Julian Fellowes

Netflix’s period drama set in 19th-century Sicily is being hailed as a ‘masterpiece’

Fans who are missing Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age ought to give this sumptuous Netflix period drama a go.

Adapted from Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s 1958 novel of the same name, The Leopard is a lavish period drama set in 19th century Sicily, reports the Express.

The six-part Italian series charts the fortunes of the Prince of Salina and his aristocratic family during a turbulent era of great change.

The Leopard unfolds against the backdrop of the Risorgimento, or the unification of Italy, as various states across the Italian peninsula were brought together to form the Kingdom of Italy.

During this momentous period, widespread political and social upheaval, along with rebellions and revolutions, preceded the formation of the Kingdom of Italy.

A synopsis of the show from Netflix reads: “Based on what many consider to be one of the greatest Italian novels of all time, The Leopard is a dazzlingly sensuous epic, set against the backdrop of revolution in 1860s Sicily.

“At its heart is Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, who leads a life surrounded by beauty and privilege. But as Italy moves towards unification and the old aristocratic order is threatened, he realizes that his family’s future is in jeopardy.

“New allegiances must be made, each one a threat to his principles. Eventually Don Fabrizio is faced with an impossible choice.

“He has the power to engineer a marriage, between the rich and beautiful Angelica and his nephew Tancredi, that could secure his family’s legacy, but doing so he would break his favorite daughter, Concetta’s heart.

“The series will be a modern exploration of timeless themes – power, love, and the cost of progress.”

The Leopard boasts an outstanding ensemble cast, including Everybody Loves Diamonds star Kim Rossi Stuart as Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, Benedetta Porcaroli from Netflix’s Baby as Concetta Corbera di Salina, Love & Gelato’s Saul Nanni as Tancredi Falconeri, and The Beautiful Summer star Deva Cassel as Angelica Sedara.

Further cast members include Astrid Meloni, Paolo Calabresi, Gaetano Bruno, Francesco Di Leva, Alessandro Sperduti, Jozef Gjura, and Romano Reggiani.

One viewer posted in their 10/10 review: “Cinematography is absolutely stunning. What a beautiful period piece ; costumes magical, This is a stunningly visually crafted masterpiece of a series.”

A second glowing review proclaimed it a “masterpiece”, with the critic stating: “This is an absolute must-see series! It could have actually been a cinema film, this is the perfection of its film making. An epic construction of story telling, acting, costumes, scenery and music offers an utter delight to watch.”

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A third top-rated review described it as an “absolute masterpiece”, elaborating: “The journey is beautiful, poignant, and brutally honest.”

Yet another awarded it 10/10 and celebrated it as a “masterpiece”, writing: “I wish there were MORE series like this: based on literature, ravishingly beautiful and (99%) aesthetically accurate.”

They went on to draw a comparison with Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes’ other notable series, remarking: “The Gilded Age could learn a lesson from “The Leopard’s” creative team.”

The Leopard is available to stream on Netflix now.

Downton Abbey may be over, but these Netflix period dramas are giving fans plenty to enjoy

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.

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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

The hit period drama has been hailed by fans as ‘even better than Downton Abbey’ – and both were created by the same person.

A period drama branded “superior” to Downton Abbey has totally captivated audiences.

The star-studded series, which fans are describing as “pure binge-worthy escapism”, has already secured renewal for an additional season.

Historical drama enthusiasts will be thrilled to discover the acclaimed new programme was crafted by Julian Fellowes, the creative force behind international hit show Downton Abbey.

Taking place several decades prior to the ITV drama, this series unfolds in the USA, with an IMDb synopsis stating: “The conflicts surrounding the new money Russell family and their old money neighbors, the van Rhijn family, in 1880s New York City high society.”

The Gilded Age debuted its inaugural season in 22, with season 3 landing just last year in 2025, reports the Express.

Fans are already clamouring for additional episodes, as the most recent instalment delivered more “nail-biting drama” than previously seen.

The impressive ensemble also boasts numerous recognisable talents, including The White Lotus’ Carrie Coon, Poldark’s Harry Richardson, Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon and Mamma Mia! star Christine Baranski.

Numerous devotees have championed the period drama, with one posting to The Gilded Age Fan Page on Facebook: “The Gilded Age is even better than Downton Abbey.”

In the comments section, multiple viewers expressed their views, with one agreeing: “Listen up! I just wrapped up the first season of Downton Abbey to carry me over until tonight, and let me tell you, it’s a solid show. However, The Gilded Age is on a whole different level.”

“The Gilded Age is indeed superior!” a second declared, as another contributed: “I actually agree but only because I’m American and this history is more close to home personally. Very interesting!”

Nevertheless, others disagreed, with one person stating: “I love The Gilded Age BUT Downton Abbey stands alone no comparison.”

Another added: “Sorry but Downton Abbey is better in my eyes but I do love the Gilded Age too.”

Others couldn’t decide, with another viewer explaining: “They are equally wonderful. A pair of timeless masterpieces.”

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Meanwhile, some enthusiasts recalled one of Britain’s most celebrated period dramas, observing: “But not as good as the original Upstairs, Downstairs, on which it was based.”

Another concurred: “Oh guys, Upstairs Downstairs from the 70’s was deeply wonderful.”

The Gilded Age boasts an impressive 89% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with season 3 in 2025 achieving its highest score yet of 96%.

Taking to the comments section on the review aggregator platform, one enthusiast remarked: “Amazing series! Can’t wait for season 4.

“The show keeps getting better!” another gushed, as a third penned: “One of the best series on TV.. I and my daughter absolutely loved it. All 3 seasons. The nail biting drama at the end of each episode, kept us on the edge of our seats. Nicely done. The acting was superb.”

“I have been watching this show since the 1st season and it just gets better and better,” another concurred, as another contributed: “Love it!!! the Gilded Age is pure binge worthy escapism!!”

One enthusiastic viewer wrote: “Best show on TV right now! I am from India and I freaking low this show. Been a fan of Downton Abbey and this show just gives more drama, power issues and love lessons. Beautiful to the core! Love it.”

The Gilded Age is currently available to watch on Sky, while Downton Abbey can be streamed on ITVX.