Period dramas and comedies are certainly nothing new. But there's just something about them that always seems unique. Period dramas do various things that help audiences connect. For one thing, they play on the nostalgia of a certain time period - even if that time period was riddled with flaws and things not worth remembering. They also tend to impress their viewers on a purely physical and filmmaking level, as crafting a convincing period drama is both difficult and very expensive.
Period dramas have been centered on many different time periods and decades. These are the best ones that take place in the 1950s.
Lovecraft Country (2020)
Released through HBO in 2020, Lovecraft Country is a horror drama based on the novel of the same name by Matt Ruff. The story takes place in the 1950s and concerns a young black man attempting to find and rescue his missing father.
And while the title suggests and seemingly promises Lovecraftian horror, the show is more interested in exploring themes of segregation in Jim Crow America. The show is horrifying - both through its monsters and its horror steeped in racism, hatred, and human violence.
Masters Of Sex (2013-16)
Masters of Sex spans the late 1950s into the 1960s, and its story is loosely based on reality. Based on the biographical book Masters of Sex, the show follows the professional lives of American sexologists Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson.
The two studied the concept of human sexuality from 1957 until well into the 1990s, and their work is largely credited with kickstarting the sexual revolution of the '60s. Playing Masters and Johnson are Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, respectively.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-)
Perhaps Prime Video's most successful title, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a marvelous period comedy about feminism and stand-up. Rachel Brosnahan stars as the titular Midge Maisel, a traditional '50s housewife who begins performing stand-up comedy.
The show begins in 1958 before stretching into the early '60s, and it contains all the wonderful period details one would expect. But it's also a rich character study that explores themes of feminism, gender dynamics, and personal freedom.
The Crown (2016-)
One of Netflix's crowning achievements, The Crown is a biographical drama about the modern royal family. The first two seasons take place throughout the 1950s, with the first spanning 1947 to 1956 and the second from 1956 to 1964.
They star Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II, and she is eventually replaced with the always-wonderful Olivia Colman. Also included are the likes of Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Queen Mary, Winston Churchill, Prince Edward, and Princess Diana. History buffs will eat it up.
Happy Days (1974-84)
It's not just modern shows going back to the '50s. Happy Days did it all the way back in 1974, depicting an idealized vision of 1950s America. The first couple of seasons largely focused on the day-to-day life of teenager Richie Cunningham, played by Ron Howard.
However, the focus eventually shifted to the far more popular Fonzie, and he turned the show into the powerhouse that it eventually became. Happy Days was by far one of the most popular shows of the '70s and '80s, and its comedy and characters still hold up to this day.
M*A*S*H (1972-83)
Remaining one of the greatest and most influential programs in television history, M*A*S*H is perhaps the quintessential period drama. Albeit in a different way.
While most '50s period pieces concern themselves with beautiful cars, outdated fashion and hairstyles, diners, and leather jackets, M*A*S*H is set during the Korean War and takes place in a mobile surgical hospital. There aren't many diners and milkshakes to be found. But what is found is some of the greatest comedy, drama, and character work that TV has to offer.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
Serving as one of 2020's hottest releases, The Queen's Gambit is an excellent Netflix drama centered around chess. Taking place throughout the 1950s, the show follows Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy with humble beginnings who quickly makes her way up the tournament ladder.
However, her rapid success comes at a price, and she soon finds herself devolving into alcoholism and drug abuse. Anya Taylor-Joy is superb as Harmon, and the period details are suitably beautiful and convincing.
Hollywood (2020)
Created by superstars Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, Hollywood is a Netflix miniseries about the Golden Age of Hollywood. The term is hard to define, but most people agree that the Golden Age spans the 1910s to the 1960s. Hollywood comes in at the very end, taking place shortly after the conclusion of World War II.
The miniseries contains a fantastic ensemble cast filled with notable and talented names, and the production values are second to none. Few shows or movies capture the physical beauty of the Hollywood Golden Age quite like Hollywood.
Call The Midwife (2012-)
Call the Midwife is a brilliant BBC period drama that has aired nine seasons and over 70 episodes. As the title suggests, Call the Midwife follows a group of midwives throughout late '50s and early '60s Britain.
Along with the great character stories, the show also explores many medical issues and breakthroughs of the time. These include new forms of pain relief (like gas), the introduction of the birth control pill, meningitis, cystic fibrosis, and the potential legalization of abortion.
Fargo (2014-)
Taking place within the same universe as the Coen brothers movie, Fargo is an anthology that covers many different (yet slightly interconnected) stories. The fourth season, which aired throughout the fall of 2020, concerns a battle between two crime syndicates in 1950s Kansas City.
On one side is the Kansas City mafia. On the other side is a Black crime syndicate led by Chris Rock's Loy Cannon. The Kansas City setting is certainly unique, and the period details are obviously terrific. But the real star is Rock, who turns in a surprisingly great performance as Cannon.