If you’re on the hunt for a new series to stream this summer, I’ve got three bingeworthy period pieces for you to consider. Opulent Palm Royale follows a former beauty pageant queen trying to break into Palm Beach society; while Why Women Kill follows the stories of three different women who have all lived in the same house. Last but not least, The Goldbergs is a comedic retrospective of the creator’s life growing up in one of the greatest decades: the ‘80s. Keep reading for more information on each show, and to work out which should be next on your watchlist.
1. Palm Royale (Apple TV)
Period piece Palm Royale is set in 1969 Palm Beach, Florida, where the world’s elite come to spend the winter season and enjoy lavish charity galas. This show is based on a book, Mr. and Mrs. American Pie; the cast includes Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, Carol Burnett, and Ricky Martin.
In this show, Wiig plays Maxine, a woman married to the only heir of a wealthy Palm Beach family. After living in exile for 20 years, Maxine and her husband return to Palm Beach to claim their fortune. As the story plays out, long-hidden secrets are slowly revealed, and Maxine and the other socialites strive to be the Queen of Palm Beach society.
2. Why Women Kill (CBS/Paramount Plus)
This period piece follows three different women, all of whom lived in the same house and experienced betrayal. Cast members include Lucy Liu, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Reid Scott.
Why Women Kill jumps between three different plot lines in three time periods: the 1960s, the 1980s, and 2019. In one story, a housewife befriends her husband’s mistress in the hopes of stopping their affair. In another storyline, a socialite finds out that her husband is having an affair with another man, so starts an affair with a friend’s son as revenge. Lastly, the third plot line focuses on how things go awry after a couple with an open marriage invite a third party into their home.
3. The Goldbergs (ABC/Hulu)
The Goldbergs, a show that takes place in the 1980s, provides some comedic relief after the other, heavier period dramas. This show is based on creator Adam F. Goldberg’s real life as a kid in Jenkintown, Pennslyvania. Cast members include Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeff Garlin, and George Segal.
When Goldberg created the show, he didn’t want it to follow any chronological order. As such, they always refer to the year as “1980-something” and the show is full of references to classic 80s movies, TV shows, and music.
There’s big hair, plastic Halloween masks, and Ecto Coolers. In addition, there are a host of incredibly fun episodes in which the characters remake movies like The Breakfast Club, Risky Business, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The show has a killer soundtrack, including The Beastie Boys, Billy Joel, and Tiffany.
If you’re a fan of the popular period piece The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, I’ve no doubt that you will love these shows… the only problem is, you’ll be through them in no time!
