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Quantity is not more important than quality when talking about great television, especially when thrillers are concerned. Too many shows extend past their natural length and become bloated with unnecessary subplots and storylines, meaning that they become harder to recommend because of the significant time commitment required. Alternatively, shows that are short and pointed have the opportunity to age even better because they feel like standalone works of art.
Television has begun to resemble films, more and more, and a short-run show or miniseries can have the auteur-led artistic qualities of a cinematic release, yet also have the length to tell its story to the best of its abilities. It’s a medium that has become more exciting as this current era of prestige television continues, as it seems to be what attracts the most A-list talent to do their best work. For viewers looking for gripping stories that never overstay their welcome, these thriller shows with 20 episodes or fewer deliver unforgettable suspense from beginning to end.
10
‘The Curse’ (2023–2024)
The Curse is a fascinating psychological thriller that was conceived by Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, two brilliant creatives who have nonetheless taken very different approaches to their careers. Fielder also stars in the series alongside Emma Stone as a couple that hosts an HGTV-style reality home-flipping show and begins to experience paranoia about a curse after getting involved in building a sustainable living business in a Hispanic community.
The Curse finds the right mix of dark comedy and social commentary, as it explores the plasticity of reality television, the delusion of white progressivism, the threat of gentrification, and the interiority of a disturbed marriage. The series is a favorite of Christopher Nolan, who claimed that the show’s mind-blowing finale was among the greatest things he had ever seen on television, a belief that is shared by those who have experienced the wild turn that The Curse takes.
9
‘Lonesome Dove’ (1989)
Lonesome Dove is perhaps the greatest Western ever made, and certainly holds up when compared to any of the classic films made in the genre. Based on the beloved novel of the same name by Larry McMurtry, the show stars Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones as two aging cowboys who take on one last drive, which forces them to consider their lives and rethink their personal relationships.
Lonesome Dove was made at a time in which “event television” was still a novelty, and it was exciting to see such a full-bodied, articulate Western made on such a grandiose scale. Even for those who aren’t traditionally fans of the Western genre, Lonesome Dove is made with such care and moves at such a propulsive pace that it is hard not to be completely swept up in the spirit of adventure.
8
‘Escape at Dannemora’ (2018)
Escape at Dannemora is a brilliant miniseries directed in its entirety by Ben Stiller before he would go on to flex his muscles as a dramatic storyteller with the Apple TV science fiction series Severance. Escape at Dannemora stars Paul Dano and Benicio del Toro as two inmates at a high-security prison who plot an escape, all while conducting a relationship with a facility worker played by Patricia Arquette.
Escape at Dannemora does a better job of showing the integrity of a life behind bars than nearly any other show, and manages to continue heightening the tension as it questions the ethics of the characters and their relationship. The series finale runs for 100 minutes in length, and stands alone as Stiller’s finest work as a director and one of the most nerve-inducing works of electrifying TV in recent memory.
7
‘Ripley’ (2024)
Ripley is the most recent adaptation of the popular Patricia Highsmith novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, and it’s unique when compared to the other versions because it ages up the characters and is shot in black-and-white. The stunning visuals of the series, which were created by the Oscar-winning cinematographer Robert Elswitt of There Will Be Blood fame, allowed it to become a moody noir where the audience is able to get inside the mind of a psychopathic killer.
Andrew Scott is nothing short of remarkable as Tom Ripley, as he is able to draw out the repulsive side of the character whilst also making his journey fascinating to watch. The series is a perfect adaptation of the first of Highsmith’s novels, but there is always room for expansion if Scott and showrunner Steven Zaillian want to make their version of some of the sequel novels.
6
‘The Dropout’ (2022)
The Dropout is based on the stranger-than-fiction true story of Elizabeth Holmes, an entrepreneur whose seemingly game-changing medical technology company came burning to the ground when it was revealed to be entirely based on fraudulent claims and misconstrued medical research. The Dropout is a thriller about her dramatic rise and fall, and explores how a whistleblower in the case revealed a secret that caused all of her high-profile sponsors to question their investments.
The Dropout is worth watching as a feat of education because it so thoroughly deconstructs a scandal that should scare everyone, but it also features Amanda Seyfried in what may be the best role of her career, as she completely captures all of Holmes’ mannerisms in an almost eerie way. The entire cast is stacked with great actors, including Ebon Moss-Bacrach as the reporter who broke the story.
5
‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen’ (2026)
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is a terrific miniseries produced by the Duffer brothers that is bound to become a Halloween favorite in the years to come. Although there are some aspects of psychological thrillers that are present in Stranger Things, the series for which the Duffer brothers became most famous, This Is Going to Hurt is a spooky work of folk horror that succeeds by fleshing out a mythology behind a secret family history.
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen isn’t just creepy because of the graphic blood and gore that is featured, but because it has a disturbing depiction of what a nightmarish situation of meeting a partner’s family looks like. Although weddings are often used as the center point for feats of horror, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen ends with a shocking sequence that is one for the ages.
4
‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)
The Little Drummer Girl is an adaptation of the popular Cold War spy novel by the brilliant author John le Carré, and it was directed in its entirety by the legendary South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook. Set in 1979 during the aftermath of the Black Monday attacks, the series follows an Israeli spymaster (Michael Shannon) and a Mossad agent (Alexander Skarsgård) as they recruit a left-wing theater actress (Florence Pugh) to go undercover to infiltrate a dangerous terrorist cell that could be putting innocent lives in danger.
The Little Drummer Girl mines all the complexity of Cold War-era espionage to be completely riveting, all whilst exploring complex themes about the nature of identity and the burdens of holding a double life. Although it is completely satisfying as a thriller, The Little Drummer Girl is also a loaded piece of political commentary that features terrific performances from its three leads.
3
‘This Is Going to Hurt’ (2022)
This Is Going to Hurt is a brilliant British miniseries based on the true story of the OBGYN doctor Adam Clay, who also created the series that was based on his own memoir. Ben Whishaw stars as Clay during a particularly difficult period in his career, where he was attempting to deal with internal investigations from the medical board whilst protecting the physical and emotional health of his staff, many of whom were under serious duress.
This Is Going to Hurt offers a propulsive look at what being in an emergency room looks like, and does for Great Britain what The Pitt did for the United States. Although Whishaw is an actor who always gives great performances, This Is Going to Hurt has a clever framing device in which he breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience, making it even more personal.
2
‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ (2022)
Under the Banner of Heaven is a true crime masterpiece that explores one of the darkest chapters in the history of America’s extremist religious crimes, as it is based on a shocking massacre committed by a fundamentalist sect of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the series could have come off as completely anti-organized religion, it is able to have a fleshed-out perspective because it follows the point of view of a Mormon police officer, played by Andrew Garfield in one of his best roles, who questions the fundamentals of his faith in the wake of shocking truths.
Under the Banner of Heaven is meticulously crafted as a character drama and takes an unflinching look at the abuses carried out in the name of God, making it a timely work of historical recreation that deserves to be recognized among the best in the genre’s recent history.
1
‘1883’ (2021–2022)
1883 is the best show that Taylor Sheridan has ever made and serves as a prequel to the entire Yellowstone saga by exploring the journey to settle what would become Dutton Ranch. Although it has the snappy dialogue that is to be expected of Sheridan at this point, 1883 is a full-blooded Western in the classical sense and makes use of its lavish settings to create a grand and sweeping adventure.
1883 is the most personal and constrained of Sheridan’s shows, and the intimate focus on a small group of characters shows the dexterity of his writing. Although it has a setup that establishes what would become the defining narrative in 1923, 1883 also functions as a standalone adventure epic that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of how familiar they are with the trappings of the broader Yellowstone franchise.
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Liam Gaughan
Almontather Rassoul
