History TV shows sound boring, but they can be the most exciting to watch. It’s not just a loose retelling of events, it’s backstabbing, intriguing drama wrapped up in a historical package. If you’re looking for a new show to watch or try this genre, the past few years have produced great options.
There are benefits to watching historical TV shows besides entertainment. They can be educational and if a certain era or person interests you, can lead you to communities of people who share the same interest. If you’re a reader, there’s always a book you can delve into for more information. Here are 5 awesome TV shows for history lovers.
#5: The Spanish Princess (Tudor History fans unite!)
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Every history lover knows the story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, but the Spanish Princess takes viewers back in time to before Henry VIII’s reign to learn the tragic story of his first wife and Queen, Catherine of Aragon.
Catherine, played by Charlotte Hope, comes to England as a princess to marry Henry’s older brother Arthur, Prince of Wales. When Arthur dies and Henry ascends the throne, Catherine adjusts to her new life as queen as she struggles to have children, defend herself against enemies in her court, and hold onto her failing marriage.
The Spanish Princess draws inspiration from the books The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse by the popular English history writer Philippa Gregory. The show is mostly historically accurate, but like most historical television shows, there are embellishments. Either way, this 2-season show is perfect for history lovers everywhere.
#4: Mary and George
This historical drama is definitely for a more mature audience. Mary and George tells the story of Mary and George Villiers, a mother and son played by Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine who plot for power and position by influencing James VI & I, the King of England.
With the help of James’s wife Queen Anne and Mary, George becomes the king’s lover. He and his mother use him to become nobility and solve their financial problems, all while dealing with James’s unstable moods and their personal lives.
Mary and George are less historically accurate but full of witty conversation and steamy love scenes. It’s a fun journey through 1600s England.
#3: We Were The Lucky Ones
Georgia Hunter’s 2017 novel of the same name is the basis of this emotional and inspirational show. We Were The Lucky Ones follows couple Nechuma and Sol Kurc and their children Halina, Addy, Mila, Genek, and Jakob while they endure concentration camps, escape over borders, and much more.
The show and the book are inspired by Hunter’s family history and the miraculous survival of her entire family after the Holocaust. Thanks to Hunter’s dedication to telling her family’s difficult history, everything viewers see in We Were The Lucky Ones is what really happened. It’s a heart-wrenching watch, but beautifully done.
#2: Vikings
In Vikings, the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok leads the first raid on England in 793 and inspires other Norsemen to raid all over the world. This historical show details the life of Ragnar, his five sons, his wives, family members, and other monarchs.
Vikings is based on the sagas of Ragnar and his sons, which are stories that were verbally passed on through generations until they were written down. The Scandinavian culture at this time didn’t include writing, so there’s no way to know how accurate Ragnar’s story is, but that doesn’t make the show any less incredible.
There’s everything viewers would want: action, romance, drama, and even education about Norse mythology.
#1: The Empress
The Empress is another beautiful adaptation of the story of Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. When 16-year-old Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria marries her cousin the emperor, they fall madly in love, but their life together isn’t perfect.
She struggles with the customs of the Austrian court, her overbearing mother-in-law, and a rebellion by poverty-stricken citizens. Elisabeth, played by German actress Devrim Lingnau, draws viewers with the amazing love story and gorgeous costumes.
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