There is an obvious trend in the latest batch of historic TV series – neglecting authenticity in favour of modern humour and outrageous behaviour that is barely acceptable even in today’s free-spirited society. Why be serious when you can be fun? (The Crown, we’re looking at you!) Here are the smartest, sexiest, most beautiful and romantic historic TV shows that have almost nothing to do with real history but are a great joy to watch.
Bridgerton (Netflix)
Short yet wonderful, Netflix’s current #1 watched TV show is as saucy as they get. Following the life of the Bridgertons, known for their ‘handsome sons and beautiful daughters’, and a couple of other families from England’s historic high society, this show was already named ‘ the Regency era Gossip Girl‘. In fact, there is even a daily newspaper published by an unknown Lady Whistledown that suspiciously reminds us of the always bold and badly-timed texts by the one and only Gossip Girl from Manhattan.
Be prepared for modern music hits turned into Regency era tunes, loads of steamy times, feminist messages that are definitely not something ladies of the past were known for and the most intriguing mix of the past and the present.
The Great (Hulu)
We could watch this just for the hilarious banter between Catherine (Elle Fanning) and Peter III of Russia (Nicholas Hoult) alone but The Great offers so much more than that. Packed with anachronisms and color-blind casting that leads to a diversity never seen in Russian palaces, this show is a true gem with an unexpected twist in each episode.
P.S. Peter’s iconic ‘Sounds so f*cking dull’ response to pretty much everything he’s expected to do as a Tsar is easily the most used phrase in some households now.
Don’t miss our previous review of this TV show.
Dickinson (Apple TV+)
With the second episode of this dark comedy currently streaming on Apple TV+, it’s time to dive into the wonderful world of late 19th century USA when the poet Emily Dickinson lived. Though the show is loosely based on her life, the approach to filming couldn’t be any more 21st century-like. Think of Dickinson as a ‘reality show with a historic twist’, where loads happens while nothing is really happening. We’re simply observing the life of young people of the 19th century, lead by Emily herself (portrait by Heilee Steinfeld), who want to party, fall in love, have adventures and win the town’s baking contest. Only their conversations and actions are far from the sophisticated youth of the past! If anything, they’re sometimes even crazier that the teens today.
The Tudors (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime)
This TV show is basically a CLASSIC of what we call ‘What-the-hell-did-I-just-watch-historic-drama’. The first season (of four) premiered in 2007 and turned thousands of women and men around the world into mush, all thanks to the hot – excuse us, we mean EXTREMELY TALENTED, of course – Jonathan Rhys Myers, playing young and horny King Henry VIII who had six wives and an endless number of love conquests. Well, there are a lot of historic events going on as well, in case you were wondering, but let’s be honest…
Versailles (Amazon Prime, Neon)
Set during the reign of King Louis XIV (George Bladen) when he’d commissioned the construction of the legendary palace, this show is all about opulence, wealth and intrigue. With manipulated chronology and fictional key characters, Versailles is everything we love about this kind of show – completely oblivious to the rules and regulations of the 17th century, bedazzlingly fashionable and endlessly fascinating.
Reign (Netflix)
Be careful with this one and don’t pretend we didn’t warn you! Reign is not for the faint of heart, it literally starts with King Henry screwing a woman to death… Told ya! ‘Horny history with anachronistic costuming and plot beats’ is how critics describe this show, happening in the 16th century, a.k.a. The Tudors’ era. Grossly inaccurate, deliciously twisted and with the campiest fashion that ever camped, these series follow the love triangle between a young Mary Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane), her betrothed and his bastard half-brother… and about a dozen other love lines that will make your jaw drop.
