The Best Summer Period Dramas

I don’t know what the weather is like where you are but we had maybe a month of spring here in the middle of Canada before summer showed up with a vengeance. (It truly is a vengeance, as my province and others are dealing with major wildfires.) If you are like me and are less a fan of bugs, heat stroke, and sweat, now is a great time to dive into a new period drama. These are the best summer period dramas– they are dramatic and entertaining, they let you escape, and there are a fair number of episodes to enjoy!

I should explain before we start: I don’t consider a show a “summer period drama” because it takes place in summer, but rather it is a summer period drama because I enjoy watching it in the summer*! It has a lot of plot to move through, it is entertaining, and it’s got strong characters (both “good” and “bad”). A summer period drama also has many episodes that I can enjoy over long weekends and time off!

*You might define a summer period drama differently, to each their own!

Versailles (30 episodes)

Of course a show about the Sun King himself would be wildly entertaining, but Versailles has quietly become one of my favourites. (I’ve rewatched this three times now and will be starting my fourth this summer.) Parts of the show were filmed at the Palace of Versailles, as well as several other French chateaus- if you enjoy nothing else, the sets and landscapes are fantastic. I also appreciate that the show covered a major amount of Louis XIV’s life. The end might be a tad rushed for my liking but it still touched on the major points.

The Best Books If You Love Versailles

Sanditon (20 episodes)

If you are always looking for more Jane Austen in your life, Sanditon is a must-watch! While sadly there are only twelve chapters from Austen surviving, it forms the basis for this three season period drama. We’ve got a newly emerging seaside ton, people taking risks to make it big, and of course a romance. It’s fun to be Austen-adjacent- we get the feeling of her story with new plot and characters to fall in love with!

This period drama also had a really interesting journey- it wasn’t renewed for a second season and then a massive world-wide campaign was able to get a second and third season.

The Best Books to Read If You Love Sanditon

Reign (78 episodes)

I know that Reign is a contentious inclusion but this CW show is nothing but entertainment. (If you want to learn more about the historical Mary, Queen of Scots, I’ve got a reading list with many books to help!) We have teen drama, spies, murder, balls, 2010s couture pieces- it is nothing if not entertaining. And given that there are four seasons with nearly eighty episodes, it means that you have a lot of drama to enjoy over the next few months.

The Best Books to Read If You Love Reign

The Great (30 episodes)

I know The Great is also a contentious choice, but it is one of my favourite shows. This is an absurdist, satirical period drama that is very open with the fact that it is “occasionally true”. However, that gave the writers and actors so much more room to play and it makes it all the more entertaining. I think that Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult were brilliant in their roles, as was the supporting cast. Plus we’ve got many stunning filming locations across Europe standing in for Russia, once again making it a treat for the eyes. While it was quietly not renewed for a fourth season, I still love the three seasons we have.

The Best Books to Read If You Love The Great

Grantchester (58 episodes)

I have not finished Grantchester yet (I’m still in the middle of the third season) but I wanted to include a procedural/mystery series because sometimes you just need to solve a murder or two. There have been some actors come and go throughout the series, but it is popular for a reason!

It’s set in the 1950s- it was a period of intense social changes, which is definitely a factor in the show. It also takes place in Cambridgeshire, which makes for a picturesque show. (I also appreciate that despite the main character being a vicar, it never feels overly religious or preachy when it comes to social issues.

Seaside Hotel (64 episodes)

Finally, I’m finishing it up with one of my favourite international dramas- this period drama is a Danish show set outside Copenhagen. I love the balance of comedy and drama in the show; it’s fairly light viewing, making for an excellent summer show. We have some returning characters and many new characters throughout, which certainly keeps it interesting. (It has also left me wanting to eventually spend some time in one of these summer hotels on the coast of Denmark.) There are English subtitles, as well as other languages available!