Death by Lightning - Shea Whigham cheering during an otherwise seated meeting.Image via Netflix
By
Kareem Gantt
Published 49 minutes ago
Kareem is a veteran editor and writer with over 15 years of experience covering all forms of entertainment, from music to movies. He serves as a High Trending List Writer for Collider, covering all things TV. His work has been seen in numerous online publications such as FanSided, AXS, Examiner, Narcity, HuffPost, and ScreenRant.
He first began his professional writing career in 2011 writing political columns for HubPages, gradualaly building his portfolio until he was rewarded with his first paid writing position with News Headquarters in 2013. Since then, Kareem has covered everything imaginable, from writing political news columns for Examiner, reviewing the latest albums for AXS.com, and giving a unique take on sports, food, and the entertainment industry for Fansided.com. He had another online stop at Narcity, covering travel and things to do in his native Florida, before finally bringing his uniquely immense writing talent and voice to Valnet in 2020, first as a List Writer for ScreenRant before taking his talents to Collider in 2021.
During his time at Collider, Kareem has showcased his talented writing style on a number of beats, trailer previews (DOTA: Dragon's Blood) to season premiers (Abbott Elementary), to Lists ranking everything from 80s Sitcoms (which holds a special place in his heart), to classic Disney Channel shows.
When he's not working, you can catch him bing-watching classic horror movies (he's a huge fan of Friday the 13th), hitting bike trails, and playing UNO (and losing) during game nights with friends.
He calls Orlando, FL home.
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If you were to ask anyone who the 20th President of the United States was, more often than not, you would get an answer of "I don't know." That answer is understandable, as James Garfield is not a well-known president. Garfield was elected in March 1881, but his presidency was caught drastically short when he died in September of that year. So, it was kind of a bold move for Netflix to greenlight Death by Lightning, a historical drama based on Garfield. But, they took the risk, and it's paying off tremendously.
Created by Mike Makowsky and adapted from Candice Millard's 2011 novel Destiny of the Republic, Death By Lightning follows Garfield's (Michael Shannon) presidency, from his pro-civil rights stance, to his encounter with Charles J. Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), who shot Garfield to death on that fateful September day in 1881. Death by Lightning has received tremendous praise from critics, thanks to the fantastic performances of Shannon and Macfadyen. So, this had us wondering, what are the other great historical dramas viewers need to check out after watching this stellar miniseries? That's what we're going to answer with this list, as the following shows should be on your watchlist after Death by Lightning rolls its ending credits.
1 'Call the Midwife' (2012–)
Judy Parfitt in 'Call the Midwife' Season 14.Image via BBC
One would think that a show about midwives wouldn't make for an interesting series, but once you cut on Call The Midwife, the BBC drama that aired on PBS in the United States, you will re-think your original stance on midwives not being interesting to watch on television. Created by Heidi Thomas and starring Jessica Raine, Call the Midwife details the lives of midwives working in the East End of London between the 1950s and the 1970s.
Running for 14 seasons, Call the Midwife is a regular staple on the historical drama circuit, and rightfully so. The series has garnered tremendous praise for how it handles serious social topics, from healthcare to teen pregnancy, and that only scratches the surface of the serious topics Call the Midwife tackles. It’s definitely one of the best historical dramas on television.
2 'The Empress' (2022–)
Devrim Lingnau wearing a yellow period dress and standing in the middle of a garden in 'The Empress'Image via Netflix
Heading into the fall of 2022, there were few bigger shows on streaming than The Empress. Created by Katharina Eyssen, the series was the second-most watched series in the world for two weeks after its premiere, and became one of the top 10 most-watched non-English series of the year. Once you cut on The Empress, you'll quickly see why it was one of the biggest shows of 2022.
The series tells the story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Devrim Lingnau), who, married to Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria (Phillip Froissant), has to navigate the complex world of politics and her husband's antagonistic family at a young age. While The Empress took some creative liberties, the show, as a whole, is a fantastically written series with great performances, especially from Lingnau. The Empress is the perfect series to watch after you're done with Death by Lightning.
3 'Chernobyl' (2019)
In April 1986, the No. 4 reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine exploded and caused the most devastating nuclear disaster in human history. 33 years later, Craig Mazin wrote and created Chernobyl, which aimed to tell the story of what happened on that fateful day, and the massive, dangerous cleanup afterward.
Starring Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgård, Chernobyl was widely praised for its historical accuracy, treating the material with the seriousness that it commanded, and its dreadful atmosphere. Today, Chernobyl is recognized as one of the best miniseries of all-time, and a solid choice if you're looking for another historical drama to sink your teeth into.
4 'Band of Brothers' (2001)
Dexter Fletcher wearing a soldier helmet in 'Band of Brothers'.Image via HBO
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are mostly known for their storied movies, but in 2001, the two paired up to create one of the best historical miniseries of all-time, Band of Brothers. Based on Stephen E. Ambrose's 1992 novel, Band of Brothers tells the dramatized story of "Easy" Company during the Western Front of World War II. The events that were depicted in Band of Brothers were all based on the research Ambrose did for his novel, which roots the series in deep historical context, despite some creative changes made for dramatic effect.
What can honestly be said about Band of Brothers that hasn't already been said? It is, without a doubt, one of the best miniseries of all-time, with great acting, a very compelling storyline, and fantastic cinematography that brings the story to life. Band of Brothers would go on to be the first of a three-part miniseries that, as a collective, looked at the broad-scale of World War II; but one can't forget that, it was here in 2001, where it all began.
5 'Mad Men' (2007–2015)
Jon Hamm as Don Draper in the series finale of Mad Men.Image via AMC
Yes, AMC's Mad Men is not a textbook historical drama. So, the next question you're probably asking yourself right now is, why are we including it here? Because it's a period drama that was simply one of the best shows on TV during its seven-year run. Created by Matthew Weiner, the drama takes an interesting look at a Madison Avenue advertising agency during the '60s, which certainly makes it a candidate for it to be a historical drama, even though it's based on a fictional advertising company.
While the company it portrays is fictional, the world in which Mad Men operates is certainly not. While looking at the day-to-day life of Sterling Cooper advertising agency, we see how the world, in particular American society, changed during the 1960s, and this ties directly to Sterling Cooper's fortunes. Mad Men tackled a lot of serious issues, from gender and sexuality in the workplace to racism, and it did all of it with class and respect. Mad Men is often ranked as one of the best series ever, and we couldn't agree more.
6 'The Gilded Age' (2022–)
Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Mr. Raikes (Thomas Cocquerel) in The Gilded Age Season 1.Image via HBO
The 1880s was certainly a time to be alive, especially in New York City, and if you were flushed with cash. But, as the old saying goes, "more money, more problems," and you can certainly say this with regard to HBO's historical drama The Gilded Age. Created and written by Julian Fellowes, The Gilded Age follows two families who come from opposite sides of the wealth spectrum as they navigate the boom years of 1880s New York City.
The premise was certainly interesting, but it was the performances that put The Gilded Age over the top. The performances of Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector were simply in a class of its own, bringing the story to life, and the drama has constantly received praise and admiration from both critics and audiences. We simply can't wait for Season 4 to arrive.
7 'Peaky Blinders' (2013–2022)
Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders.Image via BBC
Before CIllian Murphy portrayed one of the most polarizing historical figures in modern history, he was Thomas Shelby, a cunning crime boss in the famed BBC historical crime drama Peaky Blinders. Created by Steven Knight, Peaker Blinders would go on to captivate audiences, with its fantastic story, and equally fantastic acting, especially from Murphy.
Peaky Blinders is loosely based on an actual gang that was feared in London during the early part of the 20th century, and that, plus the acting, made the series more than just a great TV show, but it was also a cultural phenomenon, especially in Britain. So, if you're in the market for a great historical crime drama, with acting and tense moments throughout, you won't go wrong with Peaky Blinders, ever.
8 'The Crown' (2016–2023)
Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) looking pensive in The Crown.Image via Netflix
The history and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II is fascinating, and for a long time, we were waiting for a TV show that would tell her story with conviction and justice. In 2016, we finally got that show in The Crown, which aimed to tell the entire story of the most storied queen in human history. Created by Peter Morgan, the series is broken up into different periods of Queen Elizabeth's life, who was portrayed by Claire Foy (Seasons 1 and 2), Olivia Colman (Seasons 3 and 4), and Imelda Staunton (Seasons 5 and 6).
As soon as the show premiered on Netflix in 2016, The Crown was an instant hit with both critics and viewers, with most praising the show for the fantastic acting, directing, and the writing. Not only that, but the cinematography was truly magnificent, bringing to vibrant life each period of the queen's life. It's hard not to love The Crown, one of the best historical dramas of all-time.
9 'The King's Affection' (2021)
A still from the Netflix K-Drama The King's Affection of a person on horseback with a bow and arrows.Image via KBS2
The Great Joseon period lasted for over 500 years in Korea, and it greatly encouraged Confucian ideals within Korean society. This interesting time period is the setting for The King's Affection, a historical K-drama that was widely praised both in South Korea and abroad, especially in the U.S. Created by Ki Min-soo and Hong Seok-gu, The King’' Affection is based on Lee So-young's manhwa, Yeonmo, and tells the story of twins who switch places with each other, but the male twin, Crown Prince Lee Hwi (Park Eun-bin) dies unexpectedly due to mistaken identity.
So, to keep up with appearances, Lee Hwi's sister, Dam-yi (Eun-bin) takes the title of her twin brother, bearing the responsibility of being the Crown Prince. The King's Affection is a powerful drama filled with great acting, and a story that will have you hooked. One of the truly great historical miniseries of our time, The King's Affection is a show that you should not skip out on.
10 'Downton Abbey' (2010–2015)
Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley sits and looks to the side, holding something in her hand in Downton Abbey.Image via ITV
We've written about a lot of great historical dramas you should check out after watching Death by Lightning, but if you only have time for one, Downton Abbey should be the show to watch. The series is simply a classic, created by Julian Fellowes and portraying how the aristocrats lived during the 1910s and 1920s. FIrst premiering on ITV in Great Britain in 2010, and later imported to the U.S. through PBS as part of its Masterpiece Classic anthology, Downton Abbey follows the Crawley family, and the domestic servants that serve the family who lives in the fictional Downton Abbey estate.
While the home may be fiction, the show does a tremendous job of portraying how the events of the era had a huge impact on the Crawley family, from the Irish War of Independence to the Spanish influenza pandemic. The writing and acting of Downton Abbey is truly fantastic, and it even set a Guinness World Record as the most critically acclaimed English language series of 2011. A show doesn’t get this much praise if it's not good, and Downton Abbey is more than good, it's great.
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