Historical dramas remain one of the most popular genres of television and shows like The Empress prove there are still more stories to tell from European history. Based on the life of the real Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1837-1898), Devrim Lingnau plays 16-year-old Elisabeth as she falls in love with and marries her sister’s intended fiancé, Emperor Franz Joseph. Released in 2022, the show was one of the most popular non-English Netflix series of the year and the streaming service immediately ordered a second season and commissioned a companion novel called The Empress: A Novel.
While seasons on Netflix are not always fast coming, the good news is that there are a lot of shows like The Empress to keep fans of the show entertained. These shows travel the range from those that are not as historically accurate, as The Empress is not, to those that actually tell historical stories from European history in a way that both entertains and educates the viewers. However, there are also shows that do what The Empress did best, and that is to entertain the viewers with a love story and high intrigue, even if the shows are not based on real events or people at all.
10 The Spanish Princess (2019-2020)
Historical drama The Spanish Princess follows Catherine of Aragon, the Spanish princess who became the first wife of King Henry VIII. The limited series mixes historical facts with fiction and dramatization, similar to shows like The Empress. The series covers a large chunk of time until the end of Catherine’s marriage to Henry VIII. The show celebrates the strength of Catherine of Aragon, as she earns the King’s love and respect. The Spanish Princess excels in the many moments it captures morality and royal legacy, with Catherine playing the same role as Elisabeth, both young women learning how to navigate the throne as outsiders.
9 Cable Girls (2017-2020)
Four women accept positions as switchboard operators in 1920s Madrid in Cable Girls. Each woman tries to gain her independence for various reasons in the male-dominated society, highlighting the restrictions placed on women. The characters are captivating, showing raw emotion whether watched in Spanish or dubbed in English. Like shows like The Empress, it tells the story of women fighting for what they want in life. In this case, the stories are beautifully written whether about supporting family, escaping high society, or starting a new life. Cable Girls is a fantastic period drama focusing less on romance and more on women’s rights.
8 Bridgerton (2020-Present)
Not all shows like The Empress have to be about nobility and Royal Families. There are also those period pieces that are just about romance and finding love. As one of Netflix’s most popular series, the characters of Bridgerton captivate audiences by following the Bridgerton family during the marriage season. The series follows a different main character with each season. Fans fell in love with Daphne and the Duke’s passionate love story in season 1, and Anthony and Kate’s intense attraction in season 2. With eight novels in the series by Julia Quinn, there is more love and romance to come.
7 The Crown (2016-Present)
Netflix delivered one of the most successful historical dramas with The Crown, following the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding to Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, to the 21st century. Considering the subject is more recent, the series does an amazing job of capturing the period with elaborate sets and well-written characters to mirror real-life historical figures. As with shows like The Empress, the series isn’t always historically accurate, with minor details added for exceptional storytelling. The Crown offers a glimpse into the historical significance of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, while The Empress focused on a lesser-known tale.
6 Downton Abbey (2010-2015)
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Set in the early 20th century, the lives of the Crawley family and their domestic servants are on full display in Downton Abbey. Historical events, like the sinking of the Titanic and the Spanish flu, lend significance to the storylines as the British social hierarchy begins to change. Like The Empress, this showed the entry into the high class and also featured strong women dealing with class, culture, and politics. It is also a witty historical drama with an all-star cast, including Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville. It’s an addicting soap opera wrapped in beautiful costumes, a lush setting, and perfect pacing.
5 Call The Midwife (2012-Present)
Call the Midwife follows a group of nurse midwives in the slums of London in the 1950s and ’60s. The series tackles serious social subjects of the time period, including the baby boom, poverty, immigration, and serious birth defects and disorders. What makes this different from shows like The Empress is that this takes place in gritty, working-class London. However, it is also both heartwarming and heartbreaking as the midwives show compassion in the nursing field, highlighting how far society and medicine have come since the mid-1900s.
4 The Gilded Age (2022-Present)
The tale of old money versus new money is told in The Gilded Age. Set in 1880s New York, the series is a unique historical drama set in America rather than the genre-typical Europe. The storylines highlight the differences in social classes, providing satisfying drama surrounding money instead of just romance. Much like the stories from shows like The Empress, the main focus here is the plot driven by social classes and moving up the social ladder. The sets and costumes are visually stunning and fans of shows like The Empress will not be disappointed.
3 Versailles (2015-2018)
The French historical drama Versailles chronicles the construction of the Palace of Versailles as the nobility disobeys the monarchy of King Louis XIV. The series has everything viewers would expect: plotting, opulence, and violence. The King struggles to build his empire while French nobles scheme against him. Though there are a handful of sex scenes, the focus of the story isn’t entirely romantic. Mostly Versailles is about building a successful empire and feeding both material and sensual desires. Also, like shows like The Empress, it is about a sibling rivalry, this one between Louis XIV and his brother Philippe I, the Duke of Orleans.
2 The Great (2020- )
Historical comedy-drama The Great is loosely based on the rise of Catherine the Great from her youth to her marriage to Emperor Peter III of Russia. The series is not to be taken seriously. Though The Great has some historically accurate details, it is satirical and funny. With plenty of backstabbing and hypocrisy, the dialogue is witty and Elle Fanning’s portrayal of Catherine the Great is playful and quirky. It might play the comedy more than shows like The Empress, but the idea of a young girl finding her place in the world of Royal Families remains very similar. The Great is a lighthearted, fun whirlwind that will have viewers addicted and waiting for more.
1 Harlots (2017-2019)
Hulu’s Harlots is a fresh take on period dramas, focusing on a London brothel in the 1700s. With strong rivalries with other brothels and evangelism on the rise threatening sex work, Madam Margaret Wells strives to give her family a better life through business or through marriage. Unlike shows like The Empress, this is not based on royalty at all, but it still offers a chance for women to find and demand holding the place they deserve. While Elisabeth battles an antagonistic family she married into, the focus on Harlots is on backstabbing, politics, and romance, mixed with corruption, racism, and religion. The men are mere side characters in the women-driven series.
