6 period dramas better than King and Conqueror to stream now
King and Conqueror proved divisive with period drama fans.
(Image: Amazon Prime Video)Royal rows, backstabbing nobles and blood on the battlefield — history has always been juicier than fiction. While the major streaming giants are serving up an endless array of viewing options, there are plenty of period dramas that do it better than the rest. Some take you inside the throne rooms where kings and queens play dirty to hold on to power, others follow unlikely heroes dragged into wars and betrayals that shaped a nation.
These dramas are full of scheming, scandal and shocks that make even the wildest soap storylines look tame. From war-torn villages to Shakespearean gore, they’ll pull you straight into the danger and drama of the past. So if you’re looking to binge some betrayal, and feast on some nail-biting crown wars, here are six gripping period dramas guaranteed to keep you hooked.
This sweeping miniseries drops you into 12th-century England’s chaos — civil war, church-plotting, and power games tearing families apart.
Amid the chaos, a grand cathedral rises in Kingsbridge thanks to master builder Tom, noblewoman Aliena, monk Philip, and artist Jack.
Packed with betrayal, ambition and epic drama, it’s the kind of medieval spectacle that makes King and Conqueror look tame.
(Image: Prime Video)
Forget glamorous kings — this ‘90s hit proves medieval drama can be gritty and gripping. Derek Jacobi plays Brother Cadfael, a former Crusader turned monk, who solves murders in 12th-century Shrewsbury.
Based on Ellis Peters’ bestselling novels, the series mixes blood-soaked crime, church politics and old-world superstition with Cadfael’s sharp detective instincts.
It’s part period drama, part murder mystery, and still stands out as one of the most original takes on the genre.
(Image: ITV)
This ambitious BBC epic (1960) stitches together eight of Shakespeare’s royal history plays — from Richard II to Richard III — into a bold 15-episode live serial.
It tracks 86 years of throne-snatching, civil war and political backstabbing.
Packed with early-career legends like Judi Dench, Sean Connery and Julian Glover, it remains the stuff of TV legend — classic Shakespeare, stripped of gloss and delivered in raw, unforgettable drama.
(Image: BBC)
This gritty medieval drama throws you into the Viking-scarred world of 9th-century England, where Alfred the Great fights to unite britain.
At the centre is Uhtred – a Saxon-born warrior raised by Danes – torn between loyalty to his birthright and Viking upbringing.
Packed with battlefield carnage, political scheming, and raw fealty, it’s Game of Thrones without dragons but all the punch and pulse.
(Image: Netflix)
Daily Express
