Like Downton Abbey....

[PopsPlanet]

Please help me find something soothing and engaging. I can't find anything on Netflix, Prime or BBCiPlayer and am in great need for some wonderful escapism.

If there's nowt, would I be unreasonable to start DA all over again?

The BBC remake of Upstairs Downstairs, not on iPlayer any more but on Amazon Prime if you have it.

Gosford Park is like Downton but with a much better script, a better cast, and minus the sepia-tinged nostalgia for an imaginary big house golden age.

Outlander?

@Quire

Gosford Park is like Downton but with a much better script, a better cast, and minus the sepia-tinged nostalgia for an imaginary big house golden age.

Sounds good

Almost the entire Period Drama playlist on AcornTV looks like chill Sunday afternoon viewing.

Poldark was on par with Downton for me. Loved both so much and I’m lost without them. Am trying The English game, however, 3 episodes in and I’m bored.

I just wanted to say thank you for this thread, @PopsPlanet. I'm stuck at home with covid and you inspired me to spend the day binge watching DA all over again, and I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed it!

A place to call home on prime.
It is the Australian version of Downton Abbey and so much better in my opinion.

Bridgerton

If you don't mind dodgy 1970s production values, the entire series of Upstairs Downstairs is on YouTube.

If anyone knows of anywhere I can stream

House of Eliot

I'm all ears

Fantastic show

Loved upstairs downstairs original, not keen on the remake

A place to call home

I have on watchlist but haven't got around to as yet

Similar feel I think

Pride and prejudice - the series with Colin Firth in

I don't like all p&p adaptations (it's my favourite book) but this one is fairly faithful to the book excepting the ending which I'm not keen on.

Call the midwife is ok, a bit "grittier" and there are some episodes that can be triggering for some of us (I've had mcs so ones around pregnancy loss I find a bit tricky I have to be in right frame of mind to watch this show)

The crown - I dip in and out of. As a staunch republican (I know I'm contradictory) I find the sympathetic portrayal of certain people/events offensive at times

Little women - must admit I like the one with Susan Sarandon and Winona Ryder

Not period dramas as such but time travel done fairly gently :

Quantum leap
Timeless (Abigail Spencer and Matt lanter)

I'll admit I haven't tried outlander or poldark due to the mention of rape scenes which I wouldn't cope with necessarily. Annoyingly I think I'd like outlander otherwise

Though I'll admit I liked the Tudors and the Phillipa Gregory adaptations when they were on which also had quite dodgy scenes but I'm hearing the ones in the newer shows are quite tough to watch. Personally I don't think it's necessary to show such scenes so explicitly! Those watching will understand if it's implied and I also think it's not right to make actors play them (especially the women).

Bridgerton doesn't appeal as from what I've seen (trailers were everywhere!) it seems fairly basic/juvenile to me, a period drama for the gossip girl/PLL generation/viewers

Not available to stream but sort of binge watching available on channel 5 (I think might be one the other "5" channels) every weekend one afternoon it's all "murder she wrote" and the other (I can't remember which way around it is) it's columbo episodes which again are not period but very gentle to watch

Fairly gentle but contemporary dramas I like :

White collar (just found out today it's dripping on Disney on 20th Oct I was bereft it was no longer on Netflix)
Death in paradise
The Mallorca files

I'm tempted to possibly try the new all creatures great and small used to enjoy the original back in the day

Endeavour I like but I'm not sure where I got up to last time I watched it I need to sort that out

There's meant to be a new mini series adaptation of the ipcress file coming up which could be interesting

The irregulars I have on my watchlist

A spy among friends adaptation is upcoming too apparently

Queens gambit is on my watchlist I am a bit of a chess geek though unfortunately not a great player myself but again I'm not sure if certain elements would make it too tough for me to watch

I would LOVE more series like downton abbey but I fear it's hard for writers of them to get them made as they're seen as "boring" as they don't have sensational plots in them. Fellowes is very well known very successful and has great connections in the industry so that got him the "foot in the door"

If someone like Ang Lee or indeed Heidi Thomas and similar were to try and create and "sell" period drama series I think they could turn it into a more prevalent genre.

It's not a question of quality or popularity as when they are made they generally do very well both critically and publicly.

Perhaps cost is the factor as I can well imagine between costume and set decoration/creation etc it can be quite pricey so maybe that's why

I'd also love to see more recent period dramas if that makes sense? Ones set in the 60's/70's/80's

It's a sin was fabulous! If utterly heartbreaking!

These tap into the nostalgia of the generation that lived then (look how successful "heartbeat"
And "the royal" were!

Well by my calculations (roughly) my generation (70's born) are about the same age as our parents were when they came out and did very well

I think period dramas set during the 70's and 80's would do extremely well. I'd certainly watch!

Gran Hotel is a fantastic period drama (Spanish and subtitled, on Netflix) And for any Money Heist fans Berlin has a starring role

@Snowdropsandbluebells

The Duchess is a good film of a similar era. Don't know if it's still on Netflix but we watched Poldark last year.

The kerala knightly one????

Call the Midwife is definitely a tear jerker

Brideshead Revisited?

Just rewatched downton abbey and thought enjoyed it - can't wait fir the second film.
Poldark is great - the so called 'rape' sence was not like the one in the book , or for that matter the first series, though appreciate even tonned right down may be triggering.
All creatures great and small - another fabulous remake.
The Duchess - excellent film.
Bridgeton - loved it totally. It is one of several books , which I understand they are making book 2.
Call the midwife
The Durrells
Victoria the series - still got a few more season ti come.
And 'young Victoria- Emily blunt was very good.
The Turdors (though there's a few bits of torture in the later episodes - yuck
And of course The Crown - it took me a few goes to get passed episode 1 ( but that may have been because I couldn't quite get over ' dr who playing Prince Philip - but in fact Matt Smith does a fantastic job, and I couldn't imagine anyone else playing a young Prince Philip)

Forgot Brides head Revisited! Must watch it again myself (the version with Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons). An absolute classic.

If you’re ok with subtitles or dubbing, the Spanish series “grand hotel” is very similar, and the production company also made “cable girls” “velvet” and “high seas” which are similar. But grand hotel is fabulous, it’s like an even more dramatic downton.

I also liked upstairs downstairs, mr selfridge and the other period one about a department store where the owner is called Moray and is absolutely charming and gorgeous.

@absolutelynotfabulous

Forgot Brides head Revisited! Must watch it again myself (the version with Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons). An absolute classic.

Ah yes-goes without saying that it must be that version-hence why I didn't say it!

Mr Selfridge

And The Paradise. Yes, there is a theme there 😂

Poldark, Call the Midwife and Anne with an E are all very good, not the same time period but feel 'comfy' to me when I watch them. Also I watched The Dig recently on Netflix which was incredible.