The cream of society: 8 best TV series about high society

See a selection of fascinating multi-part projects that allow you to look through the keyhole and learn about the darkest secrets of the American elite and the British aristocracy.

This mini-series is based on the novel of the same name by the British writer Evelyn Waugh, written in 1944. So this is a story about England during the heyday and prosperity of the local aristocracy. The television series "Return to Brideshead" is notable not only for its brilliant cast (Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews and Diana Quick), but also for the first-class work of costume designers who managed to convey the spirit of a bygone era.

According to the plot of the project, a young artist named Charles Ryder meets the heir of an old British family, Sebastian Flight. Their communication develops into friendship, and soon Charles receives an invitation to visit the Brideshead estate owned by the Flight family.

It is there that he will truly fall in love with Sebastian's beautiful sister, become part of a classic love triangle and learn all the secrets that lurk behind the closed doors of Brideshead Manor.

Filmed in the magnificent Castle Howard in Yorkshire, the series won two Golden Globes in the year of its release. Until now, "Return to Brideshead" is considered an exemplary multi-part project about the life of the British aristocracy, setting a high bar in its genre.

This cult film adaptation of Cecily von Siegesar's book series has gained a huge army of fans around the world. "Gossip Girl" immerses viewers in the Upper East Side elite world, which is filled with money, intrigue and broken hearts.

The series begins with the sudden return of local celebrity Serena Van Der Woodsen to Manhattan. However, not everyone is happy about this event. An extremely cold reception is given to the main character by her longtime friend Blair Waldorf, who found out that before leaving, Serena spent the night with her boyfriend.

Throughout all six seasons, the series keeps in suspense, and only in the very finale, the creators reveal the main secret — the name of the mysterious "Gossip Girl".

Belgravia is a London district, which since the Regency was reputed to be one of the most expensive and fashionable places in the English capital, where only representatives of the British elite and wealthy foreigners lived. He appears both in classical literary works (a series of stories by Arthur Conan Doyle about Sherlock Holmes) and in some modern historical works.

For example, the famous writer Julian Fellowes in 2016 released the novel "Belgravia", which takes place mainly on the territory of a luxurious metropolitan area in the middle of the XIX century. But the story begins from afar — with a ball in Brussels on June 15, 1815, after which the officers went to the Battle of Waterloo.

Lord Bellasis died in it — and this terrible news brought despair to his pregnant lover named Sofia. She died in childbirth, and her baby was secretly given to the family of a priest. The main part of the narrative begins 25 years after the events described. Sofia's father moves to Belgravia, and at the same time, the secrets of the past begin to emerge, which will fairly stir up the aristocratic world of London.

The novel formed the basis of the British TV series of the same name, the first season of which was released in 2020. Despite the fact that the creators were able to put the entire literary work into six episodes, negotiations are underway to create a second season. Julian Fellowes has already stated that he is ready to write a sequel to Belgravia.

Initially, according to the creators, the series "Lonely Hearts" was supposed to replace "Dawson's Cove— - a classic multi-part teen drama, which ended in early 2003. Nevertheless, the new project went beyond the genre and presented the audience with a multifaceted picture of the life of the heirs of the upper classes of American society.

The action of "Lonely Hearts" takes place in Orange County — a prestigious place on the coast, where the mansions of the rich are located. By chance, a 16-year-old young man from a dysfunctional family named Ryan Atwood gets there. Together with him, viewers will discover the unpleasant underside of the "beautiful life" of the elite, unravel a complex tangle of lies and discover that even close friends are capable of betrayal.

Perhaps this is the most famous series about high society, which has collected a whole scattering of prestigious film awards (three Golden Globes, three Emmys and four Actors Guild Awards).

"Downton Abbey" is one of the few projects in which, along with the life of the masters, the life of the servants is narrated, which gives the audience a complete picture of what is happening in England in the first quarter of the XX century. The story begins in 1911, when the heir of the ancient Crowley family dies during the wreck of the Titanic. Now many family members will have to fight for his fortune and the luxurious Downton family estate.

Filming took place on the territory of the real Highclere Castle in Berkshire (where other popular films were also shot — for example, "Pride and Prejudice" starring Kira Nighy), and a whole team of designers worked on the costumes, headed by the talented Anna Robbins.

This British comedy-drama mini-series, based on the book of the same name by John Preston, was released in 2018.

It is based on the life of Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the Liberal Party in 1967-1976, who desperately tried to hide his homosexual orientation, which in those years was practically a "stigma". "An extremely English Scandal" consistently tells the chain of events that led to the so-called "Thorpe case", when the politician was charged with the attempted murder of a former lover.

The main role was played by Hugh Grant, and Ben Whishaw, whom you may know from the film projects "Perfumer: The Story of One Killer", "Cloud Atlas" and "The Hour", reincarnated as his rejected partner. Critics were delighted with their acting, and Whishaw was even awarded the Golden Globe as the best supporting actor in a miniseries or movie on TV.

Another British television series with a brilliant cast that has won the audience's love.

Julia Stiles (the star of "10 reasons for my hatred") played the role of the main character Georgina - a typical wife of a successful businessman who is fond of art. She plans to attend an auction and purchase a painting by the famous artist Kazimir Malevich, when news reaches her that is simply impossible to believe: her husband died as a result of an explosion on a yacht.

Julia Stiles' partner on the set was Ivan Rheon (which, of course, will please fans of "Game of Thrones" and "Scum").

The mini-series "The Case of Christine Keeler" reflects the political scandal that rocked Britain in the 1960s. It led to the collapse of several brilliant careers, one suicide and the resignation of the entire British government.

Unlike the real story, in which British Defense Minister John Profumo and Soviet diplomat Yevgeny Ivanov were in the foreground, the series narrates on behalf of the youngest participant in the scandal — 19-year-old dancer Kristin Keeler, who was in an intimate relationship with both gentlemen.

The newspapers made her out to be the main villain, and for the rest of her life this story haunted her. Now, the BBC has invited its viewers to look at the "Profumo Case" from Kristin's point of view.