Who doesn’t love a period drama? With their lush costumes, alluring romps, and complicated plots, they make for excellent drama and absolutely bingeable television, because once you start a period drama, it’s almost impossible to stop until you’ve finished the whole thing.
Luckily for us, the premium network Starz has come out with a number of period dramas, set in eras as varied as ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, from the Renaissance to the Edwardian era, with characters that you can really identify with and cheer for. Here are ten period dramas that you can find on the Starz network.
10 Camelot (6.5)
This gritty, fantastical take on the King Arthur legend ran in 2011. After he ascends to the throne, King Arthur must contend with the machinations of his sister Morgan, who desires nothing more than to take the throne from him and avenge the death of her mother.
The series features some fine casting, and Eva Green and Joseph Fiennes are particularly notable as Morgan and Merlin, respectively. The series hews a bit closer to historical authenticity than other outings, and it does a credible job of weaving together politics and passion into a compelling drama.
9 The Spanish Princess (6.8)
Set several years after the events of The White Princess, The Spanish Princess focuses primarily on Spanish princess Katherine of Aragon, as she weds first Prince Arthur and then, upon his death, tries to survive in the Tudor court while pursuing the love of Prince Henry.
The series has some excellent production values, and it’s clear that Starz gave the series a higher budget than its predecessors. Between the luscious costumes and the dazzling settings, this is definitely a series that every costume drama lover can savor for hours. The next season is set to premiere in 2020.
8 Howard’s End (7.3)
Though most people are more familiar with the Merchant-Ivory production, Starz actually did their own interpretation of the E.M. Forster novel in 2014. In keeping with its premium cable budget, the series is truly a delight to look at, with costumes that you can gaze at for hours.
It’s the cast that really shines in this adaptation, though, and both Matthew Macfayden and Hayley Atwell turn in extraordinary performances. The series is only four episodes long, but it definitely makes the absolute most out of each and every moment. Forster would be proud.
7 The White Princess (7.6)
Before she became famous for her performance as Villanelle in the hit show Killing Eve, Jodie Comer portrayed York princess Lizzy in The White Princess. Taking place in the aftermath of Bosworth Field, the series follows Lizzy as she struggles to find love with the man who killed her uncle.
With its lush production, strong performances, and breathless pacing, The White Princess is a wrenching exploration of the ways in which royal women have always felt the tension between their own desires, their familial obligations, and the demands of politics.
6 The White Queen (7.8)
Set during the tumultuous Wars of the Roses, The White Queen stars Rebecca Ferguson as Elizabeth Woodville, a woman who manages to convince King Edward IV to marry her. In doing so, she begins to take her own role in the conflict, and she watches as England dissolves into civil war.
The series features some excellent performances, particularly from Ferguson, who brings Elizabeth’s steely grace to searing life. The supporting cast is a little more uneven, but Amanda Hale definitely deserves special praise for bringing the cunning, zealous Margaret Beaufort to intense, unsettling life.
5 Da Vinci’s Demons (8.0)
Da Vinci's Demons is a bit of a quirky take on the young life of the famous artist and genius Leonardo Da Vinci. Here, he is a bit of a tortured figure, who gradually finds himself drawn into the schemes of various noble families, as well as a group of mystics whose ambitions remain shrouded in mystery.
What really sets this series apart, though, is the fact that it pays attention to the fact that Leonardo was almost certainly attracted to men. It’s very refreshing to have a series that actually acknowledges the existence of LGBTQ+ people in the historical past.
4 The Pillars of the Earth (8.1)
Based on the Ken Follett novel of the same name, The Pillars of the Earth follows the intertwined fates of several residents of a small English town as they engage in the building of a magnificent cathedral. Through betrayal and triumph, they all have to contend with the brutal realities of medieval life.
As with so many Starz costume dramas, the series managed to nab a stellar cast, including Ian McShane as the villainous and cunning Waleran Bigod and Eddie Redmayne as the noble and long-suffering Jack.
3 Black Sails (8.2)
Everyone loves a sailor, and that is certainly the case with Black Sails, a historical romp that focuses on a group of pirates as they struggle against the imperial powers that are dead set against them, particularly the British.
Though the series starts out focusing on the sort of blood and sex formula that has become very popular in many premium cable series, as it goes on it builds in complexity, allowing us to explore these complicated and fascinating characters. In the process, it explores the power of greed to corrupt even the noblest of souls.
2 Outlander (8.4)
When it was announced that Starz would be adapting Diana Gabaldon’s enormously popular series of novels about Claire, a World War II nurse who travels back to 18th Century Scotland, there was a lot of excitement from the series' legions of fans. Since the debut of Outlander in 2014, the series has been an unmitigated hit for the network.
There’s undeniable chemistry between leads Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, and recent seasons of the show have allowed viewers to see the ways in which the love between these two characters continues to richen and deepen with age.
1 Spartacus (8.5)
Set during the last days of the Roman Republic, Spartacus focuses on the slave rebellion led by the titular character. When his wife is slain by the Romans and he is sentenced to live as a gladiator, Spartacus must decide whether he will give in to his fate or fight to both survive and gain vengeance on those who took everything from him.
This series is definitely not for the faint of heart. It features quite a lot of blood, gore, nudity, and sex. Despite its heavy schlock value, though, the series is a fascinating exploration of the nature of power and violence to shape the course of world events.
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