15 Brilliant TV Miniseries That You Can Start (And Finish) Watching This Weekend!

While shows like ‘Friends’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ carried themselves brilliantly over the course of many seasons, a lot of TV shows become unbearable with over-extended storylines and meaningless dragging when they get renewed every year. Plus, these shows require a lot of commitment to start.

That’s when miniseries come to the rescue. With very few number of episodes and ‘to-the-point’ stories, miniseries bring out the best of movies and conventional TV shows. Plus, you can binge-watch and finish them in hours. So here’s a list of some of the best TV miniseries that you should definitely check out.

1. Band of Brothers (2001) – 10 episodes

Based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose’s book of the same name, ‘Band of Brothers’ is a war drama miniseries. Telling the story of ‘Easy Company’ of the ‘Airborne division’ of the American Army during the second world war, it is one of the most powerful TV series ever made. Starring actors like Damian Lewis and with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg in the direction and production department, it is no surprise that the series won the Emmy and the Golden Globe Award for best miniseries in 2001.

 

2. 11.22.63 (2016) – 8 episodes

Based on the novel ’11/22/63′ by Stephen King and starring James Franco, this miniseries is a science fiction thriller. The series shows a time-traveller going to the past to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America, who was shot dead while riding a motorcade on November 22nd, 1963.

 

3. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016) – 10 episodes

‘The People v. O.J. Simpson’ is the first season of a larger franchise, ‘American Crime Story’. Revolving around the murder trial of O.J. Simpson, an American football player, the show is way more than just a courtroom drama. The show was nominated for 22 Emmy nominations and won nine out of them. It also won the Golden Globe award for the best miniseries of the year.

 

4. The Night Manager (2016) – 6 episodes

Based on the novel of the same name by John le Carré, ‘The Night Manager’ is a British Spy drama. Starring Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie, the miniseries tells the tale of the night manager and former soldier of a luxury hotel, who gets hired as an in intelligence operative. A brilliant adaptation of the novel, the miniseries bagged two Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards.

 

5. The Men Who Built America (2012) – 4 episodes

‘The Men Who Built America’ is a miniseries focusing on industrialists, businessmen and influential builders who turned America from a war-torn nation to a technical superpower and most the influential nation of the world.

 

6. Mars (2016) – 6 episodes

Based on the book, ‘How We’ll Live On Mars’ by Stephen Petranek, ‘Mars’ is a science fiction masterpiece. Telling the story of six astronauts who set foot on the red planet in the year 2033, the story mixes real life interviews of prominent scientists like Elon Musk, Andy Weir and Neil deGrasse Tyson. If you are a sci-fi nerd like me, ‘Mars’ is just the thing you need.

 

7. Over the Garden Wall (2014) – 10 episodes

An animated miniseries, ‘Over the Garden Wall’ is the journey of two half-brothers across a strange forest to find a way home and is based on another animated short film, ‘Tome of the Unknown’. Voices of Elijah Wood and Melanie Lynskey have been used for the characters of Wirt and a bluebird in the series.

 

8.  And Then There Were None (2015) – 3 episodes

Based on renowned author Agatha Christie’s novel bearing the same name, ‘And Then There Were None’ is a British mystery drama thriller miniseries. The series shows ten strangers invited to an isolated island by an unknown host and what happens next would give away spoilers.

 

9. The White Queen (2013) – 10 episodes 

Based on Phillipa Gregory’s historical novel series, ‘The White Queen’ is a British TV miniseries. The series explores the ‘Wars of the Roses’, the historical series of wars that were held to capture the throne of England during the 15th century and tells the story of the women involved in the conflict.

 

10. The Pacific (2010) – 10 episodes

Just like ‘Band of Brothers’, ‘The Pacific’ is the story of the ‘United States Marine Corps’ during the ‘Pacific War’ of the Second World War. Focusing on three marines, namely Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge and John Basilone, the series won a prestigious ‘Peabody Award’ for “this series reminding us of the necessities—and the costs—of service.” among other accolades.

 

11. Sons of Liberty (2015) – 3 episodes

Portraying the early American revolution in Boston and the start of the Revolutionary war against the British colonisers, ‘Sons of Liberty’ tells the story of men from different backgrounds coming together to fight for a common goal. Starring actors like Ben Barns, Ryan Eggold and Deam Norris, the series is no less than a history lesson in itself.

 

12. Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena (2011) – 6 episodes

A prequel to the famous TV Series ‘Spartacus’, ‘Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena’ tells the story of the original Champion of the House of Batiatus, Gannicus before the arrival of Spartacus.

 

13. Roots (2016) – 4 episodes

A remake of the famous 1977 miniseries of the same name, ‘Roots’ is based on the novel, ‘Roots: The Saga of an American Family’. The series tells the story of an African man, Kunta Kinte, who was sold to white slave traders from America. The series was nominated for ‘Best Miniseries’ for the 2016 ‘Critics’ choice TV awards’.

 

14. John Adams (2008) – 7 episodes 

Portraying the life and times of America’s second President, John Adams, the miniseries shows his political life and role in the foundation of the United States. Loosely based on the work of David McCullough, the miniseries won four Golden Globes and thirteen Emmy Awards, more than any other miniseries in history.

 

15. Bonnie and Clyde (2013) – 2 episodes

Based on the true story of  Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, the famous American outlaws, the miniseries shows the two of them embarking on one of the most infamous bank-robbing sprees in history.

Happy binging! 🙂

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