iPlayer now streaming period drama dubbed 'the best thing on the BBC in so long'

BBC iPlayer is now streaming a period drama that viewers have praised as the best show made by the broadcasting channel in a while.

Marie Antoinette, which first aired on BBC2 in 2022, offers a similar deep dive into Royal life as the popular Netflix series.

The show chronicles the life of France's last queen before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, who was thrust into the court of Versailles through an arranged marriage to Louis XVI.

Initially tasked with producing an heir for the nation, she later becomes a contentious figure, often linked to the downfall of the monarchy.

Despite her largely negative reputation, this two-season drama humanises the infamous queen and highlights the challenges she faced in her Royal role, reports

Russian actress Emilia Schule stars as the eponymous queen, alongside Bridgeton's Louis Cunningham as King Louis XVI. They are joined by Jack Archer, known for his role in Virdee, and Jasmine Blackborow, who featured in Netflix's The Gentlemen.

Despite flying under the radar for some viewers, the historical drama has garnered high praise from those who have discovered it.

Currently, it boasts a respectable 60 percent critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, and an even more impressive 80 percent audience rating. Among the glowing reviews, one viewer argued that the series deserves higher ratings from critics.

"This show is incredible, I'm really not sure why the critics didn't give it good reviews. Probably because they [the producers] didn't infuse it with modern day values, rather, they kept it as an accurate period piece. I much prefer it this way, how it actually was," one viewer wrote.

On IMDb, TV enthusiasts echoed similar sentiments about the series, with one fan stating: "I really loved this imagining of Marie Antoinette. It was full of drama and kept me hooked.

"I thought the costumes were amazing and all the actors fit their roles perfectly- especially Marie and Louis, whose relationship is explored in an interesting way!"

Another viewer didn't hold back their praise, writing: "This is the best period drama I've come across in a long time. A lot of effort has gone into the hair, makeup and costumes and it shows. Even the quality of cinematography is super high."

Meanwhile, a third person crowned it as "the best thing I've watched on the BBC in so long."

Marie Antoinette is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.