Historically accurate dramas

[XelaM]

The discussion about historical inaccuracies in the new drama King & Conqueror have got me thinking (and longing) for dramas that actually try to accurately depict historical events, try to stay true to costumes and customs of the time. Can anyone recommend any?

The only ones I can think of off the top of my head are "The Last Tsars", which was part drama and part documentary, but surprisingly very historically accurate about the last Russian Tsar Nikolai II.

The other one is more light hearted but very beautifully done and definitely tried to stay true to costumes and customs of the time - "Sissi" (the whole trilogy). Even the age of the actors was close to the people they portrayed whereas you usually get middle aged actors portraying 16-years-olds.

Unfortunately, more often than not, "historical" dramas are like the likes of "Reign" where the screenplay, costumes and music are as far removed from true events as to render it a complete joke (although an enjoyable guilty pleasure kind 🤣).

Can anyone recommend any good historical dramas where the creators actually cared about depicting real historical events?

Yes, I should think so. I remember being slightly astonished when I started watching Downton that it wasn’t really like GP at all, but it was lovely Sunday evening telly.

I was going to say The Gilded Age. I actually haven't watched it yet, but a friend of mine who is a fashion historian says the clothes are very accurate. (she didn't say anything about the actual history though!)
Also, Mary and George – again, I've yet to watch it, but the fashion historian Amber Butchart has posted on SM about how accurate the costumes are. It's pretty unusual to see the 17th century depicted on TV, too, so I think it's well worth a watch.

It’s A Sin

Poldark. Obviously fictional characters but a great depiction of life in 18 th century Cornwall based on research.
I ended up googling some of the political stuff which was historically accurate.

Pillars of the Earth - and the sequel.

ATM we are watching Chief of War on Apple TV , starring Jason Momoa. I have no knowledge at all of Hawaiian history so I can't tell how accurate it is, but it is very good. Watching King and Conqueror, and being so disappointed about it, I was comparing it with the old Netflix series Vikings Valhalla, which probably had bad costumes as well but yet was very engaging and was how I first learned about Emma of Normandy, among other things.

Gentleman Jack Season 1. A true story with great sets, costumes and props.
Not sure about Season 2’s closeness to truth.

The new forsyte saga looks very much like they are going to shoehorn "themes" into it instead of stick to the story.

I didn't know there was a new one!

'Masters of the Air'. It has used the non-fiction book of the same name as it's main source as well as leaning heavily on the memoir of Harry Crosby, 'A Wing and Prayer'. It was produced by the same team as Band of Brothers. The attention to detail and historical accuracy is very good. They went to great lengths to make it so.

I loved Pillars of the Earth, would like to watch it again but I don’t think it’s showing anywhere

Yes, even the tiny details were so well thought-out. Mantel researched the era so thoroughly, and the TV adaptation showed the same care.

The 'colour blind casting' in the last series was a minor quibble, but everything else was fab.

Rome - one of my favourite TV series ever - was an interesting combination of impressively well-researched and wildly inaccurate.

Thank you for reminding me of this series. Will need to rewatch

I'm still upset that they cancelled it prematurely and raced through the events of series two!

I used to rewatch it regularly but haven't in a while so it maybe deserves another go. I'm hoping I won't find it really dated now!

Talking Pictures TV are showing A Family At War. The excellent 1970s series set in ww2. And on the Web site there is a encor facility so you can watch from the start. Plus you can download the app and watch on your mobile.

Recently added to Talking Pictures TV is Sergeant Cork first shown1963. It's a police drama set in Victorian London following the said Sgt Cork as he fights crime. John Barrie plays Sgt Cork and his assistant is William Gaunt. The series has excellent reviews. The show ran from 1963 to 68.

Not very historical, but Band Of Brothers is phenomenal.

It's being adapted by Debbie Horsfield who butchered the Poldark novels (which are excellent) so I'm not getting my hopes up. She's already introducing characters that aren't in the books.

@beguilingeyes oo thanks for that I’ve just bought the first 6 Poldark novels after watching the series. Looking forward to reading them even more now!

Probably my favourite book series ever. Winston Graham was an incredible writer.

Brilliant series.
Wasn't there a sex scene quite early on with the detective? I thought that was a bit much though.