A British television drama from the 1980s is being rediscovered by audiences, with many now calling it a forgotten masterpiece. The Jewel in the Crown, which first aired in 1984, has been even described by one viewer as “the best thing ever to appear on TV,” and is now gaining renewed attention as one of the most underrated period dramas of all time. Set in the final, turbulent days of the British Raj, the 14-part series paints a poignant portrayal of colonial India during the final days of the British Raj in India and after World War II.
Adapted from Paul Scott’s acclaimed Raj Quartet novels, the show explores the complex intersections of race, class, power, and identity as British rule in India draws to a close. The drama features a stellar cast including Art Malik, Tim Pigott-Smith, Géraldine James, Judy Parfitt, Peggy Ashcroft, Wendy Morgan, and Rosemary Leach. It was directed by Jim O’Brien and Christopher Morahan, with a script adapted by Ken Taylor from Paul Scott’s original work.
Widely praised for its nuanced portrayal of a fading empire, The Jewel in the Crown is often regarded as a more layered and reflective take on Britain’s futile struggle to maintain control in India.
As one character says at the end : “There’s nothing we can do. After 300 years of India, we’ve made this whole damned, bloody, senseless mess.”
The Jewel in the Crown has also been praised for its visuals and the series won a Golden Globe Award for best miniseries, an Emmy Award for outstanding limited series, and a BAFTA Award for best drama series.
One Reddit user, in a discussion about underrated period dramas, named this series as their all-time favourite.
The Reddit user wrote: “It used to be much more well-known but it’s been a while and I think a lot of younger people don’t know it: The Jewel in the Crown. It’s a British miniseries set in the final days of the British Raj in India that tackles race, class, religion, sexuality, war, mental illness, and so much more. The story is sweeping and beautiful and tragic, the historical context is fascinating, and the production design and Indian scenery is lush and gorgeous.”
Several viewers have called the TV series a “masterpiece.”
One person wrote on IMDb: “A masterpiece. I think that this series is absolute perfection. The acting is magnificent, the story is fascinating and the characters are so real that one thinks that one is actually watching a documentary about the final days of the Raj. It is a marvelous adaptation, not a spare scene and it is beautifully directed. It is tightly woven and tells its tale with enviable clarity. I can not find one flaw in this stupendous series.”
Someone else said The Jewel in the Crown was the “best thing ever to appear on TV.”
They added: “I first read all the books which are just marvelous and then I saw the TV adaptation. Can’t count the number of times I have watched it. Watched the series rebroadcast on local public TV station and then binge watched it all over again. The characters are unforgettable and so very realistic.”
