Top 10 Hottest Period TV Shows to Watch Right Now

If you were a fan of the new versus old money aesthetics that dominated social media for a hot minute, this series is for you. From the creator of “Downton Abbey” comes this riveting piece that you can neither take too seriously nor dismiss easily. As if New York today wasn’t challenging enough to navigate, our protagonist Marian Brook must deal with the ins and outs of New York’s high society in the 1880s. The Russells, who’ve just gone from rags to riches, contest against the famously exclusive old guard, led by blue-blooded queen bee, Lina Astor. What ensues is a sumptuous soap opera with enough entertainment to last you several hours of binge-watching.

The strength of this show lies in our main character, Sisi, who is loosely based on Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Fiercely independent, free-spirited and defiant, Sisi catches the eye of the emperor of Austria, Franz Joseph. However, the world stands between their smoldering romance. Well, that and the raging patriarchy that just can’t handle her chutzpah. Still, as cliché as it sounds, they have love on their side and it triumphs … most times. Don’t expect much historical accuracy, but their intense passion and the otherworldly kisses more than make up for it.

This series transports viewers – and the heroine – to the 18th century. Shortly following the end of the Second World War, Claire Randall, a British nurse, is sent back in time by the mysterious standing stones of Scotland’s Craigh na Dun. There, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of the Jacobite rising and a melodramatic romance with a dashing rebel, Jamie Fraser. In her modern life she’s married, which raises the stakes for her time-traveling romance. More importantly, she knows the future of history all too well. Still, she risks changing it anyway, which creates much of the conflict in the show. With ample seasons to satisfy you, “Outlander” is definitely worth the watch.

Gorgeous balls, blushing brides, and gossipy mamas – this show takes everything we love about period dramas and packages it all together with a pretty little bow. Meanwhile, it does away with much of the ancient problematic bits, instead choosing to be quite modern in its sensibilities. You get passionate love affairs set in Regency era London, rumor mills going into overdrive for some juicy scandals, and characters worth getting attached to. This is the type of story that lets you sit back, relax with a cuppa, and enjoy some good old wish fulfillment as you live vicariously through it.

Based on the life of the Queen of France, Catherine de' Medici, this series earned a hundred percent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes for a reason. Featuring standout performances by a brilliant cast, it chronicles Catherine’s road to the throne, fraught with political intrigue. Her reign isn’t without its fair share of villainy either, although the show does rely heavily on legends rather than facts to build its plot. The Queen’s breed of cunning is deliciously evil and rather punk rock, worthy of her titular nickname. As a bonus, there’s a healthy dose of black comedy too!

If high-brow, ultra-serious historical fiction is not your cup of tea, you need to add this Elle Fanning-fronted piece to your watchlist. It is so out of pocket that Hulu even labeled it as ‘anti-historical.’ Inspired by Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia, the show is a witty revisionist take on her rule. In this version, she’s the epitome of feminism, much to her male subjects’ dismay. The situations that are thus created, offer satirical dark humor rather than slapstick comedy, although the latter isn’t completely absent. Trust us, you’ll be walking away from this show making it your whole personality for at least a week.

The dark underbelly of London in the 1700s is exposed in this tale of love, sex and betrayal. “Harlots” follows courtesans in rival brothels, run by madames Margaret Wells and Lydia Quigley, fighting it out for power in a society violently coming down on them. While the title of the show is self-explanatory, given the subject matter, it is also a reclamation of the term. The women in the narrative have little agency, but you best believe they’re determined to hold on to it. Morals are grey, often leaning to the darker end of the spectrum, but the language is colorful, which makes the viewing experience infinitely more entertaining. “Harlots” undeniably redefined the genre.

If you’ve ever wondered what happened to Jack Dawkins from Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” this is where you’ll find out. Our protagonist is Dawkins himself, better known as the eponymous Artful Dodger, who left his pickpocketing ways behind for a career in medicine in Australia. After serving as a surgeon for the Royal Navy, he has built quite the reputation as a talented doctor. However, his new life is threatened when his past comes knocking at his door. The ensuing capers offer a great mix of humor, intrigue, and adventure. Equipped with an exceedingly charming performance by Thomas Brodie-Sangster and his swoon-worthy chemistry with Maia Mitchell’s enterprising Lady Belle, “The Artful Dodger” simply should not be missed.

If you like your period pieces melded with the fantastical and unusual, we’ve got your back. Enter “My Lady Jane,” a story based on the life of the Nine Days' Queen, Lady Jane Grey. The story starts when she’s about to be married off to one Guildford Dudley against her will. However, this retelling paints her as a feminist, who will not be spoken for. That all sounds fairly ordinary for a period drama, until you find out there are shapeshifters in the mix. Though they’re not accepted in society, this is a version of history where humans turn into animals all the time! Add to that a generous helping of raunchy romance and some good old sardonic comedy and you have “My Lady Jane,” served hot.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

A Dash of the Supernatural Makes This Outlaw Adventure a Unique & Compelling Watch

This Sweeping Generational Epic Will Capture You With Its Strong Performances & Layered Narrative

The Papal Power Plays & Personal Entanglements Will Keep You Hooked

The Messy Love Life of King Henry VIII Takes Center Stage in This British-Canadian Show

Fans of Sapphic Romance Will Find Plenty to Fall for Here

Our title characters are a mother and son duo who join forces to seduce a King. We can’t blame them, though. They have no money or prospects in 17th century England after the death of the family’s patriarch. So Mary pulls a remarriage of convenience and uses her newly acquired funds to ship George off to France. He has to be refined enough to woo King James VI and I, after all. Don’t mistake the show’s levity for a lack of depth. Look beyond the bawdy social climbing and unclutch your pearls because there’s much to appreciate in its queer representation and sly power struggles. Besides, it’s based on real history and stars Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine! Need we say more?

Which of these period TV shows would you want to be transported to? Tell us in the comments!