If you are missing Downton Abbey, this compact period drama series by Julian Fellowes is your next must-watch. Belgravia, named after the affluent London district, shares parallels with the beloved series and is adapted from Fellowes' earlier novel.
Plot and Setting
The series begins at the Grand Duchess of Richmond's ball in Brussels, celebrating the Duke of Wellington, two days before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Among the guests are James and Anne Trenchard, who have amassed wealth through commerce, along with their daughter, who has caught the eye of a noble heir. Twenty-five years later, long-held secrets begin to unravel as both families settle into Belgravia, each concealing something from the other.
Cast and Reception
The Trenchard family is portrayed by a highly acclaimed cast, including Alice Eve as Susan Trenchard, Tamsin Greig as Anne Trenchard, and Philip Glenister as James Trenchard. Also starring are Ella Purnell as Lady Maria Grey and Jack Bardoe as Charles Pope. Fans have praised the series on Rotten Tomatoes, calling it a "TV soap of the highest order" with "fantastic acting, costumes, and era depiction." One viewer noted, "Incredible show! Nothing was obvious; it kept the audience in suspense until the very last minute."
Sequel: Belgravia: The Next Chapter
Devoted fans were thrilled when a sequel, Belgravia: The Next Chapter, was announced in 2022. Written by Helen Edmundson, it arrived in 2024 with eight episodes, though it received less enthusiastic reviews and features an entirely new cast.
The original series is available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV, while the sequel can be streamed free on ITVX.
