Everyone loves the quirky and funny T.V. series New Girl or the dark drama Scandal, but most people find historical fiction boring. They think of it as a niche market – something only certain people like. Most of these series are about bad-ass queens whose lives get screwed up by men, which is honestly the most #relatable. Here are five historical fiction T.V. series that I think will give everyone a taste of what historical bad-asses really have to offer.
1. Reign (Netflix)
Reign is a highly fictionalized account of the life of Mary Queen of Scots when she lived in France and through her marriage to the Dauphin of France. There are glints of historical accuracy, but most of the show is artistic liberty. Trust me, you need to see the leading men in this show – you’ll find yourself head over heels for the king’s bastard son, Bash. The first three seasons are on Netflix; the release date for Season four is not yet confirmed. With the arc the first three seasons followed, loosely based on the actual events in Mary’s life, this season could very well be the final season, as her life eventually ends with being beheaded by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. The costumes are by far my favorite part about this show, but the PG-13 sex scenes and the lovable mishmash of accents are in a tie for second.
2. The Tudors (Netflix)
Continuing in the same vein of Scottish and English history, this show focuses on the life and exploits of King Henry VIII of England. He is known throughout history as a golden prince turned bloodthirsty king, all the while womanizing his way through the court. The role of King Henry is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who you might recognize from his role in Bend It Like Beckham. Spoiler alert: This show contains a shitload of sex scenes, like it’s literally half sex scenes (but if you’re in it for that I’m not judging). The costuming for this show is extremely elaborate, just as Henry VIII’s real court was. There are four seasons, spanning all of Henry’s reign – including all six of his ill-fated marriages. This was a breakout role for Natalie Dormer, who continues to amaze in Game of Thrones.
3. The White Queen (Netflix DVD or Starz Online)
You may recognize the plot of The White Queen from Game of Thrones if you’re not a history buff. In reality, GOT was based upon the War of the Roses, where the House of York unseats the House of Lancaster from the throne. This series focuses on the marriage of King Edward VI and commoner Elizabeth Woodville. My one critique of this series is they tried to shove three books worth of material into 10 hours of T.V. For someone who loves history, this was a little rushed, but for the average viewer it shouldn’t be a problem. This show is actually fairly historically accurate, by far beating either Reign or The Tudors.
4. Games of Thrones (HBO Go)
Ah, finally. Games of Thrones is by far the most publicized fantasy show on T.V. It’s technically not historical fiction, but it is based on actual historical events. Sorry not sorry, I love GOT. Everyone in the cast is phenomenally attractive and the scenery is breathtaking. The acting is why I keep coming back to watch – everything is so raw and real (especially Cersei, y’all know what scene I’m talking about…). The premise of the series is that there are seven houses vying for the Iron Throne and control of Westeros: House Stark, House Tully, House Lannister, House Tyrell, House Greyjoy, House Arryn, House Baratheon, and House Martell. Additionally, the only person with an actual claim to the throne is the Targaryen bloodline. There is everything you could ever want in a T.V. show – drama, love, war, and of course, a few decapitations.
5. When Calls the Heart ( Seasons one and two on Netflix)
If you missed Lori Loughlin from her role as Aunt Becky on Full House, you’ll be glad to see her reprise a motherly role in a Canadian coal-mining town. The storyline is fluffy and filled with innocent flirtation, as well as witty banter between the two leads – Elizabeth Thatcher and Jack Thornton. The series, which was just renewed for a fourth season set to debut in 2017, is a welcome break from the drama-laden wars and affairs of typical historical fiction. The town of Coal Valley is a reminder of the resilience of the human soul – this show is a fountain of hope, bubbling up and overflowing. The stories of each person are heartwarming, and make the characters more relatable to the viewers. I’ll watch this when I’ve had a bad day – it’s a great T.V. show to curl up with if you don’t want anything too emotionally heavy.
There are T.V. genres for everyone, but I think everyone can find at least one show they like in each genre. All of these shows focus on different people in different locations and in different time periods, but they still happen to be some of my favorite shows. Whether you’re looking for something that sticks closer to the historical story or something that takes wildly fantastic artistic liberties, there is a show out there for you.
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