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The art of the miniseries is, in many ways, quite distinct from the art of the regular television show. As opposed to running for a varying number of seasons, a miniseries tells a story in a predetermined, usually relatively limited number of episodes. As such, it’s the perfect medium to convey powerful, self-contained stories in a variety of genres.
A genre that seems to get along particularly well with the miniseries format is science fiction. Throughout the decades, many exceptional sci-fi miniseries have graced audiences’ screens, showing that even in a small number of episodes, great writers can still find more than enough space for expansive world-building, rich character development, and enthralling stories of intergalactic adventures set in alternate worlds, outer space, or even a different version of our own Earth.
15
‘The Stand’ (1994)
Easily one of the most prolific American authors of modern times, Stephen King is definitely best known for his seminal work in horror literature, but has also worked on a variety of other genres. This includes post-apocalyptic dark fantasy, and this category is the one that The Stand falls into. While the novel was published in 1978, its first adaptation was the 1994 miniseries of the same name with Gary Sinise in the lead role.
Part of the surprising craze of Stephen King TV adaptations that characterized the 1990s, The Stand is one of the best of the bunch. It’s a little cheesy from time to time, but it’s overall a phenomenal adaptation of the classic it’s based on, as well as a fantastic series in its own right. The cast is good, the production qualities are solid, and the whole experience is undeniably entertaining.
14
‘1899’ (2022)
Made by the same team behind the iconic Netflix German series Dark, 1899 is similar in that it is also mind-bending and extraordinary. One of the most thrilling international shows of recent years, it’s a deeply atmospheric show that thrives in keeping audiences second-guessing their every theory for what is going on.
Some might criticize the series—and, frankly, fairly so—because it sometimes feels like it’s about to crumble under the weight of its overabundance of storylines. But, to be perfectly fair, the show was never given a chance to grow into what it very clearly had the potential to become. Indeed, Netflix canceled it after just one short-lived season, leaving fans craving answers to their many questions.
13
‘The Lost Room’ (2006)
Starring Peter Krause and featuring one of Elle Fanning‘s early child performances, The Lost Room is supernatural science fiction at its very best. Purply, noirish, and surprisingly smart, it’s a show with a brilliant hook and engrossing world-building, which makes the best possible use of its highly original concept to tell a high-stakes tale.
It’s one of those sci-fi miniseries that are absolute masterpieces, with a mythology that’s surprisingly dense and intelligently constructed without ever overstaying its welcome. Where many mystery box shows inevitably end up running for so long that they can’t help but leave some questions unanswered, The Lost Room provides a satisfying solution to every puzzle piece it sets in motion.
12
‘Erased’ (2016)
Based on Kei Sanbe‘s manga series of the same name, Erased came out in the same year as Yūichirō Hirakawa‘s live-action film adaptation. Though the show’s final episodes are somewhat polarizing among fans, the whole show is highly acclaimed for its exciting premise, its emotional story, and its highly suspenseful first half.
In this gripping, flawlessly atmospheric masterpiece, time travel elements are perfectly balanced with a deeply emotional and character-driven story to deliver a miniseries where science fiction is not the core focus, but rather a powerful tool in elevating the tone and complexity of the narrative. It’s one of the most thrilling cat-and-mouse mysteries in the modern history of anime.
11
‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’ (2004)
Richard Ayoade and Matthew Holness‘ Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is a British horror parody show which demonstrates why so many classic sitcoms are better than most modern shows. In this heavily meta cult classic presented as a special release of the fictional TV series Darkplace, the entire institution of low-budget 1980s genre television is satirized.
It’s a deconstruction of how genre tropes have grown within the sci-fi genre over time, which is still every bit as hilarious and effective over two decades later. Deeply layered both comedically and narratively, it’s a postmodernist masterpiece that uses an ahead-of-its-time mockumentary framing to deliver an absolutely brilliant comedy miniseries.
10
‘Adventure Time: Distant Lands’ (2020–2021)
Adventure Time is one of the biggest fantasy and science fiction cult classics in all of 21st-century television, and Adventure Time: Distant Lands is the spin-off miniseries that came after it. Composed of four exceptional episodes that are a masterpiece in how to do fan service just right, it’s a series every bit as beloved by fans as the original.
It’s a self-contained yet admirably vast expansion of a universe that was already beautifully dense, and though it may not exactly be a good introduction to this world for those who have never seen Adventure Time, it was never designed that way, anyway. In any case, for fans of the original and fans of sci-fi more generally, Distant Lands should come across as an emotional and cathartic example of high-concept science fiction at its best.
9
‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)
It’s an absolute crime that Scavengers Reign was canceled after only one season, and fans have been clamoring for the second season that creators Joe Bennett and Charles Huettner already have ideas for for years. But the show was originally designed as a self-contained 12-episode miniseries, and even if its long-awaited second season never comes, it’ll still stand as some of the best sci-fi animation the 2020s ever saw.
It’s one of the highest-rated sci-fi miniseries ever on IMDb, and for good reason. Visually stunning, beautifully written and directed, and full of brilliant avant-garde ideas in more ways than one, it’s one of the most complete sci-fi experiences that any animated miniseries has ever offered. Exciting, strikingly original, and full of exceptional world-building, it’s a miniseries that deserved—and still deserves—a chance to grow into something far bigger.
8
‘V’ (1983)
One of the most essential sci-fi shows of the 1980s, and not to be confused with its significantly inferior 2009 remake, V is one of the greatest alien invasion TV series ever made. It was followed by a three-part miniseries and then a weekly series in 1984, but the 1983 original simply can’t be beaten. It’s a not-exactly-subtle parable for fascism, but its themes are still potently timely over four decades later.
Its large ensemble cast is outstanding, its special effects and prosthetics are stunning considering the time in which it was made, and it’s packed with some genuinely scary bits. Its examination of fascism, its mystical allure, and its effect on Western society may not be subtle, but it definitely is incredibly powerful. It’s what has allowed V to stand the test of time as well as it has.
7
‘11.22.63’ (2016)
Another miniseries based on a Stephen King novel, but this time much more modern, 11.22.63 was originally conceived as a film directed by The Silence of the Lambs‘ Jonathan Demme, but that plan fell through after creative disagreements between the filmmaker and King. The project later turned into a miniseries executive-produced by J.J. Abrams, and it’s one of the best Stephen King adaptations to date.
Thrilling, mysterious, and with a fantastic lead performance by James Franco, 11.22.63 proves that time travel stories don’t need to be convoluted. The miniseries definitely peaks in its pilot and its finale, but everything in between, though clumsily plotted at times, is also enthralling. Unique, emotionally compelling, and usually nail-bitingly suspenseful, it’s a show that proves that non-horror Stephen King stories can be just as entertaining as his scary fare.
6
‘Station Eleven’ (2021–2022)
Particularly during its first four episodes, Station Eleven certainly demands patience from its viewers; but those who give it said patience are in for the televisual ride of a lifetime. Thematically intricate, obsessed with developing its characters in all sorts of interesting directions, and with an incredible cast, it’s one of Max’s best original miniseries.
Post-apocalyptic and dystopian shows thrive in having premises that feel plausible, and Station Eleven is built on a horrifyingly realistic premise based on a devastating flu. The show finds the perfect balance between pure entertainment and understated, intelligent subtext. It’s refreshing to see a show that’s so fun to watch while still being full of artistic merit.
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Diego Pineda Pacheco
Almontather Rassoul
