Looking for a great show that ended when it planned on ending? Here are some excellent limited and mini series to watch on Netflix right now.
Is there anything sweeter than a perfect limited series? A crisp, contained story that knows exactly what it’s trying to tell and metes out only the space needed to tell it? In an age when IP is king and there’s always at least a question of how a story could continue, a miniseries is certainly a vulnerable species, especially if it’s high-quality.
That being said: Good miniseries do exist, managing to thrive purely in their intended, limited (non-derogatory!) form. And there’s a plethora of them on Netflix, so you can easily tune in and let “Next episode” take you all the way down. So whether you’re trying to fill up a quiet weekend with something you can watch all of, or you’re just looking for a great show you don’t have to see as an “investment,” here are the best limited series streaming on Netflix. Alias Grace
Dr. Simon Jordan (Edward Holcroft) has been summoned to do a psychiatric evaluation of the murderess Grace Marks (Sarah Gadon). This is a fairly standard start to a story that is anything but, adapting Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name to something hypnotic and barbed. Jordan endeavors to suss out which is true, what the real story is, and Grace gamely meets him where he’s at. As she unspools her wicked little tale, she flickers between all the labels levied at her — murderess, innocent, fool — and Gadon’s performance excellently laces them all together. It’s a dance of deception, and Alias Grace is exactly the sort of miniseries that crackles with promise throughout its six episodes. —Zosha MillmanBeef
One of the best shows of 2023, Beef is a high-wire piece of domestic tension, as a road rage incident spills out into a life-changing rivalry. Anchored by terrific lead performances from Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as Danny and Amy, the beefers in question, the show quickly spirals out of control in the best possible way. Supported by Young Mazino’s turn as Danny’s younger brother, consistently strong writing, and a playful artistic approach, Beef is a great case for the value of limited series storytelling. It has a sharp idea of its scope and possibilities and sticks to it, creating strong characters and an intriguing narrative in a fast-paced package.
Something to know before you decide to watch: The show had some controversy on release after horrible comments made by supporting actor David Choe on an old podcast resurfaced, which was only amplified by the cast and creators sticking up for him. That guy sucks, as did the response from the Beef team, but the show rules. —Pete VolkGodless
The main gimmick of Scott Frank’s Western is that it takes place in a frontier town in the American West where most of the men died in a tragic mining accident. With women making up most of the ensemble cast, Godless offers a different edge to a familiar genre. Michelle Dockery plays a tough-as-nails widow who teams up with a scruffy former outlaw (played by Skins’ Jack O’Connell) to protect a small town from the wrath of a megalomaniac gang leader. The rest of the dynamic cast, from a cocky young deputy to the sheriff’s sister who’s in love with a former prostitute, color out the story and make the stakes of the drama hit even harder. —Petrana RadulovicThe Haunting of Hill House
It’s not every creator who can knock it out of the park with their first series, but Mike Flanagan — after building a solid career in horror movies — made a huge splash with The Haunting of Hill House.
