Downton Abbey may be over, but these Netflix period dramas are giving fans plenty to enjoy
Downton Abbey wrapped up last year with a movie(Image: ITV)
Downton Abbey may have drawn the curtain on the beloved ITV saga, however, Netflix offers a wealth of period dramas.
For viewers eager to fill that void, the streaming giant is renowned for its vast collection of original and licensed content spanning numerous genres, and boasts an impressive selection of costume and historical productions perfectly suited to Downton Abbey devotees, reports the Express.
Much like the beloved ITV period drama that became a worldwide phenomenon after American audiences became utterly captivated by every twist and turn in Julian Fellowes’ fast-paced series, Netflix has three spectacular costume dramas that could arguably surpass Downton Abbey itself.
Here’s a closer look at each one and what viewers have had to say about them.
1. The Crown
Netflix’s magnificent House of Windsor epic The Crown is unrivalled in its excellence, according to devoted fans since its debut in 2016.
The series, crafted by The Queen screenwriter Peter Morgan, chronicles the British monarchy from the beginning of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign through to the 2005 wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.
The Crown underwent several cast changes to reflect the passage of time, with Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton each taking on the role of Queen Elizabeth II. The Crown amassed a remarkable collection of awards, including 24 Emmys and two Golden Globes for best series, while Netflix disclosed back in 2020 that 73 million households had tuned in since its launch in 2016, according to BBC News.
Given that the series concluded in December 2023, considerably more viewers would have caught the show since that point.
Furthermore, a notable spike in viewership followed the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, as 17.6 million hours of The Crown were streamed on Netflix, the platform confirmed to CNN.
Viewers on Reddit have drawn comparisons between Downton Abbey and The Crown, weighing in on which they favoured.
One wrote: “I watched them both. I personally liked The Crown better although both are exceptionally well-done shows.”
A second chimed in: “The Crown. I could never fully get into Downton Abbey.”
A third Redditor observed: “Depends what you like. I prefer downton as The Crown is too slow sometimes. Downton also shows the life of all the staff in the Abbey as well as the rich people. The Crown has a way bigger budget, better cinematography and is about real historical characters [sic].”
2. Bridgerton
Regency bodice-ripper Bridgerton, adapted from the much-loved historical romance novels by American author Julia Quinn, stands as another hugely popular period drama on Netflix.
Each series centres on a different lead couple and explores various romantic storylines, amongst them friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers and fake courtship blossoming into genuine romance. Bridgerton proved a runaway success following its arrival around Christmas 2020, transforming into a massive pop cultural sensation much like Downton Abbey.
The opening season accumulated 113,300,000 views within the initial 91 days of release, while the third season attracted 106,000,000 viewers upon its debut.
The programme stands as Netflix’s ninth most watched English-language series ever, Variety reported earlier this year.
Since its original launch and following subsequent seasons, it’s been viewed by hundreds of millions of devotees – and the figure continues climbing.
Watch Bridgerton on Netflix for free with Sky
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Bridgerton.
The programme is set to return for a fifth and sixth season, meaning these viewing statistics will climb even higher.
Opinion remains divided on whether Bridgerton surpasses Downton; nevertheless, one Redditor commented: “Hard to say. Bridgerton is an alternative history romantic fantasy as compared to a period drama. I watch it, but to me it’s not nearly as good as Downton Abbey.”
Another stated: “I love both Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, but they are very different shows.
“I loved “Bridgerton,” but an attempt to draw similarities and differences to “Downton Abbey” is a proverbial apples-to-oranges comparison. I enjoy both for the space they occupy in entertainment,” a third observed.
3. The Empress
Lastly, sweeping German period drama The Empress has captivated audiences and draws from the actual life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Devrim Lingnau). The programme first launched in 2022 and charts the struggles and triumphs of a ruler navigating her romance with her husband, his conniving family, and the treacherous world of court politics.
The series ranks amongst the most watched non-English language programmes on Netflix, having amassed over 76 million views, according to What’s on Netflix.
One viewer took to IMDb to share their thoughts: “If you like The Crown, you’ll like this.”
They went on to say: “Just a couple of scenes at the first half. Romantic would be something like Pride and Prejudice or Bridgerton. This was more like Downton Abbey or The Crown, where in the drama is the focus.”
A second viewer enthused: “The acting is superb. I simply cannot believe how amazing this series is, and it easily rivals ‘The Crown’, ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘Outlander’, ‘Poldark’ and ‘Vikings’, and surpasses many others. It’s more serious than contemporary feeling shows like ‘Bridgerton’. In my opinion it is a contender with all the top historical dramas.”
The Crown, Bridgerton and The Empress are all available to stream on Netflix now