Historical tv shows are quickly becoming an ever-growing and popular tv genre for historical fans and mainstream audiences. There are many amazing shows that a lot of people may have heard of but not actually watched getting overlooked and then totally forgotten about. So this is my list of the top 5 underrated historical tv shows that have gotten overlooked due to poor marketing, little general audience, or even just bad worth of mouth.
Rise of Empires Ottoman
Rise of Empires Ottoman is a v series that shows in great detail the siege and fall of Constantinople by Mehmed the Conqueror. This is a show which will be of particular interest to historical military tv show fans, as this entire show is about the military tactics and strategy needed to successfully maintain a siege against a well-fortified city. Emperor Mehmed faces numerous challenges as he tries to overcome the strong defenses of Constantinople, including betrayals, disease, and a limited time frame to complete the siege before the Byzantine Empire receives reinforcements.
If you enjoy military and war-like elements of historical tv shows, then Rise of Empires Ottoman is a great recommendation for you, as the show has a magnificent cast, and fantastic use of commentary by historians which I am usually not a fan of, and a surprisingly accurate level of realism regarding siege tactics and strategies. So if you are looking for a show that is brutal, entertaining, and will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end then Rise of empires is my recommendation for you.
Resurrection Ertrugul
Resurrection Ertrugul depicts the rise of Ertrugul as the son of a Bey in the Kayi tribe and his eventual role in becoming a legendary figure whose actions would help shape the founding of the ottoman empire. I do warn you to be prepared for a show that is a much slower burn than anything you are used to, as there are almost 500 episodes across all seasons. So the story is told in a prolonged but steady manner which really helps you form strong emotional bonds with the characters and truly get a better idea of the day-to-day struggles that the small tribes would have had to face during this time.
Ertrugul is a show with a great cast with every primary and secondary actor and actress doing a splendid job in their roles except finding the actress who plays Stuck as I felt she overacted too much in many of her scenes. But aside from the amazing acting, there is a great storyline with neverending plot twists and obstacles for the main characters with multiple plot threads eventually all colliding into one big epic story similar to a game of thrones. So, for a better look at Turkish culture, traditions, and history or just a great historical drama. In general, Resurrection Ertrugal is my top recommendation for you for historical dramas you haven't seen on Netflix.
El Cid
El Cid is a historical tv series based on the life of the Castilian warlord Rodrigo D az de Vivar's life with the first season covering his young adult years when he is still a low-ranking nobleman and only a squire to one of the Castillian princes. The first season only has 5 episodes but each episode moves the plot along at a steady pace and the storyline never seems overly rushed, with careful detail being given to highlight the complex court politics and constant backstabbing present in the Castillian royal court.
Jaime Lorente does a fantastic job of playing the primary character of the show Ruy, really bringing the complex character to life who is not the most skilled, intelligent, or strongest of squires but one who is honest, loyal, and brave and shows glimpses of all the qualities that will eventually, lead him to become one of Spains greatest warlords. But aside from Jaime Lorent's acting a lot of the secondary actors have pretty wooden acting and at times deliver their lines devoid of any appropriate expression or emotion. But if you are looking for a show that is more about political maneuvering and court politics and less about action and big battles then El Cid is my recommendation for you.
Spartacus
Spartacus, an action-filled historical tv series about a gladiator named Spartacus and his rise from a lowly slave to one of the most feared enemies of the Roman Republic. Spartacus takes everything that fans love about historical tv shows and puts it into overdrive, as there are only 10 episodes per season meaning there is little to no filler. This small episode count results in Spartacus telling a tight nit story about an inspirational leader who encourages his followers to fight for a better future and put an end to the tyranny of Rome and the Roman Republic.
The character development of Spartacus is great and his rise from slave to rebel leader is believable and interesting, the plot here is also amazing with truly mindblowing plot twists, and the fight scenes and choreography in this series are of the highest quality as well. So if you are looking for a tv show with great characters, amazing battle scenes and fight scenes, and a story that hooks you from beginning to end then Spartacus is my recommendation for you and also my recommendation for the best and most entertaining historical tv show of all time.
Borgia
It is a historical tv show based around several key figures from the house of Borgia such as Lucrezio, Cesare, and Rodrigo Borgia. Although there are a few other tv shows based around these historical figures I feel that Borgia is the most historically accurate and interesting version to watch and a tv show that I cannot recommend highly enough. The Borgia family are some of the most notorious figures in history and with such interesting characters to portray this show does a fantastic job of gripping audiences with a story that is fast-paced, interesting, and full of lots of plot twists.
The acting in this show is also top notch with all the cast doing a spectacular job of bringing their characters to life, but I will admit that I hated the strong American Accent that the Pope has but you do eventually get used to it. If you are looking for a historically accurate show, that has a cast of diverse and talented actors, and a plot that will keep you engrossed from beginning to end then Borgia is my recommendation for you.
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