8 Best Period Family Dramas to Watch if You Miss 'Downton Abbey', Ranked by IMDb
From the opulence of Vanity Fair to the dark secrets of Bleak House, each series offers a unique recipe for a worthy period drama.
The curtain has closed on Downton Abbey, and since then, many viewers have searched for a series that could offer the same total immersion in the elegant yet ruthless world of aristocratic estates.
Fortunately, numerous worthy successors have emerged in recent years, transporting us to different eras and countries while preserving the magic of family sagas.
8. 'Vanity Fair', 2018
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
Becky is from the lower class, while Amelia is the daughter of a wealthy merchant. They attend a private boarding school together and are considered best friends.
After completing their studies, the girls' paths diverge: Amelia plans to marry an officer, while Becky plans to become a governess.
Before the friends begin their adult lives, however, Miss Sedley invites Becky to stay at her estate. Becky is convinced that she must seize this opportunity to find a suitable match among the other guests for a profitable marriage.
7. 'Parade's End', 2012
IMDb Score: 7.4/10
Britain, early 20th century. Christopher is a stickler for strict morals. He works in the statistics department, but no one is interested in his mathematical calculations, which upsets him.
He is married to Sylvia, a woman who loves to shine in high society so much that she constantly neglects her husband. Christopher tries to remain faithful to Sylvia. However, after meeting the suffragette Valentine, he falls irrevocably in love.
While the characters try to figure out how to escape their love trap, the world begins to change imperceptibly – World War I begins.
6. 'Sanditon', 2019-2023
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
A chance meeting between Charlotte and Tom becomes a turning point in their lives. While helping her new acquaintance recover from an accident, Tom tells Charlotte about a beautiful place called Sanditon that will soon be transformed into a seaside resort.
To thank her for her concern, Tom invites Charlotte and her family to visit the new resort.
Charlotte's father declines the offer, but Charlotte happily accepts – she's tired of country life and wants some fun. Sanditon and its restless inhabitants quickly captivate her.
5. 'Mr Selfridge', 2013-2016
IMDb Score: 7.7/10
In 1909, Harry Gordon Selfridge traveled to London and discovered that the country lacked large-scale shopping malls that could serve as meeting places for young fashionistas and wealthy women.
Just three years later, he opened his unique store on Oxford Street. The series details the ups and downs of this resourceful businessman.
4. 'The Forsyte Saga', 2002-2003
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
The wealthy Forsytes belong to the upper crust of London's bourgeoisie. For many years, its members have contributed to the family's legacy by choosing promising professions and building impressive careers.
One day, however, several tragedies befall the Forsytes, bringing turmoil to the venerable family.
The Forsyte Saga is a British drama TV series based on John Galsworthy's renowned novel trilogy of the same name. The series exceeded the creators' expectations, receiving widespread acclaim from viewers and critics alike.
3. 'Gentleman Jack', 2019-2022
IMDb Score: 8.2/10
In 1832, the 35-year-old Anne Lister returned to the English estate of Shibden Hall, heartbroken. Upon arrival, she learned that the family's affairs were in decline and that the former manager was gravely ill.
Nicknamed Gentleman Jack for her energy and resourcefulness, Lister became immersed in the challenges of construction and entrepreneurship. One day, however, she fell in love again.
2. 'Bleak House', 2005
IMDb Score: 8.3/10
Esther Summerson is an orphan who lost her last known relative when her godmother died. John Jarndyce becomes her guardian and helps her get an education. He then invites her to his estate, Bleak House, to become a housekeeper.
There, she meets the young heirs of the estate, as well as her neighbors: Sir Leicester Dedlock and his wife, Honoria Dedlock.
1. 'Gran Hotel', 2011-2013
IMDb Score: 8.3/10
It is 1905, and the powerful Doña Teresa runs the Gran Hotel. Her daughter, Alicia, helps her run the business while dreaming of escaping her duties as a hostess to pursue something more exciting, such as investigating the hotel's secrets.
She soon gets the chance. A new guest arrives at the hotel: a young man named Julio. He's looking for his sister, Cristina, who used to work there and then disappeared.
Unable to get clear answers from the manager, Julio gets a job at the hotel under an assumed name.
