Finished ‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’? Watch these next
Finished ‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’? Watch these next
Whether you want more star-crossed lovers or time-hopping drama, these picks deliver.
The first season of “Outlander: Blood of My Blood” has been a whirlwind. STARZ’s prequel upped the romance and doubled down on the time-travel stakes by telling two origin stories at once: Jamie Fraser’s parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie, falling in love in the 18th-century Scottish Highlands, and Claire’s parents, Henry Beauchamp and Julia Moriston, exchanging love letters and dodging danger during WWI. It’s a bold expansion of the Outlander universe, and yep, the Season 1 finale drops Friday, Oct. 10. If you’re already dreading that final episode, here are four shows that deliver on the same mix of romance, history, and plot twists that keep you up way too late.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood
From the battlefields of World War I to the rugged Highlands of 18th century Scotland, two fated couples must defy the forces that seek to tear them apart, unfolding in surprising and unforeseen ways in this romantic saga that unfolds across time.
Loved ‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’? Watch: ‘A Discovery of Witches’
If you’re into the whole forbidden love and time-spanning mystery vibe, “A Discovery of Witches” is a solid next pick. Based on Deborah Harkness’s “All Souls” trilogy, this one kicks off in modern-day Oxford, where a historian named Diana Bishop (played by Teresa Palmer) discovers a long-lost magical manuscript in the library. That find throws her into the orbit of Matthew Clairmont, a centuries-old vampire who’s part biochemist, part secret-keeper. Things spiral from there, with threats from other supernatural beings and a slow-burn romance that turns into something much deeper.
If you loved the tension between tradition and taboo in “Blood of My Blood,” you’ll feel right at home here. Diana and Matthew face off against ancient institutions and even end up time-hopping into 16th-century Europe in later seasons. Instead of Highland clans and wartime chaos, this one’s packed with secret societies, alchemy, and lush backdrops like Oxford, Venice, and Elizabethan London. It’s smart, stylish, and romantic in all the right ways.
A Discovery of Witches
Closet witch Diana Bishop and centuries-old vampire Matthew Clairmont are drawn into a deadly mystery and forbidden romance when a magical book shows up in an Oxford library.
Try out: ‘Outlander’
This one’s kind of a no-brainer. If you haven’t watched the original “Outlander” yet, now’s your chance. The series starts with Claire Randall, a British Army nurse from 1945, who accidentally time-travels back to 1743 Scotland after touching a mysterious stone circle. She ends up marrying Jamie Fraser for protection, and what starts as a practical move turns into one of TV’s most unforgettable love stories.
“Blood of My Blood” sets the foundation, but “Outlander” shows what comes next. You get all the political intrigue, the Fraser clan in full force, and the historical weight of things like the Battle of Culloden, the French court, and the American Revolution. Later seasons even jump across decades and continents. If you’re ready for more time travel, more drama, and a love story that keeps evolving, this is the next stop.
Outlander
The story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
Don’t miss: ‘Bridgerton’
If it’s the romance, the costumes, and the high-society drama that’s keeping you hooked on “Blood of My Blood,” “Bridgerton” is right up your alley. Set in Regency-era London, this one follows the Bridgerton siblings as they navigate the drama of courtship season. Each sibling gets their turn in the spotlight, while Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews) spills the tea in an anonymous gossip column that stirs the pot nonstop.
It’s not as dark or gritty as “Outlander,” but it’s just as emotionally juicy. Instead of battles and clans, you get scandals, steamy romances, and ballroom politics. The casting is diverse, the soundtrack is full of pop hits turned into string quartets, and the drama moves fast. If you’re looking for something lighter but still packed with passion and plot twists, this is a perfect palate cleanser.
Bridgerton
Wealth, lust, and betrayal set in the backdrop of Regency era England, seen through the eyes of the powerful Bridgerton family.
Wild card: ‘Carême’
Now if you want something totally different but still packed with romance, ambition, and historical stakes, check out “Carême.” This Apple TV+ drama is in French, and it tells the story of Antonin Carême, a poor boy from Revolutionary Paris who rises to become Napoleon’s go-to chef. But it’s not just about pastries… Carême’s talents get him tangled in high-stakes diplomacy and espionage, with his personal life taking some wild turns along the way.
He gets caught between fame, love, and morality, all while crafting next-level dishes for European elites. There’s even a romantic storyline with Josephine, Napoleon’s wife. Think of it as “Outlander” meets “The Bear,” only this one trades in kilts for cravats and war rooms for kitchens. It’s dramatic, political, and deeply romantic. No time travel here, but the themes of identity, power, and sacrifice definitely track.
Carême
Witness the rise of the world’s first celebrity chef, Antonin Carême, and his descent into espionage in Napoleon-era France—where manipulation is king. With his gifts for gastronomy and seduction, he becomes the perfect weapon in a fight for power.
More to watch after finishing ‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’:
‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ | Netflix
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Young Queen Charlotte’s marriage to King George of England sparks an epic love story and transforms high society in this “Bridgerton” universe prequel.
‘Spartacus’ | The Roku Channel
Spartacus
Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus is condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment.
‘Reign’ | Prime Video
Reign
Mary, Queen of Scots, faces political and sexual intrigue in the treacherous world of the French court.
‘The Tudors’ | Prime Video
The Tudors
The Tudors is a history-based drama series following the young, vibrant King Henry VIII, a competitive and lustful monarch who navigates the intrigues of the English court and the human heart with equal vigor and justifiable suspicion.