6 Best Historical TV Shows Ever Made

Our sixth selection for historical TV shows is The Last Kingdom, set in 872 during the Vikings. Many of the separate kingdoms of what is now England have fallen to the invading Danes, a Viking clan. The only one left is Wessex, under the command of King Alfred. Living with the Danes is Uhtred, the son of a Saxon nobleman who was taken as a child. As Uhtred gets plunged into the center of the Danes and the Saxons, he must figure out which side he is on and claim his birthright.

–IMDb score: 8.5

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Fifth for historical TV shows is the famed History Channel series Vikings. While not completely accurate, it does bring a new focus to one of the most dominant groups in our history. The show follows Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior and farmer who seeks to raid distant shores. Becoming the King of the Viking tribes, Ragnar embodies the Norse traditions and visage of a Viking.

–IMDb score: 8.5

Next up for historical TV shows is The Crown, showcasing the political rivalries and romances of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the events occurring in Britain during the second half of the 20th century. In the beginning, we see Queen Elizabeth II as a young newlywed faced with leading the monarchy while forging a relationship with Prime Minister Churchill. The show takes us through the Queen’s journey behind the doors of Westminster and Buckingham Palace.

–IMDb score: 8.6

CHECK OUT: Is the Crown Historically Accurate?

Dive into the eastern hemisphere with the new hit show Shogun, our third selection for best historical TV shows. Set during the 17th century, the story is told by British hero John Blackthorne, a sailor who rises from an outsider to a samurai. Blackthorne is also being used as a pawn in Japanese leader Toranaga’s struggle to reach the ruling chain of power, also known as the Shogun.

–IMDb score: 8.6

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Nuclear power can be extremely dangerous if something goes wrong, and that is exactly what our selection selection for historical TV shows highlights. Chernobyl brings viewers back to April 1986 when the city of Chernobyl in the Soviet Union suffered a nuclear catastrophe that was the worst in the history of mankind. The series not only focuses on the event, but the heroes who put their lives on the line in the following days, weeks, and months.

–IMDb score: 9.3

Ranking first on the best historical TV shows list is Band of Brothers, telling the story of “E” Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division from 1942 to the end of WWII. The regiment was parachuted behind enemy lines in the early hours of D-Day, participated in the liberation of Carentan, and parachuted into Operation Market Garden. On top of all that, the group also liberated a concentration camp and was the first to enter Hitler’s mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden. If you enjoy camaraderie through the lens of war, this is the perfect series to watch.

–IMDb score: 9.4

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