What was America like in the 17th century? A wild, rugged land, with little place for women. That, at least, is the picture painted by Jamestown, a period drama that immerses viewers in an English colony in Virginia.
There are already plenty of historical dramas centred on the English aristocracy. Far rarer, however, are series that explore the beginnings of colonial America in the 17th century from a female perspective. That is precisely what makes Jamestown stand out. Launched in 2017 by the producers of Downton Abbey, this period drama transports viewers to the very first English colony established in Virginia, far removed from the familiar drawing rooms of London society.
Women sent to the New World
The story of Jamestown takes place in 1619, twelve years after the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. A ship arrives in Virginia from England carrying several young women promised in marriage to settlers who had paid for their passage in the hope of finding wives. Among them are Alice, Verity and Jocelyn, three women whose personalities could hardly be more different.
But on arrival, they are met with a shock: the romanticised 'New World' turns out to be little more than a muddy, fragile and isolated village. Alice quickly realises that the man she is supposed to marry is not at all what she expected. Verity finds herself accused of witchcraft, while Jocelyn attempts to make the most of her marriage to the colony’s influential clerk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wSpycFpCGQ
A historical drama centred on female characters
The main appeal of Jamestown lies, of course, in its highly original premise. There are no aristocratic manor houses here; instead, the series explores a different chapter of British history: the story of the first English colonies in America. In particular, it focuses on the role of women in this male-dominated world, as each heroine gradually seeks to gain greater independence.
A word of caution for purists: the series does not claim to be a documentary and takes a number of historical liberties. For those who do not mind this, it offers plenty to enjoy, thanks to its atmospheric setting, period costumes and varied storylines. Originally broadcast between 2017 and 2019, it ran for three seasons, all of which remain available on Apple TV. It's an entertaining watch, and one we would recommend following up with another drama in a similar vein, The Gilded Age, which this time turns its attention to New York at the end of the 19th century.
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