If you finished watching Mary Stuart navigate the treacherous French court and you're searching for another fix of opulent gowns, forbidden romances, and cutthroat political scheming, you aren't alone. Finding a series that matches the unique blend of soapy teen drama and grand historical stakes found in Reign can feel tough. Most period pieces lean entirely into dry historical accuracy or heavy, slow-moving political discourse, missing that high-octane energy.
The best shows like Reign combine royal power struggles, gorgeous costume design, and high-stakes court betrayal without getting bogged down in textbook pacing. Whether you want more Tudor history, medieval power plays, or sharp modern takes on monarchy, these eight series deliver the grand histories and royal intrigue you're craving.
The Tudors
If your favorite part of Reign was the intense focus on royal marriage politics, secret alliances, and dangerous liaisons, The Tudors is the absolute closest match. Running for four seasons, this Showtime drama follows the chaotic reign of King Henry VIII. It dives headfirst into the scandals surrounding his multiple marriages, beginning with his infatuation with Anne Boleyn.
What makes it work for Reign fans is the sheer commitment to luxury and melodrama. The court is packed with lavish velvet costumes, whispered secrets in grand hallways, and constant betrayals. You get a front-row seat to how fragile life and status were inside stone castle walls. To understand the full picture, check out the recent article by Variety.
- Why you'll love it: It features direct historical ties to Mary Stuart's lineage, exploring the generation that shaped the English throne before Mary's own conflicts.
- Watch out for: It earns its mature rating with explicit content and graphic violence that goes a step further than network television.
The White Queen
For fans who loved the supernatural whispers, strategic matchmaking, and mother-daughter political maneuvering in Reign, The White Queen hits every right note. This miniseries adapts Philippa Gregory's famous historical novels, focusing on the pivotal Wars of the Roses through the eyes of three different women: Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, and Anne Neville.
Instead of focusing solely on kings on the battlefield, the narrative centers on the queens and noblewomen who pulled the strings from the shadows. Rumors of witchcraft, secret curses, and intense maternal ambition drive the plot forward.
- Why you'll love it: It highlights resilient women fighting for survival and dominance in a man's world, mirroring Mary's early struggles to keep her crown.
- Where to watch next: Its companion series, The White Princess and The Spanish Princess, continue the timeline straight into the Tudor era.
The Crown
If you loved Reign because you enjoy watching young women step into immense power and shoulder the crushing weight of a crown, The Crown is a must-watch. While it jumps forward centuries to the twentieth century, it remains the gold standard for modern television about royal duty versus personal desire.
The series opens with a young Queen Elizabeth II unexpectedly inheriting the throne in her twenties. You watch her struggle against prime ministers, manage a turbulent marriage, and learn how to project unshakeable strength while her private world crumbles.
- Why you'll love it: The psychological toll of wearing a crown is explored with immaculate detail, stunning production values, and sharp writing.
- What makes it different: It leans heavily into real twentieth-century political history rather than medieval romance.
Outlander
While Outlander adds a healthy dose of time travel and fantasy, its core appeal for Reign fans lies in its sweeping romance and dangerous political landscapes. The story follows Claire Randall, a combat nurse from 1945 who mysteriously slips backward in time to eighteenth-century Scotland. There, she gets caught up in the Jacobite risings and falls in love with Highland warrior Jamie Fraser.
The show delivers epic scale, gorgeous Scottish vistas, breathtaking period fashion, and heart-pounding suspense. The tension between personal love and civic duty mirrors the love triangles and political traps that defined the French court.
- Why you'll love it: High-stakes danger, breathtaking romance, and intricate period costumes that rival any royal wardrobe.
- Common mistake: Expecting a purely royal court drama—Outlander spends plenty of time out in the rugged Highlands and colonial America.
Medici
If you miss the Italian political maneuvering and gorgeous Renaissance aesthetics, Medici brings fifteenth-century Florence to vivid life. The series traces the rise of the Medici family from simple merchants to powerful financial dynamos who effectively ruled Florence and shaped the Italian Renaissance.
It features a familiar face for Reign fans—Toby Regbo (who played Prince Francis) appears in the cast. The show relies on murder mysteries, financial blackmail, family feuds, and stunning architecture to keep the pacing brisk.
- Why you'll love it: It trades French castles for Italian palazzos without losing any of the backstabbing or lavish art design.
- Pacing note: The tone shifts across seasons as the focus moves from generation to generation, keeping the narrative fresh.
The Spanish Princess
Acting as a direct thematic sibling to The White Queen, The Spanish Princess follows Catherine of Aragon as she travels to England to marry Prince Arthur and secure an alliance between nations. When Arthur dies unexpectedly, she sets her sights on the spare heir, the future Henry VIII.
Catherine is fierce, deeply proud, and ready to fight tooth and nail for her rightful place on the English throne. Her court is filled with vibrant multicultural influences, sharp dialogue, and constant scheming among royal advisors.
- Why you'll love it: It highlights a foreign princess entering a hostile foreign court—a direct parallel to Mary Stuart's journey in France.
- Key takeaway: It offers a more diverse cast of characters than traditional British period pieces, bringing fresh perspectives to Tudor history.
Versailles
For viewers whose favorite part of Reign was the excessive luxury, scandalous bed-hopping, and lavish parties of the French aristocracy, Versailles turns those elements up to maximum volume. The series chronicles King Louis XIV as he builds the extravagant Palace of Versailles to trap and control his rebellious nobles.
The show is unapologetically decadent. It treats court politics like a high-stakes chess match where sex, poison, and fashion are the primary weapons.
- Why you'll love it: If you thought Reign played fast and loose with history for the sake of entertainment, Versailles leans even harder into pure theatrical spectacle and scandalous twists.
- Content warning: It contains explicit adult themes and graphic violence throughout its run.
The Last Kingdom
If you want to step away from courtly romance and dive into brutal medieval warfare, The Last Kingdom offers an incredible alternative. Based on Bernard Cornwell's novels, it follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, an Anglo-Saxon boy raised by Vikings who must choose between the culture of his upbringing and the land of his birth.
While it has fewer grand ballrooms than Reign, it delivers phenomenal political strategy. Kings rise and fall based on tactical alliances, betrayals, and battlefield supremacy.
- Why you'll love it: Exceptional character development, fast-paced storytelling, and a front-row seat to the bloody formation of England.
- Difference from Reign: The focus is heavily on warfare, tactical survival, and shifting regional powers rather than court fashion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Reign based on real historical events?
Reign takes heavy inspiration from the early life of Mary, Queen of Scots, but it plays fast and loose with actual history. It prioritizes modern fashion, pop music soundtracks, and soapy drama over strict historical accuracy. Think of it as historical fantasy rather than a documentary.
Which show has the most similar vibe to Reign?
The Tudors and The White Queen offer the closest match in terms of royal court politics, scandalous affairs, and opulent period costumes. Both dive deep into British royalty and palace backstabbing.
Are any of these shows safe for younger viewers?
Most historical dramas rated TV-MA or equivalent feature adult content, including strong language, sexual situations, and violence. If you enjoyed Reign, note that streaming series on platforms like Starz, Showtime, or Netflix often feature significantly more graphic content than the CW network allowed.
