In this bonus episode of Swoon-Worthy, we bring you a roundup of the latest and upcoming period dramas — from buzzy premieres to hidden gems and future favorites. We rave about Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025), with its breathtaking costuming, emotionally rich performances, and gothic storytelling that’s anything but monstrous. We also dig into King & Conqueror (Amazon Prime), starring James Norton, and explain why early reviews might be missing the mark.
Joe Wright’s Mussolini: Son of the Century (Mubi) gets our attention as an under-the-radar miniseries with bold historical ambition. Then we preview what’s coming soon:
- Merteuil / The Seduction (HBO Max France, Nov 14) — a feminist prequel to Les Liaisons dangereuses
- Train Dreams (Netflix, Nov 21) — a haunting frontier tale starring Joel Edgerton
- 100 Nights of Hero and Fackham Hall (Dec 5 theatrical releases) — one poetic, one parodic, both irresistible
- Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials (Netflix, Jan 15) — a fresh take on country house mystery
- The Forsytes and The Count of Monte Cristo (PBS Masterpiece, March 2026) — sweeping sagas with star-studded casts
- The Nightingale (Feb 12, 2027) — Dakota and Elle Fanning finally unite in Kristin Hannah’s WWII adaptation
We also tease a few newly announced period dramas with no release dates yet — but trust us, they’re already on our radar. Whether you’re craving corsets, conspiracies, or complex heroines, this episode is your guide to what’s making waves in the world of period storytelling.
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