Shows that feel likeDownton Abbey (2010–2015)
If you loved Downton Abbey, the closest series we have are The Knick (2014), Reign (2013) and Mad Men (2007). All three share Downton Abbey's contemplative feel, which is what we rank on before quality.
Seen the big three already? The under-the-radar pick below is The Newsroom (2012).
If Downton Abbey hit the spot, these will too
Court intrigue where marriage, rank and duty decide every fate
The difference: A CW gloss — anachronistic gowns and soapier teenage romance
A vanished era observed through manners, hierarchy and slow change
The difference: Colder and more cynical — no warm household to root for
Duty to an institution weighed against private longing, decade by decade
The difference: Real royals and real history — statelier, with fewer downstairs voices
A big ensemble bound by decorum, rivalry and romantic undercurrents
The difference: Modern, talky and preachy — Sorkin speeches replace period grace
A family's dirty laundry managed so the facade stays spotless
The difference: Violent LA noir — the elegance is gone, only the secrets remain
Watching the very rich defend their standing with everything they have
The difference: Profane, testosterone-heavy dealmaking — no gentleness at all
Sweeping history told as an earnest, handsome ensemble pageant
The difference: Stiff pageant storytelling — spectacle without character depth
A big found-family workplace where every week brings quiet crises
The difference: Formulaic network procedural — comfort food without the craft
An institution's public face and the backstage turmoil holding it up
The difference: Modern media melodrama — glossy anxiety instead of period calm
A rise across rigid class lines, told with an open heart
The difference: A Spanish-language telenovela — grittier streets, broader melodrama
In the mood for more contemplative?
all contemplative shows →The best-reviewed series that share Downton Abbey’s defining feeling.
