If you are suffering from withdrawal after finishing the lush, needle-drop-fueled romance of *The Buccaneers*, your next binge-watch awaits. These ten captivating period dramas perfectly capture the same rebellious heroines, high-society scandals, and modern energy you fell in love with.
If you fell hard for the pastel-hued romance of Apple TV+’s The Buccaneers, you are likely missing the vibrant collision of old-world aristocracy and unapologetic modern energy. Based on Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel, the show captured our hearts with its 'American girls storming London high society' premise, messy love triangles, and fierce female friendships.
Thankfully, the costume drama landscape is richer than ever. If you are looking to fill the Nan and Guy-shaped void in your streaming queue, these ten romantic period dramas will effortlessly become your next obsession.
The Glitz and the 'New Money' Drama
Bridgerton
Let’s start with the obvious gold standard of the modern, anachronistic period romance, we all know and love. Netflix’s global phenomenon trades the late-Victorian era for a candy-colored Regency London. Packed with high-stakes society gossip, orchestral pop covers, and breathtakingly intense slow-burn romances, it is the spiritual sibling to The Buccaneers. With four seasons to watch and with more planned, you’re set for a while.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpv7ayf_tyE
The Gilded Age
If your favourite part of The Buccaneers was the clash between stuffy traditionalists and vibrant new wealth, HBO's The Gilded Age should be on your watchlist. Created by Julian Fellowes, this spectacular series is set in 1880s New York City—the exact sandbox the Buccaneers girls left behind. It tracks the fierce social warfare between the old-money elite and the blindingly wealthy "new money" tycoons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKj1cMz3yfI
Belgravia
Another brilliant creation from Julian Fellowes, Belgravia takes us back to 19th-century London. When a family of self-made merchants rises into London's most exclusive neighbourhood, a web of decades-old secrets threatens to unravel a delicate, forbidden love story. It offers the exact corporate-aristocratic tension you crave.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igJH0R7CuTo
The Rebellious Heroines
Dickinson
For a show that matches the fiercely modern soundtrack and contemporary feminist lens of The Buccaneers, look no further than Apple TV+’s Dickinson. Hailee Steinfeld shines as a young, rebellious Emily Dickinson. It is funny, surreal, deeply romantic, and treats historical constraints with a defiant, pop-punk attitude.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBMeB6xG4rE
Sanditon
Based on Jane Austen’s final, unfinished manuscript, PBS Masterpiece’s Sanditon follows Charlotte Heywood as she navigates a rapidly developing seaside resort town. Much like Nan Lichten, Charlotte is a spirited, independent outsider who refuses to conform to society's rigid expectations, leading to a delightfully chaotic love triangle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bewgZjUVhYg
The Great
If you liked the biting wit and satirical edges of the Anglo-American culture clash, Hulu’s The Great, which delivers an 'occasionally true' anti-historical romp, is perfect for you. It follows a young, idealistic Catherine the Great as she marries the unhinged Emperor Peter of Russia, charting her romantic and political awakening with pitch-black comedy and stunning costuming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sMrtt7sAR8
The High Society Scandals
Reign
For peak romantic melodrama, gorgeous fashion (though given a heavy contemporary twist), and high-stakes court intrigue, Reign is an absolute must-watch. The series follows a young Mary, Queen of Scots, navigating the dangerous, sexually charged waters of the French court. It balances historical royalty with a pure, addicting teen-drama heartbeat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmTEQbeOVco
The Empress
If you don't mind reading subtitles, Netflix’s German hit The Empress is a cinematic masterpiece. It tells the sweeping romance of Elisabeth 'Sisi' von Wittelsbach and Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. Sisi is the ultimate nineteenth-century rebel, forced to fight a rigid Viennese court that views her independence as a threat to the throne.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfySe96FPr8
Vanity Fair (2018)
Becky Sharp is the original social climber. In the2018 ITV/Amazon miniseries adaptation, Olivia Cooke plays the cynical, brilliant, and fiercely entertaining heroine determined to claw her way out of poverty and conquer the heights of English high society, regardless of who stands in her way. You can also check out the 2004 film starring Reese Witherspoon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRQlLqxBzLI
The Buccaneers (1995)
Finally, long before the 2023 modern adaptation, theBBC produced a stellar 1995 miniseries starring a young Carla Gugino. While it relies on classical storytelling rather than modern synth-pop, this adaptation stays incredibly true to Wharton’s sharp critique of the British peerage system and features an unforgettable, sweeping romance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kPwHrd-JUQ
Looking for your next watch? These articles should inspire you:
- Fans of Downton Abbey will love these 5 European period dramas (they are perfect to fuel your wanderlust!)
- In Scotland, these ten historical dramas will have you dreaming of a trip in the Scottish Highlands
- In England, here are 10 films that accurately capture 19th-century Britain, including some classics (you need to watch them!)
