Every decade has a unique aesthetic, but the 1970s boasts one of the most iconic looks and atmosphere of any period of history. Much of this is because ofthe vibrant colors and psychedelic patterns of the clothes and interior design.However, the cultural and political movements occurring in the ’70s are just as impactful in creating the feel of the decade. When looking at how a series can best capture all of these elements, many of thebest modern period piece TV showsillustrate that the story can’t just look and feel like the decade but be completely intertwined.
These shows should be deeply in conversation with every aspect of the 1970s, and the narrative should rely on critical pieces of the period to sustain it. If the show could be set in a different decade and reach the same results, it hasn’t successfully established itself as a story set in the ’70s. Thesitcoms from the 1970sall provide great examples of what modern TV shows emulating the ’70s hope to achieve. Of all the historical decades to choose from,the 1970s are particularly dynamic because of how distinct it is.
Fargo
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Fargo is a Black Comedy Crime Drama television series that is based on the film of the same name, which was originally created by the Coen Brothers. The TV adaptation was developed by Noah Hawley and follows an anthology format for each of its seasons, taking place in a different time period or location within the “Fargo” universe. So far, the series has seen big-name stars like Billy Bob Thornton, Ewan McGregor, Chris Rock, and Kirsten Dunst.
The anthology series based on the Cohen Brothers movie of the same name,Fargo, doesn’t just introduce a new mystery and cast of characters each season.Fargoalso has touched upon different periods of history,with season 2 taking place in the ’70s. While many series set in the ’70s focus on big cities like New York or LA,Fargo’s story unfolds in the upper Midwest and sees a much darker and dingier version of the ’70s than some of the flashier iterations. However, this is a more realistic take on the period.
All the performers take on the characteristic Midwestern affectations thatFargois known for while dating them back to the late ’70s and its cultural references.
Fargoseason 2 boasts one of the strongest casts of the series,with Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Jean Smart, and many more iconic actors. All the performers take on the characteristic Midwestern affectations thatFargois known for while dating them back to the late ’70s and its cultural references. Of all theFargoTV seasons, season 2 is frequently singled out as the best iteration of the show. Though it’s set in the past,Fargouses dated elements to immerse the viewer in the show and demonstrate how crime doesn’t change.
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Set against the backdrop of the stand-up comedy scene in LA,I’m Dying Up Hereshows exactly how unglamorous both show business and the 1970s could be. Loosely based on the book by William Knoedelseder,the series spends most of its time in the nightclub where the characters perform, trying to make an impression on the audience and get their big break. It’s an underrated series that explores how the industry was changing during this period and shines a light on how difficult it was for many underrepresented comics to get noticed.
Though the series is focused on comedy, there are plenty of moments of drama, and the story puts the characters through their paces. How the people are styled is a large part of what roots a show in an era, and the hair, clothes, and tastes of the characters all align perfectly with the ’70s.The audience sees the many sides of fashion and aesthetics of the ‘70sin the dichotomy between what the up-and-coming performers are wearing and how the successful characters present themselves, giving insight into the personal and professional dynamics.
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Minx
Set in 1970s Los Angeles, Minx centers on a young feminist who works to create the first erotic magazine for women. HBO’s Minx stars Ophelia Lovibond as Joyce Prigger and Jake Johnson as Doug Renetti. After the series was canceled by HBO in the middle of filming season 2, Starz picked up the show.
Ophelia Lovibond and Jake Johnson have amazing chemistry inMinx, a comedy series that follows the publication of an erotic magazine for women that hopes to slip feminist messages into its pages. Despite struggling to find a solid audience throughout its short run,Minxwas a hit with critics, and for good reason.Not only doesMinxsell the visuals of the 1970s perfectly, but it touches upon the most important cultural and political momentsof the time through an accessible story.
Minxjuxtaposes its racy content with discussions of women’s liberation, which was a huge issue throughout the 1970s.
Minxjuxtaposes its racy content with discussions of women’s liberation, which was a huge issue throughout the 1970s. Putting these issues next to each other is very ’70s in and of itself, asMinxunderstands that the ideological split between people in the U.S. in the ’70s was extreme.TheMinxseason 3 cancelationis a disappointment, as the series still had a lot to say and explore, but the two seasons that exist are a great example of not only the look but the spirit of the ’70s.
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Daisy Jones & The Six
Based on the novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones & The Six is an Amazon Prime miniseries about a fictional band set in the 1970s. The original story followed Daisy Jones & The Six as they grew in this fictional timeline in Los Angeles while providing commentary on the 70s music scene. The series is loosely based on performances and events surrounding the band Fleetwood Mac.
Based on the novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the miniseries adaptation ofDaisy Jones & The Sixtracks the rise and fall of a band similar to Fleetwood Macand the two explosive stars at the center of it. While the series focuses on the band as a whole, the story revolves around the relationship between Billy (Sam Claflin) and Daisy (Riley Keough), the two singers who can’t stay away from each other. Their toxic and irresistible dynamic is made nostalgic and visually dynamic by the 1970s setting.
Daisy Jones & The Six vs Fleetwood Mac: Inspiration & Differences
Daisy Jones & The Six draws its inspiration from Fleetwood Mac. Here’s a detailed look at the differences and similarities between the two bands.
Daisy Jones & The Sixis particularly fun to watch for the ’70s aesthetics because the clothes and venues where the band plays are the height of fashion and luxury at the time. Daisy especially gets to explore experimental and colorful costuming because of how attention-grabbing her character is. WhileDaisy Jones & The Sixis more focused on its insular story than the wider issues of the ’70s,the moment of musical changes and rock and roll during this period is unique to the ’70s, and the show celebrates this.
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The Deuce
Starring James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Deuce is a television series originally released on HBO that chronicles the “golden age of pornography.” It’s a Drama and ran for three seasons between 2017 and 2019.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is at her best inThe Deucealongside James Francoand many other stellar performers who make the world of the series feel lived in and real. Even though these actors have been seen in plenty of contemporary works, they easily blend into the world of the ’70s and seem right at home in the bars and alleys that the characters frequent.The Deucedoes a great job of giving its characters agency and dignity even at their lowest points, as it tackles the rise of the adult film industry in New York City.
The Deuce’s stories could be told in any period but are especially relevant in the context of the ’70s.
Each season ofThe Deucereceived critical and audience acclaim,as watching Eileen (Gyllenhaal) grow and change and make her mark on the industry is endlessly engaging. While there are moments of levity,The Deucetakes itself and its characters seriously, which leads to discussions of the violence, racism, and misogyny that all accompanied sex work and the porn industry during these years.The Deuce’s stories could be told in any period but are especially relevant in the context of the ’70s.
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That ’70s Show
That ‘70s Show was one of Fox’s most popular sitcoms upon its release in 1998. Starring Topher Grace (Eric Forman), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), and Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), That ‘70s Show revolves around the teens’ mishaps as they grow up in Point Place Wisconsin in the 1970s.
One of the reasons that contemporary TV shows will be set in the past is because the series that were airing at the time didn’t always have the ability to be as frank about the realities of coming-of-age during the period.That ’70s Showpremiered in the late ’90s, but the series connected with audiences who grew up in the ’70s and modern teens. The popularity of shows likeThat ’70s Showdemonstrates howadolescence might look different during every decade, but the issues and pitfalls of this phase of life remain the same inside.
That ’70s & ’90s Show’s Full Timeline Explained
It was always hard to tell precisely what year each season of That ’70s Show was set, and That ’90s Show hasn’t made things much clearer.
One of the reasonsThat ’70s Showfeels so much like the ’70s is because it puts its characters in realistic situations and treats them like regular teens. While the dramatization and flash of other ’70s-set series makes them visually interesting, it can also take the viewer out of the story. This is never the case withThat ’70s Show, asthe characters and sets all seem like genuine pieces of everyday life.While the series is episodic in nature, when it does take on an overarching plot, it touches upon some of the social issues of the time.
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Mrs. America
Mrs. America explores the real-life battle to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. The series portrays the unexpected opposition led by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, highlighting her role as a prominent figure in the counter-movement against feminist advancements during this pivotal era.
WhileCate Blanchett’s movies have defined her career, her turn as the infamous Phyllis Schlafly inMrs. Americais a good indicator of how well she does in TV.Mrs. Americafollows Schlafly’s crusade to prevent the Equal Rights Amendment from being passedand looks at the conservative backlash against the progressive era of the 1970s that would ultimately lead to the cultural shift of the 1980s. More often, liberation and rising social movements are tackled by TV shows that focus on the ’70s, butMrs. Americalooks at both.
Mrs. Americaisn’t a documentary and shouldn’t be taken as fact, as there are plenty of moments that were dramatized for the sake of the stakes and tension.
Mrs. Americaisn’t a documentary and shouldn’t be taken as fact, as there are plenty of moments that were dramatized for the sake of the stakes and tension. However, this doesn’t mean thatMrs. Americadoesn’t pay close attention to the details of the 1970s and firmly sticks to the aesthetics and many ideologies of the period. WhileMrs. Americacan’t avoid taking a stance,it does its best to show every side of the issue and give every character their due.
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Mad Men
Mad Men is a drama series set in 1960s New York, focusing on the lives of competitive men and women working in Madison Avenue’s advertising industry. The show explores the social mores and cultural dynamics of the era while delving into the personal and professional challenges faced by its characters.
It takes a long time forMad Mento finally escape the 1960s and enter the ’70s, but when it does, it’s just as dedicated to capturing the feel of the decade.Mad Menis a series that understands how much a period is influenced by what came before, andthe evolution of the ’60s into the ’70s is one of the most pivotal periods in recent history.Not only do the styles and aesthetics of the characters change, but also their ideals and viewpoints about the world and themselves.
Mad Mentracks the transition from the influence of 1950s aesthetics in the early ’60s to the liberation and radical change in lifestyle and views in the ’70s throughout its run.Each season of the show mirrors the relevant cultural movements in the character arcs,with a central theme in the series discussing the transfer of power between the old guard and the new. Don (Jon Hamm) particularly struggles as the confines and strict hierarchies of the ’60s begin to crack, and his ideas about what a man should be are interrogated by the relentless push into the 1970s.
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The Get Down
In the South Bronx neighborhood of New York City in the 1970s, the rise of disco and hip-hop music is chronicled through the eyes of a group of teenagers and music hopefuls as they move into young adulthood.
Like most of Baz Luhrmann’s projects,The Get Downis in conversation with the history and power of music and touches upon the rise and importance of disco and R&B in the ’70s, leading to the establishment of hip-hop as one of the biggest genres in the world.Led by Justice Smith as Zeke, an up-and-coming artist,The Get Downsees him struggle to balance his love of music and ambition with his personal relationships. Blending both the gorgeous musical sequences with the quieter and more serious moments,The Get Downcrafts an engaging story.
Unfortunately, the gorgeous style and spectacle that makesThe Get Downso captivating was the result of a large budget that ultimately led to the show’s early cancelation.
Unfortunately, the gorgeous style and spectacle that makesThe Get Downso captivating was the result of a large budget that ultimately led to the show’s early cancelation. However, just because the series was cut short doesn’t mean it isn’t high-quality. Whilethe visuals are consistently praised and help rootThe Get Downin the ’70s,the truthful and empathetic storytelling that the series utilizes does justice to the rich history of hip-hop in the decade.
The Sympathizer
Based on the novel by Viet Thanh Nuyen, The Sympathizer explores the last days of the Vietnam War through the eyes of a half-Vietnamese, half-French spy serving for the communist regime. The TV series adaptation is set-up as a mini-series and will likely still be framed as a confession from the protagonist as they make their way through the war. Photo is of the original novel cover.
Based on the novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen,The Sympathizeris an intricately woven TV show that follows a man as his loyalties are tested by circumstanceand external factors. Hoa Xuande stars as the Captain, the protagonist who recounts his time serving as a spy for North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Later, it chronicles his journey to the U.S. and his involvement with the CIA in the aftermath. The war in Vietnam was one of the most controversial and pivotal parts of the decade.
The Sympathizerplays with audience perception and the nuanced history of the political unrest through a darkly comedic tone and frank discussions about American imperialism. It’s almost easy to forget thatThe Sympathizeris set in the ’70s or is a period piece sincethe atmosphere and storylines are so tied to the decade that it doesn’t feel like the series is trying to emulate something.The series is simply part of the ’70s. This is a difficult atmosphere to pull off, butThe Sympathizerdoes so while keeping the audience on the edge of their seat.
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