Discuss Downton Abbey
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Suggestions for other Period Dramas?
posted by nyxeusSTAFFMOD on February 28, 2017 at 9:35 AM
aka If you like Downton Abbey, you will love.........
Reply by nyxeus
on February 28, 2017 at 9:35 AM
The Crown is the first one that comes to my mind.
Reply by Lilith
on February 28, 2017 at 9:37 AM
Call the Midwife
Reply by genplant29
on February 28, 2017 at 10:25 AM
Check out the Australian still-running (so far has completed through season I believe the number is 4) series A Place to Call Home. Many (myself included) consider it better and more addictive than Downton Abbey. It's set during the 1950s and has all sorts of things going for it, from terrific production values, excellent cast, involved storylines, history, awesome costumes and sets, plenty of twists and turns, etc. Some US PBS stations have been running through Season 3 of it so far, though I understand it's also available via Acorn. It's about the wealthy Bligh family, and a newly arriving, to the local area, nurse (whose character finds herself a new "place to call home") with secrets in her past, etc.
https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/47335-a-place-to-call-home
Reply by JollyDee
on February 28, 2017 at 12:37 PM
I've watched that and enjoyed it. I haven't seen series 4 yet. I'm planning a binge watch of the whole thing in a few weeks after I've finished watching some other stuff. I can't watch too many shows at once or I get confused.
Some suggestions from me :-
The Pallisers - 26 episodes - broadcast 1974. Set in Britain in I think Victorian times, but it could have been earlier.
The Duchess of Duke Street -31 episodes -broadcast in 2 series 1976 & 1977. Set in Britain in the early part of the 20th century.
And for those of you who like a little bit of crime in their period drama
Father Brown - 60 episodes so far - broadcast in 5 series starting in 2013. Set in Britain in the 1950s and based very loosely on the novels by G.K.Chesterton.
Doctor Blake Mysteries - 36 episodes so far - broadcast in 4 series starting in 2013. Set in Australia sometime after the 2nd world war, maybe late 1950s/early 1960s.
The Murdoch Mysteries - 139 episodes so far including 2 Christmas specials - broadcast in 10 series starting in 2008. Set in Toronto Canada starting in 1895 and I think it's 1904 in the latest series. Lots of appearances by real historical characters including a young Winston Churchill played by Thomas Howes who played William in Downton Abbey.
That's all I can think of at the moment and I think only the first 2 could be described as "like Downton Abbey" but they are all period dramas.
Reply by genplant29
on February 28, 2017 at 12:56 PM
We mustn't forget The Forsyte Saga (major 2002-2003 series).
Reply by MrRadical
on February 28, 2017 at 12:59 PM
Besides The Crown, I recommend
Reply by JollyDee
on February 28, 2017 at 1:03 PM
And the earlier version from the late 1960s. It would be interesting to watch both of those to compare and contrast.
Reply by genplant29
on February 28, 2017 at 2:36 PM
Too, there's 1981's outstanding Brideshead Revisited (my all-time fave - and one of the very best ever - series).
Reply by Jessica
on February 28, 2017 at 2:39 PM
I really enjoy Poldark. It's a BBC show, but I've been able to watch it on PBS in the States.
Reply by Claddagh
on February 28, 2017 at 3:37 PM
One of my very faves too genplant I was quite obsessed with it! Read the book numerous times also
Have to add Victoria really enjoyed the first season.
Reply by MrRadical
on February 28, 2017 at 3:38 PM
Yep forgot about it, great show indeed.
Reply by Claddagh
on February 28, 2017 at 4:01 PM
@MrRadical - I really want to get into Boardwalk Empire one day soon, it's in one of saves to watch.
I mentioned House Of Eliott in another thread - just passing it on here.
Reply by genplant29
on February 28, 2017 at 10:02 PM
For sure, Claddagh! 100% agree with you both about B. R., and that Victoria is definitely also a terrific series very much worth watching!
Reply by Gia
on November 10, 2017 at 10:36 AM
A Place to Call Home sounds really interesting. I'll have to check it out. What channel is it on? I'm in America and I do have BBC America. Someone mentioned Call the Midwife, that's a good one. I highly recommend it. It's on Netflix. Boardwalk Empire is very good. I never got to finish it but I plan on watching it again. There's a show on Netflix called Land Girls. It's pretty good. Set in WW2 about girls working on a farm.
Reply by genplant29
on November 10, 2017 at 1:06 PM
Gia, past seasons of APtCH (an Australian series) have aired on many PBS stations during the last couple of years. Not all PBS stations carry it, since PBS stations primarily broadcast (as far as dramas are concerned) British series that are part of the "package" deal with ITV. The PBS stations that air APtCH independently purchase airing rights to it. I'm noticing that PBS stations are more and more purchasing rights to various high-quality British (non ITV), Australian, etc. series, that we'd not otherwise be seeing. Stuff like also Vera, The Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries, etc. Fortunately, one of my area's stations airs a number of excellent non-ITV dramas, crime series, mysteries, etc.
APtCH is also available in the States via Acorn TV (which I don't otherwise know anything about, but have seen/heard many mentions of it, and it sounds really excellent). The series is also readily available on DVD.