10 best period crime dramas to watch right now

3. Peaky Blinders

Years it ran: 2013 to 2022

Network it aired on: The series aired on BBC in the UK and is on Netflix in the United States.

What it’s about: Peaky Blinders isn’t the most traditional crime drama, but it does count. This period crime drama is focused on the criminal gangs, giving us a focus on the antagonists of the time. We even find ourselves routing for those who would usually be the bad guys.

The series focuses the most on Thomas Shelby and his family in 1919 and onward. The Great War has caused upheaval around the country, and that means the poor are getting poorer. Thomas decides it’s time to pull his family up. He wants to run the streets, and he doesn’t care if it means acting on the wrong side of the law.

Why you need to watch it: The series gives us the chance to focus on the bad guys, understanding why they become the bad guys. It’s hard not to feel for Tommy with everything that he goes through. Even when it looks like he has no cards left to play, he figures out a way to get out of dodge.

The series is brilliantly written. It focuses on the troubles of the time, including the rise of the IRA and the Russians working their way into problems. We get the opportunity to experience why good people can do bad things, all the while seeing that they always focus on family.