Shows like The Knick / Peaky Blinders
January 11, 2024 6:08 PM Subscribe
Looking for more shows like Peaky Blinders or the Knick that have dark, tortured, leading male characters, ideally in a moody period setting.
A big part of what I love about these shows are the lead male characters (Dr. John W. Thackery, Tommy Shelby): these brooding, brilliant, lone-wolf, self-destructive, beautiful men with a deep well of emotional turmoil, and the occasional glimpse of love and humanity.
That crossed with the gritty moody period setting of these shows really does it for me.
Prefer TV show recommendations, as I feel like the emotional arcs of these kinds of characters need time to develop to their full potential, but open to movies too.
Thanks!
A big part of what I love about these shows are the lead male characters (Dr. John W. Thackery, Tommy Shelby): these brooding, brilliant, lone-wolf, self-destructive, beautiful men with a deep well of emotional turmoil, and the occasional glimpse of love and humanity.
That crossed with the gritty moody period setting of these shows really does it for me.
Prefer TV show recommendations, as I feel like the emotional arcs of these kinds of characters need time to develop to their full potential, but open to movies too.
Thanks!
There really isn't enough good film noir-style television, right?
It doesn't start until Sunday, but I'm hearing extremely good things about Monsieur Spade. Clive Owen. Also, south of France.
posted by thivaia at 6:21 PM on January 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
It doesn't start until Sunday, but I'm hearing extremely good things about Monsieur Spade. Clive Owen. Also, south of France.
posted by thivaia at 6:21 PM on January 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
HBO used to have the market cornered on this sort of thing, for example Boardwalk Empire.
Also I believe Carnival Row on Prime(?) fits your description of a period piece, if the period is “”post WW1 England, except witchcraft and fairie folk or real”.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 6:41 PM on January 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
Also I believe Carnival Row on Prime(?) fits your description of a period piece, if the period is “”post WW1 England, except witchcraft and fairie folk or real”.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 6:41 PM on January 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: brooding, brilliant, lone-wolf, self-destructive, beautiful men with a deep well of emotional turmoil, and the occasional glimpse of love and humanity
Deadwood. Assuming Max hasn’t deleted it.
posted by bcwinters at 6:53 PM on January 11, 2024 [5 favorites]
Deadwood. Assuming Max hasn’t deleted it.
posted by bcwinters at 6:53 PM on January 11, 2024 [5 favorites]
Best answer: This sounds like Blackbeard in Our Flag Means Death in Season 2. Although you'd have to watch Season 1 first for the emotional payoff to land. The show is billed as a comedy and the mood in Season 1 is generally light and comical with only occasional dark flashes until the last episode when everything pretty much goes to hell for Blackbeard, leading into the Season 2 arc that takes a seriously dark turn. And it eventually does have a reasonably happy ending, with a storyline about healing from trauma and devastation.
posted by Mallenroh at 6:53 PM on January 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by Mallenroh at 6:53 PM on January 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: First thing I thought of was also Taboo.
Season 1 of The Terror is more of an ensemble piece, with characters ranging from moral-but-flawed to despicable, but I think you’ll find what you’re looking for there.
posted by ejs at 8:56 PM on January 11, 2024 [2 favorites]
Season 1 of The Terror is more of an ensemble piece, with characters ranging from moral-but-flawed to despicable, but I think you’ll find what you’re looking for there.
posted by ejs at 8:56 PM on January 11, 2024 [2 favorites]
The Wire, The Shield, Sopranos
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:39 PM on January 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:39 PM on January 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Ok, this may seem not exactly like the other shows you described because of all the martial arts chaos, but give Warrior a try. Lots of brooding, lots of fun period costuming and sets, and lots and lots and lots of beautiful men variously in very complimentary suits or shirtless.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 11:53 PM on January 11, 2024
posted by Parasite Unseen at 11:53 PM on January 11, 2024
Response by poster: Some are missing the gritty period show aspect of the question, just want to reiterate :)
posted by greta simone at 12:07 AM on January 12, 2024
posted by greta simone at 12:07 AM on January 12, 2024
Babylon Berlin?
posted by 4th Matryoshka Doll at 1:04 AM on January 12, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by 4th Matryoshka Doll at 1:04 AM on January 12, 2024 [4 favorites]
From your description, I would be looking for different adaptations of Hamlet.
posted by guessthis at 4:03 AM on January 12, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by guessthis at 4:03 AM on January 12, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Is Mad Men too obvious?
The recent Perry Mason would also fit the bill very well.
posted by dudekiller at 5:10 AM on January 12, 2024 [3 favorites]
The recent Perry Mason would also fit the bill very well.
posted by dudekiller at 5:10 AM on January 12, 2024 [3 favorites]
Best answer: My wife suggests Vienna Blood: a gritty and psychological murder mystery series set in 1900s Vienna.
posted by Ted Maul at 5:37 AM on January 12, 2024 [5 favorites]
posted by Ted Maul at 5:37 AM on January 12, 2024 [5 favorites]
Best answer: Oh! The Alienist would suit pretty well also. With not one but two brooding, brilliant, lone-wolf, self-destructive, beautiful men with a deep well of emotional turmoil.
posted by dudekiller at 6:15 AM on January 12, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by dudekiller at 6:15 AM on January 12, 2024 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Yes to Perry Mason. He's very tortured and it's very period. CW: infanticide, suicide, historical racism and homophobia.
The Alienist is good too.
posted by fiercekitten at 8:15 AM on January 12, 2024
The Alienist is good too.
posted by fiercekitten at 8:15 AM on January 12, 2024
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