‘Masterpiece’ period drama is perfect watch for Downton Abbey fans

Bridgerton fans are discovering Claudia Jessie’s earlier role in the ITV period drama.

Among recent period dramas, few feel as sharp, stylish, and entertaining as ITV’s Vanity Fair. Adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray’s classic 1848 novel, the lavish series transforms one of literature’s most famous social satires into a rich and addictive television drama filled with ambition, betrayal, romance, and scandal.

Set against the backdrop of early 19th-century England during the Napoleonic Wars, Vanity Fair explores a world obsessed with status, wealth, reputation, and marriage — where appearances are everything and survival often depends on knowing how to manipulate the rules of society.

At the center of the story is Becky Sharp, played brilliantly by Olivia Cooke.

Becky is one of the most fascinating heroines in classic literature. Clever, ambitious, charming, and fiercely determined, she begins life with almost nothing. Born into poverty and without family connections, she quickly realizes that intelligence and charm may be her only path upward in a society ruled by privilege and class.

Refusing to accept the limitations placed upon her, Becky begins climbing through English high society using wit, strategy, and relentless determination.

Unlike many traditional period drama heroines, Becky is not written to be innocent or morally perfect. She is flawed, calculating, vulnerable, and often unpredictable — which makes her endlessly compelling to watch. Olivia Cooke captures all those contradictions beautifully, bringing energy, humor, sharpness, and emotional complexity to the role.

Her Becky is charismatic enough to draw people in, but unpredictable enough to leave audiences constantly questioning her next move.

Alongside Becky is Amelia Sedley, played by Claudia Jessie. Amelia acts as Becky’s emotional opposite — gentle, romantic, kind-hearted, and deeply shaped by traditional expectations of love and family. Their friendship, rivalry, and contrasting paths through society form much of the emotional core of the series.

The supporting cast adds even more richness to the drama.

Tom Bateman appears as Captain Rawdon Crawley, whose complicated relationship with Becky becomes central to her rise. Johnny Flynn, Charlie Rowe, Martin Clunes, Frances de la Tour, and Suranne Jones all help bring the sprawling world of the series to life.

Visually, Vanity Fair is stunning.

The costume design is elegant and vibrant, filled with lavish gowns, military uniforms, grand country estates, candlelit drawing rooms, and glittering ballroom scenes. Yet beneath all that beauty is a story that constantly critiques the world it presents.

That is what makes the drama especially interesting.

Although it looks like a classic costume drama on the surface, Vanity Fair is also a sharp satire about class, money, social ambition, and hypocrisy. It exposes how power operates through reputation, wealth, marriage, and performance — themes that still feel surprisingly modern.

Becky herself often feels decades ahead of her time.

She refuses to be passive.

She refuses to wait for rescue.

She understands how society sees women — and learns how to use those expectations against the people around her.

At the same time, the series never makes her simple or easy to judge. Becky can be ruthless and selfish, but also lonely, vulnerable, and desperate for control in a world that offers women very little power.

That emotional complexity gives the story real depth beyond the romance and scandal.

The series also balances drama with wit exceptionally well. There are moments of heartbreak, betrayal, and emotional collapse, but also humor, irony, and biting social observation throughout.

For viewers who love period dramas like Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, or Belgravia, Vanity Fair offers something slightly sharper and darker — a story full of beautiful costumes and sweeping romance, but also manipulation, social climbing, and brilliant character psychology.

Elegant, entertaining, and full of unforgettable performances, ITV’s Vanity Fair remains one of the most stylish literary adaptations of recent years — a period drama where charm can be a weapon, love can be transactional, and ambition can change everything.