The Duellists

The Duellists makes every episode count, and right now it's all streaming and beyond. A strong pick for any drama fan.

Originally commissioned by Ridley Scott, The Duellists quickly became exactly the kind of show that viewers rearrange their evenings for. In 1800, as Napoleon Bonaparte rises to power in France, a rivalry erupts between Armand and Gabriel, two lieutenants in the French Army, over a perceived insult. For over a decade, they engage in a series of duels amidst larger conflicts, including the failed French invasion of Russia in 1812, and shifts in the political and social systems of Europe. It aired in 1977.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling and well-observed characters will be completely at home. The kind of television that makes everything else feel thin by comparison.