Period dramas often promise more than refined manners and political intrigue. Some step into the mud and blood of history, portraying duels and battles with remarkable intensity. These productions don’t just capture the mood of a bygone era but immerse viewers in the visceral clashes that defined it. Below is a curated list of period dramas known for their gripping combat sequences, whether fought in candlelit chambers or on open fields.
1. The Last Kingdom (2015–2022)
Setting: 9th to 10th century England
Why it stands out:
The show doesn’t romanticise war. Its battles are chaotic, grounded, and brutal. Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the conflicted protagonist, fights in shield walls, ambushes, and personal duels. The Battle of Ethandun is particularly well executed, with a strong sense of terrain and tactics. Armour and weaponry are convincingly realised, avoiding the usual fantasy embellishments.
2. Sharpe (1993–2008)
Setting: Napoleonic Wars
Why it stands out:
Sean Bean’s portrayal of Richard Sharpe brought grit to a time often glamorised. The show handles skirmishes, musket volleys, and sabre fights with commendable realism. Though operating on a television budget, the series cleverly stages its battle scenes, capturing the smoke and fury of early 19th-century warfare without losing character-driven drama.
3. Rome (2005–2007)
Setting: Late Roman Republic
Why it stands out:
Rome blends political backstabbing with gladiatorial violence and military confrontation. Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus provide the ground-level view, clashing in brawls, duels, and battlefield mêlées. The series portrays the siege of Gaul, civil war, and mob violence with a keen eye for historical set pieces and Roman military customs.
4. Vikings (2013–2020)
Setting: Early medieval Scandinavia and beyond
Why it stands out:
While occasionally stylistic, Vikings delivers some of the most complex battle choreography on television. Raids, duels, and large-scale engagements are integral to the story. The use of naval invasions, shield walls, and hand-to-hand combat reflects both spectacle and research. Standout clashes include the Siege of Paris and the Battle of Kattegat.
5. Marco Polo (2014–2016)
Setting: Yuan Dynasty China
Why it stands out:
A visually ambitious series that blends Mongol warfare with Chinese court intrigue. The show doesn’t hold back in its depiction of Mongol cavalry tactics, close-combat weaponry, and battlefield strategy. Martial arts influence the duel scenes, while larger battles bring scale and ferocity without lapsing into fantasy.
6. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Setting: Napoleonic naval warfare
Why it stands out:
Though a film rather than a series, it earns a place here for its near-perfect depiction of 19th-century naval combat. The duels take place with cannons, cutlasses, and muskets amid thick smoke and creaking decks. Russell Crowe’s Captain Aubrey leads a crew into warfare with historical authenticity rooted in Patrick O’Brian’s source material.
7. The Duellists (1977)
Setting: Napoleonic France
Why it stands out:
This film explores a long-standing feud between two French officers who engage in a series of duels across decades. Each encounter is distinctive—ranging from sabres on horseback to rapiers in barns. The choreography is precise and unpolished, more cautious and frightening than cinematic. Ridley Scott’s direction underscores the psychological strain as much as the physical.
8. Versailles (2015–2018)
Setting: 17th-century France
Why it stands out:
Though better known for palace intrigue, Versailles stages several duels with an eye for period fencing technique. Blades are not just props but instruments of status and sudden death. The show often places sword fights in intimate settings, contrasting courtly polish with raw violence.
9. The Hollow Crown (2012–2016)
Setting: Adaptations of Shakespeare’s history plays
Why it stands out:
The battles here are literary in source but rendered with grounded realism. The fields of Agincourt, Shrewsbury, and Bosworth are muddy, bleak, and desperate. Henry V’s rousing speech is followed by frantic mêlée. The duels and war scenes balance theatrical language with grim execution.
10. Knightfall (2017–2019)
Setting: Late Crusader period
Why it stands out:
Despite some historical liberties, Knightfall features elaborate sword duels and siege warfare. The Templar focus allows for exploration of medieval combat forms, including longsword, arming sword, and polearm fighting. The siege sequences, particularly the one on Paris, are ambitious for television.
