From ‘Bridgerton’ to ‘Pose,’ Modern Period Dramas Recontextualize the Past

variety.com:

City on a Hill” hits a little differently today than it likely would have had it aired in the 1990s, the period of the Showtime drama.Instead of being painted as a rogue hero who doesn’t play by the rules, Jackie’s behavior is called out as problematic by other characters, allowing the audience to reflect on what they saw as right and wrong in the past in order to hopefully create a better future.“Period dramas allow us to view our own era without being preached to,” says Tom Fontana, “City on a Hill” executive producer.

Writing one, though, requires a delicate hand because “audiences want rich characters and compelling stories, not a polemic.” That is true regardless of the theme of the series — from following the upper class and their.