10 TV Shows With The Most Characters

These days, the focus of TV shows has shifted from a single character to a variety of characters. By doing so, TV series increase their characters’ chances of relatability and acceptance. Recently, television shows with ensemble casts have taken the lead in the industry. Be it a group of six friends, like in Friends, or a town searching for a lost child, like in Stranger Things, TV shows with ensemble casts have found ardent fans.

Originally announced for NBC, The Gilded Age premiered on HBO on Jan. 24th, 2022, and it’s fastly approaching the middle of its first season. The Gilded Age was officially renewed for a second season in February 2022, but the audience can’t get enough of this show, currently airing weekly. Fortunately, many other shows can quench the fans’ thirst for historical drama.

10 The Nevers Is A Steampunk Period Drama

The Nevers is a sci-fi period Victorian tale that follows a group of women who were “touched,” which means they received super-abilities after a mysterious event that everyone has forgotten. Led by Amalia True and Penance Adair, these superwomen fight against the system to defend other people of the same class.

If it feels like the only thing missing from The Gilded Age are superpowers, then The Nevers is the next logical step. Like The Gilded Age, The Nevers focuses on a different time in history. Both shows explore the subjacent social systems of their era while in an intriguing plot, full of puffed victorian dresses and poke bonnets.

9 Anne With An E Follows A Lovable Orphan

Based on the Anne of Green Gables books by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne with an E centers around Anne Shirley, an ostracized but witty orphan adopted by the Cuthbert siblings on Avonlea, a small town in Canada. Anne’s adventures in Avonlea tackle all kinds of social topics, such as gender inequality, bullying, and freedom of speech.

Anne With An E lacks The Gilded Age’s cynic vein, but it’s just as dramatic while also being particularly wholesome. This series isn’t as rooted in reality as The Gilded Age is, but it treats its fans to a story just as compelling with many characters who are impossible to dislike.

8 Alias Grace Is An Intense Story About Society’s Behavior

Alias Grace tells the story of Grace Marks, an Irish immigrant in Canada West who is convicted for the murder of her employer, Thomas Kinnear. The story follows her and her psychiatrist as he considers granting her a pardon due to insanity. Even though Alias Grace is only a miniseries, it manages to keep the audience on the edge of their seats during its whole six episodes.

Originally written by Margaret Atwood, the author of The Handmaid’s Tale, Alias Grace is a raw period drama that examines a specific moment in time, highlighting the social injustice and its consequences like The Gilded Age does.

7 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Mixes Gender Issues & Humor

Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel narrates the story of Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a quirky 1950s housewife who decides to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. The series centers on her and Susie Myerson, Midge’s foul-mouthed manager as they go through all the hoops a woman must go to succeed in a man-made world.

Contrary to The Gilded Age, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is more of a comedy than a drama. However, the two series create a realistic window to a different time in the US, The Gilded Age is set in 1882, while The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is set in 1958. Additionally, both stories deal realistically with the perks and handicaps of being a woman before feminism.

6 Gentleman Jack Follows A 19th Century Drama

Gentleman Jack documents the lesbian relationship between Suranne Jones, a landowner who defies gender identity, and Ann Walker, her neighbor. Based on the true story of the two women known for having the first known lesbian wedding, Gentleman Jack is a story about social defiance, true intimacy between women, and money.

Gentleman Jack is set 50 years before The Gilded Age. However, both series explore the intricate connection between social life and economical progress in the world during the 19th Century as well as the complex relationships that stem from this time.

5 Outlander Fictionalizes A Well-Known Historical Event

Outlander stars Caitriona Balfe as Claire Randall, a British former nurse in the Second World War who travels back in time to the 18th Century. Here, she meets Jamie Fraser, a Highland warrior involved in the Jacobite rising. This series is based on an ongoing novel series by Diana Gabaldon by the same name.

Both The Gilded Age and Outlander are based on historical events—New York’s Gilded Age in The Gilded Age and the Jacobite rising in Outlander. However, both series fictionalized these moments in history to create a compelling story that’s impossible not to binge-watch.

4 Bridgerton Is A Teenage Period Drama

Netflix’s second most-watched series, Bridgerton, is set in London during the Regency era. The show follows the Bridgerton siblings during the Social Season, a time when debutantes are introduced in court. As the debutantes deal with their day-to-day lives, an anonymous newsletter columnist, Lady Whistledown, broadcasts their scandals to the whole world.

Bridgerton is clearly marketed for younger audiences—like a Gossip Girl meets Le Bon Ton—while The Gilded Age is a more mature narrative. Regardless, both series are a perfect pick for an audience in search of a period drama driven by a central mystery.

3 Peaky Blinders Features An Ambitious Man As He Ascends To Power

Set in Birmingham after the First World War, Peaky Blinders centers on the actual Peaky Blinders, a crime gang active from the 1890s to the 1910s. The series centers on Tommy Shelby, the Peaky Blinders’ fierce boss, as he manages to expand this criminal organization.

The Gilded Age and Peaky Blinders are full of interesting characters with epic stories. However, in both shows, two roles unavoidably stand out. Tommy Shelby, the Peaky Blinders’ leader, and George Russell, The Gilded Age‘s robber baron are two very similar cunning men doing whatever it takes to become powerful.

2 The Crown Cares About Accuracy

The Crown is a fictionalized depiction of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign that covers every milestone in the Queen’s life. From her tumultuous marriage with Prince Phillip to her supposed rivalry with Margaret Thatcher, up until her life in the 21st Century. Contrary to many other historical dramas, The Crown has been widely praised for its historical accuracy.

While The Gilded Age doesn’t follow a real-life person like The Crown, its writers also prioritize historical accuracy. The central plot of the story is inspired by a real era and many characters are inspired by historical figures. Both The Gilded Age and The Crown are history lessons wrapped in an enthralling plot.

1 Downton Abbey & The Gilded Age Were Both Created By The Same Writer

Set in the post-Edwardian era, Downton Abbey tells the story of the Crawley family, an aristocratic group, alongside their domestic workers. The show follows the day-to-day lives of the Crawleys while also exploring historical events such as the outbreak of the First World War, the Irish War of Independence, and the Spanish influenza pandemic.

Both Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age were created by Julian Fellowes, an English actor, producer, and writer particularly interested in historical fiction. Although both series take place in very different times and places, The Gilded Age and Downton Abbey are great examples of fictional-historical drama done right.