10 Shows Like The Gilded Age You Must See

Created by Julian Fellowes, ‘The Gilded Age’ tells the story of Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), a young woman who arrives in New York City in 1882. Following her father’s death, Mirian leaves rural Pennsylvania and moves in with her aunts, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon), who come from old money. Agnes is particularly proud of the fact and looks down upon her Upper East Side neighbors, George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon). While they are exceedingly wealthy, George has made his fortune by building railroads and is considered “new money.” As such, Agnes does not deem him worthy of respect or admiration. Mirian is drawn into the conflict against her will, in a show that explores the overt class distinction prevalent in every section of society. It ultimately falls upon Mirian to decide if she is willing to follow tradition or forge her own path.

The period piece on HBO vividly captures the way of life of the American high society at the dusk of the 19th century. If the show has captured your fascination, here is a curated list of shows similar to the Gilded Age that you can consider bingeing next.

10. Gentleman Jack (2019-2022)

‘Gentleman Jack’ by Sally Wainwright is a historical drama that revolves around the life of Miss Anne Lister (Suranne Jones), an English landowner and industrialist. Anne takes up residence at the Shibden Hall estate in Halifax, West Yorkshire, which she inherited from her uncle in 1832. While restoring the structure, she discovers her neighbors stealing coal from beneath her land. She thereafter decides to reopen the estate’s long-closed mine and pursue it as a business opportunity.

In her personal life, Anne ventures into something far more dangerous at the time, starting a romance with Miss Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle), the wealthy owner of Crow Nest estate. A detailed record of the relationship was kept by the real Ann in her cryptic diary, on which the show is based. ‘Gentleman Jack’ depicts life in high society across the Atlantic from ‘The Gilded Age.’ They also showcase the march of industrialization and its acceptance in the said society.

9. The Paradise (2012-2013)

Adapted from Émile Zola’s novel ‘Au Bonheur des Dames,’ ‘The Paradise’ by Bill Gallagher is set in 1985 and is about the people involved with the first department store to open in England. The store is run by John Moray (Emun Elliott), who developed it under his management from the small shop on the high street that it once was. To build the business, John has been financially dependent on Lord Glendenning (Patrick Malahide), whose daughter Katherine (Elaine Cassidy) wishes to marry him. However, things change with the arrival of a young girl from Scotland, Denise Lovett (Joanna Vanderham), who takes up a job at the store. Denise’s move from the small town of Peebles to the big city is reminiscent of Marian’s move to New York in ‘The Gilded Age.’

8. Cranford (2007)

Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin created ‘Cranford’ based on the writings of Elizabeth Gaskell. The narrative is set in the early 1840s in the titular small town that is run by women, who significantly outnumber the men. Despite the opposition of the inhabitants, the railway arrives in the region, signaling the start of the Victorian era. The ladies try their best to keep up with the new age, but are kept occupied by the numerous small incidents that are always taking place in the bustling town. The advent of industrialization and its impact on social life are dealt with in ‘The Gilded Age’ as well, particularly with the Russells.

7. North and South (1985-1994)

Based on the eponymous novel trilogy by John Jakes, David L. Wolper’s ‘North and South’ centers around friendship during the Civil War. Orry Main (Patrick Swayze) of South Carolina and George Hazard (James Read) of Pennsylvania become close friends while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. However, when the war breaks out, they find themselves on opposite sides.

As rural planters from outside Charleston, the Mains family owns slaves. On the other hand, the Hazards reside in a mill town and own iron manufacturing and related industries, and as such, prefer skilled labor over slaves. The difference forms the primary cause of the war. Another form of distinction in society at the time was “old money” and “new money,” which has been better explored in ‘The Gilded Age.’

6. Bridgerton (2020-)

Created by Chris Van Dusen based on the eponymous book series by Julia Quinn, ‘Bridgerton’ follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter of an influential family in the London Regency era. When she starts looking for suitors, Daphne initially appears to have her hands full. However, her desirability is taken down by an article published by a mysterious gossip monger, Lady Whistledown. Things change when Daphne meets the rebellious Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page) and immediately hits it off. Like ‘The Gilded Age,’ ‘Bridgerton’ depicts the social drama from a similar period but across the Atlantic.

5. Vanity Fair (2018)

Gwyneth Hughes’ adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel of the same name, ‘Vanity Fair’ tells the story of Becky Sharp (Olivia Cooke) in the early nineteenth century. Daughter of a French opera singer and an artist, Becky is determined to get out of poverty and starts climbing the social ladder after moving to London. Appearing unbothered by the events surrounding her, such as the Napoleonic Wars, she goes through many relationships and breakups. The experiences help her better understand the affluent lifestyle, which Marian learns in ‘The Gilded Age’ after moving to New York.

4. The Forsyte Saga (2002-2003)

Set between the 1870s and 1920s, ‘The Forsyte Saga’ is based on the writings of John Galsworthy and Stephen Mallatratt. It revolves around a wealthy solicitor, Soames Forsyte (Damian Lewis), who becomes obsessed with a woman, Irene Heron (Gina McKee), even as his approaches are repeatedly rejected. The narrative centers primarily around the family life, serving as an insight into the times that follow ‘The Gilded Age.’

3. Belgravia (2020)

‘Belgravia’ is created by Julian Fellowes based on his own novel of the same name. The narrative begins with the real-life events of the night of June 15 and 16, 1815, when the Duchess of Richmond hosts a ball for the Duke of Wellington on the eve of the Battle of Quatre Bras in Brussels. The guest list includes James (Philip Glenister) and Anne Trenchard (Tamsin Greig), people with “new money” as a result of their successful trade ventures. Their daughter, Sophia (Emily Reid), soon crosses paths with Edmund Bellasis (Jeremy Neumark Jones), son of one of the most prominent families of England. The high society and the clash of cultures that are seen in ‘The Gilded Age’ are further explored in this series.

2. Downton Abbey (2010-2015)

Another show from the mind of Julian Fellowes, ‘Downton Abbey’ is set around the titular yet fictional Yorkshire country estate in the years between 1912 and 1926. It showcases the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and how it is impacted by the major events around the world. Such instances include the outbreak of the First World War, the Spanish influenza pandemic, the Irish War of Independence, the British general election of 1923, and more. The first season also depicts the marriage between Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), the Earl of Grantham, and Cora Levinson (Elizabeth McGovern), an American heiress, connecting the series with the US, where the events of ‘The Gilded Age’ have taken place not long ago.

1. The Buccaneers (2023-)

Created by Katherine Jakeways based on the unfinished novel by Edith Wharton, ‘The Buccaneers’ refers to five young, ambitious women living in the US in the 1870s who prioritise their friendship above everything else. Daughters of the nouveau riche, the group includes Annabel (Kristine Froseth) and Virginia St. George (Imogen Waterhouse), Conchita Closson (Alisha Boe), and Lizzy (Aubri Ibrag) and Mabel Elmsworth (Josie Totah).

Following Conchita’s marriage to Lord Richard Marable, the women are invited to London during the debutante season to stay among the English high society, as well as keep an eye out for suitable matches for themselves. However, the boisterous nature of the Americans stands out against the much reserved English, which influences their interaction with people on all fronts. Many parallels can be drawn between ‘The Buccaneers’ and the ‘Gilded Age,’ starting with the slow societal acceptance of “new money” in both American and English high societies at similar time periods. The cultural shock Mirian experiences upon arriving in New York in the latter show is also comparable to what the girls face following their journey across the pond.