Why Are We So Obsessed With Men in Period Dramas?
There is just something about a man in a period drama, isn't there?
Give me a beautifully tailored coat, a slightly windswept hairstyle, a lingering look across a crowded ballroom and a man who knows how to write a proper love letter, and I'm pretty much sold.
I'm not entirely sure when we all decided that fictional gentlemen from centuries past were the gold standard, but here we are. Modern dating has a lot to answer for when a man who manages to maintain eye contact and express an emotion on screen can have us reaching for the fan.
And it's not just the clothes (although, let's be honest, they certainly help). It's the tension, the longing looks, the complicated relationships and the deliciously drawn-out romances that make period dramas so addictive.
We've had some excellent fictional gentlemen over the years, and with plenty of new adaptations and familiar favourites returning to our screens, there are more than enough reasons to settle on the sofa and become emotionally invested in people who don't actually exist.
So, in no particular order, here are six period-drama gentlemen who have been occupying rather too much of our thoughts.
1. Mr Darcy: The gentleman who started it all
Can we really talk about period-drama crushes without mentioning Mr Darcy?
Whether you're firmly in the Matthew Macfadyen camp from the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, or Colin Firth will always be your Darcy, there's no denying that Jane Austen created something rather special with this particular gentleman.
He's reserved, occasionally rather difficult to read and not exactly the life and soul of a country gathering. But underneath that frosty exterior is a man prepared to swallow his pride, admit when he's wrong and go to extraordinary lengths for the woman he loves.
And then there's the wet shirt scene. I don't think that requires any further explanation.
Of course, Darcy is about to get some new competition. Netflix's six-part adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, starring Jack Lowden as Darcy and Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, arrives on 3rd December 2026. I'm certainly interested to see what this version brings to the story, although I suspect there will be plenty of debate about who makes the best Darcy.
2. Benedict Bridgerton: The artistic gentleman with a romantic streak
Just when we thought the Bridgerton brothers had given us enough to swoon over, along came Benedict.
There's something rather appealing about Benedict Bridgerton. He's charming, artistic, a little unconventional and, unlike some of his brothers, doesn't seem particularly interested in following the rules. Luke Thompson brings just the right amount of wit and mischief to the role, but there's also a softer, more thoughtful side to Benedict that makes him all the more attractive. He's the sort of man who can make a room laugh one minute and leave you wondering what he's thinking the next. With his own love story taking centre stage in Bridgerton Season 4, I suspect there'll be plenty more Benedict appreciation coming our way.
And if there's one thing a period romance has taught us, it's that a little social complication can do wonders for the romantic tension.
The season is available on Netflix, so if you haven't caught up with Benedict and Sophie yet, you know what to do.
3. Jamie Fraser: A Highland romance worth getting lost in
If there's one thing Scotland does exceptionally well, it's a romantic period drama. Add a Highland setting, a few kilts and a handsome Scotsman, and you've got my attention.
We've already had Jamie Fraser in Outlander, who has set an almost impossible standard for fictional husbands. Played by Sam Heughan, Jamie is brave, fiercely loyal and devoted to Claire in a way that makes you wonder whether men like this ever existed outside the pages of a romance novel.
And it's not just the grand gestures. It's the partnership, the banter and the way these two manage to find their way back to each other despite everything life throws at them.
The Outlander universe has also expanded with Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which takes us back to the love story of Jamie's parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie.
More Highland scenery, family rivalries and complicated romances? I'm certainly not complaining.
Although I should probably point out that watching Outlander has done absolutely nothing to lower my expectations of a romantic Scottish gentleman.
4. Tom Hayward: A gentleman for the overlooked sister
One of the loveliest things about a good period drama is when it takes a familiar story and gives us a reason to look at it differently.
Enter The Other Bennet Sister, which finally gives Mary Bennet the attention she was so often denied in Pride and Prejudice.
We've spent years watching Elizabeth and Jane take centre stage, while poor Mary was generally remembered for her rather enthusiastic piano playing and unfortunate attempts at conversation. But this time, she's the leading lady, and she gets a romance of her own.
Tom Hayward, played by Dónal Finn, becomes an important part of Mary's story, offering a rather different kind of romantic hero. Their relationship is less about grand declarations and more about getting to know someone, finding your confidence and discovering that perhaps being understood is one of the most romantic things of all.
And the good news is that we're getting more of Tom this Christmas! The three-part festive special will pick up with Mary and Tom after their wedding, giving us a chance to see what married life has in store for the rather lovely Mr Hayward. I, for one, am very happy about that!
5. George Russell: A little ambition never hurt anyone
Now, if your idea of a romantic hero is someone a little more complicated, allow me to introduce you to The Gilded Age.
Set in New York during the 1880s, the series has everything you'd expect from a lavish period drama: extraordinary costumes, extravagant houses, society politics and enough family drama to keep you occupied for several evenings.
George Russell, played by Morgan Spector, isn't necessarily the traditional romantic hero. He's ambitious, powerful and certainly not without his flaws. But his relationship with his wife Bertha is one of the more interesting partnerships in the series.
Rather than focusing solely on courtship, we get to see a marriage in action, with two strong personalities navigating ambition, family expectations and their place in society.
Not every romantic storyline needs to involve a man staring across a ballroom wondering whether he should ask a woman to dance. Sometimes it's about two people who know exactly who they are, challenge one another and build something together.
And I rather like that.
6. Colonel Brandon: The gentleman who proves actions speak louder than words
Since we're talking about Jane Austen, we really can't leave Sense and Sensibility out of this conversation.
There are plenty of reasons to love the story of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, but one of my favourites is the contrast between the men in their lives.
There's Edward Ferrars, whose quiet and understated nature makes him a rather different sort of romantic lead, and then there's Colonel Brandon, whose steady devotion and kindness have made him a favourite for generations.
Played by Alan Rickman in the 1995 film adaptation, Colonel Brandon is perhaps not the most obvious choice for a swoon-worthy gentleman at first glance. He's older, reserved and not particularly interested in making grand romantic declarations. But underneath that quiet exterior is someone who genuinely cares, and who proves his feelings through his actions.
I think that's one of the things Austen does so brilliantly. She gives us men who are charming, men who are dependable, men who are complicated and men who really should come with a warning label.
And if you enjoy falling for fictional gentlemen as much as I do...
Of course, you don't have to travel back in time to find a swoon-worthy leading man. I've created a few of my own over the years, including Adam Miller in The Game.
He's a tech entrepreneur with plenty on his plate, and when a Russian tennis star needs a pretend date, things get rather more complicated than either of them expected. There's romance, plenty of tension and a few twists along the way.
If you're in the mood to meet another fictional boyfriend, you can discover The Game here.
So, who's your favourite?
I think that's the magic of period dramas. The romance, the longing looks, the grand gestures and the men who somehow manage to make a beautifully tailored coat look even better.
But now I want to know who's your ultimate period-drama crush. Are you a Mr Darcy devotee, a Jamie Fraser fan or have you fallen for one of the newer gentlemen?
Let me know. I'm always happy to add another period drama to my watchlist!
Eve x
Comments