If you want to hear some amazing stories the 17 Best Historical Shows on Netflix , go no further than history. Tales of bravery, devastation, conflicts, and love- there is nothing that hasn’t happened before. While several figures have been so remarkable that the entire world knows their names, there are many more unsung heroes who are lost in the pages, eclipsed by the accomplishments of others. Then there’s the instance of the people and things we’ve heard about but don’t know much about. This is where TV shows come into play.
Whether the story is being told for the umpteenth time or you are meeting a new character for the first time, these shows entertain and inform you at the same time. Netflix has an excellent selection of period shows. Here’s a roundup of some of the best historical shows available on Netflix right now.
17 Best Historical Shows on Netflix
17. Marco Polo (2014- 2016)
Marco Polo is the explorer you may have read about in your history books in school. He is one of the most well-known explorers and is well-known for his descriptions, particularly of Asian countries. This program follows Polo, a young man, on his voyage across Asia to the court of Kublai Khan. The series vividly depicts his stay in the Chinese court and the influence of the culture on him, which was further represented in his written works.
16. Reign (2013-2017)
When it comes to her portrayal in films and television shows, Mary, Queen of Scots has been a highly intriguing character. She had been involved in court politics and the power struggle that revolved around the crown since she was a child. Saoirse Ronan most recently portrayed her in last year’s ‘Mary, Queen of Scots.’ The film concentrated on the most critical period of her life, her rivalry with Queen Elizabeth I, played masterfully by Margot Robbie. However, this was only a small part of her biography, and prior to her battle with the Queen of England, she had already learned a lot from her brief reign as Queen of France. If you’re interested in her entire narrative, ‘Reign’ is the show to watch.
15. Barbarians (2020)
‘Barbarians’ is a German historical war drama television series starring Laurence Rupp, Jeanne Goursaud, and David Schütter. The programme, created by Andreas Heckmann, Arne Nolting, and Jan Martin Scharf, focuses on the events that occurred after the two-decade-long Roman occupation of Magna Germania. While the indigenous have been subjugated for a long time by excessive taxes and other dictatorial choices, they are unable to band together and confront the foreign forces due to infighting. When Arminius, an eque in the Roman Imperial army, witnesses the mistreatment of the Germanic tribes, he does not turn a blind eye and succeeds in uniting the people to rise above petty politics and bring their rulers down.
14. Jaguar (2021)
‘Jaguar,’ a Spanish drama streaming television series created by Ramón Campos and Gema R. Neira, stars Blanca Suárez, Iván Marcos, Francesc Garrido, and Adrián Lastra. It tells the narrative of Isabel Garrido, a Spanish survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp who joins a group of Nazi hunters to find her oppressors in Francoist Spain. Isabel worked as a youngster for Otto Bachmann, a Nazi officer who brutally murdered her father. So, she had grown up with her worst adversaries, and when she decides to track them down, the heroine proves to be a valuable asset to her team.
13. Alias Grace (2017)
‘Alias Grace,’ based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name, is a television drama miniseries starring Sarah Gadon, Edward Holcroft, and Rebecca Liddiard. The plot centres around a poor Irish immigrant named Grace Marks, a domestic helper who works in Upper Canada until she is accused of murdering her employer. She and James McDermott are eventually convicted of the crime. While Grace is sentenced to life in jail, James is executed by hanging. The protagonist becomes the most notorious woman in Canada as a result of the contentious lawsuit, and ‘Alias Grace’ tells her fascinating narrative.
12. The English Game (2020)
‘The English Game,’ a television miniseries created by Julian Fellowes, Tony Charles, and Oliver Cotton, is a historical sports drama. The film, starring Edward Holcroft and Kevin Guthrie, is set in 1970s Britain, when football was only a sport for the privileged until two guys vowed to change that. Despite hailing from opposite ends of a class gap, a working-class superstar and his upper-class counterpart face personal and professional challenges in their quest to improve the game. While their goal appears to be extremely lofty, the deuteragonist ends up exceeding their own expectations when they successfully change their country in the process.
11. Merlin (2008-2012)
The legend of King Arthur has inspired many popular, as well as some quite poor, stories. Other figures in this narrative include the Knights of the Round Table and Merlin, the King’s faithful advisor who assisted him in regaining his rightful position. ‘Merlin’ offers a fresh take on the storey, with new twists and turns. Its protagonist, as you might expect, is Merlin, a teenage warlock who arrives in Camelot to serve as the royal physician’s ward. However, the present king, Uther, had long since expelled the magicians from his land. Merlin strikes up a friendship with the prince, Arthur, and the two embark on a trip that will become legendary.
10. Troy Fall of a City (2018)
‘Troy: Fall of a City,’ a historical drama miniseries conceived and co-written by David Farr, is partially inspired by Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem ‘Iliad.’ The film stars Louis Hunter and Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Paris, a son of Troy who falls in love with Menelaus’ wife while on a journey to Sparta. When the couple eventually elopes, they not only endanger their own lives, but they also lay the stage for a more than decade-long struggle that ends up claiming the lives of countless otherwise innocent men who may not have had to go to war at all.
9. Medici: Masters of Florence (2016- present)
In the 15th century, Florence was dominated by the Medici family, whose power was expanding. The House of Medici was one of Florence’s most powerful dynasties, and the Bank of Medici was one of Europe’s wealthiest banks. The Medici initially disguised themselves as Florentine citizens, despite the fact that they effectively ruled the city. They genuinely began their rise to monarchy during the reign of Cosimo the Elder, played by Richard Madden. If you’re a ‘Game of Thrones’ fan who is still reeling from the horror of Ned Stark’s beheading and the Red Wedding, this show may bring some solace!
8. Versailles (2015-2018)
‘Versailles,’ set in the second part of the sixteenth century, is set at King Louis XIV’s court. France had recently survived the Fronde, a series of civil conflicts, and the country was still grappling with the fallout. The nobility had began to publicly express their dissatisfaction with the crown, making the King feel threatened. In order to regain control of the court and its nobles, King Louis decides to relocate the court from Paris to Versailles. This displacement places the nobility and the monarchy in a new context where everyone vies for power.
7. Norsemen (2016- present)
The Vikings have been portrayed as one of history’s most ferocious tribes. Their portrayal in different television shows and movies has shown them to be the type of individuals you don’t want as adversaries. Their legends and stories have inspired several works, and they are frequently cited in historical dramas. While all of these advancements have made them an interesting topic, they have also rendered their personas one-dimensional. ‘Norsemen’ takes the risk of altering the circumstance. It is a comedy-drama about the day-to-day lives of a group of Vikings in Norheim, and their amusing attempts to deal with problems ranging from a commonplace activity in their lives to war with other tribes.
6. Cathedral of the Sea (2018)
This storey is set in Barcelona in the 14th century and is based on Ildefonso Falcones’ novel of the same name. It tells the storey of Arnau Estanyol, a young kid taken to Barcelona by his adoptive father. The city is in the midst of one of its most prosperous periods. The cathedral of Santa Maria del Mar is being built, and with it comes the wave of the Inquisition. Arnau becomes a stoneworker and contributes to the Cathedral’s construction. As time passes, he learns his way around the city’s power and politics, and he rises through the ranks. However, his closeness to power brings him closer to the perils that come with it.
5. Knightfall (2017 – 2019)
‘Knightfall,’ a historical fiction drama television show developed by Richard Rayner and Dan Handfield, stars brilliant actors such as Tom Cullen, Jim Carter, Pádraic Delaney, and Simon Merrells. The plot follows the Knights Templar as they reassemble after the destruction of their last stronghold and prepare to fight again, a struggle that eventually leads to the Crusades. Unfortunately, they lose many supporters and irritate elites, some of whom become their biggest foes as a result.
4. The Last Kingdom (2015- present)
This series, based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories, is set in the 9th century, during the conflict between the Anglo-Saxons and the Viking Danes. Uhtred, the story’s protagonist, was only a young boy when the Vikings attacked, killed his father, and kidnapped him. Earl Ragnar raised him among the Vikings. When he grows up, another tribe attacks Ragnar’s daughter’s wedding and kills him. Uhtred, now an adult, resolves to take up weapons against these enemies in order to revenge Ragnar’s death, while also considering reclaiming the realm from which he had been exiled for so long.
3. Outlander (2014- present)
This drama is based on Diana Gabaldon’s series of the same name, and it tells the narrative of a lady who is transported back in time. Claire Randall, a World War II medic, is on her second honeymoon with her husband Frank in Inverness, Scotland, in 1946. At Craigh na Dun one night, they encounter a group of ladies dancing around in what appears to be a ceremony. Claire returns the next day, and when she touches the stone, she is taken back to the 18th century, to the time of the Scottish revolt.
2. Bridgerton (2020 -)
‘Bridgerton,’ a streaming television period drama series created by Chris Van Dusen, is based on Julia Quinn’s novels. The drama follows Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter of the titular politically connected and powerful family, as she navigates Regency-era England’s competitive marriage market. Her parents inspire her to discover true love, and her kind-hearted attitude, combined with her incomparable beauty, make her a sought-after future wife for a plethora of men. Unfortunately, things quickly take an unexpected turn, putting her dreams of finding the perfect husband in peril.
1. The Crown (2016- present)
‘The Crown,’ one of the must-see modern shows, centres on the reign of the current Queen of England. The Royal family has long been the focus of the media and paparazzi, with people as interested in their personal lives as they are in the lives of their favourite celebrities. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest reigning British monarch, having ascended the throne after her father, King George VI, died in 1952. She has been on the throne for roughly 67 years, and a lot has happened to her family and the world in that time. The show’s two seasons have been overwhelmingly well received by critics and audiences alike. And with names like Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter attached to it, the show’s upcoming season is one of the most anticipated of the year.