Hidden Gems: 20 Period Pieces on Netflix to Watch in February 2024

Hidden among the streaming giant's offerings are lesser-known gems, from steamy dramas that give Bridgerton a run for its money to sober, thought-provoking series that delve deep into the past.

These 20 picks aren't your typical mainstream fare; they're like rare books found in a forgotten corner of a library, each telling a story rich with historical detail and emotional depth.

1. Lady Chatterley's Lover, 2022

In this adaptation of the classic novel, a young, married aristocrat engages in a torrid affair with her estate's gamekeeper, challenging the restrictive norms of early 20th-century British society and sparking a deep exploration of passion, class, and the human desire for emotional and physical fulfillment.

2. The Beguiled, 2017

Set in a Southern girls' boarding school during the Civil War, the arrival of a wounded Union soldier disrupts the residents' sheltered life, leading to escalating sexual tensions, power plays, and dangerous rivalries as the women grapple with forbidden desires and the intrusion of the outside world.

3. Persuasion (2022)

A modern retelling of Jane Austen's classic, the story follows Anne Elliot, who, still haunted by her decision to break off a youthful engagement, is forced to confront her past choices and enduring love for Captain Frederick Wentworth when their paths cross again, set against the backdrop of contemporary societal pressures and personal regrets.

4. Filip, 2022

"Filip," set in 1943, follows a young Polish Jew who escapes the Warsaw Ghetto massacre and, disguised as a French Gentile, works as a waiter in Frankfurt am Main, indulging in a life of luxury. Despite the war's devastating impact on his life and the lives of those close to him, Filip's world, intricately built on his disguise and newfound lifestyle, eventually begins to crumble.

5. Cable Girls (2017)

In the heart of 1920s Madrid, four women employed as switchboard operators at the National Telephone Company navigate the challenges of working in a modernizing world, forging deep bonds of friendship, love, and solidarity against a backdrop of social upheaval, gender politics, and personal liberation.

6. Anne with an E (2017)

An imaginative and resilient orphan, Anne Shirley, transforms the lives of Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert and the residents of Avonlea with her unique perspective, unbridled spirit, and poignant journey of self-discovery, love, and belonging in this heartwarming and visually rich adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery's beloved novel.

7. Under the Queen's Umbrella (2022)

Yet another popular K-Drama set in the Joseon era. This series focuses on the struggles and political machinations within the royal court, centered around a strong-willed queen who battles against traditional constraints and political adversaries to ensure her sons' success.

8. Octoberfest: Beer & Blood (2020)

A rich family's ambition to build the biggest tent at Oktoberfest in early 20th-century Munich leads to intense rivalries, power struggles, and a treacherous love affair, painting a portrait of ambition, betrayal, and the dark underbelly of a celebrated cultural phenomenon.

9. Marco Polo (2014)

The series chronicles the adventures of the famous explorer Marco Polo in the court of Kublai Khan; it's a great, however underrated, attempt at blending historical drama with martial arts, political intrigue, and a clash of cultures, following Marco Polo's adventures in the dangerous world of 13th-century Mongol Empire.

10. Medici The Magnificent (2018)

The second season of a lesser-known yet secretly brilliant historical drama; set in the heart of Renaissance Florence, new episodes depict the rise and fall of the Medici family, focusing on the charismatic and politically astute Lorenzo de' Medici, whose passion for art and relentless pursuit of power lead to conflict, conspiracy, and a legacy that shaped the Western world.

11. The Cook of Castamar (2021)

In 18th-century Madrid, a talented cook with agoraphobia finds her life intertwined with a widowed duke, leading to a forbidden romance that defies social norms and unravels secrets, set against a backdrop of culinary artistry and aristocratic intrigue.

12. Bolivar (2019)

This series provides a dramatized depiction of the life of Simón Bolívar, the Venezuelan military and political leader; it's an attempt to tell the whole story from "A" to "Z" – it chronicles his transformation from a young idealist into a revolutionary hero who played a key role in the liberation of several South American countries from Spanish rule.

13. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023)

Historical saga set in medieval England; following the demise of King Edward, Uhtred from the stronghold of Bebbanburg embarks on an epic journey alongside his loyal companions through the country torn asunder. Their quest is nothing short of a valiant endeavor to finally forge a united England.

14. Versailles (2015)

One of the most scandalous, steamiest shows on in list, "Versailles," set against the opulent backdrop of 17th-century France, explores the reign of Louis XIV and his ambitions to build the grand palace of Versailles. Like in any self-respecting period drama, there's court intrigue, political maneuvers, and intimate betrayals that defined his rule.

15. Word of Honor (2021)

In ancient China, the fates of a disillusioned leader of a secret martial arts clan and a carefree wanderer become entwined as they embark on a journey to uncover a conspiracy, navigating a world of loyalty, honor, and hidden identities.

16. The Queen and the Conqueror (2020)

This historical drama reimagines the story of Catalina, an indigenous woman who played a crucial role in the conquest of Colombia by the Spaniards, exploring her complex relationship with conqueror Pedro de Heredia and her struggle between love and betrayal.

17. Cathedral of the Sea (2006)

Set in 14th-century Barcelona, this drama follows the life of a serf's son who rises to wealth and status, building the Santa María del Mar cathedral as a beacon of hope for the oppressed, while navigating love, rivalry, and the turbulent social and political landscape of medieval Spain.

18. Harriet (2019)

The biographical film tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes, leading daring missions to free slaves through the Underground Railroad in the face of growing pre-Civil War adversity.

19. My Country: The New Age (2019)

Set during the tumultuous transition from the Goryeo to the Joseon dynasty in Korean history, two friends who become enemies due to the twist of fate and political machinations battle for their beliefs and the love of a woman, set against the backdrop of emerging new ideals.

20. Heirs to the Land (2022)

In 14th-century Barcelona, the sequel to "Cathedral of the Sea" follows a young man who, after being abandoned at birth, rises through the city's guilds to seek social justice and retribution, confronting corruption, power struggles, and his own lineage in a society marked by deep class divides.