Downton Abbey fans will love the steamy period drama Belgravia, now streaming on Amazon Prime. Created by Julian Fellowes, the mastermind behind Downton Abbey, this Victorian-era series delivers scandal, romance, and intrigue.
A New Period Drama from Julian Fellowes
Julian Fellowes and period dramas appear inseparable. From Downton Abbey to Gosford Park, The English Game, and The Gilded Age, Fellowes now brings us Belgravia. Set in the 19th century, the series opens at the Duchess of Richmond's ball in June 1815, just two days before the Battle of Waterloo.
The story focuses on the captivating lives of the Trenchard and Bellasis families, quickly entering familiar period drama territory with scandal, intrigue, romance, and class conflict. Directed by John Alexander and written by Fellowes, Belgravia adapts his 2016 novel of the same name and reunites the production crew from Downton Abbey.
Comparison to Downton Abbey
Considered by many as the king of period drama, parallels to Downton Abbey are unavoidable. In an interview with Town and Country, Fellowes addressed this: "I think Belgravia is darker than Downton. The servants are working people; they're doing their jobs because those are the jobs that were available. It's not sentimental. It's a sharper world."
The limited series debuted on ITV in the UK on March 15, 2020, and later aired in the US on Epix on April 12, 2020. A sequel series, Belgravia: The Next Chapter, was commissioned and premiered on ITV in January 2024, written by Helen Edmundson.
Cast and Reception
The ensemble cast includes Alice Eve, Ella Purnell, Tamsin Greig, Richard Goulding, Emily Reid, Tom Wilkinson, Harriet Walter, Philip Glenister, and Tara Fitzgerald. Critics were divided, with one praising its "great romance and thrilling revenge" while another called it a "bonnet-fest" that feels like a genre that has outlived its usefulness. A third noted it is "gorgeously appointed" and grounded in the manners of a delicate time. Viewers were overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with one saying "Incredible show! Nothing was obvious, it kept the audience in suspense until the very last minute." Another added, "Wonderful series!! The storyline is gripping from the very first episode."
Belgravia is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.
