I am a massive fan of period dramas, unsurprisingly. Give me a good period drama premiere, and I will use a vacation day to enjoy it all. However, I have been finding that fewer and fewer are grabbing my interest. I have been reading more and more, and over the last year, books have grabbed my attention more than period dramas overall. Still, there are some period dramas that I am impatiently waiting for this year! Most of the dramas that I am waiting on are later seasons; luckily you have time to start watching now. Let’s look at my 2023 must-watch period dramas.
Update: Back again in September 2023 with updates and more shows!
Note: I live in Canada- some of these shows may have already aired elsewhere, or will be airing earlier in the UK/Europe. I have organised these by release date when available; many of these do not have a confirmed date yet.
Aired as of September 2023
The Forbidden Marriage (Season 1)- 9 December 2022
Synopsis from MyDramaList:
Lee Heon is the king of Joseon. 7 years ago, when he was a crown prince, his beloved wife died. To this day, he has not been able to get over her death. For the past 7 years, the royal family and government members have tried to get King Lee Heon remarried without success. The nation has also implemented a geumhonryung edict, which is a ban on all single women marrying during this time when the king has not married. People are furious over the marriage ban. One day, King Lee Heon hears of a woman named Ye So Rang, who claims the spirit of the king’s late wife exists within the royal palace.
Meanwhile, Ye So Rang is a swindler and claims to interpret marital harmony signs. She is arrested and jailed where Officer Lee Shin Won works. To get out of her predicament, she pretends to be possessed by a spirit in front of Lee Shin Won. During her ruse, she mentions that the spirit of King Lee Heon’s late wife exists within the royal palace. She is then brought in front of the king and he asks her if she can really see his late wife’s spirit. To survive, Ye So Rang acts like her body is possessed by the king’s late wife. Ye So Rang’s lies get bigger and more audacious.
This K-Drama has already started but does not finish up until the third week of January, so I decided to include it! This is a sageuk, aka a historical drama. Unlike a lot of other period dramas, this is quite the comedy, and I am very much enjoying it. Other than The Great (see below), period dramas tend to largely be bereft of humour, so it is a lovely change. I also love that K-dramas tend to be longer in length; The Forbidden Marriage episodes tend to be between 65-70 minutes full-length. Two episodes are released each week, and there are sixteen episodes total!
Sanditon (Series 3)- 19 March 2023
About Charlotte Heywood, a spirited and impulsive woman, who moves from her rural home to Sanditon, a fishing village attempting to reinvent itself as a seaside resort.
Sanditon is truly the little period drama that could. Originally the first series was not overly successful in the UK and it was announced before it ever aired in North America that it had not been renewed. Thanks to a massive online campaign, a second and third series were commissioned. We are now onto the third and final season, and it remains to be seen whether or not Charlotte will find her happy ending. If I am being honest, I am really watching for all of the supporting characters- the writers and producers have really created the most wonderful cast of characters. There are six episodes in the final season of Sanditon, meaning the final episode will air on 23 April.
The Best Books If You Love Sanditon
Marie Antoinette (Series 1)- 19 March 2023
An innocent teenage queen drawn into a dark, manipulative court of Versailles. Her duty is to bear an heir. Her fate will set a country on fire.
This has already aired in the UK, and I’ve read some excellent reviews so far. (When you compare it to The Great, I am in.) I have to say, I am surprised that there are not more dramas set at the French court, as it has several hundred years of history that are ripe for prime-time drama. Much like Versailles, I am always happy to watch something filmed at Versailles itself- it always sells the show for me. There are eight episodes of Marie Antoinette; with it starting on 19 March as well, the final episode will air on 7 May on PBS.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Season 5)- 14 April 2023
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel from renowned creator Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls) and Executive Producer Daniel Palladino (Family Guy), written and directed by Sherman-Palladino and Palladino, stars Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan (House of Cards) as Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a 1958 New York City woman who has everything she’s ever wanted—the perfect husband, two kids, and an elegant Upper West Side apartment perfect for hosting Yom Kippur dinner. But her perfect life suddenly takes an unexpected turn and Midge discovers a previously unknown talent—one that changes her life forever.
Frustratingly, we now move onto the shows that have been confirmed to have a 2023 release date but have no actual confirmed date. (I hate that streaming services and networks take so longer to confirm the dates of shows that have finished filming.) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel immediately became one of my favourite period dramas. The gorgeous fashions of the 1950s and 1960s along with the backdrop of New York (and the Catskills… and Las Vegas) is an unbeatable combination. Rachel Brosnahan’s Midge is a force to be reckoned with, and the supporting cast are no less fantastic. I cannot wait to see this season, but am sad to see it finish!
The Best Books If You Love The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Series (Season 1)- 4 May 2023
Centered on Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power, this Bridgerton-verse prequel tells the story of how the young Queen’s marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift, creating the world of the Ton inherited by the characters in Bridgerton.
I will not lie, I was not overly impressed with the second season of Bridgerton. I am not a book purist, but for me, they changed so many of the characters so much, and I’m not feeling very invested. However, I think that this Bridgerton prequel is far enough away from the books that it will stand on its own. Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz has long been a fascinating historical figure for me, and I look forward to this fun approach to her early marriage. Here is hoping Netflix gives us a release date for Queen Charlotte soon. Interestingly, this will drop only two days before King Charles III’s coronation- I am going to guess they are attempting to capitalise on that!
The Best Books If You Love Bridgerton
The Great (Season 3)- 12 May 2023 US, other dates not confirmed
Synopsis from Hulu (S1E1, the show in a nutshell):
In 1761, Catherine travels to Russia and becomes the Empress by marrying the Emperor of Russia, Peter. WIth hopes of marrying a great love, Catherine soon realizes Peter is a selfish brat who stands against everything she values. Catherine is feeling hopeless and verging on suicide when her servant, Marial, presents her with an alternative path- to overthrow Peter.
The Great is one of my favourite television shows of all time, possibly my number one. (Definitely my top three, at the very least.) Each episode of The Great begins with a note that it is an occasionally true story, and the creators have certainly embraced it. This is show is witty and clever and hilarious, but also heart-wrenching at moments. Much like the other shows on this list, the wider cast is a reason that I love The Great. Velementov, Marial, Aunt Elizabeth, Orlo, they all have their moments to shine. And if you are a fiend for excellent costumes, you need to watch this show.
Update: Unfortunately, at the end of August 2023 we found out that The Great was not being renewed past the third season. Given that six seasons were planned and the third season still hasn’t aired in Canada and many other markets, it feels like a disappointing end to a wonderful show.
The Best Books If You Love The Great
To Air as of September 2023
The Gilded Age (Season 2)- 29 October 2023
The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic change, of great conflict between the old ways and brand new systems, and of huge fortunes made and lost. Against the backdrop of this transformation, HBO’s The Gilded Age begins in 1882 with young Marian Brook moving from rural Pennsylvania to New York City after the death of her father to live with her thoroughly old-money aunts, Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook.
Accompanied by Peggy Scott, an aspiring writer seeking a fresh start, Marian inadvertently becomes enmeshed in a social war between one of her aunts, a scion of the old-money set, and her stupendously rich neighbors, a ruthless railroad tycoon and his ambitious wife, George and Bertha Russell. Exposed to a world on the brink of the modern age, will Marian follow the established rules of society, or forge her own path?
The Gilded Age was a surprise hit for me. I expected to enjoy it somewhat; Downton Abbey is still one of my favourite television shows. However, I did not expect to love it as much as I did. I think that this is another case of fantastic casting and the right balance of storylines. (My one small quibble is that they will need to cut some of the downstairs storylines for the second season if they don’t want it be overwhelming.) The Gilded Age is one of those periods that is becoming popular again, along with the 1920s, so I’m not shocked that HBO has a hit on their hands. And if you have not already, I would recommend listening to the official Gilded Age podcast- it covers a lot of the history behind it!
The Best Books If You Love The Gilded Age
The Buccaneers (Season 1)- 8 November 2023
Synopsis from Apple TV:
The Buccaneers are the daughters of America’s new rich — beautiful and untameable, despite the best efforts of England’s finest governesses, they are on their way to London to snare themselves an aristocrat, low in funds but high in class, to make a perfect match.
We do not have a trailer yet for this new version of The Buccaneers but I am rather excited for this update. (When a trailer is released, I will absolutely add it to this post!) I did enjoy the 1995 miniseries but I think that expanding into eight episodes is a good thing for this particular story. Somehow I have made it to 2023 and haven’t subscribed to Apple TV but The Buccaneers will be the show to change that. I will most likely be saving this show for the holiday break, it seems a wonderful way to end the year!
Bridgerton (Season 3)- 14 December 2023
We do not have an official synopsis yet but it will the story of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.
Okay, I am going to say what we are all thinking- networks need to stop holding trailers until the last month. I’ll admit, I’m almost losing interest in Bridgerton because it feels like the production has been dragging on forever and we still only have a few press images. We already know that this is Colin and Penelope’s season (aka book four of the series), so hopefully it delivers for all of the Polin fans out there. I do not demand faithful adaptations by a long stretch, but season 2 dragged and quite frankly was not overly entertaining. I am hoping we get some of the fun back!
♠
What shows are you on your 2023 must-watch period dramas list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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I am absolutely obsessed with anything old world history I just looked at your list of what we need to watch in 2023. Think I’ve watched every single one of your recommendations but for The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. I just put on episode one. Is there any other list or information on other shows and movies? I might have seen it but I have to ask.. I will check out the rest of your website as a historian. I greatly admire you and all of the work you have done to share. I’m looking forward to reading more and seeing any more information that you share. I live in North Georgia, just myself and my husband and my two little Yorkies and I have one grown son that lives just a mile down the road. Thank you for all you do to continue to shed light on our past.
Hi Sylvia! I am so glad that you are enjoying these period dramas, it has certainly been a banner year!! And that is so kind of you to say, I am thrilled to hear that you are enjoying my posts! I do have several different period drama posts depending on what you are interested in:
2022 Period Dramas: https://anhistorianabouttown.com/2022-period-dramas-to-watch/
Top 5 Period Dramas to Watch Anywhere: https://anhistorianabouttown.com/top-5-period-dramas-you-can-watch-from-anywhere/
My Favourite Darker Period Dramas: https://anhistorianabouttown.com/my-favourite-darker-period-dramas/
The Best Period K-Dramas: https://anhistorianabouttown.com/the-best-period-kdramas/
My Favourite Georgian Period Dramas: https://anhistorianabouttown.com/my-favourite-georgian-period-dramas/
Happy watching!
Love the period dramas & looking for more 🙏🏼