Gangster period drama 'better than Boardwalk Empire' is 'must-watch'

Period drama fans have stumbled across a gangster series set at the height of the Cold War that is "even better than Boardwalk Empire". The series, which ran between 2013 and 2018, stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as a married couple of KGB spies posing as American citizens in Washington D.C.

Also among the cast are Richard Thomas, Noah Emmerich and Costa Ronin. With an average IMDb rating of 8.4 out of 10 stars, the series - titled The Americans - has sparked rave reviews from fans. It follows married couple Elizabeth and Philip Jennings as they combine their spying duties with raising their American-born kids Paige and Henry.

Set in front of a backdrop of the FBI's conflict with the KGB after the inauguration of Ronald Reagan in 1981, the series runs until 1987 - just before the United States and the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty.

Fans on Reddit have been suggesting the "elite level show" as a spiritual successor to Boardwalk Empire, with one gushing: "It was a very pleasant surprise and the finale was probably one of the best I have ever seen."

Someone else agreed: "A top 10 show for me!" While another fan gushed: "Do not miss this masterpiece. What a great show it is! Every character is so well written and depicted."

Someone else posted: "If I was to name my Mount Rushmore of crime dramas, it would be The Sopranos, Wiseguy, Breaking Bad and The Americans. It is that great. The cast is arguably the best ever assembled. They incorporate realism and intensity, sometimes in a slow burn much like Better Call Saul."

Another review praised the show's "complexities", adding: "Just finished binge-watching the series and totally knocked out by it. One of those extremely rare series that I could immediately binge-watch again. I can only endorse the praise it has received - so many levels, so many angles."