These 15 Historical Fiction Shows Are a Must-Watch for Gilded Age Fans

If you're someone who gets totally absorbed by the glitz and drama of the Gilded Age, then you're in for a treat with these TV shows that whisk you away to times when history was being made in the most unexpected ways; not just lavish dresses and grand estates, but, first and foremost, the kind of intrigue that keeps you hitting "next episode" until the sun comes up.

1. The Great (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

Catherine, a naive young woman, marries Peter III of Russia and swiftly evolves into a cunning player in the palace, plotting to kill her inept and dangerous husband, overthrow his reign, and ascend to power herself, aiming to transform Russia into a progressive nation against all odds and resistance.

2. The Tudors (2007)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%

King Henry VIII navigates his reign over England, marked by political intrigue, marriages, and divorces in his desperate quest for a male heir, leading to the nation's separation from the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England, fundamentally altering the course of British history.

3. Gentleman Jack (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Anne Lister, a landowner in 19th century England, defies the social norms of her time by seeking a wife and taking over the management of her ancestral home, Shibden Hall, while documenting her life and loves in a coded diary, offering an intimate glimpse into the life of a woman ahead of her time.

4. All Creatures Great and Small (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 99%

James Herriot, a young veterinarian, embarks on his career in the 1930s in the Yorkshire Dales, treating animals across rural England, where he encounters the beauty and hardship of country life, forming deep bonds with the people and animals he meets.

5. Dickinson (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Emily Dickinson, an aspiring writer in the 19th century, struggles against the constraints of society, gender expectations, and her own family to pursue her passion for poetry, engaging in a tumultuous journey towards artistic fulfillment and personal liberation.

6. Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

Miriam "Midge" Maisel, a 1950s housewife, embarks on a journey to become a stand-up comedian after her husband's infidelity, navigating the challenges of the male-dominated industry, balancing her family life, and finding her voice on the stage in New York City.

7. Last Kingdom (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Uhtred of Bebbanburg, born a Saxon but raised by Vikings, finds himself torn between two worlds as he seeks to reclaim his ancestral birthright, becoming a key figure in the birth of England through his alliances, battles, and strategies against the backdrop of the Viking invasions.

8. The Bastard Executioner (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%

Wilkin Brattle, a 14th-century warrior knight under King Edward I, becomes a journeyman executioner under a pseudonym, navigating the political and social turmoil of the time while seeking justice and revenge against those who wronged him and his family.

9. Jonathon Strange & Mr. Norrell (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

In 19th century England, two men—Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell—emerge with magical abilities, using their talents to aid the British in the Napoleonic Wars, their rivalry and collaboration uncovering dark forces and ancient mysteries within the realm of English magic.

10. Deadwood (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

In the late 1800s, the residents of Deadwood, South Dakota – a town of lawlessness and opportunity – navigate life and conflict in a community on the cusp of civilization, where fortunes are made and lives are lost on the American frontier.

11. Rome (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

This series vividly depicts ancient Rome through the eyes of two soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, as their lives intersect with key historical events, such as Julius Caesar's rise and fall, the transition from Republic to Empire, and the ensuing power struggles within the Senate and among Rome's elite.

12. The Knick (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Set in early 20th century New York, the series centers around Dr. John Thackery and the staff at the Knickerbocker Hospital as they push the boundaries of medicine, ethics, and racial boundaries amidst the high mortality rates and the rudimentary state of medical practice.

13. The Man in the High Castle (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%

This alternate history series explores a world where the Axis powers won World War II, depicting life in the 1960s United States, which has been divided into the Greater Nazi Reich and the Japanese Pacific States, as characters discover a mysterious film that could unlock the path to freedom.

14. Vikings (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

Ragnar Lothbrok, a legendary Norse hero, rises to become a fearsome warrior and king, leading daring raids into England with his fellow warriors while dealing with the internal strife, betrayal, and ambitions within his family and kingdom.

15. Belgravia (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%

In the 19th century, the Trenchard family, newly ascendant members of London's high society, navigates secrets and scandals after their involvement in the events of the Battle of Waterloo leads to an encounter with the aristocratic Brockenhursts, revealing long-buried truths that challenge the social order and their own place within it.