Period dramas on Netflix and Amazon Prime to watch while we wait for ‘The Crown’

Photos from the set of The Crown were leaked this week and oh my word does Elizabeth Debicki look like Princess Diana. Filming what looks to be the royal family’s 1991 trip to Italy that was considered a breaking point where Diana donned her iconic leopard print swimsuit and the beginning of her new fashion era.

Sadly though, the official return of The Crown isn’t set to come to Netflix for another year, due to hit in November 2022. Luckily, there are plenty of other options to whet your period drama appetite this month. From royalty to midwifery, chess to comedy. here are just a few of our favourites.

Mrs Wilson
Netflix

A three-part BBC period drama based on the real-life story of main actress Ruth Wilson’s grandmother. After the sudden death of her husband in the 1960s, a woman discovers that her husband was not who she thought he was, in fact he had another family and his much-toted war career as a spy begins to come into question.

Crossing between the war era and the discoveries her grandmother made after his death, Ruth Wilson is wonderful and the story is so wild, if it wasn’t true you wouldn’t believe it.

Alias Grace
Netflix

This 2017 mini-series follows the story of Grace Marks (Sarah Gadon), who is held in prison for murder. A psychologist, Dr. Jordan (Edward Holcroft), takes an interest in her case, and decides to interview her to determine if her conviction is legitimate or based on faulty evidence. Through these interviews, Grace reflects on her past, until she culminates in the day of the murder itself.

The Queen’s Gambit
Netflix

Another Netflix phenomenon, The Queen’s Gambit will make you think you’re a chess master, even if you still don’t know what the castles do. Beth Harmon, orphaned as a child, picks up chess playing with her school’s caretaker, and discovers she is a prodigy at the game. Beth rises through the ranks of the world of chess, battling the odds – sexism, addiction, relationships – to rise to the top.

Pride & Prejudice
Netflix

There are plenty of Pride and Prejudice adaptations to choose from out there, but this 1995 limited series is a personal favourite. I mean, it’s got Colin Firth as Darcy – what more could you want?

Poldark
Netflix

The acclaimed BBC drama is now available on Netflix, and it’s perfect for Christmas bingeing. Ross Poldark has returned to England after fighting in the American Revolution, to find that his entire life has moved on without him. It is up to him to rebuild his life and to face the challenges of 1700’s England alone.

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Amazon Prime

Set in 1950s New York where backdrops look like a musical and background actresses walk down the street in colour-coded crinoline skirts, Teh Marvelous Mrs Maisel focuses on Miriam Maisel, a wealthy Jewish woman whose husband suddenly leaves her and their two children for his secretary. Having somewhat of a mental breakdown, she ends up on stage in a grotty comedy club, telling the story of her marriage’s demise in a tone wholly incoming of nan UWS housewife.

Deciding to pursue a career in comedy, the show mixes real-life comedians of the eras with the fantastical nature of the staging. From the creators of Gilmore Girls, expect the same quippy dialogue. The first season is a joyful, hilarious and tender watch.

Anne with an E
Netflix

The series that sparked a thousand angered tweets demanding its return to Netflix, Anne with an E is a fantastic coming-of-age story. Adapted from the classic Anne of Green Gables, it follows the elderly brother-and-sister pairing of Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who decide to adopt a young boy to help out around their farm. When they arrive at the train station, Anne is waiting, and the three must adapt to life as a family.

Suite Francaise
Amazon Prime

This 2015 World War II epic has it all – drama, history and forbidden love. In German-occupied France, Lucile, played by Michelle Williams, is trapped in a stifling life, as she awaits news of her husband, a prisoner of war. As Parisian refugees begin to pour into her village, they’re followed by German troops, who take up residence in the villager’s homes. Lucile attempts to ignore the German soldier (Matthias Schoenaerts), but an unlikely romance blooms.