The 25 Best Historical TV Shows

The best historical TV series — whether they’re set in the distant past or 20th century — remain an incredibly popular genre, with a seemingly limitless range of stories to tell. Period dramas and comedies give viewers a glimpse into the trials, tragedies, and tribulations of the past, many with incredible attention to detail and historical accuracy. Some historical TV series are based on the life of a real person, while others focus on completely original characters. Sometimes, these shows are highly dramatized to increase intrigue or tension, and, while that may irk hardcore history buffs, most are content if the changes make the story more compelling.