Who doesn’t love a period drama? With its emphasis on costume and on the power of feeling, it’s one of those genres that has proven to be exceptionally popular (and enduring) in both film and television. It’s also true that the present moment seems to be something of a golden age for the period drama, with numerous series and films emerging every month.
Given the plethora of choices, it can sometimes be difficult to determine which are worth a watch and which should be skipped. For those who happen to be the ESTJ type on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, there are period dramas that are worth a look and others that are best avoided.
Love: Anne With An E
Based on the timeless story of Anne of Green Gables, Anne with an E brings all of that stories considerable charm to the story of an orphaned girl who finds a home in the country.
The ESTJ will find themselves drawn to this extraordinary little girl who, despite her age, shows again and again that she has a mind and a will of her own that manage to see her through numerous challenging situations.
Hate: Harlots
As the title of this series suggests, it is all about the lives of sex workers in the 18th century, particularly the conflict between two rival madams as each struggles to keep her business afloat amid the rapid changes overtaking their society.
While there is much to enjoy about the series, it’s unlikely that the ESTJ, which tends to be more than a little judgmental at times, will be able to see past the show’s premise to enjoy its more dramatic aspects.
Love: The Last Kingdom
The Last Kingdom takes as its subject one of the lesser-known periods of English history when the Saxons and the Norsemen were fighting for control of the island. It focuses in particular on the surly young lord Uhtred as he struggles to regain his patrimony while also becoming part of the great historical events of his lifetime.
He’s a bit of an agent of chaos, however, and time and again he disrupts the orderly working of the plot with his arrogance and sense of self-righteousness.
Hate: Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is one of those series that manages to combine two different genres into a mostly seamless whole: The crime drama and the period drama. Of course, there’s always something innately appealing about criminality, in particular about crime families, who seem to have their own sort of glamor.
That is precisely what this series centers on and, of course, its focus on crimes means that it will be a bit of a difficult fit for the ESTJ to either like or understand.
Love: The Crown
Netflix’s The Crown is one of those period dramas that seems to take a very sincere and dedicated interest in the workings of history. Again and again, it shows how Queen Elizabeth sees herself as a key institution, a means by which her people can navigate the turbulent tides of 20th-century modernity.
For her, as for the ESTJ, the creation and maintenance of order are among the most important things that a monarch can do, no matter the personal costs.
Hate: The Madness of King George
It’s a well-known historical fact that George III suffered from a form of mental instability that eventually led to his son forming a regency.
This film dramatizes these events, focusing in particular on the relationship between the king and his son, the latter of whom sees his father’s madness as a perfect opportunity for him to seize the throne for himself. This grievous breach of loyalty is, of course, remarkably different from the way that the ESTJ goes through life.
Love: Call the Midwife
It probably should go without saying that the BBC has managed to corner the market on the period drama. It’s easy to see why when one watches a series like Call the Midwife, with its focus on a group of midwives, their community, and the historical events that affect their lives.
Given the series’ emphasis on the competence of the midwives, and the fact that they are a reliable part of their local communities, it’s easy to see why the series would appeal to the ESTJ.
Hate: Fingersmith
This television serial is one of those that definitely takes some getting used to, in part because the narrative is full of so many twists and turns that it can be hard to keep track of exactly what is going on. In essence, however, it’s about a group of thieves who try to steal an inheritance.
The story Fingersmith tells is, to put it mildly, unconventional, and it’s highly unlikely that the ESTJ, who can be a bit stubborn at the best of times, will enjoy it very much.
Love: Mrs. Brown
Dame Judi Dench has established quite a reputation for playing queens who are entering the twilight of their life. In the case of Mrs. Brown, she memorably portrays Queen Victoria, and the film as a whole focuses on the relationship between the Queen and her Scottish servant John Brown.
It’s a moving film about the power of friendship to transgress and sometimes challenge the bonds that society often places around those in power.
Hate: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great has gone down in history as one of the most famous (and infamous) women to have wielded power in Russia. In the HBO miniseries Catherine the Great, the titular character is portrayed by Helen Mirren, with all of the formidable talents that she brings to every role.
While the ESTJ will appreciate her headstrong nature, they will soon find themselves more than a little turned off by the way that she seems to court chaos through her courtship and romance with one of her generals.
