl who endured many years of abuse childhood in orphanages and in the homes of strangers. In the late 1890s, Anne is sent to live with aging siblings, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, by mistake. Anne, who is uniquely spirited, imaginative, and innovative, transforms their lives and everyone else in their small town. The series tackles a wide range of issues, such as psychological trauma, social issues such as conformity, as well as gender inequality and racism.
8. One Hundred Years of Solitude
This mystical series is next on our list of 10 best historical dramas on Netflix. This follows the Buendia family across five generations, from the founding of their utopian town Macondo to its destruction by a hurricane. Written in magical realism style, the story blends reality and fantasy, and explores universal themes such as human isolation. It also explores the cynical nature of history, and the lust for power.
9. Barbarians
This is a historical German series set in 9 AD makes 10 Best Historical Dramas to watch list. It focuses on the buildup to the battle of Teuto-burg Forest, a pivotal clash between Germanic tribes and Roman Legions. It revolves around three childhood friends. Their fates intertwine as the Roman Empire’s demands for tribute and the growing unrest among the Germanic tribes lead up to an epic confrontation.
10. Outlander
Finally, last on our list of the 10 Best Historical Dramas to watch on Netflix is “Outlander”! This is a historical romance and time travel drama. It follows a World War II nurse who is transported back in time to 18th century Scotland. There, she falls in love with Jamie Fraser a Highland warrior and becomes entangled in the Jacobite rising. This series explores their love story and complexity of time travel, and historical events.
