Three series that will give you an insight into the history of Great England
Nowadays there are many ways to learn more about the history of our own country: we can surf the Internet, read books or even watch films and TV series. As a matter of fact, the purpose of this article is to discuss three series that, in my opinion, best represent the history of Great Britain. So now make yourself comfortable and enjoy the list!
I know it is quite predictable, but this series couldn’t be missing in the list.
The Crown is probably the most awarded British series ever: The Telegraph described it as ‘’TV’s best soap opera’’, giving a 5/5 rating, while on Rotten Tomatoes, it received an overall score of 91%. So people kinda like it, don’t they? But, after all, who can blame them? As a matter of fact, The Crown’s cast includes some of the best actors and actresses in the world: Claire Foy, who has won several awards, John Lithgow, Vanessa Kirby and many others. So far, the series has won 94 awards and has received 309 nominations. That is just insane!
But do you all know what The Crown is about? The title of the series should give you a clue. This multi-awarded series tells the story of the English monarchy since the marriage between Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, celebrated in 1947.
Even though the series is not 100% accurate and has some fictional events, Prince Henry himself admitted in an interview that he likes how the royal family has been portrayed so far.
The Crown has now 4 seasons, but the fifth is expected to come out in 2022... so please, just keep calm and be patient, we will soon find out what the creator Peter Morgan has in store for us!
Outlander
This series is probably less known than The Crown, but it is just as good. Outlander, which is based on the novel series by Diana Gabaldon, is about the life of Claire Randall, a Second World War military nurse married to an English history professor, Frank Randall. During a holiday in Scotland with her husband in the aftermath of war, in 1945, she finds herself transported back to 1743. There she meets a fascinating Highland warrior, Jamie Fraser (who is also a member of an important Scottish clan) and falls in love with him. Throughout the 5 seasons, the series shows the most significant events of the history of Great Britain, such as the Jacobite rising in the 18th century. Since it is mostly set in Scotland, there are often dialogues in Scottish Gaelic, which was the language spoken by Scottish natives at that time. It’s quite interesting, isn’t it?
The critical response has always been quite good: on Rotten Tomatoes, just the first season has a 91% rating! Anyway, Outlander has been renewed for the 6th and 7th seasons, coming out respectively in 2022 and 2024.
Peaky Blinders
From 1743 Scotland to 1921 Birmingham… Let's talk about Peaky Blinders! I am sure you have heard about the most famous crime family in the UK. As a matter of fact, the series is about the story of the Shelby family, composed of the notorious yet unscrupulous Tommy, who is also the leader of the gang, his brothers Arthur, Johnny and Finn, his sister Ada and the decisive Aunt Polly. Peaky Blinders tells the story of a family living between the two wars, in a period of poverty and irrationality. In this atmosphere of chaos, the Shelby family, with their shady but fruitful businesses, tries to stand up to those who threaten their work: the Irish Republican Army, Communists and other gangs, such as the Changretta family.
The series is available on Netflix and it has five seasons, while the sixth (and last) one is coming out next year. The series owes its success to its impressive cast: Cillian Murphy, Helen McCroy (who sadly passed away last year), Paul Anderson and Tom Hardy are just some of the famous faces you can see on the screen. And if you haven’t watched this series already, it’s time to do it… by order of the Peaky Blinders!
