The success of the “Outlander” miniseries on Starz reminds us of the heyday of female-centric miniseries, in the 1980s and early 1990s, when grand, complicated love stories played out against sweeping landscapes (mountains, oceans, deserts, Rodeo Drive).
The women often had hair, acres of it, blowing into the sweeping nonsense behind them, and they waited for true love with true nobility, even if their trashier instincts eventually overtook them. “Outlander,” which has just been renewed for a second season, titillates the senses and even promises a spanking scene in Season 2.
The heroines in the miniseries mentioned below well knew that love comes at a high price.
‘Scruples’ (1980)
Judith Krantz’s best-sellers were about fame, money and fashion, but they also proudly featured heroines who triumphed over adversity and domineering men so they could let out their womanly roars.
Still immensely satisfying is this three-parter adaptation of Krantz’s novel, in which Lindsay Wagner plays Billy Ikehorn, a plump Bostonian who slims down in Paris (because French women don’t get fat) then opens the wildly successful boutique of the title in Beverly Hills.
But Billy’s adventures are eclipsed by the relationship between photographer Spider (Barry Bostwick) and French designer Valentine (Marie-France Pisier), who take for-EVER to admit they were made for each other.
“I love you,” he finally confesses.
“Damn you, you stupid American boy! Why didn’t you ever said zat before?!”
So, so good.
‘The Thorn Birds’ (1983)
Back in the early 1980s, Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward were IT — the hot priest and the hot ranch girl, sacrilegiously getting it on in the Australian bush.
For many, “The Thorn Birds,” based on a door-stopper by Colleen McCullough, remains the epitome of the romantic saga. Imposing landscapes, impossible love and improbable chemistry between the leads — this one has it all. Throw in Barbara Stanwyck, as the sex-starved dowager who hisses to Chamberlain, “Kiss me on the mouth as if we were lovers,” and you will never be the same.
‘The Jewel in the Crown’ (1984)
India, and the last days of the British rule there, provide the sweeping nonsense for this respectable World War II series based upon the Raj Quartet novels by Paul Scott.
The “Jewel” has everything: sexual domination, wrongful imprisonment, a love triangle, tragic deaths and many proper British people losing their you-know-what.
‘Mistral’s Daughter’ (1984)
More Judith Krantz! This ambitious tale spans several generations, starting in the ’20s, when young Maggy (Stefanie Powers) becomes the lover and muse of famous artist Julien Mistral (Stacy Keach).
Aside from watching Powers and Keach play French people — the cast also included tons of Gallic actors for local color — one of the most distinctive thing about “Mistral’s Daughter” is the importance of some characters’ Jewishness. And this was a big part of the plot, too, not a peripheral issue. Scores a big one for the sadly underexplored Hot Jewish Romance section of the video store.
‘Tales of the City’ (1993)
San Francisco in its gay heyday was the focus of this amazing PBS miniseries in which a naive young woman, Mary Ann Singleton (Laura Linney, in her best role), rents an apartment from a vivacious landlady named Mrs. Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis, in her best role).
The evolution of the gay community is seen through Mary Ann’s eyes as her best friend, Michael Tolliver (Marcus D’Amico), has his heartbroken in 17 places.
The series earned its risque reputation with an infamous bathhouse hookup between “Criminal Minds” star Thomas Gibson and “Killing Lincoln” star Billy Campbell. Against the backdrop of Castro Street and the Twin Peaks, the series dealt with drugs, sexuality and in an unexpected twist, transsexualism. Romance of a different sort.
‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1995)
We could argue about which Jane Austen adaptation is the best until the tote-bag-carrying brigade comes home. Or we could just decree that the 1995 BBC miniseries starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is the bomb.
And it has nothing to do with Firth’s white shirt clinging to his chest after an impromptu dip in the lake. No, nothing at all.
‘Tipping the Velvet’ (2002)
Warning: This miniseries features a hideous, pre-sex-symbol Benedict Cumberbatch!
Doesn’t matter, though, because the action here is strictly girl-on-girl, the show being based on a novel by Sarah Waters (see also: “Fingersmith,” and get your mind out of the gutter, it’s about pickpocketing. Also yes, that other thing you were thinking about).
Seriously, this three-episodes Victorian corset-ripper is a delight, tracking the sentimental education of Nan Astley (Rachael Stirling) as she becomes a music-hall star in London and learns how to use very special toys. “You sexy little tart!”