It’s almost the weekend, but what should you watch? At the end of every week, a lot of people tend to catch up with the latest releases, but when there’s nothing else to get up-to-date with, a near-perfect TV miniseries is a great option. A miniseries (or as it’s sometimes called, a limited series) is typically an open and closed story spanning across a set number of episodes. A limited or miniseries makes for an ideal weekend binge-watch because you can finish it all in one or two sittings, which is the perfect way to spend the end of the week.
These types of shows are quite impressive for a lot of reasons, but especially because of their format. While some TV shows need several years and seasons to develop and complete a story, a miniseries is designed to wrap up the whole story within a strict runtime, and bar a few exceptions, they usually leave viewers with a sense of satisfaction. Whether it’s a comedy or a crime miniseries, or even something that blends multiple genres, binge-watching one of these titles is a fantastic way to spend your weekend.
‘Marchlands’ (2011)
Marchlands is a brilliant ITV drama and a great 2010s TV show nobody seems to remember. The five-part series follows the lives of three families, who all live in the titular house at different points and are haunted by a relentless spirit. Marchlands takes place in three different years, 1968, 1987, and 2010, which allows viewers to witness how the house gained this spirit in the first place, as well as how the interweaving secrets and mysteries between the characters unfold. Those who like Marchlands will also enjoy Lightfields, which has a similar premise and technically serves as a follow-up, but it has a brand-new story, different characters, and a fresh setting.
‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)
A Very English Scandal is a thrilling TV miniseries with less than five episodes, and, amazingly, this is somehow enough to allow Hugh Grant and Ben Withshaw to make audiences obsessed with them all over again. The three-part historical drama focuses on a British public scandal from the ’70s involving an affair between two notable male politicians and the events leading to it, delving into the reactions to and the treatment of LGBTQ+ people, especially those in the spotlight. Interestingly, A Very English Scandal‘s success led to Prime Video continuing this format with A Very British Scandal and A Very Royal Scandal, both of which are also great miniseries worth checking out after this one.
‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ (2008-2009)
Technically, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency was supposed to be a recurring TV show, but it was canceled before its time, leaving us with only a feature-length pilot and six episodes to enjoy. The underrated HBO show centers on Precious Ramotswe, who, with the assistance of those around her, quickly makes a name for herself as Botswana’s first and only female private detective. Unlike other miniseries, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency uses a story-of-the-week format with overlapping character arcs that progress throughout. However, just because it doesn’t focus on one big narrative, audiences will still find The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency an enjoyable binge-watch.
‘Station Eleven’ (2021-2022)
Station Eleven is arguably HBO’s most underrated sci-fi series, and even with a strong fan base behind it, it’s surprising how little the show is discussed. Unlike most other post-apocalyptic or dystopian stories, Station Eleven focuses on the survivors of the society-destroying Georgia flu as they start to feel some hope for the future again. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, as the main characters, a group of traveling performers, also have to navigate their journey while avoiding a brutal cult hell-bent on tracking them down. Station Eleven isn’t a miniseries that audiences forget about anytime soon after finishing it, but it’s definitely one that makes them rewatch it again and again.
‘Deadwater Fell’ (2020)
Deadwater Fell is an amazing British crime miniseries starring David Tennant as the local doctor of a small Scottish village, Tom Kendrick. After the shocking and unexpected deaths of his wife and children in a house fire, both the audience and Deadwater Fell‘s police investigators try to decipher whether Tom is behind the gruesome demise of his family. Deadwater Fell‘s gripping four-part run will keep audiences guessing until the last moment, even questioning themselves after the credits roll.
‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)
Not to be confused with the 1984 spy thriller movie of the same name (although they are both based on the same novel by John le Carré), the 2018 miniseries The Little Drummer Girl is a gripping espionage story about actress Charlie Ross, who is recruited to help stop a terrorist plot. The six-part series not only delves into how Charlie’s radical opinions and feelings about the current climate land her in a world of secrets and danger, but also how she gets caught up in a complicated love triangle, which raises the stakes massively. While The Little Drummer Girl‘s story can be a tad convoluted at times, it’s worth persevering with, especially for Florence Pugh’s stellar performance as Charlie.
‘John Adams’ (2008)
The astounding seven-part historical miniseries John Adams centers on America’s second POTUS, delving into his involvement in the founding of the United States and personal life. John Adams offers audiences a dramatic and endearing history lesson, but even those who aren’t particularly interested in the first 50 years of the US will find this miniseries a worthy watch. Paul Giamatti as the titular character and Laura Linney as his wife, Abigail, are incredible, and their rapport proves just why the show deserved its four Golden Globe and thirteen Emmy wins.
‘11.22.63’ (2016)
Stephen King and J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi miniseries is like no other. 11.22.63 brilliantly blends time travel and historical fact to create a fascinating story about English teacher Jake Epping’s attempts to stop JFK’s assassination. While this show focuses heavily on the real-life events surrounding President Kennedy’s death, 11.22.63 also plays around with the idea of changing history, as Jake struggles to choose between his mission at hand and the new life he has made for himself in the past. This eight-part miniseries is a thrill from start to finish, with that indistinguishable Stephen King flair his fans all know and love.
‘Boiling Point’ (2023)
Boiling Point comes from the mind of Adolescence​​​​​’s Stephen Graham, which follows the staff of a London restaurant. Technically, Boiling Point serves as a standalone sequel to Graham’s 2021 movie of the same name, and while it helps if audiences have also seen the film, they can easily follow the four-part miniseries based on context. Boiling Point‘s intriguing cinematography, fast-paced sequences, and tense interactions between characters are amazing, and fans of The Bear will absolutely find this miniseries a great watch.
‘You, Me and the Apocalypse’ (2015)
Even though You, Me and the Apocalypse wasn’t exactly the most popular NBC TV show ever, it’s still well worth a watch over a decade later. You, Me and the Apocalypse is a fantastic collaboration between NBC and UK network Sky, in a story about a group of strangers who are all interconnected in the days leading to the end of the world. This ten-part series is a little long for a miniseries, but the show is so amazingly funny and dramatic all at the same time that it’s near-impossible not to binge it from start to finish, especially because of You, Me and the Apocalypse‘s star-studded cast, which includes the likes of The Office‘s Jenna Fischer, Horrible Histories‘ Mathew Baynton, and iconic film and TV actor Rob Lowe.
