15 TV Shows History Buffs Will Love

Shōgun (2024-present)

Based on James Clavell’s 1975 bestselling novel, Shōgun immerses viewers in feudal Japan, following the journey of an English sailor who becomes involved in the court of a powerful daimyo (feudal lord). Starring Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga and Cosmo Jarvis as the stranded Englishman, John Blackthorne, this fresh adaptation revisits the classic story that first inspired the 1980 miniseries of the same name. 

Originally intended as a single-season limited series, Shōgun became a runaway success, setting a record as the most-awarded single season in Emmy history with 18 wins. It also made history as the first Japanese-language series to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. Thanks to its overwhelming popularity, the series has been renewed for two additional seasons, expanding its epic tale beyond its initial scope.

Watch on Hulu

John Adams (2008)

Starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney and based on David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, this HBO miniseries provides an insightful look at the founding of the United States through the political career and personal life of John Adams. Filmed in colonial-era locations including Williamsburg, Virginia, John Adams explores the founding father’s role in drafting the Declaration of Independence, his presidency, and his complex alliance with Thomas Jefferson. The series won 13 Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding Miniseries, and earned critical acclaim for its performances, particularly Giamatti’s portrayal of Adams.

Watch on Max

Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

Set in post-World War I Birmingham, England, Peaky Blinders is a stylish and gritty crime drama that follows the rise of the Shelby crime family. Led by the cunning and ambitious Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the gang expands its influence while navigating political intrigue, rival gangs, and personal betrayals. The series blends fiction with history, incorporating real-life figures including Winston Churchill and Oswald Mosley.

With an atmospheric soundtrack featuring modern artists such as Nick Cave and Queens of the Stone Age, Peaky Blinders became a cultural phenomenon. The show earned multiple BAFTAs, including Best Drama Series, and Murphy received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Tommy. With appearances by Tom Hardy and Anya Taylor-Joy, the series cemented itself as one of the most compelling crime dramas of the decade.

Watch on Netflix

Downton Abbey (2010-2015)

Downton Abbey is a British period drama that chronicles the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in early-20th-century England. Created by Julian Fellowes, the series blends historical events with personal drama, capturing societal shifts with elegance and emotional depth. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, and Maggie Smith, it received widespread acclaim, winning multiple awards including a Golden Globe for Best Miniseries and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries. The show’s success led to two film sequels: Downton Abbey (2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022), with a third film forthcoming.

Watch on Netflix

The Gilded Age (2022-present)

With a third season currently in production, The Gilded Age is another period series created by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame. Set in 1880s New York City, the series depicts the era’s societal clash between established aristocracy and emerging industrial wealth. Christine Baranski portrays widow Agnes Van Rhijn, a staunch defender of “old money” traditions; Cynthia Nixon plays Agnes’ unmarried sister, Ada Brooke, who is reliant on her sister’s charity; and Carrie Coon plays Bertha Russell, a determined socialite from a "new money" family striving to break into elite society. 

While the series centers on the lives of fictional characters, real historical figures such as Caroline Astor, Clara Barton, and T. Thomas Fortune also make appearances in the script, adding depth to the portrayal of the social and political dynamics of Gilded Age America.

Watch on Max

Band of Brothers (2001), The Pacific (2010), and Masters of the Air (2024)

Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, these companion World War II miniseries follow soldiers from different fronts of the war. The trilogy began with Band of Brothers, based on Stephen E. Ambrose’s book of the same name; it follows Easy Company, a unit of the 101st Airborne Division, from their training up through D-Day and the war’s end. 

The Pacific, inspired by memoirs such as Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie and With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge, shifts the focus to the brutal island-hopping battles of the Pacific Theater and centers on three Marines. The latest installment, Masters of the Air, adapts Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, exploring the experiences of the 100th Bomb Group, known as the "Bloody Hundredth," as they endure high-risk aerial missions over Nazi-occupied Europe.

Watch on Netflix and Apple TV+

Rome (2005-2007)

Rome is a gripping historical drama that chronicles the turbulent fall of the Roman Republic. The story is seen through the eyes of two soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, portrayed by Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson, respectively, whose lives become entangled with key historical figures such as Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra. Praised for its historical authenticity and rich storytelling, the series is also known for its lavish production, intricate political intrigue, and visceral battle sequences. Despite garnering critical acclaim, Rome lasted only two seasons due to its high production costs — the 10 episodes of the first season cost $100 million.

Watch on Max

Mad Men (2007-2015)

Mad Men isn’t a traditional historical drama, since its focus is on character-driven storytelling rather than major historical events, but its detailed re-creation of 1960s America captures the advertising world’s glamour and the decade’s shifting social norms. Created by Matthew Weiner, the series follows the enigmatic Don Draper, played by Jon Hamm, and rising copywriter Peggy Olson, played by Elisabeth Moss. The show won 16 Emmys, including four consecutive wins for Outstanding Drama Series, and earned widespread praise for its nuanced portrayal of gender, race, and class in a rapidly evolving society.

Watch on AMC+

Derry Girls (2018-2022)

Created by Lisa McGee, Derry Girls is an Irish coming-of-age comedy that blends sharp humor with the historical backdrop of the Troubles, the decades-long conflict between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland. The series follows Erin, her eccentric friends, and her English cousin as they navigate teenage life in the Northern Ireland town of Derry in the 1990s, balancing school, family, and mischief amid political unrest. While primarily a comedy, it offers a poignant perspective on a turbulent era, capturing both the absurdity and warmth of adolescence in extraordinary times.

Watch on Netflix

Call the Midwife (2012-present)

Call the Midwife is a long-running BBC drama that follows midwives in London’s East End from the 1950s onward, blending real medical and social history into its compelling storylines. Created by Heidi Thomas and based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, the series explores the challenges of childbirth, poverty, and evolving health care in postwar Britain while tackling issues such as immigration, women’s rights, and public health crises. The show has been praised for its compassionate storytelling and strong ensemble cast, including Jenny Agutter and Helen George.

Watch on Netflix

Victoria (2016-2019)

Novelist, screenwriter, and producer Daisy Goodwin is the visionary behind Victoria, a lush three-season period drama that brings to life the early reign of Queen Victoria, chronicling her personal and political struggles. Starring Jenna Coleman in a critically acclaimed performance, the series is based on historical events and the queen’s own diaries, offering an intimate look at the monarch’s rise to the throne, her marriage to Prince Albert, and the challenges of ruling a rapidly changing empire.

Watch on Amazon Prime

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