Does the public have the appetite to see historical dramas? The answer is a resounding yes--supported by the popularity of shows like Bridgerton. And the goal of production companies is to make money through advertising and subscription fees for streamers and networks.

Season one of Outlander cost over $100 million for 38 weeks of production. The made-for-TV series premiered on August 9, 2014. Outlander has all the elements of a hit drama--romance, conflict, and suspense. A nurse, Claire Randall, from World War II (played by Caitriona Balfe), travels back to the mid-1700s Scotland and faces trials and tribulations.

Multiple critics give the show rave reviews. But Outlander's sets and costumes are expensive--which is challenging because the entertainment industry has taken a financial nosedive since the onset of the pandemic.

Getting historical TV productions approved by studio executives is not always easy. One roadblock is that have to appear authentic, like the period film Braveheart did. In addition, the story has to be engrossing. That is why the element of fantasy was mixed into Outlander. In one episode, nurse Randall faced a coven of witches, creating a mystical aura that grabbed the audience.

There are many outstanding historical programs currently airing. A personal favorite is Bridgerton, set in Regency-era London. Bridgerton is about an aristocratic young woman's quest for love and involvement with a dashing young suitor. What sets the show apart is that the Duke of Hastings Simon Basset, played by British Zimbabwean Regé-Jean Page, and Daphne Bridgerton, portrayed by British actress Phoebe Dynevor, form an interracial couple.

However, their ethnicities are not addressed directly, which might help normalize the acceptance of different ethnicities to marry. Viewers embraced the concept: season one had 82 million viewers tuning in.

Downton Abbey (opening in the UK in 1912), Call the Midwife (set in London in the 1950s), and Band of Brothers (WWII) all invoke skillfully scripted looks into times long gone. Other shows that have themes about aristocracy like The Crown and The Spanish Princess are popular too. The lives of royals, whether contemporary rulers or that of Spanish Queen Catherine of Aragon (1512), tend to be compelling because we get a peep into the activities of the privileged, rich, and famous.

Screenrant lists their picks for the top most expensive TV shows produced. Many are in the historical genre. It is no surprise that Lord of the Rings had the top budget--at $1 billion in total. Game of Thrones had a price tag of $15 million per episode. 

I would enjoy seeing more historical or historical/fantasy shows. But that's a tall order because production companies have to be able to pay skilled writers willing to do extensive research and dole out more money for sets, costumes, and travel to locations -- not simple tasks in a struggling industry.