A Tale of Two Cities is a historical drama series created by Daniel West. Based on Charles Dickens‘ 1859 novel of the same name, the MGM+ series is set in the 1780s in London, and it follows Lucie Manette as she learns that her presumed-dead father may still be alive in Paris. Her life takes a turn when an erratic lawyer and a former French aristocrat fall in love with her, and both of them are lookalikes. A Tale of Two Cities stars François Civil, Mirren Mack, Kit Harington, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Guillaume Gallienne. So, if you loved the period setting, romance story, and compelling characters in A Tale of Two Cities, here are some similar shows you should check out next.
War & Peace (Prime Video, Peacock, & The Roku Channel)
War & Peace is a British period drama series written by Andrew Davies. Based on Leo Tolstoy’s 1869 novel of the same name, the BBC One series is set during the peak of war between Napoleon Bonaparte and Russia, and it revolves around members of five aristocratic families as their lives are forever changed by the conflict. War & Peace stars Paul Dano, Lily James, James Norton, Jessie Buckley, Jack Lowden, Aisling Loftus, and Tom Burke.
Les Misérables (Rent on Prime Video)
Les Misérables is a British historical drama series written by Andrew Davies. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic French novel of the same name, the BBC series is set in the early 19th century in a war-torn France, and it follows Jean Valjean as he is released from prison after 19 years and finds himself shunned by society. Years later, Valjean becomes a well-respected man under the name of Madeleine, but the new police inspector suspects him of being Valjean. Les Misérables stars Dominic West, David Oyelowo, Lily Collins, Adeel Akhtar, Johnny Flynn, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, David Bradley, and Derek Jacobi.
Poldark (Netflix, PBS, & Rent on Prime Video)
Poldark is a British historical romance drama series created by Debbie Horsfield. Based on Winston Graham’s novel series of the same name, the BBC One series is set in the 1780s, and it follows British Army veteran Ross Poldark as he returns home to Cornwall from the American Revolutionary War and finds his estate in ruin after the death of his father. He soon falls for the housemaid, Demelza, who helps him rebuild his fortune. Poldark stars Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson, Heida Reed, Ruby Bentall, Jack Farthing, Luke Norris, and Beatie Edney.
North & South (Prime Video, Peacock, & BritBox)
North & South is a British historical drama series written by Sandy Welch. Based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s 1855 novel of the same name, the BBC One series is set in the 1850s, and it follows Margaret Hale, a middle-class southerner, as she moves to the northern town of Milton alongside her parents but struggles to get accustomed to their traditions. She soon finds herself falling for local mill-owner, John Thornton. North & South stars Daniela Denby-Ashe, Richard Armitage, Sinéad Cusack, and Jo Joyner.
The Forsyte Saga (Netflix, PBS, & Rent on Prime Video)
The Forsyte Saga is a British period drama series co-written by John Galsworthy and Stephen Mallatratt. The ITV series follows the lives of three generations of the upper-middle-class Forsyte family over the course of 50 years. The story peeks behind the facade and explores family tensions, brutal relationships, and betrayals. The Forsyte Saga stars Damian Lewis, Rupert Graves, Gina McKee, Corin Redgrave, and Ioan Gruffudd.
The Scarlet Pimpernel (The Roku Channel)
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a swashbuckler period drama series written by Richard Carpenter. Based on Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s 1905 novel of the same name, the BBC One series is set during the French Revolution, and it follows English aristocrat Percy Blakeney as he poses as a drunkard in public but secretly carries out dangerous missions with the help of his friends. The Scarlet Pimpernel stars Richard E. Grant, Martin Shaw, Elizabeth McGovern, and Caroline Carver.
Belgravia (MGM+, BritBox, & Rent on Prime Video)
Belgravia is a British historical drama series written by Julian Fellowes. Based on Fellowes’ 2016 novel of the same name, the ITV series is set in the 19th century in London, and it revolves around the new-money Trenchard family as they come into contact with the members of London’s high society, which threatens their hidden secrets. Belgravia stars Philip Glenister, Tamsin Greig, Richard Goulding, Emily Reid, and Alice Eve.