The Royal Family, football and tea – some people love everything British. And being an Anglophile has never been easier. We now have streaming giants like Netflix that have given us a huge variety of shows from all over the world straight to our living rooms, wherever that may be. Even the pickiest of fans will find something to binge on.
Do you like period pieces? Then you could try The Crown or Peaky Blinders. More into thrillers? How about Bodyguard or Collateral? Detective series, comedy, drama, action – there’s really something for everyone. Why limit yourself to American shows? If British shows weren’t so brilliant, why all the remakes? Take it from us: what’s posh in the U.K. today will be posh in the U.S. tomorrow. So go straight to the source and give these British titles a try.
The Crown
The Crown follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) from her ascension to the throne through her reign in the twenty-first century. The audience gets an intimate and unique perspective on one of history’s most prominent women.
As he nears the end of his career, the unshakable Winston Churchill, played by John Lithgow, is grappling with the torment of age. Despite his foibles, Churchill’s encouragement and mentorship of Elizabeth provides an important emotional core around which different historical events revolve.
The relationship between Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Phillip (Matt Smith), is also beautifully depicted and how his position as consort is something that he both values and despises.
The production went to great lengths to meticulously recreate the physical environments and strict protocols that bound and define the royal family. And it’s this extraordinary attention to detail that makes the show simply stunning to watch. The filming locations, the sets, the costumes, the lighting, the cinematography – all visual aspects are outstanding. Although this is not a fast-paced and action-packed kind of show, you’ll notice that it’s still engrossing.
It’s the character exploration that will keep you watching episode after episode as you contemplate how modernity clashes with the Palace’s political structure and how Elizabeth has to constantly prioritize protocol and appearance over her own needs and wants, despite her status, and how she managed to overcome considerable challenges and strengthen the stability of the British Monarchy. But if you’re going to binge, put on your computer eyeglasses because there are 40 episodes of this exquisite productive, and you won’t want to miss any faultless detail.
The Last Kingdom
If you like political intrigue, epic battles and Vikings, then you’ll love The Last Kingdom. It’s based on a series of novels called The Saxon Stories written by Bernard Cornwell.
We know that you might be feeling jaded by so many mediocre historical series out there, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this one. There’s so much going on. The story takes places in the 9th century and makes it clear that politics and power are just as cruel regardless of what stage in our history we’re traversing. The many independent kingdoms that make up the England we know today have lost their battles with the invading Danes. Only King Alfred’s great kingdom of Wessex still stands defiant.
Our story’s hero, Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), is a Saxon-born, Viking raised warrior torn between two worlds. Although he is the son of a Saxon Nobleman, as a child, he was captured by the Danes and grew up among them as one of their own. Now he’s struggling to help an English king while his loyalties are constantly tested. He has to find out who he is and his true path.
There’s plenty of realistic warfare, gritty action, colourful supporting characters and excellent acting to keep you entertained while you see what it takes to survive in a barbarous world.
Bodyguard
The British are usually very good at the thriller genre, and Bodyguard is no exception. It stars David Budd (played by Richard Madden from Game of Thrones), who is a volatile military veteran turned police officer. He must now protect the Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), a high-profile politician who stands for everything he despises. Right from the start, he struggles with the clash between his duty and his beliefs, and as their relationship progresses, it only gets more complicated.
What makes Bodyguard really stand out from other series of the same genre is how it handles the elements of a thriller. You’ll notice this even from the first twenty minutes of the show. Then there’s also the acting. The protagonist’s world is falling apart while he’s torn between his past and his present. What keeps you glued to your screen isn’t the action and suspense (although there’s plenty of that, and it’s terrific) but the vulnerable and layered performances.
The length of the series is ideal so that the story isn’t drawn out or rushed. Each episode will leave you wanting more as you approach the finish line.
Lovesick
And now for a bit of comedy! Lovesick is about Dylan Witter (Johnny Flynn), who is literally lovesick. He has chlamydia. The premise of the show is quite simple but original. He has to call his previous lovers and tell them about his diagnosis. This leads to some very interesting and funny nonlinear storytelling.
Each episode gives us a snipped of Dylan’s life and the lives of his two best friends, Evie and Luke. We also get to explore a realistic depiction of the uncomfortable grey area that can arise between friendship and love through the ever-changing feelings between Dylan and Evie.
The comedic elements include sarcastic lines and slapstick, all tied up in the tension of a love story we’re waiting to happen. All the relationships in the show are messy but realistic, and you can’t help liking the characters and hoping that they’ll find their happiness by the end. So you keep watching one episode after another until there’s nothing left to watch. Then you’ll be sad that it’s over.
However, the show is worth watching for its storylines, characters, humour and optimism. It’s a great way to spend your weekend after a hard week of work.