Theactiongenre includes many iconic TV shows, and some of the best and most overlooked are historical dramas. These series are set long ago and can be even more thrilling than works that take place in the contemporary era. This is because the fight sequences are even more gory and gritty.Today, many battle scenes are defined by gunsand modernized fighting styles. Going back in time to experience the intensity and violence of how warfare and everyday conflicts unfolded is a window into a piece of history with which many people aren’t familiar.
All thebest historical TV showshave fun crafting period atmospheres and costumes to immerse the viewer in a time gone by. Whether this is thousands of years ago or a more recent era of the 20th century, the differences in styles and technologies immediately set these projects apart. Whilenot all of these works are the most historically accurate,they make up for these anachronisms with high-octane battle sequences and unforgettable fight choreography that will leave the viewer astounded.
Warrioris anaction TV show with fast-paced action scenesset in the late 19th century in San Francisco.Andrew Koji plays the protagonist, Ah Sahm, a young man who comes to San Francisco from Chinaon a quest to find his missing sister. Of course, his plans don’t unfold as he expects, and Ah comes into contact with many powerful people who have no qualms about hurting him. Fortunately, his martial arts skills are some of the best seen on TV in recent years.
It takes a skillful show to balance these bloody moments with such sharp cultural commentary, butWarrioreasily pulls it off.
Each of the characters brings a different skill and fighting style to the table, allowingWarriorto explore many different niches of martial arts and allowing the characters to bring a unique strength to each battle. Alongside the action and adventure,Warrioris deeply involved in conversation with the socio-political events and discrimination faced by Chinese immigrants during this era. It takes a skillful show to balance these bloody moments with such sharp cultural commentary, butWarrioreasily pulls it off.
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ThoughBritanniaincorporates some fantasy elements alongside its historical setting,this doesn’t take away from the impact of the onscreen action. If anything, the magical moments and mystical powers that appear throughoutBritanniamake the conflict between the British and the Romans more potent. Unlike other historical action series,Britanniauses the grim and gritty realities of the past to juxtapose the heightened elements of magic, transporting the viewer to another world.
ThoughBritanniaonly ran for three seasons, it left a mark on the genre since it introduced such a dynamic ensemble of characters, religions, and empires. There are a plethora of TV shows that tackle the conflicts between the British and the Romans, and by incorporating otherworldly elements,Britanniastands apart and distinguishes itself. With recognizable faces like Kelly Reilly featured in the cast,Britanniadraws us into the complex politics and religions of its story.
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Before he was Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy brought the brilliant gangster Tommy Shelby to life for all ofPeakyBlinders’s six seasons.Peaky Blindersbegins in the wake of World War I, with Tommy returning from the fight a changed man, ready to do whatever it takes to be rich and comfortable no matter what. Chronicling Tommy’s successes, failures, and development into an unforgettable antihero,Peaky Blindersworks because of Murphy.
If You Love Peaky Blinders, Give These 10 Other Period Crime Dramas A Try
While characters like Thomas and Arthur Shelby were one of a kind, there are plenty more period crime dramas to check out after Peaky Blinders.
Waiting for thePeaky Blindersmoviehas been agonizing ever since the project was confirmed, as it will be thrilling to catch up with the Shelbys in a new era.The series tackled issues of industrialization and the changes in the British government as the 20th century progressedthrough the cruel and exacting lens of Tommy’s business sense. Working in the criminal underground forced Tommy and the other characters to get their hands dirty in almost every episode, giving the show a bloody edge.
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Most audiences are no stranger to movies and TV shows that tackle the era of Vikings,taking their legendary exploits and transforming them into heightened and dramatized stories. In the TV showVikings, historical records, legend, and myth come together to create an unforgettable sweeping period piece full of intricate battles.Vikingsis one of the action shows that mines its conflict and tension from imposing set pieces and major wars, providing a sense of the period’s massive scale.
The series was popular enough to warrant the spinoffVikings: Valhalla, which aired on Netflix and served as a gory continuation ofVikings. However, the original series is still the best to watch, especially if you’re looking foran action show that doesn’t skimp on the blood and guts.Vikingswas criticized for its historical inaccuracy, as it sometimes relies on tropes and cultural shorthand to elicit reactions in the audience rather than using truthful pieces of the past.
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The Starz network is no stranger to tackling historical drama, literary adaptation, and epic tales of revenge and love.Black Sailspremiered the same year asOutlander,one of Starz’s most successful historical dramas. WhileBlack Sailsdidn’t have the longevity ofOutlander, the pirate adventure shouldn’t be forgotten. Imagined as a prequel to the iconic novelTreasure Island,Black Sailsis a swashbuckling adventure that grows and evolves throughout the seasons, becoming a true joy to watch.
Each installment of the show grows in scale and character development, becoming much more than a traditional pirate story.
Black Sailsmakes changes from theTreasure Islandstory, introducing more historical figures and real events that flesh out the story and root it in a gripping reality. ThoughBlack Sailsseason 1 relied on the gorgeous visuals and exciting set pieces to propel the story, each installment of the show grows in scale and character development, becoming much more than a traditional pirate story. However, this isn’t to say thatBlack Sailsever holds back from giving the audience plenty of thrills and chills.
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Loosely based on the novel seriesThe Saxon Storiesby Bernard Cornwell,The Last Kingdomevolved a great deal as the series progressed, and not just because the show moved from the BBC to Netflix. Beginning in the mid-800s and chronicling the growths and changes of Saxon and Viking relations up through the mid-900s,The Last Kingdomis more than a typical Viking drama. Alexander Dreymon anchors the cast as Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the fearless warrior with ties to both the Saxons and the Danes.
His development is set against the bloody backdrop of the vicious wars inThe Last Kingdomandthe ruggedly beautiful landscapes that the viewer gets to inhabit alongside the characters.The Last Kingdomcame out a few years afterGame of Thronesand took its cues from the successful fantasy series that didn’t hold back from sacrificing beloved characters. ThoughThe Last Kingdomstays away from magic and mysticism, reality is the most brutal part of the show.
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The iconic World War II miniseriesBand of Brothersis renowned for its truth and devastation in bringing to life the experiences of young soldiers fighting on the Western Front. Though not everything is completely accurate to the lives of the menBand of Brotherstouches upon,it’s overwhelmingly vivid and realistic, transporting the viewer into the thick of the fighting.Witnessing the characters go from training to the heat of battle,Band of Brothersis immersive from start to finish.
Though it’s been many years sinceBand of Brotherspremiered, few shows have come close to its lasting legacy.
Band of Brothersis aTV show that accurately captures the horrors of war, showcasing the sacrifice and trauma that these men weathered throughout the war. Produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, who gained recognition for their harrowing war movieSaving Private Ryan,Band of Brothersuses similar tactics to give viewers a front-row seat in the action, for better or worse. Though it’s been many years sinceBand of Brotherspremiered, few shows have come close to its lasting legacy.
Band of Brothers (2001)
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The Roman Empire is a well-tread part of ancient European history,with many films and series touching upon the famous figures of the period. InRome, the short-lived but instantly memorable show from the early 2000s, the audience gets a front-row seat to the sacrifices and political planning required not only to build an empire but to maintain it. The cost takes a toll on the major players like Julius Caesar himself, as well as the foot soldiers carrying out his orders.
Touching upon these different social classes and stratifications across the sprawling empire,Romeholds up well today, 20 years later,even if the visuals aren’t quite as complex as modern series. However, part of the reason thatRomehas remained timeless is because the action and fighting feel so real and vivid.Romefinds the perfect balance of deliberate pacing and mining tension from character-driven moments and juxtaposes this intensity with violence and thrilling battle.
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When James Clavell’s novel got a new, updated adaptation in 2024, it almost immediately became the definitive version and has been making waves ever since. It didn’t take long for the popularity with critics and audiences to translate to a renewal forShōgun, even though the show was originally intended to be a miniseries.Shōguntakes place at the end of the 16th century in Japan, astensions between internal rulers and pressures from outside forces were creating complex political issues for the country.
Shōgun Season 2: Confirmation, Cast & Everything We Know
The historical epic Shōgun was originally billed as a limited series on FX, but the popular show is returning for seasons 2 & 3.
The work of Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, and Cosmo Jarvis as the central three characters ofShōgunis a large part of the series' success.Exciting enough to be an action-packed adventure and complex enough to be considered a shrewd political thriller,Shōgunappeals to audiences of all kinds. It will be interesting to see where the writers and showrunners takeShōgunin season 2 since the explosive ending of season 1 left the audiences and characters shocked.
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Timothy Olyphant leads the cast ofDeadwood, the bloody Western dramathat made a lasting name for itself despite its short run. Blending real events and fictionalized elements,Deadwoodtakes the concept of the lawless West to the extreme, as the titular town answers to no one. Set in the time before Deadwood became part of the Dakota territory, all the characters have a reason to escape to Deadwood. Some want to make their fortune, while others are looking to quench their thirst for blood.
Actionshows take a lot of forms, and inDeadwood, the gory tone of the story is made clear from the beginning. Though there are plenty of drama scenes where no blood is spilled,Deadwoodmade use of HBO’s looser guidelines and didn’t hold back from demonstrating how far the characters will goto get what they want. When revisitingDeadwoodtoday, it only becomes clearer that this TV show is something that will be remembered for a long time.
