Netflix is a global powerhouse of streaming, but its miniseries are some of the platform’s most underrated projects. While many of the biggest Netflix original series are multi-season cultural institutions like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, and Emily in Paris, some of the best stories can be contained in a handful of episodes. The definition of miniseries, however, is difficult to pin down.
In an age where eight mere episodes can constitute a full season, it may feel like miniseries are an outdated concept. Yet, narratives carefully crafted to be told in a standalone season are far from a thing of the past. Aside from avoiding the fate of becoming one of Netflix’s prematurely canceled shows, true miniseries are fully-realized works of art.
Alias Grace
2017
There are countless glossy period dramas on Netflix that romanticize certain historical eras via a voyeuristic love story. Alias Grace, an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1996 novel of the same name, stands in stark contrast to this phenomenon, painting an eerie, tense portrait of 1843 Canada as a convicted murderer, Grace Marks (Sarah Gadon), is examined by a doctor.
The psychiatrist, Simon Jordan (Edward Holcroft), tries to pry into Grace’s unconscious memories and dreams to discern whether she’s a killer or an unwitting victim. The mystery remains ambiguous, inspired by the real case of Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery’s deaths. Yet, despite its basis in reality, Alias Grace crafts a truly haunting narrative that leaves each viewer in awe.
Cunk On Earth
2023
Led by the indomitable fictional journalist Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan), Cunk on Earth is one of the best mockumentary series of the decade. Functioning as a parody of drab educational documentaries, Philomena Cunk travels the world while supposedly guiding the viewer through the biggest eras of human history, sporadically interviewing actual experts with absurd questions and a hilarious deadpan expression.
Nobody should turn to Cunk on Earth for historical accuracy, but Philomena’s abstract understanding of anthropology, religion, and art is far more interesting. The ingenious mockumentary miniseries never breaks character, even as it dials up its inanity with segments like reconstructing ancient civilizations in Minecraft. Even history buffs will enjoy it — as long as they can tolerate purposeful anachronisms, of course.
Maid
2021
Long before Margaret Qualley turned stomachs as Sue in The Substance or stole hearts in Honey Don’t!, she starred in the 2021 Netflix miniseries Maid. In arguably the best performance of her career thus far, Qualley portrays Alexandra “Alex” Russell, a young mother who finds her life upended after escaping her abusive ex-boyfriend and father to her beloved daughter.
The cast of Maid captures the universal feeling of wanting the best for your loved ones but going about it in all the wrong ways. In order to provide for her toddler, Maddy (Rylea Nevaeh Whittet), Alex sacrifices everything, but loses far more than she anticipated. Maid is emotionally taxing, but it’s absolutely still worth the watch (and the tears).
Midnight Mass
2021
Religious horror is a criminally under-appreciated market, but Midnight Mass is the sub-genre at its very best. Set on the fictional Crockett Island, Midnight Mass follows the mysterious, seemingly divine miracles that follow the arrival of Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater). At the same time, local Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford) returns to the island following a four-year incarceration.
Midnight Mass was Mike Flanagan’s third horror miniseries created for Netflix, following The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor.
Riley and Paul aren’t necessarily David and Goliath, but Midnight Mass does set the two characters in direct opposition from the get-go. As the suspiciously scenic island is overrun by something vampiric, undead, and potentially holy, every member of the community must make a pivotal decision: stand your ground or give in to blind faith.
One Day
2024
David Nicholls’ bestselling 2009 novel One Day first introduced the world to the tragic love story between Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew, painstakingly visiting the pair every year on July 15 for two decades. The book was first turned into a 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, but Netflix reimagined the plot as a heart-wrenching miniseries in 2024.
Throughout One Day‘s 14 episodes, Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall) go from classmates to best friends to strangers to lovers, with their evolving relationship serving as the narrative’s bittersweet throughline. Typically, it’s difficult to recreate a story that’s already been adapted, but Netflix managed to break millions of new hearts with this miniseries.
Godless
2017
Most Western shows are underrated, as modern audiences tend to have a skewed perception of the genre. In the face of outdated critiques and negative stereotypes, Netflix responded with 2017’s Godless. The series follows an outlaw named Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell) who, while fleeing his former gang, ends up in the mining town of La Belle, New Mexico.
Unlike classic Westerns, La Belle is run by women, as most of the male population was killed in a mining accident. Each character is incredibly dynamic and masterfully brought to life by a bevy of phenomenal actors. Plus, Godless is a prime example of what modern Westerns can accomplish, helping to destigmatize the genre and attract new audiences.
Maniac
2018
Netflix is full of sci-fi hidden gems, but it’s shocking how rarely Maniac is mentioned. The retro-futuristic black comedy followed Annie (Emma Stone) and Owen (Jonah Hill), two test subjects in an experimental pharmaceutical trial. The two are accidentally linked by the omnipresent supercomputer, GRTA, causing them to hallucinate multiple shared realities that tie back to their trauma.
Maniac is a visual treat with faultless cinematography and unforgettable needle drops to boot, but its storytelling is rife with profound subtext. The near-dystopia is a pithy commentary on consumer culture, the failures of the healthcare system, grief, guilt, and how they work in tandem. Long after the psychedelic trip comes to an end, Maniac’s beautifully bizarre narrative remains.
The Queen’s Gambit
2020
The Queen’s Gambit was such a historic Netflix sensation that it almost requires no explanation. Anya Taylor-Joy commands the miniseries as chess prodigy Beth Harmon, who, after losing her adoptive parents, starts her journey to become a grandmaster. All the while, however, Beth is forced to reckon with her childhood trauma, identity issues, and addiction to Xanzolam, a fictional tranquilizer.
The 1960s setting is contrasted with intentional desaturation, taking the glitz and glam out of a fan-favorite period piece era to reflect Beth’s inner turmoil. As she falls down a rabbit hole, oscillating between dominating chess tournaments and tragically self-sabotaging, Beth finds herself turning to the most unlikely allies: her biggest competition and an estranged childhood friend.
Adolescence
2025
Adolescence may be one of the most harrowing series ever made, but it’s a deeply important story that needs to be told. Owen Cooper steals the show as Jamie Miller, a child arrested for the brutal murder of his classmate, Katie (Emilia Holliday). As the investigation and eventual trial progress, the external influences that exacerbated Jamie’s aggression are revealed.
In September 2025, Owen Cooper became the youngest male actor in history to win a Primetime Emmy Award.
The true inspiration behind Adolescence is far more disturbing than the four-episode triumph, as creators Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham aimed to confront real-world threats to adolescent development, including the rise of the “manosphere” and widespread sexualization of young women. Furthermore, Adolescence’s dozens of accolades speak for themselves, but watching the disturbing story play out is a one-of-a-kind viewing experience.
The Haunting of Hill House
2018
Frankly, there’s no preamble necessary: The Haunting of Hill House is a masterpiece and, by far, Netflix’s most influential miniseries. Loosely based on the 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House follows the Crain family, made up of Olivia (Carla Gugino), Hugh (Henry Thomas), and their five children.
The story is split between the past and present, connected by the eponymous Hill House and the supernatural horrors it expelled upon the Crains. With scares hidden in plain sight and expertly-crafted suspense, The Haunting of Hill House not only proved horror was profitable for television; it reaffirmed that the right Netflix miniseries could lead the pack for years.
Source link
Add Comment