17 Excellent British Period Dramas You Can Binge Right Now
By Lacy Baugher
Judi Dench in “Cranford”. (Photo: BBC)
Cranford
Love snarky older ladies being all-around awesome? Then this series needs to be at the top of your must-watch list. In all seriousness, though – Cranford is the best sort of British period drama. It’s full of colorful, idiosyncratic characters who are just weird enough to be charming. The story is quaint and interesting, but not stressful. And, of course everyone has an incredible wit. (Can I just get older British ladies to teach me comebacks to things? Please?)
Cranford explores the absurdities of everyday life in a small Northern English town. It is the 1840s, and modernity is creeping ever closer. Talk of a new railway being built has residents nervous. What will such a big change will mean for quality of life in their town? Meanwhile, the arrival of a handsome young doctor from London causes a stir – and much gossip – among Cranford’s female residents. Unfortunately, his adherence to trying new and cutting-edge methods of treatment does not go over quite as well.
Dame Judi Dench stars, along with Dame Eileen Aitkins, Imelda Staunton, Julie McKenzie, Francesca Annis, Michael Gambon, and Jim Carter. The acting, as you might expect, is impeccable. (Spoiler alert: I would 100% watch Dench read a phone book.) Overall, the series is largely sweet, frothy escapism.
And sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of show you need.
Number of Seasons: 2 (Sort of. There’s also a sequel series called Return to Cranford.)
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime