Essential Historical Epics on Apple TV+ for History Enthusiasts

Paul Schrader’s sequel to 'The Young Pope' explores the intersection of ancient religious tradition and modern geopolitical crises. It offers a nuanced look at the Vatican's internal politics and the spiritual burden placed on its leadership, featuring stellar performances that delve into faith and power dynamics.

Based on Georgia Hunter's nonfiction book, this series dramatizes the true story of the Kusciak family, a Jewish family from Poland who fought to stay together during the Holocaust. The narrative weaves multiple timelines to show how individual fates intertwine amidst the chaos of World War II.

This prequel to 'Yellowstone' depicts the harsh reality of the American frontier during the Great Depression and Prohibition. It follows the Dutton family as they confront drought, banditry, and global economic shifts, offering a gritty, unromanticized view of early 20th-century American history.

Adapted from the bestselling novel, this epic spans four generations of a Korean family living in Japan, exploring themes of identity, discrimination, and resilience. The series provides deep historical context regarding the Japanese occupation of Korea and the subsequent immigrant experience in Tokyo.

This stylized biographical series reimagines the life of poet Emily Dickinson, blending historical accuracy with anachronistic modern elements. It offers an inventive perspective on 19th-century domestic life, literary ambition, and the constraints placed on women in rural Massachusetts.

Created by Julian Fellowes, this series depicts the rise of the American aristocracy in New York City during the 1870s. It features lavish period costumes and sets while exploring the social stratification between 'old money' and the newly wealthy industrialists of the post-Civil War era.

This alternate history drama posits a world where the global space race never ended, following astronauts and NASA officials from the 1960s onward. It meticulously recreates Cold War-era technology and politics while exploring how continuous space exploration might have altered societal and technological development.

Adapted from Hilary Mantel’s novels, this acclaimed miniseries follows Thomas Cromwell’s rise to power in the court of Henry VIII. It provides a detailed political thriller set against the backdrop of the English Reformation, highlighting the complex interpersonal dynamics of the Tudor court.

Based on James L. Swanson’s book, this miniseries dramatizes the eleven-day manhunt for John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It combines historical facts with cinematic tension to explore the political fallout and the intense pressure on law enforcement during a national crisis.

Set in Victorian England, this series follows a widow who moves to a coastal village convinced a mythical creature is terrorizing the locals. It explores the clash between emerging scientific rationalism and traditional folklore, offering a rich atmospheric look at late 19th-century social and religious beliefs.

While primarily a comedy-drama, this series incorporates historical trauma and therapy practices rooted in mid-20th-century psychological evolution. The protagonist’s unconventional methods challenge traditional therapeutic norms, providing a modern reflection on how historical contexts influence contemporary mental health approaches.

This dark comedy thriller centers on five sisters who vowed to keep each other safe, leading to a complex web of secrets and deaths. Set in contemporary Ireland, it subtly critiques religious influence and family dynamics, offering a modern look at long-standing cultural traditions and superstitions.

Rian Johnson’s mystery series follows a woman who can detect lies as she travels across America, encountering various characters and crimes. While a modern whodunit, it features episodic narratives that reflect contemporary American culture and the diverse landscapes of the United States.

This spy thriller series follows agents discarded by MI5 due to professional blunders, set against the backdrop of modern British intelligence. It offers a cynical look at bureaucracy and espionage, highlighting the human cost of geopolitical games played by government agencies in the post-Cold War era.

This heartwarming comedy follows an American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team, highlighting cultural clashes and sportsmanship. While comedic, it provides insights into British class structures, fan culture, and the social role of sports in community building during the 2020s.

A psychological horror series about a couple who hire a young woman to help them after the death of their infant son. While set in modern-day Philadelphia, it draws heavily on gothic horror traditions and explores themes of grief, madness, and supernatural ambiguity through a historical lens.

Based on Isaac Asimov’s novels, this sci-fi epic spans centuries as mathematicians predict the fall of a galactic empire. It uses speculative history to explore themes of civilization, science, and politics, offering a grand-scale narrative that parallels real-world historical cycles of rise and fall.

Set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity has lost the ability to see, this series explores tribal cultures and survival. It serves as an anthropological study of societal structures, language development, and conflict resolution in the absence of visual technology, reflecting on human evolution and adaptation.

Alfonso Cuarón’s thriller explores the intersection of truth, fiction, and memory through a novelist and a journalist. It delves into psychological manipulation and the subjective nature of history, offering a complex narrative that questions how past events are recorded and interpreted over time.

This monster series expands the Godzilla franchise into the 1950s Cold War era, blending historical fiction with kaiju lore. It examines the societal fears of nuclear age through the lens of government conspiracies and scientific discovery, providing a retro-futuristic view of mid-20th-century geopolitics.