The miniseries format was born somewhere around the late ’50s in the United Kingdom, under the name of “television serials,” referring to short-run, pre-planned stories with a definitive and pre-set beginning and ending. It wouldn’t be until around the ’60s that the actual term “miniseries” would be coined, and it wouldn’t be until American networks adopted and adapted the format in the ’70s that the miniseries phenomenon would truly become a cornerstone of modern television.
Since then, several of the greatest TV shows of all time have been miniseries, proving that these self-contained and highly cinematic stories can make for some absolutely unforgettable small-screen entertainment. But while many miniseries go on for several episodes, some have proven over the years that eight episodes or less are all a show needs in order to be masterful. From cult classic comedies like Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace to foundational dramas like Pride and Prejudice, these are some of the many pinnacles of the miniseries format.
1
‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2003)
Going into the 21st century, there had been numerous attempts to create either a remake or a continuation of 1978’s Battlestar Galactica, but they had all fallen through. Finally, Universal opted for a remake, enlisting Ronald D. Moore and David Eick to make a two-part miniseries that would serve as a backdoor pilot for a full-on show should it be successful. With 2004’s Battlestar Galactica being one of the best full-length sci-fi shows of all time, the rest is obviously history.
Just like its successor, it’s one of the best sci-fi shows set in space.
But as phenomenal as the full-length show may be, praising it should in no way downplay just how high-quality the 2003 miniseries is. Just like its successor, it’s one of the best sci-fi shows set in space, allowing the franchise to evolve into a grittier aesthetic, a darker tone, and a narrative whose themes of paranoia and moral ambiguity seemed like a direct response to the volatile mood of a post-9/11 United States.
2
‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’ (2004)
Based on their own low-budget horror parody stage show, Garth Marenghi’s Fright Knight, Richard Ayoade and Matthew Holness made Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, a comedy satirizing the cheesy low-budget genre series of the ’80s and the pretentious writers who created them. It’s one of the most perfect sci-fi shows shorter than 20 episodes, running instead for a mere six.
Six episodes may not seem like a lot, but that’s all it takes for Garth Marenghi to meticulously craft such an effective parody that it’s impossible not to have an incredible time. To make a show that’s full of deliberate low-quality elements, such as plot holes, cheap cardboard sets, or continuity errors, and to manage to make those elements feel like a hilarious yet crucial pillar of the show can’t have been easy, but Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace pulls it off marvelously.
3
‘It’s a Sin’ (2021)
Russell T. Davies has long been one of the kings of modern British television, and It’s a Sin is undoubtedly one of his best works on the small screen to date. Following the lives of a group of gay men and their friends during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the UK, it’s one of those rare HBO miniseries without any real flaws. Though the story is naturally poignant and Davies squeezes every last bit of harrowing dramatic juice out of it, It’s a Sin is also full of pure queer joy.
That emotional balance is the whole point. Over the course of its five episodes, It’s a Sin is all about emphasizing the tragedy of what (and who) was lost during the HIV/AIDS crisis, as well as highlighting the power of community and love in dealing with catastrophes like these. With a standout ensemble cast packed with unforgettable performances, a perfectly researched narrative, and a social critique as rightfully furious as it is deeply emotional, it’s no wonder why It’s a Sin is as acclaimed as it is.
4
‘Dopesick’ (2021)
Based on Beth Macy‘s non-fiction book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America, Dopesick is arguably one of the best crime miniseries of all time, about the origins and devastating consequences of the US opioid crisis. Though the series certainly takes some creative license in dramatizing the historical events, it’s nevertheless so grounded in reality that it could potentially be a deeply insightful way of learning about this story.
With a multi-layered narrative that covers virtually every link in the supply chain, from corporate boardroom decisions to the working-class victims of the crisis, Dopesick manages to critique things like corporate greed and regulatory failures in ways that hit endlessly hard. Further boosted by the incredible performances of stars of the caliber of Michael Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever, it’s eight episodes of one of the most fascinating procedural dramas that the small screen has seen in years.
5
‘Lonesome Dove’ (1989)
Larry McMurtry‘s Lonesome Dove is far more than just one of the best epic Western novels in history — it’s also generally considered a strong candidate for the coveted title of “The Great American Novel.” Merely four years after its publication in 1985 came CBS’ miniseries adaptation of the same title, and it’s still remembered as one of the most perfect miniseries masterpieces of the 20th century.
Each of Lonesome Dove‘s practically flawless four episodes was showered with critics’ and audiences’ praise, earning several awards and continuing to age like fine wine to this day. Adapting a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel can never be an easy task, but the team behind Lonesome Dove crafted an absolute masterpiece through wonderfully layered character writing, some fantastic performances, and a potent de-mythologization of the Wild West. A worthy interpretation of the source material, indeed.
6
‘The Penguin’ (2024)
The big screen had already seen so many interpretations of the Dark Knight that fans didn’t exactly know what to expect from Matt Reeves‘ The Batman. What he ultimately delivered was one of the greatest portrayals of the character to date, featuring several unforgettable depictions of other classic Batman characters. Case in point: Colin Farrell‘s Oz Cobb, a version of the iconic villain so unforgettable that he eventually became the lead of his own HBO show, The Penguin.
Over the course of exactly eight episodes, The Penguin expands and enriches the mythos of this particular new version of Gotham in endlessly engrossing ways. It’s one of the best thriller shows shorter than 20 episodes, bolstered by Farrell at his most unrecognizable and some genuinely masterful writing and production values. Wearing its Sopranos influences on its sleeve, The Penguin stands out as one of the grittiest, most mature, and most entertaining comic book TV shows of all time.
7
‘When They See Us’ (2019)
Netflix has produced some exceptional miniseries over the years, but arguably none of them have been quite as genuinely perfect as Ava DuVernay‘s When They See Us, a crime drama about the events of the 1989 Central Park jogger case, exploring the lives of the five suspects who were falsely accused and prosecuted on rape and assault charges. It’s a monumental piece of dramatic television, a testament to everything that the miniseries format alone can achieve.
When They See Us is so gruelingly faithful to the facts of the case and so overwhelmingly emotional that it’s certainly not a light watch, but that authenticity is precisely what makes it one of the best miniseries since 2000. Four episodes are all it takes for it to not only reclaim the humanity of the five young men whose identities were stolen by the media back in 1989, but also to deliver an absolute masterclass in narrative structure and momentum.
8
‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1995)
Saying that Jane Austen‘s 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice is one of the greatest masterpieces of 19th-century English-language literature would be an understatement — just as much of an understatement as saying that the BBC’s miniseries adaptation is every bit as much of a masterpiece. Regarded by many as the definitive screen version of Austen’s classic, it’s a must-see for both fans of the source material and those who have never read it.
Pride and Prejudice is one of the best six-episode miniseries ever created, largely thanks to how perfect Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth are in the iconic roles of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. It’s not just them, however; Pride and Prejudice brilliantly utilizes those six episodes as an opportunity to bring Austen’s novel to life in all the most enrapturing, thematically perfect, and emotionally engaging ways imaginable.
9
‘Chernobyl’ (2019)
Throughout the last decade, there has perhaps been no network that has made more masterful miniseries than HBO. Case in point: Chernobyl, which is one of the miniseries with one of the highest Rotten Tomatoes scores for a reason. Over the course of five of the best episodes of television of the last 10 years, it covers the events that led up to the nuclear disaster at the titular Ukrainian city in 1986, as well as the event’s cataclysmic consequences.
What’s not to praise? For one, the performances by actors of the stature of Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson are absolutely top-tier. For two, the way the series pulls no punches in depicting the sheer scale and brutality of the event makes it all the more effective. For three, it’s such a meticulously crafted series in every other sense imaginable that it becomes all-too-tempting to watch its five episodes all in one sitting.
Chernobyl
- Release Date
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2019 – 2019
- Network
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HBO
