Best Historical TV Shows To Binge

August 8, 2022 | Film Chop

Getting educated on history isn’t typically considered a fun way to spend an evening. However, these best historical TV shows make learning about the past entertaining. History is filled with stories and events that are stranger than fiction, and these shows bring some of the most fascinating tales to life. In this blog post, we go through the nine best historical TV shows available to watch online.

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9 Best Historical TV Series

9. Mindhunter

David Fincher has a long track record of creating compelling dramas about serial killers and psychopaths, which makes him the perfect candidate to create a show about the FBI agents who profile some of America’s most notorious criminals. Mindhunter is set in the late 1970s and follows two FBI agents who are tasked with interviewing serial killers to solve open cases. From Ed Kemper to Richard Speck, the show covers a wide range of real-life high-profile cases and does an excellent job of bringing the viewer into the minds of both the killers and the investigators.

 

Where To Watch Mindhunter

Netflix

 

8. When They See Us

This Netflix show highlights a shameful moment in American history – the wrongful conviction of five teenagers for a rape they did not commit. The show is based on the true story of the Central Park Five, and it is eye-opening and heartbreaking. The series follows five teens from Harlem as they become trapped in a nightmare when they’re falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park.

 

Where To Watch When They See Us

Netflix

7. Rome

Rome is a historical TV series centered around Rome’s transition into an empire in the 1st Century BC. The show is packed with drama, intrigue, and romance, and it’s one of the most fascinating TV shows about ancient Rome. Rome is a down-to-earth account of the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans set in the last days of the Roman Republic. Many of the stories and characters are based on real figures from historical records.

Where To Watch Rome

Tubi
HBO Max

 

6. The Tudors

Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Henry Cavill star in this dramatic TV series about the volatile reign of King Henry VIII. The Tudor dynasty was one of the most fascinating in English history, and this show brings all the drama and intrigue to life. The Tudors is a dramatic series about the reign and marriages of King Henry VIII. It’s a fascinating and unique look at one of the most important figures in English history.

Where To Watch The Tudors

Showtime

 

5. Turn: Washington’s Spies

Many people are not familiar with the story of the spies for Washington during The American Revolution. This AMC show highlights the Culper Ring, a group of spies who helped turn the tide of the war in favor of the Americans. The series follows a Long Island farmer who bands together with a group of childhood friends to form an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America’s fight for independence. Turn is an exciting and educational show that offers a different perspective on the American Revolution.

 

Where To Watch Turn: Washington’s Spies

AMC+

 

4. Peaky Blinders

The Peaky Blinders street gang controlled the streets of Birmingham, England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This gang was notorious for its violence and criminal activities. They were mostly known for wearing overcoats with a peaked flat cap. The Netflix show is a fictionalized account of the Peaky Blinders, and it’s one of the best historical TV shows out there. The series is set in 1900s England, centering on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby.

 

Where To Watch Peaky Blinders

Netflix

 

3. The Crown

The Royal Family has intrigued people all around the world for centuries. The Crown is a Netflix series that chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It’s a fascinating look at the inner workings of the Royal Family and the British government. The series covers events from Queen Elizabeth’s early life, including her marriage to Prince Philip, as well as later events such as the introduction to Princess Diana and the Falklands War. The Crown is compelling to watch, and it’s one of the best historical TV shows available.

 

Where To Watch The Crown

Netflix

 

2. Chernobyl

The disaster of Chernobyl was devastating for the people of Ukraine and the world. Many people wonder about the details and nuances of how Chernobyl could have happened. HBO created a mini-series Chernobyl that goes into extreme depth and detail to explain everything from the build-up to the disaster, to the aftermath. It is one of the best historical TV shows because of how accurate and well-made it is. Cherobyl won ten Primetime Emmys and is one of the most highly rated shows by audiences and critics alike.

 

Where To Watch Chernobyl

HBO Max

 

1. Band of Brothers

Band of Brothers won six Primetime Emmys because of its high-quality production and storytelling. The show is based on the book of the same name written by Stephen E. Ambrose. The book and the series chronicle the true story of the Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day. Band of Brothers is just as educational as it is entertaining, and it’s one of the best historical TV shows ever made.

 

Where To Watch Band of Brothers

HBO Max

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