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The modern world of television entertainment is a never-ending cycle of new releases, trending titles, and must-see premieres. Trying to keep up with every single new series is an impossible ordeal that necessitates some shows being missed. Whether it is due to overzealous critical dismissal, off-putting subject matter, or just sheer bad timing, these ten miniseries seem to have fallen through the cracks for most people.
Ranging from confronting crime series that thrive with their grim basis on true stories to high-concept science-fiction dramas that explore several issues befalling humanity with unique insights and bold conviction, these miniseries will leave you wondering why you didn’t watch them sooner when you finally get to them. Whether they’ve been crammed into backways of the watchlist for years, overlooked on many a scroll through the streaming services’ catalogs, or simply gone completely unnoticed, these limited series are overdue for a watch if you haven’t seen them yet.
10
‘Devs’ (2020)
Released in 2020, it is easy to see how Devs struggled to captivate the masses, given it is a dark, cerebral, and pessimistic mystery that was released at a time when the world was craving comfort. What is a shame is how the miniseries has never found any semblance of success or popularity in the ensuing years, especially given its timely ideas of corporate morality and malpractice, technological progress, and existential anxieties tied to determinism and free will.
Running over the course of eight episodes, it follows software engineer Lily Chan (Sonoya Mizuno) as she begins investigating the company she works for when her boyfriend, a colleague, commits suicide after his first day in a new role. Layered with writer-director Alex Garland’s trademark complexity and philosophical pondering, while also flaunting a stunning treat of grounded sci-fi spectacle, Devs is one of the most underrated series of the decade thus far.
9
‘The Outsider’ (2019)
An adaptation of Stephen King’s eerie mystery novel of the same name, The Outsider glistens as something of a hidden gem in HBO’s stunning catalogue of small-screen titles. Its first several episodes are particularly compelling, unfolding as suburban family man Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) is charged with the brutal murder of a child. However, when Maitland is able to provide video evidence suggesting his innocence that is in stark contrast with the evidence the police have, Detective Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) starts working with Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo), a mystic P.I., to find the truth.
There is no doubt that the miniseries is at its best at the start, when the eerie sense of inhuman evil is lurking just on the periphery of the story, and audiences are enthralled by Maitland’s drive to prove his innocence. Even as the series evolves into more of a supernatural horror, however, it remains compelling, grounded in strong performances, sharp writing, and a pervasive sense of dread.
8
‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)
Given it serves as a dramatization of a real-life murder plot tied to issues of sexuality and manipulation, A Very English Scandal has no real right to be as hysterically funny as it is. A wickedly entertaining three-part series, it unfolds throughout the late 60s and 70s as politician Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant) tries to have his former lover, Norman Josiffe (Ben Whishaw), killed after facing blackmail from him. When the murder plot goes awry, Thorpe and his co-conspirators find themselves in the midst of a career-ruining scandal.
Running with what is effectively a runtime of three hours, the miniseries ensnares viewers with its wonderful wit, using its shocking true story basis as a catalyst for satirical wrath, skewering the public image, anxiety, and moral corrosion of political power. That being said, it never cheapens the tragic reality many homosexuals in Britain and around the world faced throughout the mid-20th century, making A Very English Scandal one of the more undervalued hit miniseries of the 2010s.
7
‘Dopesick’ (2021)
Epic in scope and entirely unflinching in its conviction, Dopesick delivers an all-encompassing, dramatic observation on the epicenter of America’s devastating opioid crisis, examining everything from the morally bankrupt boardrooms of Purdue Pharma to the tragic events the drug has on a Virginia mining community. Its multidimensional storytelling gives tremendous weight to the series, allowing the health crisis to be explored from a multitude of angles with incredible efficiency and impact, without ever failing to highlight the significance of any one character’s experiences.
This is ultimately a testament to creator Danny Strong’s incredible vision for the eight-part series and the work of the astonishing ensemble cast who ensure every key plot detail and emotional beat land with devastating effect. Despite its critical acclaim and award-season success, Dopesick has somewhat drifted from public consciousness, whereas other miniseries of the time, like Chernobyl and The Queen’s Gambit, have endured. For anyone yet to see it, the Hulu original series is a masterpiece of small-screen drama that is meticulously constructed, absolutely harrowing, and truly quintessential.
6
‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)
Directed by the visual panache of director Park Chan-wook and based on the espionage intensity of John le Carré’s novel, The Little Drummer Girl aired in 2018 as a richly nuanced descent into the treacherous world of geopolitical conflict and psychological warfare. Florence Pugh stars as Charlie, an aspiring English actress with strong political ideals who is recruited by Mossad while on holiday and tasked with infiltrating a Palestinian group plotting terrorist attacks throughout Europe.
With a supporting cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Shannon, and Charles Dance, The Little Drummer Girl shines not only as an addictive slow-burn of anxiety, high-stakes tension, and spycraft, but as a captivating drama anchored by great performances as well. Also buoyed by immaculate set design and visual splendor, the 2018 miniseries immerses viewers in the tumultuous world of the Middle East in the 1970s. Given its list of stars and its political relevance in modern times, it’s safe to say The Little Drummer Girl would be a monumental television sensation were it to be released today.
5
‘We Own This City’ (2022)
While it was well promoted ahead of its release, We Own This City quickly dwindled as a critically mixed television misfire that was lamented by many for its overly elaborate storytelling and its time-jumping structure. Granted, the six-episode miniseries is merciless on viewers who can’t maintain their attention, but for viewers who love true crime, social commentary regarding the efficiency and morality of the police force, and a cutting dissection of how American institutions are hamstrung by bureaucratic process, We Own This City is perfection.
The story itself revolves around the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force, a unit headed for a time by Sgt. Wayne Jenkins (Jon Bernthal), that uses their authority to profit from street crime and run corrupt operations. Tracking the squad from Jenkins’ initiation through to their eventual apprehension at the hands of the FBI, We Own This City is a poignant and timely reflection of police corruption that uses its true-story basis to illustrate the many faults in the system while never simplifying the characters to be heroes or villains.
4
‘Generation Kill’ (2007)
HBO has long been expert at delivering mindful depictions of war, with such series as Band of Brothers and The Pacific marking two of the network’s more notable releases. Generation Kill belongs firmly entrenched in the same conversation as those series, with the 2007 release unfolding with a basis on Evan Wright’s non-fiction book documenting his time as an embedded reporter with the U.S. Marine Corps’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in the first weeks of the Iraq War.
What the series may lack in huge production expenditure, it more than makes up for with its commitment to realism. It actively focuses on the monotonous malaise soldiers experience for hours on end as they wait for orders, which often come through miscommunication and result in further waiting as poor resource management and bureaucratic red tape prevent them from acting swiftly. In many respects, Generation Kill is almost frustrating, but it excels as a grounded and unglamorous immersion in the life of a soldier in modern warfare, and it should be heralded among the finest miniseries ever made.
3
‘Station Eleven’ (2021)
For many years, post-apocalyptic drama has been a defining trend of television entertainment, with many series emphasizing the high-stakes dread and fight-to-the-death desperation of a world where civilization has collapsed and what remains of humanity is barely clinging onto their morality. Station Eleven is something of a refreshment from that. Based on Emily St. John Mandel’s novel, it unfolds in the aftermath of a devastating flu as a group of traveling performers ventures between settlements to entertain survivors. Their peaceful existence is put under threat when they are targeted by the leader of a violent cult.
Even as Station Eleven does indulge in life-and-death suspense, the miniseries always has a firm grounding in the central idea that humanity values art and enlightenment, and the pursuit of these gifts is pivotal to our species’ survival. In many respects, the series is delicate and gentle, prioritizing healing and human connection over brutality and conflict. It is ultimately a profound tale of hope and prosperity amid desperate times that stands as one of the finest post-apocalyptic dramas the medium has ever seen.
2
‘The Corner’ (2000)
Poignant, powerful, and desperately tragic, The Corner leans on its basis on David Simon’s non-fiction book to present a harrowing and heartbreaking portrayal of drug abuse and poverty in America. It follows the McCulloughs, a family battling with issues of heroin addiction and economic hardship who struggle to cope while living in the proximity of a raging drug war in West Baltimore.
Defined by its staggering authenticity, The Corner imposes itself on viewers as a raw and confronting look at real-life drama, a brutally aching story of despair that never treats its characters with anything short of the utmost humanity. The sense of decency and flailing hope embedded in each of the characters only makes the turmoil they all face and succumb to all the more devastating. The Corner is a viscerally upsetting viewing experience, but it is one that grants a sense of enlightened humanity regarding the often demonized issue of addiction, and stands as one of the greatest miniseries in HBO’s history despite its forgotten standing.
1
‘Unbelievable’ (2019)
Its confronting material makes it understandable that so many have been intrigued by Unbelievable but never committed to watching it, but the artistry and impact with which it handles its grueling true story is a triumph to behold. Based on the 2008-2011 Washington and Colorado serial rape cases, it unfolds as sexual assault survivor Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever) is pressured to recant her report only to then face charges for lodging a false accusation. As she endures a hellish experience with the law while struggling to overcome her trauma, two Colorado-based detectives begin investigating a series of rapes.
Unbelievable is fundamentally a scorching indictment of the legal system, particularly the trials and tribulations it inflicts on victims of sexual assault who come forward to report the heinous, inhuman act they endure. Furthermore, it acts as a meticulously designed and faultless illustration of how different people process trauma, earning widespread praise for its authenticity in this regard, which is a testament to both the writing and performances. It is one of the most powerful miniseries ever made, one that is incredibly difficult to watch, but enlightening and rewarding as well.
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Ryan Heffernan
Almontather Rassoul
