Top 7 period dramas on Amazon Prime you can binge now - and No1 is totally underrated

Period dramas are having a moment following the success of the beloved romance series Bridgerton. Until recently, fans of period drama were relegated to late night TV reruns of Moulin Rouge and Downton Abbey.

What were previously considered tired tropes including steamy scenes in the drawing room and dusty war dramas - have been given a new lease of life on the small screen. Now, A-list actors such as Jonathan Bailey and Timothee Chalamet have been clamouring to work on the new generation of historical shows. Many Brits were heartbroken when the post-World War I series Peaky Blinders came to an end in 2022, despite the promise of a film set to be released later this year.

But don't panic if you are in need of a good drama fix, as there are plenty of other shows available to stream on Amazon Prime. Whether you're swept away by the romance of tales like Pride and Prejudice or crave the intense drama of a royal family like The Crown, there's a rich lineup of period dramas waiting for you on .

My Lady Jane

For those who like their historical fantasy with a bit more jazz, I'd recommend My Lady Jane. Set in an alternate 16th century England, the series reimagines a world where Lady Jane Grey's brief reign as Queen (as she ruled for nine days before she was overthrown by Queen Mary) wasn't quite so brief.

Boasting a staggering 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, the playful series features thrilling court intrigue, scintillating romance, and even shape-shifting creatures. It's no wonder that fans have branded the series the "best show of 2024".

Author George RR Martin has even been rumoured to be asking Amazon to consider commissioning a second series. Fans will have to stay tuned to see if the jaw-dropping programme will return to the streaming service for a second series.

Black Sails

For fans who prefer their period dramas exploring the seven seas, Black Sails promises a swashbuckling adventure for the ages. The show is set in the early 18th century and is set in the world of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel, Treasure Island.

Offering a prequel to the classic tale, the historical drama follows the pirates of New Providence Island as they hunt for the Spanish shipwreck, Urca de Lima, to uncover treasures.

If that's not enough to pull you in, Tom Long of the Detroit News previously said of Black Sails: "Alliances are made and broken, power shifts go this way and that, blood is spilled, and wenches keep wenching. It's oddly addictive."

Manhattan

Long before Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer, there was Manhattan - which retold the creation of the atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico. While the show wasn't strictly accurate - nor did it claim to be - it did feature several real-life figures, including head scientist Robert Oppenheimer played by Daniel London.

Manhattan has somehow managed to fly under the radar since its debut more than 10 years ago in 2014. Despite its low viewership, many fans are rediscovering the programme for the first time on Amazon Prime and have described it as "captivating".

The Tudors

If you're craving for a British period drama that's more historically accurate than My Lady Jane, look no further. The Tudors has been a hit with fans since it launched on screens back in 2007 when it originally broadcast on ITV.

The Tudor series sees Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry VII and follows the monarch's many trials and tribulations as his ability to rule was put under strain by international conflicts and political power struggles playing out in his own court.

Viewers are also treated to a young Henry Cavill before he catapulted to stardom in the heart of Hollywood. At the time, the show became the highest-rated Showtime series debut in three years and has been hailed as a "masterpiece" and "phenomenal" by viewers.

The Spanish Princess

If you want to see even more of King Henry VII, then The Spanish Princess is the answer. Based on the life of one of his many wives, the two series drama - which aired in 2019 and 2020 - sees Charlotte Hope portray Catherine of Aragon.

The beloved actress plays the titular role who was crowned the Queen of England when she married King Henry VII, this time played by Ruairi O'Connor. The Hollywood Reporter wrote in its review: "The Spanish Princess is the ideal period soap, dexterously and intelligently balancing the webby intrigue of 16-century court life with the dewy eroticism of a classic melodrama. There's no guilt here. Just pleasure."

Versailles

The luxurious period drama Versailles caused quite the scandal back in 2016 for its graphic sex scenes - including a 24-person orgy, and not shying away from gruesome violence.

Set in the Baroque era of France, the programme is a no-holds-barred depiction of the court of King Louis XIV (played by George Blagden) - and the continuous rumours of sex sessions and gluttony that took place during that period of time.

Speaking at the time to Metro, George said: "I remember hearing this incredible phrase: 'Bedrooms were boardrooms at Versailles', and it's just such an amazing idea and concept to play with."

Leonardo

Leonardo has everything you want in a classic period drama - a beautiful backdrop, a complex historical figure and an accusation of murder. It sees Poldark's Aidan Turner take on the titular role of Leonardo da Vinci and lifts the lid on the life of the famous Italian artist and inventor.

Away from the fame and fortune his artwork and inventions brought, the show explored the Renaissance man's personal life, including the belief that he had male lovers.

Describing the scenes, Aidan previously told Metro: "It's not just a straightforward historical look at his life. We were trying to get to the essence as to who the man was behind the artist."