11 Period Dramas To Fill Downton Abbey Void

[orangeblossom]

sfy I thought you when I saw this.


www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/03/10/period_drama_recommendations_to_replace_downton_abbey.html


Oh, Downton Abbey. We’ll miss your soapy shenanigans, class dynamics, romance, and yes, even your most miserable moments. And after six seasons, we’re going to need something to fill that upstairs-downstairs void in our lives. To assist in smoothly transitioning to a post-Crawley life, we’ve highlighted 11 Downtonesque shows that are excellent contenders to be your next favorite period drama. Sit back, ring a bell for some tea, and enjoy.



Upstairs, Downstairs, 1971–1975





If you want something as narratively and spiritually close to Downton as possible, Upstairs, Downstairs is by far your best bet. Aired in the 1970s, this was arguably the first drama that specifically focused on the class dynamics between the “upstairs” masters and their dutiful “downstairs” servants—but instead of a country estate, the setting is a posh metropolitan townhouse in the Belgravia section of London, owned by the wealthy Bellamy family. Everything, from the titles to the time period to the parlance, will inevitably have you nostalgic for the Crawleys. (For those looking for something more updated, a much more glamorous version was rebooted in 2011 and lasted two seasons.)



The Paradise, 2012–2013





Set in the late 19th century, The Paradise follows a young Scottish women, who decamps to northern England to work at the country’s first high-class department store, and the interactions she faces with the various employees and often stuffy customers. (Not to mention, the blossoming yet taboo romance that ensues between her and the widowered store owner.) Don’t let the beautiful costumes fool you, though—the retail world often gets nastily cutthroat. How modern!



Grand Hotel, 2011–2013





Grand Hotel is often referred to as “the Spanish Downton Abbey” and it’s easy to see why. The premise is simple: A young man passes himself off as a waiter at the luxurious Grand Hotel in Spain to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his maid sister. He soon falls in love with the owner’s daughter, who agrees to help him find out the truth about her disappearance. In between the sleuthing, you follow the daily lives of the hotel’s spirited servants, the ruthless familial owners (the matriarch has a huge penchant for violence), and the colorful grandees who visit. It’s a fun, sexy time in 1905 Spain. (Another British show of similar nature, The Grand, depicts the many exploits of a family-owned Manchester hotel.)



The Forsyte Saga, 2003–2004





This is a family (and romantic) drama on major steroids. Adapted from John Galsworthy’s trilogy of novels, The Forsyte Saga follows three generations of an upper-middle class British family as their social and economic powers fluctuate wildly between the 1870s and 1920s. The seemingly constant woman-swapping, as well as the Forsytes’ struggle to remain relevant in a vastly changing society, result in a dark and complex narrative. A dapper, pre-Homeland Damian Lewis stars as the tormented leading role.



Mercy Street, 2015





Moving across the pond, the Civil War-set Mercy Street breaks down opposing war barriers and chronicles the nurses and doctors—some Union, some Confederate, which nicely provides a pseudo-upstairs-downstairs dynamic—who work together in a chaotic hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, to help treat war patients. This medical procedural may not be superglamorous or peppered with dignified accents, but the melodramatic elements (the “rich” family that owns the building has money problems, for instance), coupled with historical commentary about race and feminism, make for a poignant period drama. Plus, it stars a post-How I Met Your Mother Josh Radnor as Dr. Jed Foster.



Cranford/Return to Cranford, 2007, 2009





If you’re thinking to yourself, You know, I’d love to watch a show with a lot of Dowager Countess-like characters that also has an underlying spirit reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice, look no further than Cranford (season one) and Return to Cranford (a two-part season two). The show, led by the always-wonderful Judi Dench, follows a small fictional village in 1840s rural England run by a formidable group of mostly single and widowed women. They gossip, try to initiate romance, meddle in other people’s business, and, most of all, keep to tradition and hate change. It’s positively delightful. To seal the deal even more, Downton favorites Michelle Dockery and Jim Carter both pop in for supporting roles.



Mr Selfridge, 2013–present





A good dark romp of a period drama, Mr Selfridge tells the story of the highly exuberant yet deeply troubled American retail magnate Harry Selfridge (Jeremy Piven) who, in his own words, is “giving the world style, glamour, and razzmatazz” by founding the high-end U.K. department store Selfridges in the 1910s. The natural dynamic of the store’s dedicated employees—including those in fashion, beauty, accessories, and even the loading bay—as well as Selfridge’s many distressing misadventures with money and women and his slow decline in status, makes for captivating television.



North & South, 2004





North & South is a four-part miniseries that chronicles the abrupt change in life for a middle-class young woman from the south of England, when her clergyman father decides to leave the Church of England and move the family to a northern industrial town. What follows are her many attempts to adjust to the new living conditions, which isn’t helped by a slow-burning love affair between her and a brooding and emotionally restrained local mill owner. Think of it as a hybrid of the romance in Pride and Prejudice and the working-class realism of a Dickens novel. (Brendan Coyle, Mr. Bates himself, also has a sizable recurring role.)



Call the Midwife, 2012–present





Set in London’s gritty East End in the 1950s and 1960s, Call the Midwife follows the intertwining lives of midwives and nuns as they all live together in an Anglican nursing convent called the Nonnatus House. The countless deliveries and nursing duties put upon them on a daily basis are often difficult and fatiguing to watch—especially as their district, Poplar, is appallingly medically deprived—but the show’s underlying sentimental spirit is one of relentless optimism and tight-knit sisterhood.



Lark Rise to Candleford, 2008–2011





You don’t see many shows, period drama or otherwise, where a post office is a key setting. Lark Rise to Candleford wonderfully tells the story of a young girl who moves to a booming market village in Oxfordshire to begin an apprenticeship at the local post office under the helpful guidance of her mother’s cousin. Beyond the postmistress narrative, the show follows the daily lives of the various residents of competing local communities—the modest Lark Rise and the more well-to-do Candleford—in the late 19th century. (As you can glean from the show’s title, our protagonist moves from her native village to the other town for the job.) Brendan Coyle shows up once again in a supporting role.



A Place to Call Home, 2013–present





The melodramatic A Place to Call Home follows a woman who returns home to her native Australia following the end of World War II (and a 20-year stint as a nurse in Europe), and falls in love with a charming widower on the ship home. However, as the two grow closer to each other back on the mainland, his mother—the matriarch of the powerful and privileged Bligh family in rural New South Wales—does everything in her power to make the relationship go away. It’s a racy yet breezy drama, complete with gorgeous ‘50s-era costumes, conflicting loyalties, and seemingly never-ending secrets.

[womet]

I have seen a few of these and really enjoyed them. I loved Lark Rise to Candleford. I'll have to check out A Place to Call Home.

Thanks, orangeblossom!

[spunkarella]

They forgot Bomb Girls!

[raangoli]

Love Mr. Selfridge!

[aurademystere]

I remember watching re-runs of Upstairs, Downstairs with my grandmother on Sunday nights. It was such a fantastic series, but I'm not sure it holds up very well.

[CallingAllAngels]

I keep forgetting that Call the Midwife isn't reality TV a la A Baby Story. I really want to check that one out.

[tacokick]

I love Gran Hotel. So much more than Downton.

[cosmowife]

They forgot The Knick! Although not sure how realistic it is. I think that time period is the most fascinating.

[sfy]

Thanks, orangeblossom! I love Gran Hotel. I fell off on watching it, but I need to get back to it. I've wanted to watch Mr. Selfridge, but haven't. And Cranford/Return to Cranford sounds like it should be on my list, too .

[niemand88f]

Mar 11, 2016 9:20:10 GMT -5 CallingAllAngels said:

I keep forgetting that Call the Midwife isn't reality TV a la A Baby Story. I really want to check that one out.

It is a good show, and I've actually learned quite a bit from it too. During one season I think I laughed and cried during every episode. My sister who is about to earn her midwife degree, loves it too. 

Anyone have advice where to find some of these shows online? Lark Rise to Candleford appears to be on Hulu, added it to my queue

[lolo]

I really enjoyed the Paradise.

[tacokick]

Mar 11, 2016 10:25:38 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Mar 11, 2016 9:22:11 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I love Gran Hotel. So much more than Downton.

Yes, it's soooo much better than Downton.
It's one of my favorites of all time. 
Thanks, @barefootbarista for recommending it. 

El Tiempo Entre  Costuras is also amazing! I can't believe that's not on the list. 

Ooh is it? I will have to check that out next. My husband and I were so sad to watch the last Gran Hotel episode.

[gardengal]

Bomb girls is great!

Also, related to Bomb Girls, I enjoyed Home Fires which isn't for free yet, but you can get episodes on Amazon.

And more mystery, I also rec Foyle's War.

eta: Also more mystery, Murdoch Mysteries which is completely unrealistic but still good!

[pinkdutchtulips]

Anything by Merchant Ivory should fill the Downton Abbey void

Room w a View
Vanity Fair
Remains of the Day

[sparkythelawyer]

Grandchester!

[Awkward]

Oooooh, I loved North & South and the Paradise. Richard Armitage is hawt in North & South.

[tacokick]

Mar 11, 2016 11:33:48 GMT -5 sparkythelawyer said:

Grandchester!

The new season is on PBS this Sunday!

[sparkythelawyer]

Mar 11, 2016 17:23:18 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Mar 11, 2016 11:33:48 GMT -5 sparkythelawyer said:

Grandchester!

The new season is on PBS this Sunday!

Off to program my DVR!

[Lilac]

Are any of these available on Amazon Prime or Hulu Plus? I need a new series to watch

[gardengal]

Mar 11, 2016 17:57:54 GMT -5 Lilac said:

Are any of these available on Amazon Prime or Hulu Plus? I need a new series to watch

Amazon definitely has Mercy Street.

Most of the others are on Netflix.

[demelza]

You MUST watch Poldark and report back here. It is currently on amazon prime. You won't regret it, I promise!!!

[gardengal]

Mar 11, 2016 19:57:51 GMT -5 demelza said:

You MUST watch Poldark and report back here. It is currently on amazon prime. You won't regret it, I promise!!!

Yes!!!!

God, he is so fine

[sadlebred]

Call the Midwife is on PBS. They usually air new episodes in the fall. I've watch and enjoyed the last two seasons. I also recommend reading the book the series is loosely based on.

Mercy Street was really good! It's been renewed for a second season, which will probably air in Jan. 2017.