10 Best TV Shows Like Franklin

April 15, 2024, 10:50 p.m.

Movies

10 Best TV Shows Like Franklin

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Summary Television series like Franklin offer a deep dive into historical figures and events, providing a fresh perspective on well-known stories.

The drama and intrigue in shows like Franklin and The Essex Serpent captivate audiences, blending history with personal experiences.

Strong performances by actors like Michael Douglas in Franklin and Paul Giamatti in John Adams bring historical figures to life, making for compelling viewing.

Franklin is a great new TV show about the life of the historical figure, Benjamin Franklin, but since it's a miniseries, there is a finite number of episodes. Luckily, television series about spies, revolution, romance, and mystery are long-standing parts of the TV landscape and will fill the hole left after finishing Franklin. The thrust of the series revolves around Benjamin Franklin's journey to France to secure an alliance for the colonists during the American Revolution, and stars Michael Douglas in an excellent return to form.

Though the American Revolution serves as a backdrop for the show, much of it revolves around the personal experiences of Franklin as a man and the political machinations of the French court at the time of Louis XVI.

The cast and characters of Franklin include many real-life people, and part of the fun of the show is witnessing the dramatization of real events, and humanizing these fixtures of history. Though the American Revolution serves as a backdrop for the show, much of it revolves around the personal experiences of Franklin as a man and the political machinations of the French court at the time of Louis XVI. Also starring Noah Jupe as William Temple Franklin, Benjamin's grandson, the show is careful to ensure the intricacies of court life are well-balanced with compelling plotlines for different viewers.

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10 The Essex Serpent (2022)

A man and woman cross ideological bounds while falling in love

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Claire Danes , Tom Hiddleston Release Date May 13, 2022 Seasons 1

Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes make a compelling couple in The Essex Serpent, a miniseries that seems like any other period romance on the surface but is much more. Taking place in the titular town of Essex in the Victorian era, there is a hidden monster at the heart of The Essex Serpent, not unlike the legendary Loch Ness Monster. Danes' Cora is determined to find the beast and is convinced of its existence, while Hiddleston's Will chalks it up to the stuff of fairytales, leading the two of them to clash over their firmly held beliefs.

The question of being an outsider is also raised across both shows, as Cora travels to Essex as a newcomer the way Franklin does to Versailles.

There are many twists and turns throughout The Essex Serpent, but the core themes of science versus faith draw comparisons to Franklin and the way that Benjamin Franklin so closely associated himself with invention and scientific practices. Additionally, comparisons can be drawn between Franklin's many love affairs and the burgeoning passion between Cora and Will. The question of being an outsider is also raised across both shows, as Cora travels to Essex as a newcomer the way Franklin does to Versailles.

9 Bridgerton (2020 - Present)

A modernized historical fiction that revolves around love and societal intrigue

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buy Not available Not available Not available From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on the romance novels of the same name by author Julia Quinn. The series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, as they search for love during the social season and navigate life in Regency-era England. Cast Will Tilston , Rege-Jean Page , Ruth Gemmell , Luke Thompson , Isabella Cortese , Martins Imhangbe , Julie Andrews , Phoebe Dynevor , Ruby Stokes , Ruby Barker , Claudia Jessie , Adjoa Andoh , Nicola Coughlan , Golda Rosheuvel , Charithra Chandran , Ben Miller , Jonathan Bailey , Florence Hunt , Polly Walker , Shelley Conn , Joanna Bobin , Luke Newton , Simone Ashley Release Date December 25, 2020 Seasons 3 Directors Tom Verica , Tricia Brock

Fans are on the edge of their seats waiting for the upcoming Bridgerton season 3, which will chronicle the love story between Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin (Luke Newton). The series is based on the popular book series by Julia Quinn that tells the story of the Bridgerton family during the Regency Era in London. Each season, a new Bridgerton sibling falls in love and tackles the trials and tribulations of making their feelings a reality. All the while, the prying eyes of society keep a sharp lookout for gossip and missteps.

Though Franklin has its anachronisms, Bridgerton is far less concerned with being historically accurate and is more of a fantasy than Franklin. However, in terms of glittering costumes and gorgeous sets, both series more than deliver. Gossip is how word travels and alliances are won and lost in Bridgerton and Franklin. While the stakes are higher in Franklin with the promise of war coloring every interaction, the means of manipulation and the importance of capitulating to society's rules are prominent aspects of each show's story.

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8 Peaky Blinders (2013 - 2022)

A World War I veteran returns home to Birmingham to build an empire

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buy Not available Not available Not available Peaky Blinders is a historical crime drama created and written by Steven Knight and starring Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, and Helen McCrory. The television show is based on the gang, Peaky Blinders, a group that banded together after the end of World War I. Cast Annabelle Wallis , Ian Peck , Helen McCrory , Paul Anderson , Cillian Murphy , Ned Dennehy , Aimee-Ffion Edwards , Sam Neill , Sophie Rundle , Tony Pitts , Joe Cole Release Date September 12, 2013 Seasons 6 Directors Otto Bathurst , Tom Harper , Colm McCarthy , Tim Mielants , David Caffrey , Anthony Byrne

Tommy and his family are the head of the Peaky Blinders, a gang that rises through the ranks of organized crime in England post-World War I.

Starring Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, Peaky Blinders was a runaway hit for Netflix during its run. Luckily its story is getting a proper conclusion with an upcoming movie. Peaky Blinders season 6 was a strong end for the series, but there is still more to be said about the Shelby family, and seeing them at the start of World War II will parallel the beginning of the series nicely. Tommy and his family are the head of the Peaky Blinders, a gang that rises through the ranks of organized crime in England post-World War I.

Violence, greed, and betrayal are expected in a typical episode of Peaky Blinders, and these can all be found in Franklin, except for the more gratuitous fight scenes. Additionally, Benjamin Franklin and Tommy Shelby have more in common than viewers think. They are frequently the smartest men in the room and guide those around them to act in their best interests, whether they're aware of it or not. This ability to think a few steps ahead and predict what side they should be on can be a valuable skill but it also gets them into trouble.

Related 10 Things That Need To Happen In The Peaky Blinders Movie Now that the Peaky Blinders movie is confirmed, speculation about the upcoming plotlines makes it clear how many questions must be answered.

7 The Regime (2024)

An example of what authoritarianism might look like in a new context

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buy Not available Not available Not available The Regime is an HBO/Max mini-series that takes place over the course of one year and follows a failing dictator as her fictional empire begins to crumble around her. The show sees the beginning of the end of the dictatorship and the challenges that the Chancellor faces to keep her unsustainable rule afloat. Cast Kate Winslet , Andrea Riseborough , Hugh Grant , Martha Plimpton , Matthias Schoenaerts Release Date March 3, 2024 Seasons 1 Directors Stephen Frears

Though Kate Winslet might be best known for her role in Titanic, she's made a name for herself taking on tough and diabolical roles since then. In Divergent, she played the leader of a faction trying to limit freedom and take over the world, and she's at it again in The Regime. Winslet plays Elena Vernham, a chancellor of a fictional country over which she has absolute power, but that power is slipping out of her grasp. Her undoing comes slowly but surely as the people revolt and she must face the consequences of her actions.

In tone, The Regime leans toward satire rather than a serious dramatic takedown of a real-life authoritarian dictatorship. It's interesting to get an insight into the leader of the fictional country instead of looking from the outside in. Franklin is a good companion piece to The Regime because Franklin's ultimate goal is to curry favor with the King to ensure America's success. In The Regime Vernham is constantly on the lookout for people trying to use her and her power, but the audience wants her to fail.

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6 Feud (2017 - 2024)

An anthology series about famous fights, manipulations, and feuds

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buy Not available Not available Not available Feud is a documentary drama anthology series created for FX based on famous feuds throughout celebrity history. Packed with an ensemble cast, each season of Feud follows a new celebrity, with season one covering Bette Davis and Joan Crawford and the second season centering on Truman Capote. Cast Jessica Lange , Susan Sarandon , Judy Davis , Jackie Hoffman , Alfred Molina , Stanley Tucci , alison wright , Naomi Watts , Diane Lane , Chloe Sevigny , Calista Flockhart , Demi Moore , Molly Ringwald , Treat Williams , Joe Mantello , Russell Tovey , Tom Hollander Release Date March 5, 2017 Seasons 2 Showrunner Jon Robin Baitz , Ryan Murphy , Tim Minear

However, watching them betray each other against the backdrop of wealth and opulence is an enjoyable way to pass the time.

As the name suggests, Feud thrives on backhanded compliments, underhanded manipulations, and intense grudge-holding, but that makes the characters so fun to watch. Few, if any, audience members could bring themselves to like the characters depicted in Feud, as though the series presents two sides of historically famous feuds, neither party is in the right. They both do equally horrible things to each other and revel in their successes. However, watching them betray each other against the backdrop of wealth and opulence is an enjoyable way to pass the time.

In the most recent season, the characters in Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans are larger than life and endlessly intriguing to viewers who know them from real life or are being introduced to them for the first time. Similarly to Franklin, Feud doesn't assume that the audience knows everything about the history it's presenting, and makes sure to give context and exposition when needed, but never to overdo it. This makes it easy to jump into the shows and catch up quickly about why the characters are at each other's throats.

5 All The Light We Cannot See (2023)

A moving exploration of several lives throughout World War II

All The Light We Cannot See All the Light We Cannot See is a historical drama set in occupied France during World War II. The Netflix original series stars Aria Mia Loberti as Marie-Laure, a blind French teen who connects with a German soldier named Werner (Louis Hofmann). All the Light We Cannot See also stars Mark Ruffalo, Hugh Laurie, and Louis Hofmann. Cast Aria Mia Loberti , Mark Ruffalo , Hugh Laurie , Louis Hofmann , Lars Eidinger , Andrea Deck , Nell Sutton Release Date November 2, 2023 Seasons 1 Directors Shawn Levy

Based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Anthony Doerr, All The Light We Cannot See was an underrated show to come out in 2023. Though it's difficult to live up to a novel that won the Pulitzer Prize, All The Light We Cannot See deserves to be as well regarded as any other series about World War II. Mark Ruffalo and Aria Mia Loberti play their roles with kindness and empathy, something the story cherishes. Louis Hofmann also shines as he has the difficult job of playing a young man forced to join the Nazis.

Overall, the stakes of Franklin pale in comparison to All The Light We Cannot See, but both series make the smart choice to tell a vast and sweeping story through the lens of just a few characters. Watching enormous political and historical moments unfold from the sidelines can be just as effective as portraying them in the thick of battle, and these TV shows prove this. Additionally, special attention is paid to the experiences of young people during World War II and the American Revolution through Loberti and Hogmann in All The Light We Cannot See and Jupe in Franklin.

Watch All The Light We Cannot See on Netflix.

4 Lessons In Chemistry (2023)

A brilliant young woman pushes boundaries and forges her own path in the 1950s

Lessons In Chemistry Based on the novel by Bonnie Garmus, Lessons in Chemistry is set in the 1960s and follows Elizabeth Zott, whose dream of being a scientist because society demands a woman remain at home and not work. When Elizabeth finds herself pregnant, alone, and fired from her lab, she accepts a job as a host on a TV cooking show. She sets out to teach a nation of overlooked homemakers — and the men suddenly listening — about food and chemistry. Cast Brie Larson , Lewis Pullman , Aja Naomi King , Stephanie Koenig , Patrick Walker , Thomas Mann , Kevin Sussman , Beau Bridges Release Date October 13, 2023 Seasons 1 Directors Sarah Adina Smith

Jumping forward in time, Lessons in Chemistry catches up with the state of America many years after the Revolution is successful and grapples with the people who were failed by the promise of the American dream. Brie Larson plays Elizabeth Zott, a young scientist who isn't taken seriously by her peers. She starts hosting a cooking show in the hopes of communicating to other women that they're capable of much more than society tells them. Additionally, there is a love story that's poignant but doesn't eclipse Zott's journey as a person.

It's also interesting to see the foundation of the country that Zott lives in during its infancy, to see what has changed and what hasn't.

Something Franklin lacks is an abundance of strong female characters who challenge the status quo and embark on their revolutions. While Lessons in Chemistry is a show solely about the female experience and Franklin is about Benjamin Franklin's, there could be more to the women in his life than the show allows. It's also interesting to see the foundation of the country that Zott lives in during its infancy, to see what has changed and what hasn't.

Watch Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV+.

3 Turn: Washington’s Spies (2014 - 2017)

The American Revolution on the home front

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Benjamin Franklin might have been tasked with journeying to France to secure a strong ally for the fledgling America, but there was plenty of action happening back at home. Something frequently overlooked in discussing American history is how early spies and espionage were used in the foundation of the U.S., and how both the Patriots and the Red Coats used them. In Turn: Washington's Spies, not just soldier’s lives are explored, but citizens from all walks of life who did their part to provide information to the newly formed government.

Watching Turn: Washington's Spies and Franklin serves as a reminder that the American Revolution was a precarious war that the Patriots came very close to losing. It's made clear in each narrative that the British have the power, resources, and numbers to squash the uprising. However, it's the small actions made by everyday people that make a difference. Though Franklin's actions in winning over France turned the tide of the war, his efforts would have been in vain if not for the people risking their lives in the field.

2 Sons Of Liberty (2015)

The grassroots beginnings of the American Revolution

The series looks at the years just before the start of the war as unrest grew and tensions rose between those loyal to the British and those loyal to the colonies.

A young Ben Barnes is prominently featured in Sons of Liberty as a member of the titular organization, the Sons of Liberty. The series looks at the years just before the start of the war as unrest grew and tensions rose between those loyal to the British and those loyal to the colonies. Though there were only three parts of the miniseries, it made a lasting impact on anyone who watched it for how urgent and vital the mission of the men in the show felt, and how it portrayed the restlessness of New England.

Benjamin Franklin isn't featured in Sons of Liberty as it focuses almost completely on Boston and the surrounding areas. However, it's difficult not to associate the events with each other as important figures like Sam Adams and Paul Revere are major players in the story. Like Franklin, Sons of Liberty takes dramatic liberties to increase the tension, but that doesn't take away from the overall feel of the story. Audiences can imagine themselves in the thick of the conflict while watching both shows.

Watch Sons of Liberty on Tubi.

Related 10 Best Revolutionary War Movies, Ranked The period of the American Revolution is seeped in rich history, and the best movies about the conflict represent the thrilling and dangerous aspects.

1 John Adams (2008)

One of the best explorations of a Founding Father's life

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Paul Giamatti , Laura Linney , Mamie Gummer , David Morse , Rufus Sewell , Sarah Polley , Tom Wilkinson , Danny Huston Release Date March 16, 2008 Seasons 1 Directors Tom Hooper

Though Paul Giamatti's best movies illustrate his amazing work as an actor, his role in the miniseries, John Adams, cannot be overlooked as one of his best performances. Giamatti embodies John Adams and puts everything he has into giving a nuanced portrayal of a complicated man who profoundly impacted history. Though John Adams encompasses his whole life and spends more time with the man than Franklin does with Benjamin, the obvious similarities between the shows make them great works to watch in conjunction.

Whether Michael Douglas will gain the same notoriety for Franklin that Giamatti did for John Adams remains to be seen, but he is giving just as strong a performance. Taking on a character study of such a well-known figure is an enormous task, but the skill of Douglas and Giamatti shines through in each series. Neither series tries to claim that their protagonists are perfect or without reproach, but that allows the audience to relate to them and feel they're also a part of history.