9 most overrated period dramas ranked - and huge Netflix hit is number one

Lavish costumes and idealised portrayals of romance have long contributed to the enduring appeal of period dramas, offering viewers a much-needed escape from their everyday lives. The same titles seem to appear when discussing the best in the genre, from Downton Abbey to Call the Midwife.

Despite the genre's popularity and the abundance of titles available, not everyone is convinced they deserve the hype. This list depicts some of the most overrated period dramas, at least according to Reddit's brutally honest critics. Whether spanning several seasons or a classic film, these titles have generated significant attention, though perhaps not always for the right reasons.

Greta Gerwig's 2019 film follows the lives of four sisters living in a small house in Massachusetts during the American Civil War. The March sisters experience several ups and downs as they enter the threshold of womanhood and are forced to make important decisions that will affect their future.

" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="Sony" data-licensor-name="Sony" /> Claire is a former World War II military nurse who is mysteriously transported back in time to 1743 after visiting a set of ancient standing stones. There, she falls in love and marries Scottish Highlander Jamie, leaving Claire torn between her two lives. " data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="Brentwood Gazette" data-licensor-name="Brentwood Gazette" /> The Tudors details Henry's scandal-ridden life and his fixation on siring a male heir. One viewer admitted they were hooked following its release in 2007, but their opinion changed upon watching it years later.

They wrote: "Oddly enough, I was such a huge fan of the The Tudors in its hey day (it burst on the scene while I was in college). Here I am 20 years later, sat down to give it a rewatch and I just think "wow this is not nearly as good as I remember'."

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Viewers took aim at the final two seasons in particular, with one writing: "The last two seasons of The Crown tanked the series to the point where I wondered why I liked it to begin with, but it was somehow still getting a bunch of award noms."

A second echoed: "Totally agree about The Crown! I think Netflix have tons of money for PR and campaigns hence the continued nominations for the final 2 seasons, which for me were mostly dire."

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Expressing their criticism of the series, one remarked: "I couldn't get into Poldark - the main character was so dang unlikable and while I've enjoyed Aidan Turner in other things, his brooding and smoldering was too over the top for me." Another said: "I loved Poldark in the beginning but it started dragging and felt repetitive. Should have ended sooner."

" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="BBC/Mammoth Screen/Mike Hogan" data-licensor-name="BBC/Mammoth Screen/Mike Hogan" /> Downton Abbey has not been embraced by all viewers.

One said: "Downton Abbey. I have sentimental feelings about it but it was never good again without Matthew. They couldn't ever bring Tom through in a way to fill the need for conflict." A second branded it a "cheesy soap opera with plenty of bad writing".

" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="ITV" data-licensor-name="ITV" /> "the greatest period drama of all time", but that hasn't stopped some from arguing it's overrated. Each series focuses on one of the seven siblings from the noble Bridgerton family as they navigate the highly competitive social season, searching for the perfect match.

Bridgerton was an instant hit following its release in 2020 and is the fifth most popular series on Netflix. Despite its overwhelming popularity, one described it as "pure cheese". Another added: "I really couldn't get into bridgerton, it was so campy and melodramatic to me." A third agreed, branding it "predictable and tacky".

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