There are days when we just love the idea of taking ourselves to a different era where things may have been simpler or more complicated depending on how you look at it. If passive or armchair travelling is a thing for you here are some great historical and period dramas that are currently trending on Netflix:
Vikings:Valhalla
This one is a sequel to Vikings and follows the story of Leif Erickson. Set more than 100 years after the events following the life of Ragnar Lothbrok the story now has elements of Scandinavian culture mixed in with English resulting in cultural clashes as well as religious tension. After Ragnar came to England the Vikings who followed him began to convert to Christianity and Valhalla delves into the conflicts they face.
The Last Czars
This series is a six part docu-series that chronicles the life of Nicholas II, the last emperor of the Romanov Dynasty from his rise to power in 1894 to his assignation in 1918. Robert Jack plays Nicholas who is both ruler and loving husband and father.
Mindhunter
This series delves into the minds of history’s most horrible killers. Holden Ford and Bill Tench together with Dr Wendy Carr attempt to gain a comprehensive understanding of the psychology and pathology of serial killers. This show is deep and dark and not for the faint-hearted.
The English Game
If you ever wondered how soccer was born this is the show for you. It is set in the 1870s in England and explains how the sport evolved from being just for the rich to become a mainstream sport.
Narcos: Mexico
The story revolves around the Guadalajara Cartel and its leader Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo in the 1980s. It is made with the same style and historical insights that made the original show Narcos so riveting.
The Queen’s Gambit
This story is based on a 1983 novel of the same name and tells the story of a young chess prodigy named Beth Harmon. The story is set in the 1950s and 60s and shows just how patriarchal society was then as Harmon rises to chess fame in this climate. Anya Taylor-Joy plays Harmon really well and is supported by Bill Camp, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Moses Ingram. The Queen’s Gambit won 11 Emmy awards and two Golden Globe awards.
Alias Grace
Based on Margaret Atwood’s novel this fictional story depicts the 1843 murders of Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery by their household servants Grace Marks and James McDermott. The psychological thriller will leave you never knowing if Grace is telling the truth as she is interviewed by her psychiatrist Dr Simon Jordan and the story goes back and forth depicting Grace’s childhood and upbringing as well.
Derry Girls
This light hearted story is a critically acclaimed series. It is about a group of girls in Ireland who attend a Catholic school in the 90s during the time of conflict. The simple story is set against a backdrop of a troubled time as teenager Erin Quinn played by Saoirse-Monica Jackson acts as a smart yet proud teenager whose only dream is to become super popular.