THE BEST PERIOD DRAMA YOU CAN SEE ON AMAZON PRIME: APRIL 2022

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There’s probably more than one thing we’ll repeat discuss on this space. Either it’s because I think about it a lot (the story of my life right now) or because I genuinely enjoy the topic. One truism in the latter’s camp is period dramas! In what seems to be becoming a bit of a tradition, about two years after our part one list and close to a year after our second part, we again revisit the topic of best period drama on Amazon Prime (right now).

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Ok, so I’m going to level with you. Of the titles I’ve seen on this list, they aren’t all the BEST in their genre. That said if I have seen the miniseries or film, I did find it interesting enough to add to a list of titles you may enjoy seeing. Some of these I haven’t seen because sometimes one just doesn’t have the time or sometimes I just don’t have the inclination to watch something. When that’s the case I try to look at the ratings on Amazon or if I’ve heard from someone that it’s really good. All that to say, let’s take a bit of a dive into what you can find (right now) on Amazon Prime for period drama! Grad your cup of tea and discover the next thing to sweep you away.

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BEST PERIOD DRAMA ON AMAZON PRIME (RIGHT NOW)

Note: these are all on Amazon Prime or IMDb TV at publication; this is subject to change at any time

Note, while some of these may still be on Amazon Prime (check to see), we have an updated version of Amazon Prime Period drama from September 2024.

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1: THE ABC MURDERS

An Agatha Christie adaptation, this one is dark but decent if you like that sort of production. It features a now retired Poirot looking for someone to take his concerns about a would-be killer seriously.

Note: there’s some graphic depictions of the murder and some sexual innuendo too

2: AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY

This isn’t one I’ve seen or know ANYTHING about so perhaps adding it to this version of our list is premature. However it follows a family who reunites with the daughter they left behind when fleeing Hungry during the war. Scarlett Johansson plays a grown up version of the daughter so it does have a recognizable cast. Have you seen this one?

Note: the film is PG-13

3: THE COURIER

If darker and more intrigue is your thing, we continue with an espionage thriller. Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch stars as a British business man who is recruited to obtain secrets during the cold war. The film is based on true events and is good but also not something I see myself watching multiple times because it is rather heavy.

Note: this one is PG-13 for some suggestive content and instances of sex, but nothing terrible. Mostly it earns its rating for some commonplace profanity and tense moments including torture inferences

4: EMMA. (2020)

I’m likely the only person on planet earth who did not care for this latest adaptation of Emma. I think it tries to really lean into modernisms (which I don’t hate completely) and its sassiness exhibited by its opinionated and would-be matchmaker Emma Woodhouse, but somehow it fails and really removes more of the romance of the film. That said, I can appreciate that while they ruin and miss the pivotal scene, they do give us an eyelock prior to said scene. That’s something I suppose!

Note: this one is PG

5: A GOOD WOMAN

Pretty sure I had this on the list of last year or the year prior. But it’s an interesting dramedy that I have seen more than once. Follows a young, newly married woman who finds a notorious seductress and older woman entering their lives is more than a little complicated.

Note: this one is PG-13 for some suggestive and adult conversation (affairs)/content, but nothing terrible

6: HOWARD’S END (2018)

Saw this one several years ago back when it released and I still have fond memories of it. It’s not the cheeriest period drama (follows siblings, one of whom marries for convivence with some less than the best of circumstances) however this Starz version is beautiful and features British talent Hayley Atwell and also Matthew McFayden.

Note: the series is TV-14

7:  I CAPTURE THE CASTLE

I do find this one oddly charming. It’s not the best of period dramas, but it has this kind of sweetness. The plot is based on a novel and follows a family of eccentrics. The story is about their daughters growing up and falling in love, quite possibly in all the wrong ways.

Note: this one is R for some female nudity and suggestive remarks

8: IVANHOE (1997)

It’s been years since I saw this miniseries. It’s one of those medieval period drama that could probably be likened to something like The Musketeers. Something that’s all about knights and battles and ladies and you know, the usual faire.

Note: this contains the usual standard of adult content including weaponry and sword fights

9: ORDEAL BY INNOCENCE

Exclusive to Prime and based on an Agatha Christie novel, this one removes Miss Marple as the ITV series included her, and features an all star cast that questions who murdered the cold hearted woman of the house in a family of adopted children.

Note: this one is TV-14 and contains adult content like murder and some innuendo sexual references

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10: TITANIC

Not a film I’m into, but SO many love, you can find the famed and doomed love story of Titanic currently on Prime. Featuring Kate Winslet in, arguably the role that made her, as a wealthy young woman who falls for someone beneath her station, the film is a tragic but much loved romantic tragedy.

Note: this one is PG-13 for sexual content/female nudity, and some profanity

11: VALKYRIE

Another tough one in that its subject is about war. Honestly I think I’ve seen this one years ago but cannot remember for certain. However its Amazon review rating is high and it features Tom Cruise in a story about a man who plots to overthrow Hitler so it’s bound to be interesting if not THE best.

Note: this one is PG-13

12: VANITY FAIR

A Prime original, this one I watched back when it released but don’t remember specifics. It’s not THE best period drama mainly because its morals are really skewed, but it is based on the classic masterpiece and for some reason I do find it oddly interesting.

Note: this one is TV-14 for some sexual and adult conversation/content

13: WALK THE LINE

Watched this one YEARS ago and honestly remember very little. I have this idea that I did enjoy it which was likely in large part due to Reese Witherspoon starring and later, winning an Oscar for her role as June Carter. The story, as the title suggests, is a kind of autobiographical drama of the lives of Johnny Cash and the woman he loved.

Note: this one is PG-13

14: THE WAR BRIDE

I do not remember this film at all. However Internet records tell me I did see it at one point. It features Anna Friel as a woman who marries a man who then heads off to war and the complications of her trying to insert herself into a life and family of a husband she doesn’t know.

Note: this one is a PG-13 like rating for some suggestive content and about three sensual scenes; plus there’s a shot of female nudity

15: THE WINSLOW BOY

Jeremy Northam stars in this drama which again, I saw years ago. My memory is fuzzy as to want its all about but it’s a legal case drama that moves rather slow. Still it’s well produced and you can never beat Northam in a period drama. best period drama on amazon prime

Note: Amazon has this one as only PG

BONUS! BEAUTY & THE BEAST (2014)

Shared this one on 2020’s period drama list and after checking, I see it’s still free, this time with IMDb TV. It’s a re-telling, obviously, of the famous fairy tale and while far from my favorite (that goes to Disney’s live action version), it does have a certain charm and I did enjoy watching the two part drama.

STILL ON PRIME

Some of these are titles I included on prior lists from 2020 or 2021, but they are still thriving on Prime!

• Downton Abbey, Seasons 1 – 6
• The Durrells in Corfu, Seasons 1 – 4
• Endeavour (1960s detective drama), Seasons 1-7
• The Lady Vanishes
• The Musketeers (BBC)
• Under the Greenwood Tree
• Victoria (ITV) Seasons 1-3

ADDITIONAL TITLES

None of these are favorites for me personally or lean too much into their content, but you can also find these on outlets like Prime if you’d like to give them a chance!

• Love & Friendship (PG-13)
• The Portrait of a Lady (PG-13)
• Triumph of Love (PG-13 with lots of innuendo, some nudity)
• The White Countess (PG-13)

Let’s hear from you. How many of these have you seen? Did you like any? Are any some of your most favorite? Would you re-watch any or watch any for the first time? Which one do you recognize – or any actors you didn’t know starred in these? What other platform would you like to see a period drama list from? Let’s hear all the thoughts. Sound off below.

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