There’s not too much left of Droughtlander. Just enough time to get through a few STARZ shows. Here are seven you need to watch.
With just over two months left of Droughtlander, there’s enough time to get through a few STARZ shows. Since you already have your STARZ subscription, you may as well use it to your advantage, right?
The great thing about the app is that you can access the older shows that no longer have new episodes. STARZ also sometimes reairs them throughout the week, especially Black Sails!
I’ve tried to stick to shows that have no more than a handful of seasons to watch. Many of them only have one or two seasons, as many has been run as limited series. When something is a “limited series,” there was always the intention to end after one season.
Whether you want a period romance, exciting drama, or something that brings British history to life, there’s something for all. Some of these are book adaptations, some are STARZ Originals, and some are shows that have been picked up by the service for the U.S. release. One thing that is certain is that all episodes up to what has currently aired are available on the app.
Here are seven STARZ shows you need to watch to get through Droughtlander.
7. Camelot
As the name suggests, this historical fiction show is based on the tale of King Arthur. There have certainly been plenty of these shows and movies over the year, whether you look at the Charlie Hunnam-starring movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword or the Disney animation Sword and the Stone.
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So, what makes Camelot different? Why is it worth watching? One of the reasons is definitely the cast. It starred The Handmaid’s Tale‘s Joseph Fiennes (as Merlin) and Penny Dreadful‘s Eva Green (as Morgan Pendragon), among a number of other high profile actors. In fact, it was because of the stars that the show only got one season!
And it’s the single season that makes it so good for getting through Droughtlander. You’ve got 10 episodes to get through. One a week will give you plenty of content until you wait for Outlander to come back on.
There have certainly been other versions of the tale, but not quite like this. Fiennes’ Merlin installs the young Arthur as king after the death of King Uther. Nobody knows about Arthur as he was raised a commoner, but he is the one destined to lead the country out of the dark future Merlin has envisioned.
Of course, there’s always someone there to mess up the line of succession. Morgan, Arthur’s half-sister, wants the crown instead. She’d been banished by her father and is responsible for his death. Now she wants to take the crown and lead the country into darkness. Will she succeed?
6. The White Princess
When it comes to book adaptations and British historical fiction, there’s only one show that stands out. The White Princess. I would personally start with The White Queen, but The White Princess is the latest adaptation of the Philippa Gregory novels.
The White Queen kick-starts it all with the story of Edward IV of England and his wife Elizabeth Woodville. An adaptation of three books, it focuses mostly on Elizabeth Woodville, Anne Neville, and Margaret Tudor. All three are prominent women in English history, with two setting up the Tudor dynasty and the followup series, The White Princess.
In the follow-up, you’ll follow Elizabeth of York, the daughter of Elizabeth Woodville and wife of Henry VII of England. After the Battle of Bosworth, she is forced into a marriage of politics, essentially raped by her future husband, and pushed into a life that she has never wanted. However, she’ll be damned if she doesn’t make the most of this life.
When a man appears claiming to be her youngest brother, who had supposedly been killed in the Tower of London before Richard III’s reign, Elizabeth has to decide whether she will choose her husband and her new life or her family.
If you enjoy these adaptations, you’ll be happy to hear there’s another followup on its way. STARZ has ordered an adaptation of the novel “The Constant Princess.” It will be called The Spanish Princess and follow the life of Catherine of Aragon.
5. Howards End
Out of all the book adaptations out there, Howards End has been done a few times. However, this latest version is one that you will definitely want to see. Starring Agent Carter‘s Hayley Atwell and Ripper Street‘s Matthew Macfayden, the series was originally a British adaptation that was acquired by STARZ to run in the U.S.
Based on the novel by E.M. Forster, the series is about three families from different walks of life. It focuses mostly on two sisters, who are extremely inconventional for the time and just want to navigate the world and love. Set at the turn of the 19th century, it’s a period romance drama with everything you love about Outlander (except Jamie Fraser).
The series looks at how class divisions and social circles changed in the turn of the century. The Wilcoxes come from the world of business, the Basts are a working-class family trying to make ends meet, and the Schlegels (our protagonists) are idealistic and intellectual young women working out their place in the world.
There are only four episodes to the miniseries, so this is certainly something you have time to watch before Droughtlander. I’d also highly recommend the novel.
4. The Missing
Like some of the other dramas on STARZ, The Missing started as a British anthology drama and was brought over to the States by STARZ. It became an international co-production between the BBC and the American cable network, continuing a partnership that had started a few years earlier.
The series starts with the search for a boy who goes missing in France. Julien Baptiste leads the case throughout an eight-part season. In the second season, it’s a new case. This time a girl goes missing in Germany and Julien Baptiste is back to solve that case.
The Missing Season 2 wrapped last year. There’s currently no word on whether the anthology series will continue, which isn’t surprising. The BBC has a habit of not sharing if there are plans for a new season until they’re in the middle of production or close to finishing!
It’s worth noting there were a few years between the first and second season, so a third is certainly possible. The series has received positive reviews from critics and viewers alike.
This is the only non-period drama on the list. Why would Outlander fans enjoy it? The Missing has intricate and alluring storytelling that pulls people into Diana Gabaldon’s novels, so it’s certainly to be a positive experience to get through Droughtlander.
3. Da Vinci’s Demons
You’ve likely seen Da Vinci’s Demons promoted on STARZ in the past. It was wrapping up around the time that Outlander was airing for the first time. Now you can catch up through the STARZ app if you never watched the period drama when it was originally on the air.
It shouldn’t be surprising from the name that Leonardo Da Vinci is the lead character in the series. The series follows the political schemes the artist was implicated in with the Pazzi and Medici families in Italy. At the same time, fans are taken through Leonardo’s mission to find the “Book of Leaves” and that lures him into the Sons of Mithras cult.
There are many theories over Leonard Da Vinci and his connections to cults. You just have to look at Dan Brown’s novel “The Da Vinci Code” to get an idea.
Where does the idea of the demons coming into play? Well, this is more of a figurative choice of wording. Da Vinci was plagued with inner demons throughout his life, which the series explored in a fictional sense. Da Vinci’s Demons takes you through his unruly imagination, the need of acceptance from his estranged father, and his personal conflicts.
This was the first time STARZ and BBC Worldwide joined together for a series and it certainly wouldn’t be the last! You’ve got 28 episodes of the series to get through Droughtlander with.
2. Spartacus
STARZ has done a lot of historical fiction and period dramas. Spartacus is another example of a good one that has drawn fans of both the time period and just general drama into a series. Why change something that clearly isn’t broken?
Spartacus ran for three seasons with a miniseries spin-off, so it’s a little longer than a few others on this list. However, that gives you something to watch each night before Droughtlander ends.
As you would expect from the name, the show is based on a Roman auxiliary unit campaigning against the Getae under the command of Claudius Glaber. Roman General Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus is leading the army against the Getae.
Of course, there’s slavery, gladiator rings, and much more thrown in. Spartacus is the lead character, who is a former slave who leads the slave uprising. I’ll just prepare you for the fact that the actor playing this lead character changes between the first and second season.
There’s plenty of real history thrown into the mix of fiction. There are certainly some considered inaccuracies, but considering the record keeping and time period, it’s hard to get it all right. The inaccuracies don’t pull away from the drama, war, and tension throughout the series.
1. Black Sails
As you would expect from the title, Black Sails involves pirates. But it’s more than just a TV show version of Pirates of the Caribbean. The series is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” set on New Providence Island. It series has certainly become a favorite for many, although came to an end after its fourth season.
Set about two decades before “Treasure Island” takes place, it’s all about the Golden Age of Piracy. Captain Flint is part of the fight for New Providence Island’s survival and brings on a new crew member, younger than the rest, to help with that fight. If they don’t fight, it will become part of the maritime trade.
Of course, there are plenty of pirate ships, their own code, and names you’ll certainly recognize. The likes of Anne Bonny, Jack Rackham, and Blackbeard were all fictionalized as part of the series, bringing the real historical element to the show. It’s another that tells a tale, very much like Outlander, and brings history to life.
Captain Flint is certainly the lead character, although there are many others you’ll fall for and want to learn more about. Flint is a former navy officer who has turned to piracy, but you’ll have to wait until the second season to find out why!
By the way, Bear McCreary did the music for the series (and you can certainly tell) and some of the scenes in Outlander Season 3 were shot at the Black Sails studio in South Africa.
What are you watching to get through Droughtlander? Which STARZ shows do you love as well as Outlander? Share in the comments below.
Droughtlander ends on Nov. 4 at 8/7c on STARZ!