‘Must watch’ period drama now on Netflix – perfect for fans of The Crown or Downton Abbey | Films | Entertainment

A period drama about a powerful female ruler in the late 20th century is hailed as perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and The Crown. The Empress first hit the small screen in September 2022 and dramatises the rise of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (played by Devrim Lingnau), a free-spirited royal bestowed with the title following her husband’s ascension to the throne as Emperor Franz Joseph I (Philip Froissant).

But despite the glamour of the power and influence Elisabeth wields, the pressures of her responsibilities, the stifling atmosphere of court life, and Franz Joseph’s overbearing mother, Princess Sophia (Melika Foroutan), make life difficult for the rebellious royal. The German-language drama was created by Katharina Eyssen, who co-wrote it alongside Bernd Lange and Janna Maria Nandzik. Two series have been released so far. In January, it was confirmed that The Empress would return for its third and final season, expected to air this year.

Marie Claire called the historical drama a “must-watch show for fans of Bridgerton and The Crown”, and fans have taken to IMDb to lavish The Empress with praise.

One, writing after the first season was released, said: “What an absolutely stunning series. Everything about The Empress was top-notch. From the sets, to the costuming and the acting. It was perfection. If you love a historical series, then this is for you.

“I could have quite easily started from the beginning again and gone straight into a second viewing.” Another said they “simply cannot believe how amazing this series is, and it easily rivals ‘The Crown’, ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘Outlander’, ‘Poldark’ and ‘Vikings’, and surpasses many others”.

A second said: “The female lead nailed it as Elisabeth! In the series, Elisabeth is independent, nonconforming–a breath of fresh air!

“She reminds me of Elizabeth Bennett of Pride and PREJUDICE with actress Jennifer Ehle. Actress Devrim Lingnau captivates and lights up the screen whenever she appears.”

A third added: “This series hooked me right from the start. It would be worth watching just for the visuals: incredible costumes, beautiful lighting and exquisite fairytale castle settings.

“But even more compelling is the drama, which brilliantly portrays how a fairy tale can turn into a nightmare. The casting is superb, and all the actors deliver in spades.

“As others have noted here, it is very reminiscent of The Crown series, transporting the viewer into a rarefied world and exposing the surprising difficulties it entails.”

A fourth said, “If you like The Crown, you’ll like this”. They added that it didn’t feel it had a strong focus on romance, like Pride and Prejudice or Bridgerton, as they had expected, saying it was “more like Downton Abbey or The Crown, where the drama is the focus”.

The episodes so far have 15 certificates, and the show features sex, discrimination, and violence – so it may not be for everyone.

Series one and two of The Empress are streaming now on Netflix.