10 Best Period Dramedies Like The Great

Curse words? Casual sex? Apathetic humor? The Great might be a period series, but it has a refreshingly modern approach to the genre, making it a dramedy that looks old but feels new.  As viewers watch the transformation of a young Austrian bride into Catherine the Great, there are the usual spectacular costumes and authentic attention to detail, but rather than adhere strictly to historical fact, the show uses what is known of Catherine’s life in a Russian court to craft something more accessible for viewers.

At the time of Catherine’s ascension, Russia was in the midst of some dark times both politically and intellectually, but she saw the chance for an age of enlightenment for her people and took it, lending contemporary infectiousness to the frenzy of Catherine’s story as its pace mirrors current times. There’s something special about The Great that isn’t found in most period pieces, but these dramedies use humor and drama to capture the same vivacious energy, witty banter, and contemporary sensibilities.

10 Dickinson (2019) – Available On Apple TV

Dickinson tells the story of Emily Dickinson in a wonderful mash-up of historical fact and fictional embellishment. Like Catherine, the legendary poet is a strong woman who is navigating a world that she finds objectively problematic, but that Dickinson hopes to change with her vibrant poetry.

With the mixture of modern music, colloquialisms, and innovative camera techniques, Dickinson — like The Great — is subversive and disruptive, beautifully capturing the poet’s spirit and temperance in a world on the brink of great change.

9 Harlots (2017) – Available On Hulu

The 18th century comes alive in Harlots, focusing on the rivalry between two distinct madams trying to run successful brothels in London. One is owned by a single mother with two rambunctious daughters, and another by a ruthless businesswoman. As the war develops between the two women, lives get caught up in the process.

Like the Sex and the City of the 1700s, the series makes sex accessible and hilarious for the time period, proving that the liberated women of the past weren’t so different from those of today.

8 Vanity Fair (2017) – Available On Prime

Based on the biting piece of classic literature of the same name by William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair chronicles the ambitious Becky Sharp as she climbs the social ladder of English society during the Napoleonic Wars. Without regard for who she hurts along the way, she’ll stop at nothing to have the lifestyle she’s dreamed about.

The novel comes to fabulous life with this series full of intrigue, fighting, merriment, and manipulation. From pauper to a lady in King George IV’s court, the tale of Becky Sharpe is a fierce one, and it could only be told with sharp sarcasm and glamorous costumes.

7  Jojo Rabbit (2019) – Available On Hulu

When a German boy finds out his mother is concealing a Jewish girl in the attic, he has to confront his nationalism at the height of World War II. With the help of a surprising imaginary friend, Jojo goes on a hysterical quest to rewrite history in a way that no one sees coming.

From the creative mind of Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit reminds fans that bounding enthusiasm and light-heartedness were both still alive during a difficult time. Like The Great, it showcases the indefatigable fortitude of the human spirit in the face of incredible adversity and darkness.

6 Emma. (2020)  – Available On Hulu

In one of the best Jane Austen adaptations of recent years, Emma. retains much of the dialogue from the book, yet it’s delivered in a spirited way that makes it feel refreshingly vivid. Far from being a stuffy parlor-room piece, the film crackles with the chemistry of the Regency-era characters, especially Emma Woodhouse as she searches for love for all of her friends.

Emma. feels like a contemporary movie despite the fact that it’s set in the early 19th century, and fans will find themselves perfectly able to keep up with its brisk and witty humor despite the characters’ elevated diction.

5 Reign (2013) – Available On Netflix

Much like in The Great, Reign features a young woman traveling to a distant land to secure a political alliance and perhaps find love. She must skillfully manipulate the French Court, and rally allies to her cause if she’s to rule, but the truest test might be managing the demands of her heart with those of her country.

The series aims to show the vibrancy, intrigue, and sensuality of a time when empires could be toppled by the whispers of a secret lover, but Reign is not without its humor, always reminding fans that they don’t have to take this soap too seriously.

4 Marie Antoinette (2006) Available On Prime

Sofia Coppola’s raucous romp Marie Antoinette follows another young Austrian woman promised to another rowdy royal, and with the death of King Louis XV, Marie Antoinette becomes the queen of France. As she enjoys bonbons and contortionists at court, she can never dream of the fate that awaits her a short while later.

At the time the movie was released, some fans didn’t approve of the use of rock and roll and contemporary songs in a period piece, but this music exquisitely captured the frenetic energy of a teenager, and allowed audiences to quickly tap into how a woman who lived over four hundred years ago was feeling.

3 The Favourite (2018) – Available On Apple TV

From the creators of The Great, The Favourite (also starring Nicholas Hoult) tracks the relationship between the fragile Queen Anne and her friend Lady Sarah, who tends to the ruling of the country while the Queen tends to her health. The arrival of a new woman to court upsets the balance of this friendship, with hilarious — and tragic — consequences.

The Favourite sometimes paints Queen Anne as a villain, but then employs unexpected humor to reveal her softer side. Like The Great, this film shows the mess and the magnificence of the people and the period in which they lived and thrived.

2 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017) – Available On Prime

In The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Miriam “Midge” Maisel discovers her knack for stand-up comedy, she decides to give up her idyllic life of two children and a perfect husband to pursue her dreams on the stage. She journeys from the Upper West Side to the nightclubs of Greenwich Village, breaking down the doors of the entertainment industry in the 1950s.

Series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, known for Gilmore Girls, has a knack for making infectiously positive series, but Midge — like Catherine — faces a lot of adversity. Also like the future monarch, the comedian has to break free from her comfort zone to really become who she’s meant to be. In addition to Midge, Mrs. Maisel is full of hilarious characters.

1 Bridgerton (2021) – Available On Netflix

With its heady amalgamation of stunning period settings and contemporary ideologies around race, sex, and gender norms, Bridgerton has certainly captured the attention of fans who may have never watched any period pieces before. By altering the way fans perceive the 19th century, modern audiences can feel connected to its dynamic stories of illicit affairs, forbidden romances, and social commentary.

Like The Great, Bridgerton may have its characters in frocks and ballgowns, but they behave in a way that suggests a kinship with current times, as though even they didn’t approve of the social divides that often prevented people from achieving the lives they wanted.

About The Author

Kayleena Pierce-Bohen
(1349 Articles Published)

Kayleena has been raised on Star Wars and Indiana Jones from the crib. A film buff, she has a Western collection of 250+ titles and counting that she’s particularly proud of. When she isn’t writing for ScreenRant, CBR, or The Gamer, she’s working on her fiction novel, lifting weights, going to synthwave concerts, or cosplaying. With degrees in anthropology and archaeology, she plans to continue pretending to be Lara Croft as long as she can.

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