Top 10 Historically Accurate TV Shows
#10: “Boardwalk Empire” (2010-14)
This popular HBO show was inspired by Nelson Johnson’s nonfiction book of the same name. The story follows Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, a crime boss in Prohibition-era New Jersey who is based on a real historical figure. “Boardwalk Empire” creator Terence Winter hired a team of researchers as he developed the show. He even gave the director of the first episode, the famous Martin Scorsese, a note about 1920s etiquette while filming. Everything from the costumes to the characters’ eating habits – like Arnold Rothstein drinking milk, was spot on. For more authenticity, they rebuilt an unused portion of the old boardwalk in Far Rockaway, New York. It served as a great mirror for the turn-of-the-century Atlantic City setting.
#9: “Downton Abbey” (2010-15)
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Throughout its six seasons, the “Downton Abbey” writers made sure to consult historical experts. The most frequently used consultant was Alastair Bruce, who supervised areas like table etiquette and accents. To get the sets just right, researchers visited almost 40 houses with preserved interiors from the early twentieth century. The series also incorporated real-life events, such as the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918. Of course, any historical reenactment has to take liberties, and the show was criticized for a few major points. One historian couldn’t watch the show because the relationships between the servants and the employers was far too intimate. Overall, however, most viewers and experts found the accurate details to outweigh the creative liberties.
#8: “Chernobyl” (2019)
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Chronicling the aftermath of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, this series drew inspiration from the book “Voices from Chernobyl,” which collected stories from locals who lived through it. The production design was praised for accuracy down to details like using actual Kyiv license plate numbers, clothing, props, and lighting. While they took a few creative liberties with the progression of events, there were also many accurate aspects. For example, a fireman really did pick up a piece of graphite from the core of the nuclear reactor. Chief Sergeant Vasily Ignatenko was also actually buried in a zinc coffin.
#7: “The Crown” (2016-)
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Robert Lacey, the historical consultant for Netflix’s well-loved series about Queen Elizabeth II, has been open about “The Crown’s” need to not just be a documentary. But the amount of historical accuracy might convince you that you’re watching a complete recreation of events. Production designer Martin Childs had several interior rooms built according to historical floor plans. Additionally, he refused to allow more than one-third of any given scene to be computer-generated. Real photographs, letters, and videos were also used to further the authentic feel of the series. It’s certainly true that private conversations had to be made up from scratch. However, the writers definitely captured the truth of the emotions around events like the 1966 Aberfan mining disaster in season three.
#6: “The Knick” (2014-15)
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Set in early-1900s New York City, “The Knick” follows Dr. John Thackery, an innovative surgeon with a dependency on multiple substances. He’s based on Dr. William Stewart Halsted, who performed the first emergency blood transfusion in the U.S. and revolutionized surgery. The real life man also lived with addictive behaviors. All of the racism in the medical industry is accurately depicted in the series, especially with the opposition to integrating hospitals. The series also shows graphic surgeries with period-appropriate tools and methods. These scenes remind viewers that what are now everyday procedures were once brand-new and dangerous. We can all be grateful for how far medicine has come.
#5: “Deadwood” (2004-06)
Including both fictional characters and historical figures, this HBO series created a lifelike atmosphere for 1870s South Dakota that impressed fans and critics alike. “Deadwood” tracks the development of a Gold Rush camp to its establishment as a full-fledged town. In addition to drawing from real people for character fodder, true events were also depicted. In 1876, there really was a smallpox outbreak. The first season's depiction of a family of Dutch settlers being murdered was another tragic yet correct detail. Outside of capturing real events, sets were built to look like real stores, saloons, and theaters as well. Even the prices of drinks were period-appropriate!
#4: “Hatfields & McCoys” (2012)
The team behind “Hatfields & McCoys” hired historians and educators to help accurately show the history of the Appalachian families’ feud. Reference photographs from the late 1800s were used to help create costumes and weapons. Kevin Costner, who played “Devil Anse” Hatfield, worked with a dialect coach to get his accent right. The timing and details of events admittedly had to be condensed for this three-part event. However, much of what they did include really happened. A court case in 1878 did revolve around a pig. The Hatfields also opened fire on sleeping members of the McCoy family during the New Year’s Massacre. And after tensions started boiling, the United States Supreme Court got involved with the feud in 1888.
#3: “Mad Men” (2007-15)
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Over its seven seasons, “Mad Men” consistently won praise for its entertainment value and for its ability to capture the past. While Don Draper and other characters were not based on real people, the atmosphere of the show certainly felt authentic. Workers from the 1960s advertising industry applauded the show’s refusal to dial down the drinking, smoking, and bigotry. Additionally, true historical events like the Kennedy assassination and Cold War tensions affected the story during its run. They were even able to find an authentic Xerox copier from 1959! Creator Matthew Weiner wanted such precise accuracy on set that he even wouldn’t allow fruits to look too large or flawless. Why? Because GMOs and growth hormones weren’t yet widespread during “Mad Men’s” era.
#2: “Band of Brothers” (2001)
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Based on Stephen E. Ambrose’s nonfiction book of the same name, this HBO miniseries tracks the “Easy Company” of U.S. troops throughout World War II. Many quotes in the show came directly from the unpublished diary of David Kenyon Webster, a soldier from the Easy Company. Each episode featured a video interview with a real veteran at the beginning. The main characters were based on these soldiers. In fact, the actors spoke with the real veterans to develop their characters. Performers also had to go through a ten-day military boot camp and parachute training before filming. Additionally, costume designers took care to recreate uniforms down to the coded symbols on helmets. For added authenticity, much of the scenery was filmed on location throughout Europe.
#1: “John Adams” (2008)
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Historian David McCullough won the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of U.S. founding father John Adams. So, it makes sense that the TV miniseries adaptation would be historically accurate. The team strived so much for the truth that some reviewers said the show was bogged down by too many facts and details. Real events, including the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the troubled meetings of the two Continental Congresses, played key roles in the show. But the program didn’t forget about the background details. “John Adams” depicts unsanitary conditions with food waste in the streets and hygienic issues. From the top to the bottom, “John Adams” really went the extra mile to immerse viewers in the early days of the United States. What show made history feel the most exciting? Let us know in the comments.
