Why do Sky Atlantic Dramas Keep Audiences Captivated? There is no denying the success of Sky Atlantic. This UK and Ireland-only Sky TV channel brings us the best of the USA, as well as many notable original shows. It’s our easiest way to access the latest and greatest from HBO as well as Showtime dramas and plenty of Sky originals. Despite being a pay television channel, YouGov rank Sky Atlantic in the top 40 channels in the UK and it’s their own productions that draw in the most critical acclaim, but why?

Why do Sky Atlantic Dramas Keep Audiences Captivated?

Sky Atlantic has given us a wide range of exciting original dramas, comedies, and more. Many take us miles from our comfort zones and give us the chance to experience times and places we could only imagine. Sky Atlantic offers the ultimate opportunity to get away from the normality of day-to-day life and be transported somewhere completely new. Whether that’s 1950s Tangier with Little Birds or 18th century Russia with Helen Mirren’s Catherine the Great, it offers the ultimate escape from reality. Of course, the power of drama is its ability to evoke emotion and that isn’t always happiness and laughter. Some of Sky Atlantic’s most compelling dramas will bring you to tears, evoke real shock and have you desperate for the next release to keep you hooked. Another compelling feature of many Sky Atlantic dramas is the absolute opposite, with the channel offering up many close-to-home dramas such as Save Me and Mr Sloane feeling relatable, as well as impossible to switch off.

Despite, Sky Atlantic’s dramas always attracting great viewing numbers, the most-watched Sky Atlantic top 10 programmes are all episodes of Game of Thrones. The fantasy epic drama continues to draw in new viewers every year but as the series ended in 2019, other shows are bound to find their way into the top spots soon. Below we’re looking more closely at some of the most enjoyed Sky Atlantic dramas and why we can’t get enough of them.

For a list of our favourite Crime dramas worth a second look visit our latest feature.

Save Me

When released in 2018, Save Me broke all the records for viewings, becoming the most rapidly binged boxset in Sky’s history. Starring Suranne Jones and Lennie James, Save Me follows an underdog and unlikely hero in Nelly Rowe (James). Arrested on suspicion of kidnapping his estranged stepdaughter, Rowe is a character you take time to warm to, especially as he protests his innocence and is committed to finding his missing child, whatever it takes. Save Me is one of those dramas which draws you in as it feels like it could happen to you or your neighbour. Exceptional acting talent further enhances this sense of social realism and made Save Me such a hit. A true binge-success, almost 700,000 viewers watched the entire series in the first week it was released.

Chernobyl

Part drama, part documentary, Chernobyl was one of the most talked-about Sky Atlantic hits. Research shows it was the drama series that British viewers were most likely to watch until the very end too, showing it has all the elements necessary to get you hooked. Harrowing yet impossible to switch off, Chernobyl, possesses a bleakness that draws viewers in and leaves you needing to know what will happen next. As a historical drama, the viewer already knows the tragic story of Chernobyl, but the characters, of course, do not. This is just part of what kept viewers coming back for more, as all involved in the project work to keep it as accurate and believable as possible too. Chernobyl was a worldwide hit, becoming one of the best ever launches for an original drama on Sky Atlantic, with a cumulative opening episode audience of 1.7 million. It tells the story of the 1986 nuclear incident in the Soviet Union and brings together a core cast of Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson. Despite knowing the quality of the production and acting, Chernobyl was still something of a surprise hit as one of the bleakest tragedies in world history is made into TV.

Gangs of London

Gangs of London was yet another Sky Atlantic hit, once again breaking records and attracting over 1 million viewers to watch all nine episodes within just two weeks. It was heralded as one of the most-binged Sky shows of 2020 and it’s clear to see why. Set in London, undeniably one of the most multicultural and vibrant cities in the world, Gangs of London takes us right into the underbelly and the heart of criminal gangs and what happens when there is a shift in power. The head of London’s most powerful crime family is assassinated, and its critical acclaim is down to its combination of the gritty gangster genre with cinematic shooting and it’s no wonder the second series is already in production. In the tradition of gangster films and series such as The Sopranos, Gangs of London has a far-reaching cast, fast-paced action, and enough quality to keep viewers eagerly awaiting the next series.

Why do Sky Atlantic Dramas Keep Audiences Captivated?

Sky Atlantic gives us the best of the USA but also some unforgettable originally produced dramas, many made right here in the UK, and this shows no sign of stopping.

If you are looking for the best of quality Drama in a live setting head to Blackpool Grand Theatre, a full list of the programme offers crime, comedy and thriller drama genres.