7 Historical Drama Shows Like Chief of War to Watch Next
Apple TV+s newest show is the historical drama miniseries, Chief of War, with a predominantly Polynesian cast led by Jason Momoa (A Minecraft Movie). The series, which premiered on August 1, tells the true story of the unification and colonization of Hawai’i at the turn of the 18th century. With 4 episodes currently out, the series has a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score. A new episode will drop each Friday until the series finale on September 19.
The ensemble cast includes Luciane Buchanan (The Night Agent), Temuera Morrison (The Mandalorian), Te Ao o Hinepehinga (Breakwater), Cliff Curtis (Invincible), newcomer Kaina Makua, Moses Goods (NCIS: Hawai’i), Siua Ikale’o (They Don’t Cast Shadows), Brandon Finn, James Udom (Echo 3), Mainei Kinimaka (See), and Te Kohe Tuhaka (Love and Monsters).
If you’re looking for other shows that are based on historical events, and have plenty of action, here are 8 shows like Chief of War to watch next.
Barbarians (2020-2022)
Cast: Laurence Rupp, Jeanne Goursaud, David Schütter, Daniel Donskoy, Murathan Muslu, Bernhard Schütz, Eva Verena Müller, Florian Schmidtke, Alessandro Fella, Giovanni Carta
Synopsis: “Torn between the mighty empire that raised him and his own tribal people, a Roman officer’s conflicted allegiances lead to an epic historical clash.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Black Sails (2014-2017)
Cast: Jessica Parker Kennedy, Toby Stephens, Hannah New, Zach McGowan, Luke Arnold, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Winston Chong, Tom Hopper, Andre Jacobs
Synopsis: “1715. The Golden Age of Piracy. New Providence is a lawless island, controlled by history’s most notorious pirate captains. The most feared – CAPTAIN FLINT.”
Where to watch: Netflix, Philo (US), Starz (Canada, US), Stan (Australia), MGM+ (UK)
Frontier (2016-2018)
Cast: Jason Momoa, Alun Armstrong, Landon Liboiron, Zoe Boyle, Greg Bryk, Jessica Matten, Allan Hawco, Lyla Porter-Follows, Michael Patric, Diana Bentley, Breanne Hill, Paul Ewan Wilson
Synopsis: “In 18th-century North America, ruthless trappers and entrepreneurs fight to wrest control of the fur trade from the mighty Hudson’s Bay Company.”
Where to watch: Netflix
The Last Kingdom (2015-2022)
Cast: Alexander Dreymon, Eliza Butterworth, Arnas Fedaravicius, Mark Rowley, Emily Cox, James Northcote, Millie Brady, Timothy Innes, Ewan Mitchell, Cavan Clerkin, David Dawson, Ian Hart, Adrian Schiller, Harry McEntire
Synopsis: “The year is 872, and many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England have fallen to the invading Danes, leaving the great kingdom of Wessex standing alone and defiant under the command of King Alfred. Against this turbulent backdrop lives our hero, Uhtred. Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is captured by the Danes and raised as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Marco Polo (2014-2016)
Cast: Lorenzo Richelmy, Benedict Wong, Chin Han, Joan Chen, Michelle Yeoh, Rick Yune, Claudia Kim, Remy Hii, Zhu Zhu, Tom Wu
Synopsis: “Set in a world of greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, this lavish drama series follows explorer Marco Polo’s adventures in the 13th century.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Shōgun (2024 – )
Cast: Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Yûki Kedôin, Akiko Kobayashi, Takehiro Hira, Yuki Kura
Synopsis: “Based on James Clavell’s novel, FX’s Shōgun is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village.”
Where to watch: Disney+ (Australia, Canada, UK), Hulu (US)
Vikings (2013-2020)
Cast: Katheryn Winnick, Gustaf Skarsgård, Alexander Ludwig, Alex Høgh Andersen, Georgia Hirst, Jordan Patrick Smith, Marco Ilsø, Travis Fimmel, Peter Franzén, Clive Standen, John Kavanagh, Jennie Jacques, Maude Hirst, Moe Dunford, Alyssa Sutherland
Synopsis: “Viking Ragnar Lothbrok is a young farmer and family man who is frustrated by the policies of Earl Haraldson, his local chieftain who sends his Viking raiders east to the Baltic states and Russia, whose residents are as poor as the Norsemen. Ragnar wants to head west, across the ocean, to discover new civilizations. With assistance from his friend Floki, Ragnar builds a faster, sleeker fleet of boats to help him make it to the Western world.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Vikings: Valhalla (2022-2024)
Cast: Sam Corlett, Leo Suter, Frida Gustavsson, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Asbjørn Krogh Nissen, Laura Berlin, Caroline Henderson, David Oakes, Lujza Richter, Søren Pilmark
Synopsis: “In this sequel to Vikings, a hundred years have passed and a new generation of legendary heroes arises to forge its own destiny — and make history.”
Where to watch: Netflix
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