What to Watch After 'The Crown': 10 Period Dramas to Binge with PBS Passport
Royalty: it’s so this year. If you’ve just finished "The Crown" and are looking for more, we’ve got you covered. Try one of these on for size. You can binge them all with PBS Passport.
Downton Abbey
At this point, if you need us to explain what "Downton Abbey" is, well… just click on the show. Downton is leaving Passport at the end of the year, so the time to catch up (or re-watch) the series that rocked the world is now.
Victoria
Of course, the queen sits at the top. Where else would she sit? In the most recent season, Queen Victoria deals with protesters who are demanding crazy things like equal rights. The nerve! Actually, the queen is ahead of her time and is generally opposed to shooting them down in the streets. But will she win the battle with the mansplainers that surround her? If you've never jumped into this drama, we have three seasons of costumes and drama fit for, well... a queen. Two fun facts: 1) Francatelli was a real chef and you can still buy his cookbook! 2) Thanks to the real Queen Victoria, the white wedding dress has been on trend for 180 years and counting. That's power.
Lucy Worsley's Royal Myths and Secrets
"Let them eat cake!" is the most famous line Marie Antoinette ever said... that she never said. Turns out, most of what you know about Elizabeth I, Queen Anne and Marie Antoinette is complete rubbish. Thankfully, Lucy Worsley and her patented "I know I look ridiculous in this costume and I'm absolutely loving it" grin, will take you through the painted halls of history to get to the real story. If a show where the host says things like, "The queen’s best friend forever has just been de-friended" while flamenco dancing and lawn bowling sounds like your cup of tea, well friend, it's time to break out the biscuits.
Watch "Lucy Worsley's Royal Myths and Secrets" now.
Queen Elizabeth's Secret Agents
Royal conspiracies, palace intrigue, assassination attempts, spies, coded messages, government propaganda and execution all mixed with clothes that would make all of your Renaissance Faire nerd friends green with jealousy. Huzzah, I say. Huzzah!
Watch "Queen Elizabeth's Secret Agents now.
Roadkill
First, Hugh Laurie. I can probably end right there, but I'll go on. Things are looking up for Transport Secretary Peter Laurence. He just won a libel case against a newspaper for saying things that were most definitely not-at-all true. The case destroyed one person's reputation. But journalists aren't the types to keep digging into your past after they've been beaten, so that shouldn't be a problem. And the prime minister just offered him a really fancy job title. And that girl in prison who's DEFINITELY not his daughter? Nah, there's no way that will come back to haunt him.
Atlantic Crossing
The first thing you learn in this story is that it is subpar to live in a small country when a world war comes around. The next thing you learn is that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one charming dude... although Eleanor might disagree. This drama recounts the real-life story of Norwegian Crown Princess Martha fleeing with her children to the United States. The president takes a fancy to her. There are some small obstacles in the way — a husband, a wife and a war. You've almost certainly never seen this side of the WWII story.
Watch "Atlantic Crossing" now.
The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family
We all know that this story ends with Anne becoming about a foot shorter. But who knows the beginning? It starts a few generations earlier with a hatter's apprentice who rises to power. Later, an ambitious father, a son-of-a-butcher and "one of the most unpleasant men in the 16th Century" (conveniently all named Thomas) attempt to claw their way to power. Then, there's Anne, who is by no means a meek pawn, despite the best attempts to make her so by the men in her life. Best part: you get to hear directly from the Boleyns themselves — using words written nearly 500 years ago. So cool.
Watch "The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family" now.
Honorable Mentions
Don’t see anything on this list you like? Think we missed something? Tag us on social media @PBS SoCal with the hashtag #DramaConcierge and a few words about what show you recommend, we just might add it to this list.