5 New Period Dramas of 2023 to Watch on Netflix in December

The Bridgerton world takes up a lot of airtime, but there are a ton of period dramas that hit Netflix in 2023 – some of which we bet you've never heard of.

The Law According to Lidia Poët

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Inspired by the true-life story of Italy's first female lawyer, this fast-paced and entertaining period drama follows the story of (you guessed it) Lidia Poët. Barred from practicing law due to her sex, Lidia fights to overturn the decision while helping to crack cases at her brother's legal office.

Fans of this six-episode Italian-language series can rest easy: it's already been renewed for a second season. Critics have almost universally praised its pace, gorgeous costumes, and entertaining mysteries.

Seven Kings Must Die

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%

This historical drama is both a sequel and a conclusion to the series The Last Kingdom. You don't need to have watched the series first, though we highly recommend it – the clash between Saxons, Danes, and Vikings is epic and not to be missed.

King Edward has died and the hero Uhtred of Bebbanburg must ride out to battle, this time with the possibility of a united Britain finally in sight. Critics have praised the intense and incredibly choreographed fight scenes, but some note that the pacing feels a bit rushed for a story where so much is going on.

Creature

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was the clear jumping-off point for this Turkish limited series. Ziya is the son of a physician, born with a voracious thirst for learning. However, when his mother dies of a cholera outbreak he becomes slowly obsessed with learning the secret to immortality. This obsession reaches a boiling point when he meets fellow 'mad scientist' Ihsan, and together they manage to accomplish something new…

If you're familiar with the story beats of Frankenstein there might not be much to surprise you here, but the new setting and language will offer some new angles on an old tale. Critics have praised Creature's eerie atmosphere and restrained pace.

Buya Hamka Vol. 1

Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A

We've had biopics about rock stars and feminist icons, now get ready for this sweeping and beautifully shot epic about Indonesian activist and writer Buya Hamka.

Born in Indonesia while it was still a colony of the Netherlands, Hamka grew up at a time when his country was rocked with turbulence and revolution. He became a controversial figure, known for his fiction, political work, activism, and philosophical writings.

Critics have praised the cinematography and acting, while some feel that the film rushes through significant aspects of the Muslim hero's life – which says something about the sheer amount of content here, given that this film is the first volume of a trilogy.

Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 40%

In the fictional town of Babenhausen, the Prince is sorely in need of a wife – or he will lose the throne. To help him, his mother hires a self-proclaimed expert in love, Cazotte, who will teach the Prince how to woo. In exchange? Cazotte gets to paint a portrait of the woman he desires, an expert fencer and no-nonsense badass named Ehrengard.

Amazingly, the sumptuous costumes and set for the movie were designed by the real-life Danish royal Queen Margrethe II.

Definitely the lightest and fluffiest period piece on this list (and no, that's not a complaint), Ehrengard has received praise for its breezy and fun style. Some critics find its hero too sexist to enjoy, while others appreciated the farcical nature of the story and the fact that Ehrengard manages to turn the tables on her would-be seducer.