Loved Bridgerton? The Buccaneers Is The New Period Drama To Watch

It’s no secret that here at The Handbook, we love a good period drama, from Bridgerton to Tom Jones. If, like us, you’re on the hunt for your next watch, AppleTV+’s lavish-looking, The Buccaneers, is set to be your next obsession. Despite the name, it isn’t a swashbuckling pirate series, but rather an adaptation of the unfinished novel of the same name by Edith Wharton about a group of American girls in London in the 1870s. It looks like it’ll not only be full of fancy costumes but also a fan journey of two clashing cultures. Here’s what you need to know…

What is The Buccaneers about?

Directed by BAFTA winner Susanna White, who’s worked on acclaimed shows like Jane Eyre, Generation Kill and Andor, and written by Katherine Jakeways (Episodes, Tracey Ullman’s Show), The Buccaneers takes us to the mid-Victorian era. Only a century after their separation, Britain and America were still pretty stand-offish with each other and a determined sense of having a “stiff upper lip” remained firm. So things are set up for a culture clash when a group of fun-seeking American girls, uninterested in centuries-old tradition, arrive after being sent to find husbands. As the synopsis for the show says, “saying “I do” is just the beginning” as the girls search for both a good time and who they each are as a person.

As the girls, who are the daughters of America’s newly wealthy elite, arrive in London, they’re unable to be tempered by the English governesses assigned to watch over them. Instead, finding an aristocrat with not much money but a title to his name is their end goal- even if they tear up society while doing so.

Who’s set to star?

Playing The Buccaneers themselves are a fairly unknown cast that includes Kristine Frøseth (The Society) as Nan St. George, Alisha Boe (Do Revenge) as Conchita Closson, Imogen Waterhouse (The Outpost) as Jinny St. George, Jose Totah (Champions), Aubri Ibrag (Dive Club) as Lizzy Elmsworth and Mia Threapleton (I Am Ruth) as Honoria Marable. The biggest name in the cast though is Christina Hendricks of Mad Men fame, who’ll be playing Mrs. St George.

When will it be released?

The series is set to arrive on Apple TV+ later this year on 8th November, with the first three episodes debuting simultaneously, and then weekly releases for the remaining five parts.