7 Shows Like The Gilded Age You Must See (2022)

7 Shows Like The Gilded Age You Must See (2022) – ‘The Gilded Age,’ created by Julian Fellowes, chronicles the narrative of the titular era in American history, when enormous economic prosperity and scientific achievements concealed serious social concerns. The drama is set in New York in the early 1880s and centres on the struggle for dominance of polite society between new and old money individuals and families. If you like ‘The Gilded Age’ and want to watch more episodes like it, we have the perfect list of suggestions for you. Most of these shows related to ‘The Gilded Age’ are available on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.

Mad Men (2007-2015)

‘Mad Men,’ like ‘The Gilded Age,’ is set in New York during one of the most formative decades in American history, the 1960s. It first concentrates upon the personal and professional lives of the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency’s workers, with a special emphasis on Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the charismatic advertising executive with a mysterious history. While ‘Mad Men’ takes a more pessimistic approach to historical fiction than ‘The Gilded Age,’ it nonetheless seeks to look forward with optimism.

Pride and Prejudice (1995)

‘Pride and Prejudice,’ a 1995 miniseries, is undoubtedly the most popular and influential adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1813 eponymous classic novel. It stars Oscar winner Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, whose portrayal earned him international acclaim for the first time, and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet. The sumptuous settings, painstakingly flawless costumes, and enormous parties are just a few of the elements that contribute to ‘The Gilded Age’ being an excellent period drama. These things abound in ‘Pride and Prejudice.’

Anne with an E (2017-2019)

‘Anne with an E,’ the television adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 children’s novel ‘Anne of Green Gables,’ features Anne Shirley, a 13-year-old orphan girl adopted by elderly siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. The inventive, enthusiastic, and loquacious Anne, like Marian Brook in ‘The Gilded Age,’ finds herself in an entirely unexpected position after moving in with her new family. While Matthew falls in love with her right away, it takes Anne some time to win over Marilla. The show is set in a fictional village in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, far from the glitzy New York of the late 1800s. Nonetheless, both series are filled with this contagious optimism, most of which is attributed to their respective heroes.

Bridgerton (2020-)

Image Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix

‘Bridgerton,’ like ‘The Gilded Age’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ features gorgeous sets, marvellous clothes, and lavish parties. It is based on Julia Quinn’s Regency-era novels and is set in Regency-era London. Both ‘The Gilded Age’ and ‘Bridgerton’ use high society as a backdrop; in the case of ‘Bridgerton,’ it’s the top layer of modern English society, known as the tonnes. The parallels don’t stop there. ‘Bridgerton,’ like ‘The Gilded Age,’ emphasises the quest of love and prestige in polite society.

The Knick (2014-2015)

‘The Knick,’ a period medical drama series, is likewise set in New York, albeit a few decades later — in 1900 — than ‘The Gilded Age.’ Dr. John W. “Thack” Thackery (Clive Owen) is the imaginative but troubled chief surgeon of Knickerbocker Hospital. Thack swims against the tide in the field of medicine, pioneering various novel methods of treatment at a time when people had gotten excessively complacent, believing that everything that could have been discovered had been discovered. While ‘The Knick’ is darker than ‘The Gilded Age,’ neither show is afraid to highlight governmental corruption, gender difficulties, and racial disparities.

1883 (2021-)

Image Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+

The prequel to the hugely famous Paramount Network series ‘Yellowstone,’ ‘1883,’ is about the Dutton family’s epic trip from Fort Worth, Texas, to Montana, where they will eventually build the Yellowstone Ranch. ‘The Gilded Age’ and ‘1883’ are both set in America at the same time, but revolve around quite different personalities. This paradox represents the expanse of America as well as the complexities of its past.

Downton Abbey (2010-2015)

Fellowes also created ‘Downton Abbey,’ the worldwide popular British TV series about the wealthy Crawley family and their friends, relatives, and staff. The two shows are thematically similar, yet they are not interchangeable due to their unique settings. The ‘Downton Abbey’ timeline begins in 1912. Both series have a romanticised view of the eras they depict, which is reflected in the dialogues, characterizations, and overall narrative. They are, nonetheless, extremely sincere in their portrayal of the upper elite.