Historical epics are everywhere on television, from Apple TV+'s Chief of War to the BBC's upcoming King & Conqueror. But which are the finest examples of the genre, and which are merely excuses for gratuitous nudity and poor storytelling? With a glut of period dramas, it is time to separate the wheat from the chaff, applying strict criteria: no fantasy (sorry, Game of Thrones) and nothing set after the early 1800s.
Among the best is Chief of War, a barrel-chested epic starring Jason Momoa that chronicles the unification and colonisation of Hawaii in the late 18th century. With a predominantly Polynesian cast and a palpable sense of doom, it is heartfelt and muscular storytelling, despite leaning heavily on extended, subtitled brawls. Another standout is the startlingly brutal The Last Kingdom, a mud-caked odyssey through the Middle Ages that combines complex characters with an atmosphere of thunderous gloom.
The recent adaptation of Shōgun surpasses its 1980 predecessor with a rich script, riveting characterisation, and meticulous historical detail, earning a deluge of Emmy awards. Meanwhile, the BBC's I, Claudius, though 50 years old and showing its age with perfunctory sets and questionable wigs, remains a masterpiece thanks to its adult script and magnificent performances from John Hurt and Derek Jacobi.
For those who prefer subtlety, Wolf Hall offers exquisite performances from Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, and Jonathan Pryce, exploring grief and ageing through quiet, candlelit silences. It is a near-perfect adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novels. On the other end of the spectrum, The Borgias is a catastrophic mess, with tumescent priests, pouting strumpets, and a weary Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI, sacrificing historical integrity for cheap titillation.
