The 10 best period TV shows to stream right now

If you enjoyed the witty dialogues and insane speed in which Lorelai and Rory talked in The WB's "Gilmore Girls," then you'll love Amazon Prime's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino's meticulous writing sparkles in both shows, this one with a touch of '50s glamor.

When protagonist Midge Maisel, played by Rachel Brosnahan, gets dumped by her husband of four years, she turns from devoted housewife to bonafide stand-up comedian overnight.

With the help of her hilarious manager, played by Alex Borstein, Midge further explores her untapped talent, as New York City's late '50s-early '60s comedy scene comes to life ― complete with sets by legendary comedian Lenny Bruce, portrayed by Luke Kirby.

Three seasons of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" are available on Amazon Prime, while the show has been renewed for a fourth season.

Period sitcoms are a rare period subgenre, which is one of the reasons why "That '70s Show" has proven so successful. Having originally aired on Fox between 1998 and 2006, the series follows six teenage friends living in the fictional Point Place, Wisconsin in the late '70s.

The comically dysfunctional but purely entertaining relationship between Jackie and Kelso (played by current real-life partners Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher) and the amusing dialogues and situations developed among the rest of the characters easily match the dynamic of "Friends."

Topher Grace as the geeky Eric and Wilmer Valderrama as the weird foreign exchange student Fez are instantly adorable in all their quirkiness.

All eight seasons of "That '70s Show" are available to stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Jane Austen's 1813 novel "Pride and Prejudice" has been adapted into several TV shows and movies over the years, most notably the 2005 film of the same name.

Still, it's BBC1's 1995 miniseries that paints the truest picture of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy's stubborn romance. In six delightful episodes, the show accurately conveys the era's romanticism, enhanced by the verdant scenery and elaborate period costumes.

Jennifer Ehle delivers a spot-on opinionated Elizabeth who values love over status or wealth, while Colin Firth is exquisite as self-righteous albeit noble and kind-hearted Mr Darcy.

The series inspired author Helen Fielding to write the beloved "Bridget Jones" novels, which were later adapted into movies, starring none other than Colin Firth as Mark Darcy.

You can stream "Pride and Prejudice" on Amazon Prime and Hulu.

Probably the most successful historical drama on TV, "Downton Abbey" delves into the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants, who reside in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey in the early 20th century.

The show first aired in 2010 (on ITV in the UK and PBS in the US) and went on for six seasons, filled with secret romances, hidden skeletons, and dramatic reveals, as well as lots of breathtaking, post-Edwardian costumes.

It is quite accurate historically, featuring events like the sinking of the Titanic, the 1918 flu pandemic, and the eventual decline of the British aristocracy that threatens the survival of the Crawleys themselves.

The series' attention to detail extends to the actresses' make-up which is really subtle, to mirror the era's beauty styles ― no mascara needed, since it wasn't produced until 1913.

"Downton Abbey" is available on PBS and Amazon Prime.

Named after the term referring to advertisers working on Madison Avenue, AMC's "Mad Men" sheds a light on the advertising scene of 1960s New York.

The show follows the lives of employees at the fictional Sterling Cooper ad agency, especially that of Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm), the company's talented but womanizing creative director, who comes with all sorts of emotional baggage.

"Mad Men" has received a plethora of awards, including 16 Emmys and five Golden Globes, thanks to its gripping storylines and historical authenticity.

Apart from the amazing '60s costumes ― that even inspired a capsule collection for Banana Republic back in 2011 ― the show features major political events, such as the assassination of President Kennedy and that of Martin Luther King. It's also a true eye-opener when it comes to sexism in the industry and the US at the time.

"Mad Men'"s seven seasons are available on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Coproduced by ITV Studios and Masterpiece/WGBH and broadcast on ITV from 2013 to 2016, British period drama "Mr Selfridge" recounts the life story of American visionary Harry Gordon Selfridge (played by Jeremy Piven) who founded Selfridges, the second-largest department store in the UK.

The show focuses on Selfridges' early years, from the store's founding in London in 1908 (and opening a year later), all the way through to 1928, including the World War I period that took its toll on the store and its employees.

Fashion takes center stage here, through statement hats and sumptuous dresses as Selfridges gradually becomes a point of reference for stylish, cultured women. All the while, Harry finds it increasingly difficult to balance family life with his extravagant, at times promiscuous ways.

You can stream "Mr Selfridge'"s four seasons on PBS and Amazon Prime.

British comedy-drama series "The Durrells," which originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on ITV, revolves around a British family and their adventures on the Greek island of Corfu.

The series is based on naturalist and author Gerald Durrell's three autobiographical books about his and his family's time spent in Greece, between 1935 and 1939; the story ends just as War World II is starting to spread around Europe.

As the widowed mother-of-four Louisa Durrell (played by Keeley Hawes) struggles to make ends meet on a foreign land, Corfu's unspoiled beauty and air of freedom mix with her children's funny mishaps, making for some excellent TV.

All four seasons of "The Durrells" (re-titled as "The Durrells in Corfu" for North America) are available on PBS and Amazon Prime.

Netflix's popular historical drama "The Crown" showcases the events surrounding the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, current Queen of the UK, and the other Commonwealth realms.

The show spans three seasons so far, covering Elizabeth's younger years, her wedding to Philip, her coronation, the birth of her four children, and the political events that marked the period between 1947 and 1977, including Prime Minister Winston Churchill's final years of leadership.

"The Crown" has been praised for its writing and cinematography, while the truthful performances of the actors portraying Royal Family members and politicians add to a relatively accurate account of historical events.

Moral dilemmas, family scandals, and the often-absurd sacrifices made in order to preserve the monarchy take the viewer on a thrilling ride.

"The Crown" is available on Netflix and has been renewed for two more seasons, meant to cover the Queen's reign until the early 21st century.

Hulu's latest addition, "The Great" is a satirical drama, loosely based on the rise of Catherine ΙΙ to power, as Catherine the Great, Russia's longest-ruling female leader.

The show's first season sees Elle Fanning in the role of Catherine, an educated, refined woman who travels to Russia to marry Emperor Peter, played by Nicholas Hoult.

As Empress, Catherine realizes that her life revolves around meaningless activities, while Peter's immaturity, cruel leadership, and debauched lifestyle repulse her. After her attempts to leave Russia fail, she decides to stage a coup and save the country from its horrible ruler.

All historical inaccuracies aside, the series relies on an eccentric sense of humor that works, thanks to Hoult's hysterical portrayal of Peter — essentially a spoiled child trapped in an Emperor's body — and Fanning's level-headed, sometimes contemptuous Catherine.

Stream "The Great'"s first season on Hulu.

"Poldark" follows the life journey of British Captain Ross Poldark, played by Aidan Turner, who returns to his home in Cornwall in 1783 after three years in the army, only to discover his father is dead, his former great love is engaged to his cousin, and his estate is in ruins.

The second screen adaptation of Winston Graham's "Poldark" novels for BBC1 (the first one having aired from 1975 to 1977), the show digs deep into the passionate, caring nature of its title character, who fights to rebuild his life, take down his enemies, and re-write his personal love story.

It also highlights the inequalities between the rich and the poor in post-American-Revolution England, where the social and economic gap between the two had only grown bigger.

"Poldark" ran from 2015 to 2019 for five seasons, and is now available on PBS and Amazon Prime.

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