7 shows like 'The Gilded Age' to watch while you're waiting for season 3
- The second season of hit period drama "The Gilded Age" has finished airing on HBO.
- If you're interested in period dramas set around the same time, try "1883" and "The Forsyte Saga."
- For another show depicting the struggle between old money and new money, check out "The Buccaneers."
"The Gilded Age" follows a young woman who becomes entangled in the social war between old-money New York elites and their nouveau riche neighbors after she moves to Manhattan.
Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, and Louisa Jacobson star in the series, which was created by Julian Fellowes. The hit drama premiered in 2022 and was recently renewed for a third season.
In the meantime, if you're looking for something similar to the addictive period drama, here are seven shows we recommend.
Summary: "Downton Abbey" follows the lives of the inhabitants of a sprawling English estate, both the aristocratic Crawley family and their loyal household staff, as they navigate some of the biggest historical events of the early 1900s, including the sinking of the Titanic, World War I and the Spanish Influenza pandemic.
Why you'll like it: "The Gilded Age" is often compared to Fellowes' earlier family saga, which earned him two Emmy Awards, and for good reason. Both series are riveting and addictive.
"Downton Abbey" is streaming on Prime Video and Peacock.
Summary: "The Buccaneers" is based on the last unfinished novel by Edith Wharton. It follows a group of outspoken American women as they take on London high society in the 1870s and the culture clash that ensues.
Why you'll like it: While the series is undoubtedly more anachronistic than "The Gilded Age" (think Taylor Swift needle-drops and female characters that speak their mind, always), its transatlantic take on the rivalry between old money and new is sure to engross fans.
"The Buccaneers" is streaming on Apple TV+.
Summary: A prequel to "Yellowstone," which you can watch without having seen the Kevin Costner-led series, "1883" follows a family from Tennessee who undertakes the arduous journey west to Oregon in search of a better life.
Why you'll like it: "The Gilded Age" occasionally shows glimpses of what the late 19th century was like for those outside the affluent neighborhood of East 61st Street. If you're interested in what was going on in less developed parts of the United States, then "1883" is a highly enjoyable history lesson.
"1883" is streaming on Paramount+.
Summary: This anthology series focuses on well-heeled (and often white) vacationers and the workers at the eponymous luxury resorts who ensure their holidays go off without a hitch. The first series took place in Hawaii, and the second was set in Italy.
Why you'll like it: It's a biting class satire that highlights the fact that still, in the modern day, money — and who has money — affects our relationships with others. Plus, it's been announced that "The Gilded Age" star Carrie Coon will be checking in for the show's upcoming third season, so now is as good a time as any to check out "The White Lotus."
"The White Lotus" is streaming on HBO.
Summary: Adapted from Fellowes' novel of the same name and set in the mid-19th century, this limited series follows the Trenchard family, who have recently ascended to the upper echelons of society in the show's namesake London neighborhood. However, their position is jeopardized when a decades-old family secret comes back to haunt them.
Why you'll like it: "Belgravia" has all the hallmarks of a Fellowes drama: gorgeous costuming, sumptuous sets, interfamilial drama, and a healthy dose of scandal.
"Belgravia" is streaming on MGM+.
Summary: Named after the term coined for advertisers who worked on Madison Avenue, "Mad Men" sheds light on the bustling world of advertising in 1960s New York, focusing on flawed protagonist Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and depicting the lives of others working at his firm.
Why you'll like it: Set almost a century after "The Gilded Age," this series also shows New York going through social change and cultural upheaval as it ushers in a new era. It also joins "The Gilded Age" as a love letter to New York's history, architecture, and fashion.
"Mad Men" is streaming on AMC+.
Summary: Taking place between 1874 and 1905, "The Forsyte Saga" focuses on the unhappy marriage between Soames Forsyte (Damian Lewis) and his beautiful but aloof wife, Irene (Gina McKee), against a backdrop of the larger Forsyte family's problems and dramas.
Why you'll like it: The story of the upwardly mobile Forsyte family delves into themes familiar to viewers of "The Gilded Age": money, status, marriages, and property. You'll find yourself rooting for Irene the way you root for Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon).
"The Forsyte Saga" is streaming on Prime Video.