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Julian Fellowes, more recently of the period triumph The Gilded Age, followed up his Academy Award-winning screenplay for Gosford Park with Downton Abbey, a family saga set in the upstairs and downstairs of a great English estate. Beginning with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and concluding around 1930 with the most recent (final?) film, the series begins with the unexpected death of the titular castle’s heir, leaving a cousin no one has ever met (Dan Stevens) to inherit everything. That event kicks off a series-long effort to secure the family’s future in the face of war, depleted finances, and the invention of swivel chairs designed to baffle the sassy Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith). The show’s arrival in 2010 was an immediate sensation, drawing new attention to older shows and ushering in dozens of new ones. You can stream the Downton Abbey on Prime Video and Peacock, and, once you’ve made your way through its six seasons and three movies, you’re invited to dive into these other highbrow but fun family soap operas.House of Guinness (2025 – )
There’s plenty of upper-crust family drama in this loosely-based-on-real-events series, but it comes from Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders), so expect a great deal more violence and fewer cozy chats in the library. The first episode begins shortly after the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness, who became the wealthiest man in Ireland by expanding the trade in Guinness beer throughout the British Empire. The cracks begin to show on the way to the funeral: Religious leaders deplore all of the beer-drinking, while Irish Republicans want the company brought down for colluding with empire. Sir Benjamin’s four heirs have wildly different goals and/or hate each other so, you know—lots of drama and lots of beer. The show’s been renewed for a second season. Stream House of Guinness on Netflix.
Upstairs, Downstairs (1971 – 1975, 2010 – 2012)
An international phenomenon in the early ’70s that undoubtedly inspired Downton Abbey, Upstairs, Downstairs is very nearly the ur-text for smart, glossy, and occasionally scandalous period TV drama. The show follows the wealthy Bellamy family of London’s fashionable Belgravia neighborhood through triumphs and tragedies. The heart of the downstairs staff is housemaid Rose Buck, played by series co-creator and writer Jean Marsh, who returned for the next-generation revival in 2010. The additive drama begat any number of high-end prestige dramas and, in some regards, has never been bettered. Stream Upstairs, Downstairs on Britbox; stream the Upstairs, Downstairs revival on Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and Britbox.
Bridgerton (2020 – )
Shonda Rhimes’ candy-colored, ultra-stylized period piece has been a legitimate sensation for Netflix, adapting the Julia Quinn novel series, which itself owes plenty to Jane Austen (as does just about any Regency romance). With a large, rotating ensemble—led by Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Bridgerton, who is ably assisted by Adjoa Andoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ruth Gemmell, Polly Walker, and Julie Andrews (as the voice of the mysterious Lady Whistledown)—the show revels in the tropes of the literature of the era while turning up the dial on sex, scandal, drama, and heart. When you finish this one, there’s the excellent prequel/spinoff Queen Charlotte, also on Netflix. Stream Bridgerton on Netflix.
The Gilded Age (2022 – )
Julian Fellowes (joined by Sonja Warfield) does something similar to Downton Abbey here while shifting the time and place back to the 1880s in New York City. We’re introduced to the world of upper and then extremely upper-class New York City society by Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), poor relation to the estranged aunties who take her in, and Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), a young Black writer from a solidly middle-class family who becomes a secretary to Christine Baranski’s sassy Agnes van Rhijn. Old-money Agnes and sister Ada (Cynthia Nixon) live across the street from new-money social climbers the Russells (led gloriously by Carrie Coon’s Bertha); established society isn’t keen on letting in these upstarts—though money very much talks. In one sense, the stakes here could not possibly be lower (Bertha wants a better seat at the opera! Twink footman invents a new clock!)—so why is the show so addictive? It’s been renewed for a fourth season. Stream The Gilded Age on HBO Max.
The Buccaneers (2023 – )
Not quite going full Bridgerton in terms of hyper-stylization, this 1870s-set adaptation of an unfinished Edith Wharton novel isn’t afraid to take some liberties in terms of costuming and music. The buccaneers of the title are among the so-called dollar princesses of the era: Nan St. George (Kristine Froseth) and her friends are young women from upperclass American families on the make among the British aristocracy. The Americans get titles, and the English lords get to keep their frequently cash-poor estates running (this whole phenomenon forms the backstory for the elder Crawleys on Downton Abbey, so should be familiar). What starts as soapy mercenary mission for the strong and spirited young women becomes a complicated hunt for true love, especially when Nan is forced to choose between the handsome duke she should marry and the best friend she can’t seem to stay out of bed with. Stream The Buccaneers on Apple TV.
The Other Bennet Sister (2026)
A bit of a ratings blockbuster on the BBC, this miniseries (for now, anyway), revisits the events of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of Lizzy Bennet’s bookish, altogether dorkier sister. Her ruddy complexion, penchant for grammatical correctness, and (dear lord) spectacles, make her entirely unsuitable for marriage and unfit for much other than genteel spinsterhood. That all begins to change when Mary sets off on her own to become a governess for the Gardiner family in London, managing to forge a life and a future for herself away from the parents and siblings who see her as not much more than a piece of furniture. Stream The Other Bennet Sister on Britbox.
What do you think so far?
Victoria (2016 – 2019)
Though a couple of generations prior to Downton, and taking place among the British royals rather than the merely upper crust, Victoria was born from the popularity of that other show—it revels in the same types of soapy drama, just at a slightly higher tier of society. Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) is the young queen, navigating political rivals, family obligations, and a growing infatuation with a German prince (Tom Hughes). Mirroring the Queen’s dramas are those of the palace staff, including the dressers, footmen, and cooks who are all dealing stuff of their own (thank you very much) while doing the real work of keeping things running for the royals. Stream Victoria on Netflix and PBS Passport.
Gentleman Jack (2019 – 2022)
Though her love dared not speak its name, the real-life Anne Lister certainly had no problem putting words to it—something like five million of them across her many diaries. So many, in fact, that the production of this show necessitated new transcriptions of works that hadn’t been fully examined, despite having been written in the 1830s. Suranne Jones stars as Anne Lister, landowner and budding industrialist who returns to her inherited family estate only to discover that the neighbors are snatching coal from her land—and also that Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle), a wealthy estate owner, is looking pretty fine. It’s a clever, funny series, and its use of Lister’s prolific diaries gives it a real sense of verisimilitude in its depiction of a queer trailblazer. Stream Gentleman Jack on HBO Max or buy episodes from Prime Video.
Sanditon (2019 – 2023)
Another riff on Jane Austen, Sanditon is based on the author’s final, incomplete work, which allows for plenty of creative leeway while offering a pretty pure distillation of the regency-drama thrills that Austen bequeathed to us—we’re obviously a century earlier than Downton Abbey, but the romantic and economic entanglements of posh British types will ring familiar. Here, the wildly independent Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) sets out to reinvent herself while moving to the title’s growing seaside resort town (based, probably, on the real-life Worthing). She discovers that commercial prospects have drawn schemers and chancers to the area, creating a unique and vibrant social scene, with all of the balls and fancy costumes you’d expect. Naturally, romantic complications ensue when Charlotte gets judgy about the entrepreneurial Parker family and finds herself at odds with, and then getting close to, the wild youngest son, Sidney (Theo James). Stream Sanditon on PBS Passport or buy episodes from Prime Video.
The Forsyte Saga (2002 – 2003)
I haven’t been the biggest fan of the new adaptation of the John Galsworthy novels—though The Forsytes has already been renewed for a further two seasons, so I’m apparently in the minority. Nevertheless, I’ll direct you back to 2002 and this extended miniseries led by Damian Lewis. It starts off in 1884 when the slightly scandalous engagement of one of the wealthy new-money Forsytes is marred by the revelation of a wild scandalous affair between cousin Joylon (Rupert Graves) and the governess, kicking off an impossibly complicated series of events that occupies the family for decades. Author Galsworthy was inspired to write the books on which all of this is based by his own extramarital affair, so drama is in the show’s DNA. Stream The Forsyte Saga on Netflix.
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